Taste of the Town

Indian Summer Festival

Candi gave me a t-shirt for my birthday that said “Pale is the New Tan.” Fitting, now that I live here in Wisconsin where a great many people are melanin challenged, like me.

In fact, while she was visiting, Candi couldn’t get over how pale a lot of people looked for the middle of August. (She is from Dallas, remember. Being toned and tan is a must there!) It’s unfortunate that she couldn’t stick around long enough to go with me to the Indian Summer Festival, where due to the Native American blood coursing through their veins, a great many people roaming the grounds were blessed with the kind of beautiful golden-hued skin that I would now have to spend a small fortune on tanning products to maintain.

Actually, I hadn’t really planned to go to the festival. But when I went by Trader Joe’s to pick up some of their frozen orange-ginger chicken (I’m seriously addicted to that stuff!), one of the ladies there raved about how much she always enjoyed the Indian Summer Festival. Later I was getting my hair cut at the cool new shop my stylist just opened in the Third Ward and noticed a ton of people making their way to the entrance, so I decided I might as well check it out.

Turns out Indian Summer felt a lot like all the other festivals. Maybe because so many of them are in the same location (Summerfest grounds.) or because I didn’t make it to the actual pow wow. Naturally, there were some general differences: Tribal dancers decked in an array of colorful feathers, music, interesting Native American arts and crafts, and of course, different food.

 

The most popular item seemed to be the “Indian Taco,” large pieces of fry bread mounded with beans, chopped lettuce, sliced tomatoes, and cheese, which was available at almost every other food vendor. Finding I really preferred just the taste of the fry bread. I ordered some of that next.

Although it’s incredibly simple to make – I learned to make fry bread in a fourth-grade Indian Art class if that tells you anything – the warm, flat, all-purpose bread is absolutely delicious drizzled with a little honey. Sugar addicts can sprinkle on a mixture of sugar and cinnamon for a little more kick. But I'm not sure I'd advise that addition, considering that one paper-plate-sized piece of fry bread already contains a whopping amount of calories and fat!

Other food items available were the burger and brat on fry bread (This is Wisconsin. Can’t leave out the brat!!) , buffalo burgers, and a wild rice dish. One of the most authentic choices in my opinion included the ever-present roasted corn, which I didn’t even touch because every time we grill I always throw on corn, and to be honest, I’m a little tired of it by now.

                        

All in all though, it was a nice way to spend the afternoon. And with the cool breeze blowing gently through the air, it also served as a reminder that soon, summer will officially be over and the chilly days of fall will be upon us.

Hitting Rock Bottom

The last time I hit a Rock Bottom was in Denver, six years ago. And then, only because it was probably the one place still open in the area. Or wait. Was I in Cincinnati? That’s the trouble with chain restaurants; it’s hard for any location to retain a distinct place in the mind.

However, Milwaukee’s Rock Bottom Brewery possesses a feature that should make it both appealing and memorable: An outstanding riverfront location with a large, attractive patio overlooking the water.

                         

Said patio is an awesome place to grab some lunch, bask in the slowly-shortening days of summer sun, and watch boats cruise by, especially if you are sitting in Diedre’s section. This girl is quite possibly one of the most pleasant servers I’ve ever had in this city.

Seriously, ask to sit in her section and be sure you tip her really well. (Note: Nobody made me say that. I’m just reminding those of you who may have a few rounds before the bill shows up to throw in a little extra even when your tip-tallying skills may feel foggy!) Also, if it’s a nice day, think about going a little early. We stopped by shortly before noon today and while we had no problem getting a table, within thirty minutes more than two-thirds of the patio tables were full.

Like most brew pubs, the menu here consists of a somewhat expanded and glorified version of typical bar fare. Appetizer selections include the usual buffalo wings, quesadillas, nachos, and a sampler platter. Other items include soups, salads, pasta, pizza, steak or chicken dishes, and of course, the burger.

As I may have mentioned to you earlier, I almost always order a burger whenever I’m eating somewhere that contains any reference to “brew” in its name. Sure, I have made the occasional creative foray into the pasta or salad section, but I always found that to be a mistake. You may have had very pleasant dining experiences involving sirloin steak or grilled snapper at brew pubs (And if so, please let us know where!), but I always found myself wishing I’d stuck to the plain and simple burger.

Thus I ordered a Brew Burger with fries and a side of BBQ baked beans. And Scott had the massive Chipotle Chicken Quesadilla, made with five different cheeses, chipotle seasoned chicken, a dash of walnut pesto, and some pico de gallo. He swears it was good, and we’ll have to take his word for it; I couldn’t eat another bite after consuming a mere half my burger and all the fries.

