Taste of Madison, Madison Wi.
by Sandi on Sep.11, 2010, under Uncategorized
An Extreme Experience!
To most Labor day means the end of summer, but to us it means Taste of Madison. Time to indulge in a variety of tasty samples from over 90 restaurants from the Madison area. The Taste is held every Saturday and Sunday of Labor day weekend.
The Taste is the mother ship of festivals in the greater Madison area. You will find a great variety of food choices and surely something will trip your trigger. About 90 restaurants partake and between them their will be approximately 300 items to be tested, with prices between $1 and $4. While enjoying your many samples they also have a variety of music for entertainment.
Ok, let the eating begin! We always TRY to walk all the way around and check everything out before our first choice. This time we made it half way down the first block , when we were enticed with this appetizing Italian Sausage Sandwich from
Italian Sausage Sandwich.
Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano. Al chose his with Marinara sauce and hot peppers; mine was prepared dunked in Au jus and also with hot peppers. We both decided on a scale of one to ten it was a 7, good, but nothing to write home about.
Choices, choices and more yummy choices. What do we choose? Would it be bread pudding , some delicious looking macaroni and cheese, coconut shrimp, banana foster, Brats, Cashew Chicken, Curry over rice, pizza and lots other choices.
This is a list of our picks as long as the ratings we gave the food on a scale of one to ten.
Al’s list,
Banana Foster from Queen Anne’s Catering he gave it a 9, he commented on the ice cream, that it was smooth just the way he likes it.
Blue Corn Tostada from Santa Fe Trail a 6, he thought the topping was Pico de Gallo but it actually seem to have came out of a jar. He was looking forward to the cilantro smell and it was just not there.
Awesome Bread Pudding!
Bread Pudding from Famous Dave’s no doubt a 10! Melt-in-your-mouth house-made bread pudding, smothered in pecan praline sauce and served with vanilla bean ice cream.
Fresh Cut Fries from Po Boys about a 7, nothing special just regular homemade fries.
Plus Ice cream and the Italian Sausage Sandwich listed above.
Sandi’s List.
Malibu Coconut Shrimp from Joey’s Seafood and Grill a definite 9, hand batter shrimp in a sweet and crunchy breading served with apricot sauce. Had it last year and came back for more!
Lots of people trying lots of eats!
Bread Pudding from Famous Dave’s which I will agree with Al. I will also rate it at a 10. Get Some!
Bbq Ribsfrom Po Boys BBQ, a 7, good but not fantastic. The ribs were tender but the bbq sauce was not my favorite.
Fried Wisconsin Cheese Curds from The Old Fashioned. As far as cheese curds go about an 8. They were served with a paprika sauce. I liked them better without sauce.
And I had another serving of bread pudding. It is sad that with all of the choices this is all we manage to consume.
The votes are in and we both decided that the bread pudding from Famous Dave’s was our favorite.
I have to mention the entertainment it was amazing. We manage to obtain front row seats to listen to
James Otto.
James Otto.
What a wonderful way to celebrate the end of summer!I would highly recommend Taste of Madison in 2011! Go enjoy some great food along with some awesome entertainment.
Best,
Sandi and Al.
.
Almost Famous Bbq Chicken, Rockton Bar, Rockton Wi.
by Sandi on Jun.27, 2010, under Bbq, Rockton Bar, Uncategorized
Thats a lot of chicken!
To Al and I summer means Sunday bbq chicken at Rockton. I can smell the chicken with its very own unique homemade bbq sauce just thinking about it. The Bbq sauce is a secret recipe and it is like nothing you have ever tasted.
Many a man and woman travels the scenic roads of the beautiful Kickapoo Valley on a mission to taste this bbq wonder. The majority of the travelers arrive on a motorcycle, sometimes as many as 500 and they are often from 100 or more miles away. What a great relaxing way to enjoy a summer Sunday.
For $ 9.00 you get ½ a chicken with a side of macaroni salad, beans with bread and butter, a bargain.
Chicken, Yum!
Laurel’s Tavern, Madison,Wi $$
by Sandi on Apr.25, 2010, under Burgers, All Types, Laurel Tavern
Laurel Tavern
We are on the trek again to our favorite shopping and eating city, Madison, to look for some supplies for our upcoming vacation to Yosemite and of course we had to eat.
Al had read an article in the Wisconsin State Journal by Doug Moe who highly recommended Laurel Tavern for a burger. So we decided to give a try.
The first thing we noticed was that we were in the midst of folks that had recently took part in the Crazy Legs Walk – Run, tons of them, the building was packed. Thing # 2 was other than a veggie burger the choices were slim for anyone that was concerned with watching ones waistline. Hey, we all are entitled to indulge from time to time and it looks as if us and all these sports people would be doing so today. # 3 would be that we would be spending a little time waiting for a table; it would give us a little time to soak up the surroundings.
We were soon to label the Laurel Tavern of being a neighborhood tavern, certainly a burger joint. We were seeing burgers carried out from the kitchen all kinds of burgers with various toppings.
