Taste of the Town

German Fest

Festival junkies take note: German Fest is now in progress at the Summerfest Grounds.

Over the next couple of days a reported 20,000 bratwursts will be consumed. In addition, 10,000 pounds of sauerkraut will be served, and five tons of potatoes will be whipped up into potato pancakes.

Should you find your sweet tooth begging for yet more German goodies, there will be plenty of strudel and kuchen to satisfy your cravings.

Oh. Of course. How could I forget?!? There will be beer. Lots and lots of beer. So to all you headed that way…. Prost!

Door County Get Away

Sorry for the long silence.  My family came up for a visit and we spent a few days in Door County. If you live here in Milwaukee or have a significant amount of time to spend while visiting the area, you should definitely check out the scenic shoreline of Door County Peninsula.

Scott and I first visited a couple of years ago, and stayed at The Blacksmith Inn, a wonderful bed & breakfast right on the edge of Lake Michigan. We tried the ubiquitous fish boil (fun to watch, but totally overrated when it comes to taste), and took the ferry over to Washington Island where we stumbled upon the Washington Hotel Restaurant, and Culinary School at which we had an amazing, albeit kind of Twilight Zone-esque, brunch.

                               

                               

                               

This year, since the trip was a little more spontaneous, we stayed on the Green Bay side, at the Bay Shore Inn. Our two-suite room with vaulted ceilings and large windows overlooked the sparkling waters and lush green trees. It was incredibly relaxing.

In between hanging out by the water, we jetted from one little harbor to another, stopping at any shop that caught our eye, trekking out to the Cana Island lighthouse, and stocking up on loads of fresh cherries plucked from local orchards. It’s a great little get away that should not be missed.

Tapas at La Merenda

Digital camera + close encounter with ceramic tile = not good.

Someone told me it can probably still take pictures, but I was so freaked out by the jagged streak of red and black lightning searing across the now-completely white LCD that I didn’t even consider said possibility and left it behind while Scott and I went to La Merenda.

Which is a shame, really, that I can’t give you a visual account of this fantastic little place with their warm-colored walls, close-set tables and tiny plates of delectable tapas.

Although tapas originated in Spain, the plates at La Merenda are inspired by flavors from around the globe. Cold options include the Tel Aviv Citrus Salad ($6), made with avocado, oranges, grapefruit, watercress and mint tossed with a lemon vinaigrette, as well as the Wisconsin Artisanal Cheese Plate ($7), and the Som Tum Salad  ($5.50) made with papaya, jicama, carrots, and Napa cabbage tossed with a Thai vinaigrette.

On the hot side, I recommend the Spinach and Cheese Toasted Ravioli ($6.50), the Jerk Seasoned Pork Tenderloin ($7.50), and the Colombian inspired Empanadas de Res ($5) stuffed with a blend of spicy beef tenderloin and yucca.

As for wine (Always a must with tapas!), I was thrilled to see several selections from Spain, Chile, and Argentina and enjoyed my dark garnet glass of Malbec, which was great for the price. For those of you who prefer something sparkly, La Merenda also offers a nice Prosecco and some champagne; however, I personally have a penchant for all things Spanish, and would have liked to see some Cava.

At any rate, the lack of Cava didn’t diminish my evening at all. I am always a fan of the more energized social atmosphere that seems to go along with serving small plates and will certainly return again sometime. Next time, though, I’ll make reservations and I’ll take the new camera, which is stored far away from any place it could crash into the floor, so I can snap a few pictures and keep all of you digerati in need of a multiple art forms entertained.

Firefly Urban Bar & Grill

As excited as I was to check out Firefly, I started to worry when I read something that mentioned plaid being incorporated into the décor. “Plaid” is something that conjures up visions of bad window treatments and scary couches haunting a lot of interiors on those Why Isn’t My House Selling? kind of shows.

But I should have known not to question the style savvy of Marija & Vesna Madunic. They know exactly what they are doing, and their subtle use of a very mod plaid motif in the dining room only serves to contribute to a very comfortable, low-key atmosphere that many may find even more appealing than the restaurant’s previous design.

On the evening Scott and I went, both dining rooms and the bar were busy, even at an early hour. This was good to see, because I never felt the always-awesome Bjonda was as full as it should have been.  We settled into the Skylight Room which, aside from a large flat-screen television, hasn’t changed too much.