                      

As for the beer, I can’t report firsthand on that either. I will tell you that most beer fans I know would encourage visitors to first take advantage of some of the other brew pubs in town, like maybe the nearby Milwaukee Ale House, before heading over to the Rock Bottom Brewery. But definitely don’t discount the Rock Bottom just because it’s part of a national chain. The beer is certainly decent and, for those focusing more on food, the menu features a lot more items that actual incorporate brew as one of the ingredients. Plus, there’s that patio. You have to love the patio. Unless, of course, it’s January . . .

A Two-Day Break in the Rain

Finally, a break from the rain! I was starting to think I needed to invest in an umbrella company or something. Scott and I took advantage of the sunny weekend skies by going to the movies, which yes, kind of defeats the whole get-out-in-the-sun purpose, doesn’t it?

We saw Superbad, which unless you are still into the kind of humor endorsed by boys in a 7th grade gym class, was indeed super bad. A much better use of our rain-free time, in my opinion, was dining on the patio at Barclay Gallery and Café where tables are filled with a delightful mix of young families, people my grandmother’s age (Whatever that is, she still won’t tell us.), and twenty-somethings club kids rehashing drama from the previous night out.

Nestled in a flower laden corner in the Historic Third Ward, this colorful café was the perfect place to get an early lunch and indulge in some much needed outdoor time. Actually, I’d planned on getting brunch, but didn’t realize that unlike Sunday, where brunch is served until 3:00, on Saturday brunch ends a little earlier. Having arrived about half an hour too late, we settled into a table shielded from the street by a lush row of flowers, and scoured the lunch menu instead.

                        

Packed with a wide varied of salads, soups, sandwiches, and more substantial fare such as tenderloin tips, vegetable lasagna, or chicken pot pie, the Barclay offers an interesting mix of affordable choices.

                        

I ended up getting a bowl of soba noodles. I used to eat these, rice balls, and ramen noodles all the time in Japan. Which reminds me, I’ve been craving Japanese rice balls and I’m much too lazy to make them myself, so if anyone knows of a place I can buy them, please let me know. Now back to the soba.

Made of buckwheat and often served cold, soba noodles are a perfect choice for summer. Mine came tossed with carrots, mushrooms, pea pods, chopped green onion, and a dash of sesame-ginger soy sauce. Usually they mix in some sprouts, which provide a little more texture, but you can also add chicken or shrimp to pump it up even more. Meanwhile, Scott’s menu selection went in a completely different direction.

                        

Midway to Madison Munchies

Have you ever left your house feeling full and fifteen minutes later thought, “I need food. And I need it now!”? If so and you are on your way to Madison, you’re in luck. The Delafield Brewhaus is poised in the perfect place to come to your rescue.

Scott and I stopped in on our way out of town the other day and grabbed lunch at one of the brewpub’s rustic tables. We started out with the Brewhaus Sampler, which is loaded with ginormous portions of golden fried mozzarella cheese sticks, chicken tenders, and onion straws. Lots and lots of onion straws. After that we split the Baja Chicken Pizza B.L.T., made in their wood fired oven with Asiago dip and mozzarella spread over a flaky crust and topped with grilled chicken, marinated tomatoes, and hickory smoked bacon. It also came with a side of avocado dip which Scott spread generously on top of his slices.

                        

                         

                        

If the Baja doesn’t sound like your kind of thing, they also have BBQ Chicken, Steak, Thai, and a build your own option. Other lunch choices include a wide range of burgers, pastas, and pub sandwiches.

Since we had quite a bit of driving ahead of us (went to see family in Minneapolis after saying sad goodbyes to my friend Candi at the airport), we didn’t indulge in any of their hand-crafted beer. But if you are a fan, you’ll find somewhere between seven to nine beers on tap. The selection changes a little every couple of weeks, but the Dock Light, Delafield Amber, Pewaukee Porter, and Sommerzeit Hefe Weizen are always on tap.

Suffice it to say, you’re never far from a good brew and a big plate of food here in Wisconsin.

Polish Food at Polonez

One of the hardest parts about moving to Milwaukee was leaving behind family and friends, especially one of my best friends, Candi, who I have known since college. So I can’t tell you how much fun it’s been having her here for a visit this week.  We’ve shopped, talked, cooked, and of course, tried to hit as many of my favorite restaurants as possible.

Since Candi’s family is part Polish, and Polish food is not an easy thing to find in Dallas, she wanted to see if she could get a pierogi (Polish dumplings) fix while she was here. How could I refuse? I found the address for Polonez, a Polish place in nearby St. Francis.