The daily special was 3 cheese, cheeseburger which was a little tempting, but then a waitress whisked by with a burger
Toasted Rye with a Burger, Excellent!
on toasted rye bread. That had to be my pick. Laurel’s Famous Patty Melt, they say it is what put them on the map. The Patty Melt is 6oz of fresh ground beef covered with Swiss and American cheese, raw onions on toasted light rye bread. Right up my ally, swiss cheese and rye bread. Perfect! Al singled out the regular classic burger just a burger on a bun with tomato and onion, just the way he likes it.
I loved the bread, it was toasted perfectly and went amazing with the Swiss cheese. The burger was tasty, it was a nice combo. Al liked his burger as well.
The price was about normal for Madison my patty melt being $5.95 and Al’s classic for $4.00 and fries another $1.95. Less than 20 bucks for two people not bad.
If ever in the Monroe Street area or coming to town next year for the Crazy Legs you know where to go for a decent burger.
Until Next Time,
Sandi and Al.
Club Tavern Restaurant and Bar. Middleton, Wisconsin
by Sandi on Mar.14, 2010, under Burgers, All Types, The Club Tavern
A little History & A lot of Taste!
We have heard lots of rants and raves about the Club Tavern’s fish fry’s, moose burgers and just every day, daily specials, so we had to make it our next dining experience. We were actually very much in the mood for burgers ,so we decided that is what we would be having today.
We could sense that this place has some history under its roof right away. So I wanted to dig into that first. The building was built between 1860 and 1880 as a boarding house. The original use was a rooming house and stables for the Stamm House Stage Line. It first became the Ye Olde Tavern in 1880 then became the Club Tavern in 1921. In the early 1900’s the tavern was purchased by Dick Hover and he initiated the traditions of fine food at the club, with his specialty chicken. The Club Tavern remained open during prohibition and even went as far as to advertise in the Sunday Madison newspapers to take a carriage ride to Middleton for Sunday chicken with a bucket. The bucket being of beer.
Mouth Watering Juicie Moosie!
The present day owner is a fella named “Moose”, who has burgers, steaks and even potatoes , (moo-ski’s) named after him in this eatery. We had a lot of versions of burger to select from. We could elect to choose a Blt burger, club burger, mushroom Swiss, cheeseburger, moose burger or even a stuffed burger; the juicy moosie, or a burger stuffed with bleu moose. I was enticed into trying the juicy moosie. The juicy moosie was filled with fried onions and cheese, then topped with Swiss, cheddar and mozzarella cheeses. Fresh lettuce, tomato and mayo also accompany this burger all for a mere $6.99 and you could have French fries or chips for .99 cents, or onion rings for $1.49, but I had to try the Moo-ski’s ( hash browns with onions and cheese.)
Moo-Ski's.
Al order the regular moose burger with a side of fries. We both came to the conclusion that it was a little more food than we could handle. But it was so delicious that we managed! I loved the taste of my burger, it had way more cheese on it than I have every had. I adore cheese! It was for sure going down on my list as the top 5 best burgers, I have ever eaten. Al was happily, enjoying his moose burger as well.
The prices are for sure, affordable with weekly lunch specials for $5.99 and prime rib for $12.99. Where can you find prices like that these days! So if in Middleton, you know where to go!
Until Then,
Sandi and Al.
The General Store, Spring Green, Wisconsin.
by Sandi on Mar.09, 2010, under Cafe, Soup and Sandwich
Perfect place to lounge and dine!
I have this fantasy that we have a day off and are spending it at the General Store eating lunch and enjoying a favorite book as the sun is warming us via the window. That is exactly what this cafe will do to you. It will make you sit back, unwind while enjoying the relaxing atmosphere as well the delectable dishes. It may even talk you into playing hooky.
The General Store is a family owned store slash café. The café features excellent sandwich selections that include; White Tuna Sub: Swiss cheese and white albacore tuna salad, Italian Sub: Smoked turkey, ham, provolone cheese, lettuce, banana pepper rings and onion on a sourdough mini baguette. You could also opt for either Chicken Salad Sandwich, Greek Salad Sandwich and even more great selections. There will be several choices of soups to accompany your sandwich, such as their own 4 bean vegetarian chili. The option for a burrito or freshly made quiche will be given.
Eclectic and Appealing.
Certain things to be aware of that are somewhat unique; First of all you will place your order at the counter, and then move to the self service station where you will pick up you utensils, straws, condiments, crackers, as well as your beverage if you choose water or coffee, Secondly after you are totally relaxed and ready to hit the road, you will be required to clear your own table and dispose of your dishes. Cafeteria Style. Not all out work, just making ourselves useful!
I decided on the quiche this day, with a side of homemade cream of mushroom soup. My ham, asparagus quiche was delicious. I am yearning to make another visit for another scrumptious serving. The soup was just as first-rate. Al chose the burrito with re-fried beans, it was served with Monterey jack cheese, tomato, onion and salsa wrapped in a 10” flour tortilla. He was equally happy with his dish.
Tried and Tasty Quiche!
We have been told by the locals that the breakfast are equally as delightful, featuring cinnamon toast with homemade maple cream cheese frosting’s or you could try their unique version of a Wisconsin breakfast, featuring Cheese Curd Scrambles, served with fresh baked bread and a tomato garnish.