Naturally, my husband thought the "added entertainment" was a great addition, but personally, I have a hard time liking these distraction-inducing items in hip restaurants. Still, I was very happy sipping my “Firefly” mojito made with passion fruit puree while checking out the revamped menu and stealing a taste of Scott's Kentucky Tea (Jim Beam bourbon, lemonade, and iced tea).

Appetizers ranged in cost from $5-$13 and included spicy meat samosas, grilled pizza, and a Rioja Soup made from avocado, cilantro cream, and corn tortilla crisps. Entrees such as the Pineapple Jerk Chicken and Beer Braised Beef Brisket (Try saying that five times really fast!) ran a reasonable $14-$22 and featured a variety of meats from the smoker and wood-burning grill which can be accompanied by two sides and your choice of sauce.

While I was tempted to try something new, I’m sorry to tell you I caved to tradition and ordered a plate of my favorite Micro Burgers and frites. This trio of tiny burgers came with different toppings and were just the right size to sate a small appetite.

While I admit I adored Bjonda, I think my checkbook may be even more infatuated with the reasonably priced Firefly. None of the flavor or style has been sacrificed, and with lower-priced items available, I can now afford to indulge in visits to this place much more often.

Summerfest

Thank goodness for coffee. I need a lot of it after hitting the Spoon show at Summerfest last night. 

To be honest I couldn’t see much of the stage from my vantage point (right behind a group of fourteen-year-old boys furtively sneaking smokes), but they sounded great. And frankly, after consuming crazy amounts of Summerfest food offerings, I don’t think I could have handled being crowded by a bunch of highly inebriated individuals sloshing beer all over my shoes anyway.

Hanging on the outskirts also made it easier to slip out for a second cup of Hawaiian Ice and a funnel cake. Always a bonus when the sugar high you’ve acquired from previous cups of Hawaiian Ice and ears of roasted corn starts to wear off.

And you will definitely want to try the roasted corn. You can’t go to Summerfest and not eat at least one ear of roasted corn. Other food items you might want to think about consuming before Summerfest closes its gates:

--Eggplant strips from Venice Club
--Gyros and honey puffs from Greek Village
--Ribs or the pork sandwich from Famous Dave’s
--Hamburgers from Major Goolsby’s
--Potato chips from Pitch’s & Miss Katie’s Diner
--Burritos of Tacos from La Perla
--Cheese kurds and mozzarella marinara from Saz’s Express
--Ice Cream cones from Cedar Crest

If all that isn’t enough to keep you logging miles on the treadmill for the next six months, don’t worry. We’re only halfway through the festival season! You will find plenty of additional opportunities to indulge crazy food cravings at Festa Italiana, German Fest, Irish Fest, or one of the many other festivals taking place this summer. And don’t forget the fair. There’s still the Wisconsin State Fair. And for that you better get a gym membership and a few sessions with a personal trainer, ‘cause the calorie consuming options there are endless.

Happy Fourth of July

For the first time this summer, I've been tempted to turn on the air conditioning. Yes! You know how I love a good, hot day. But who can stay indoors when it's that beautiful outside? Especially when it's the Fourth of July.

Basking on the couch is just out of the question when there are parades to see, food to eat, and fireworks to admire.

This morning we walked down a few blocks and staked out a spot along North Avenue so we could watch the Wauwatosa parade. The crowd was decked out in loads of red, white, and blue, and cheered on all the veterans, bands, Cub Scouts, public dignitaries, and other participants as they rolled past. It was fun to watch, and cool to see that despite the political divides that seems to exist in our country right now, at heart, Americans are a patriotic bunch who possess a deep love for our country and what it stands for.

Later, after an ice run and a few hours soaking in the sun and enviously eyeing people driving by on their way to the lake with boats, I made some fresh squeezed lemonade and pulled out the grill. We threw on some corn and ribs basted with some bottled sauce. (I know... I should probably have made my own, but I took the easy way out!)

I also pulled out some baked beans with molasses and ginger and whipped up some potato salad. It was, I have to admit, one of the best Fourth of July meals I've ever made. And to think it's still not over!! The day is young. There's still watermelon chilling in the fridge and some ice cream in the freezer. More importantly, there are some fireworks planned for the local park. Hope whatever you are doing is just as enjoyable. Cheers!