Chef Bill Horzuesky

Chef Bill started in the restaurant business at his mom’s place as a busboy. After moving to Madison from Chicago he worked a stint as a line cook, then looking for something more challenging he took a job at a steakhouse where the kitchen manager told him he’d hire him as a prep cook if he did the dishes too. He took it and ended up as their fry cook, later when the chef walked out he took over the line. He was 17.

Chef Bill credits a number of local cooks as his mentors and describes his food at Bluephies as Retro Chic. He happily tweaks familiar recipes to make sure you have as much fun eating food as he does making it. 

• Most memorable meal? There are two; the first was my first date with my future wife...(drive thru after a long day at the restaurant). The second was at Olives in Las Vegas.
• Favorite thing to do when you’re not working? Hanging out with my wife and dogs and cat. And when the weather’s nice, taking my ‘52 Chevy or custom bobber (motorcycle) out for a cruise.
• Favorite food you can’t grow in Wisconsin? Everything I would really want is right here in Wisconsin… 

Bill joined up with Food Fight in 1999 and capitalizing on his own desire to have a place of his own, he became Chef/Co-proprietor at Bluephies in 2001.