Offering homemade food in a comfortable, friendly atmosphere, Polonez is one of Milwaukee’s most-recommended ethnic treasures. The menu offers a great mix of hearty old-country fare and an extensive list of Polish beer.

Since Candi wanted to sample a little bit of everything, she ordered the Polish Plate, which came with four boiled pierogi, (you can also get pan-fried, but Candi’s family makes them boiled), a big link of Polish sausage, sauerkraut, a potato pancake, and some stuffed cabbage, made with ground beef, pork, and rice wrapped in a large cabbage leaf and stewed in a sweet tomato sauce.

The pierogi were made with a variety of fillings. Some were made with potato and cheese, others with a mix of beef or pork. Candi says that although they didn’t tastes like her grandmother’s (Nothing ever does, right?), they were quite tasty and would tide her over nicely until she could get back home for the holidays and have some more.

Scott had the Pierogi Plate, which allowed for a choice of six dumplings made from a selection of cheese, meat, sauerkraut, or potato and cheese. I opted for some meatballs which were served with tomato sauce and two small scoops of mashed potatoes.

All entrees came with either soup or salad, so we skipped the appetizer section. But if you need a little more to nibble on, the herring, served with a special sour cream sauce made with onions and apples, or the deviled eggs sounded interesting. As for the soup, we chose to have the borscht, a hearty, ruby-red soup made from beets.

Dessert choices were equally magnanimous, including a rich Polish torte, and “Polonez Heaven”, a cheesecake served with pistachio pudding, vanilla ice cream, and whipped cream.

Now if you will excuse me, Candi and I have some shopping to do . . .

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Polonez Restaurant
4016 S. Packard Ave.
St. Francis, WI 53235
Phone: (414) 482-0080

Palms Bistro & Bar

There’s something about sitting out on a patio that makes food taste so much better. Maybe it’s because we are able to indulge in outdoor seating for only a few months here in Milwaukee. But when temperatures allow and a table is open, I’m all about scoring a seat outside.

Apparently so is everybody else. When we stopped in at Palms Bistro the other day, there was only one group sitting inside the exotic monkey-inspired dining room; the rest of us staked our claim on the black iron chairs nestled out front.

 

Cold drinks were whisked out quickly and we sipped appreciatively while we contemplated what to order and engaged in  shameless people watching. Palms offers an array of salads, sandwiches, burgers, and adventurous pasta dishes to tempt your taste buds. Local favorites in the appetizer area include the Strawberry/Gorgonzola salad as well as the Brie baked with cranberries, apple chutney, and spiced pecans.

Entrees include such interesting selections as lobster mac and cheese, tiger shrimp pasta, and a pistachio encrusted red snapper. During our visit, Scott tried the Italian chicken pasta, which was made from linguini tossed with artichoke hearts, sun dried tomatoes, and chicken. I don’t know why, but despite the dissimilarity in ingredients, it reminded me of some very spicy pasta carbonara I made recently.

Then again, I have been feeling a little under the weather lately and my taster is a little out of whack! Nevertheless, I thought my basil pesto pizza was great. The thin crust came topped with a light layer of pesto followed by roasted tomatoes, tons of mozzarella cheese, and loads of red peppers.

Those looking less for dinner or lunch and more for a late night place to lounge will be excited to know Palms does a brisk business at the bar and offers an extensive specialty-drink menu. They even make some munchies available until later hours, which is always nice should you have one too many “Gorillas in the Midst” cocktails and need something to tide you over ‘till breakfast.

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Palms Bistro & Bar
221 N. Broadway
(414) 298-3000

Time for a Fair Share

If you didn’t get your fill of beer and brats last weekend, fear not. The Wisconsin State Fair is now underway and chock full of food offerings that no nutritionist would ever recommend.

But that has never made getting the yearly fix of fair food any less appealing, has it?

In fact, there’s no shortage of crowds noshing on everything from roasted corn, cheese curds, Blue Ribbon Brownies, and of course, the ubiquitous cream puff. Find out the proper way to put one of these cream filled babies away and then head over to State Fair Park to get your own. While you’re there, be sure and check out some of the new food finds for 2007:

--Deep fried Smore’s on a Stick - Gooey marshmallows and chocolate dipped in graham cracker batter, deep fried and topped with sprinkle of powdered sugar. Sounds good to me.
@ 3 B Concessions

--Australian Meat Pies - Flaky pastry filled with chunks of beef simmered in a specially seasoned gravy.
@ Aussie Shack

--Grand Champion Burger – Three, count ‘em, three, big beef patties topped with Wisconsin cheese.
@ Major Goolsby’s

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Wisconsin State Fair
August 2 – 12, 2007

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.