So if you are in the area enjoying the Frank Loyd Wright History, House on the Rock or the Americans Player Theatre’ you know where to stop for delicious soup, a fresh salad, a mouth-watering sandwich or even a burrito. Maybe it will be breakfast for you, trying the scrambled eggs made with fresh local cheese curds. Yum!
Best,
Sandi and Al.
The Wonder Bar, Madison, Wisconsin.
by Sandi on Feb.28, 2010, under Steak House, The Wonder Bar.
Previous Gangster Safehouse Turned Great Steakhouse.
We were on our way to meet my daughter’s, Jamie and Trish, their boss Dan, and Trish’s boyfriend, Brent for dinner at the Wonder Bar in Madison. Al had explained the history of this nostalgic venue to me and we were excited to see it for ourselves.
The story goes; The bar opened in 1929 by Eddie Touhy, brother of Roger, “The Terrible” Touhy. Roger was competing with Al Capone for control of the illegal booze trade in the Midwest during the prohibition. Capone was very powerful so Touhy opened up roadhouses away from Chicago to distribute his beer. The bar was a safe house for gangster traveling through Madison. Built like a fortress with turreted booths in which no one’s back was to the front door, it was bullet proof with hidden compartments to hold a sub-machine gun. A secret tunnel was put in underground for a fast getaway if needed.
Chilean Sea Bass, Check out the Presentation!
Knowing the story gives you a somewhat haunted feeling when you enter the bar. The bar slash upscale steakhouse has a very masculine feel and you can just imagine gangsters standing in the corners watching your every move.
Given that it was our first time and the rest of the group had previously eaten there, we let them guide us. Dan advised us to order his favorite; Seared Ahi Tuna as an appetizer. The tuna was served with-Dijon mustard, wasabi and ginger. Great choice Dan! Since Dan frequents the establishment often, he was able to get us seated in one of the four turrets. It was like being in our own little secret corner, private and relaxing.
The entree choice was going to be tough. We had choices such as steaks that were raised in the midwest, certified prime and choice steaks, aged 3-4 wks. The seafood choices include Chilean Sea Bass, large Prawn Shrimp sautéed in real Wisconsin butter, pan seared Sea Scallops, Lobster Tails and a fish of the day, which this day was Halibut. Chicken was on the menu, one time, being described as herb Encrusted Stuffed Chicken and one choice for the vegetarian palate, Pasta Primavera..
Okay, time to make our choices. I chose the Chilean Sea Bass, seared, brushed with banana curry glaze and topped with sweet potato strings along with Crab Bisque and Twice Baked Potatoes.. Al choice was the Filet Mignon, Hash Browns and the Crab Bisque for soup as well. Jamie the Italian Steak served with a, salad, Penne Pasta and a side of Spendini Sauce. Trish chose the house special Halibut with a salad and broccoli. Brent enjoyed Salmon served with a white sauce on ravioli with the Crab Bisque. Dan – vodka with an olive, since he was to meet his family later for dinner.
Everything was superbly prepared with a lot of hurrahs for the Crab Bisque. The steak was mouthwatering as well as lots of rants and raves for the signature hash browns as well as plenty of complements from the fish eaters. The server, Lana was very informative, extremely attentive and was ahead of our ever whim. No deserts for us but the Crème Brulee was tempting. Next time.
When you depart make sure look above the stone fireplace, you will see a busty, semi nude, “60s pinup” that was on the wall originally in the 30’s and then sold. The present day owner tracked it down, bought it and put her back where she belongs.
I would really recommend making this trip for the nostolgic feeling alone, but make sure to save a few pennies before going; the menu is a little pricey, but worth every penny.
Until Next Time,
Sandi and Al
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Madison, Milwaukee or Appleton.
by Sandi on Feb.27, 2010, under Chipotle Mexican Grill, Mexican
Fast Food Mexican Style...
Sometimes when we are in Madison and don’t have time for a sit down dinner, we are then forced to look for fast food, but really don’t want to sacrifice good food, for junk, just because we are short on time. We try to stick to our high standards, always looking for good food with great taste and flavor and what else would Al want, but a “BURRITO.” So where do we go; Chipotle Mexican Grill. Chipotles takes fast food to an all different level.
We love to savor the taste of all the fine ingredients. You can tell at your first bite that everything is fresh and top quality. The pork, beef, and chicken are raised naturally. Chipotle hand selects their farmers as well as all of their ingredients. It is great to know that every single detail is planned and well thought out, which really trips my trigger. The freshness starts with warm tortillas, crisp romaine lettuce instead of nutrient free iceberg, flavorsome rice with added cilantro and a dash of lime juice, steak that has been slowly marinated overnight, carnita that is gently cooked and well seasoned, barbacoa that is shredded beef with a smoky and spicy taste and the chicken which is said to be a customer favorite has a unique, 
spicy,chipotle taste . You will also have four different kinds of salsa to chose from that includes; roasted chili corn. Then the option for freshly made guacamole. It is heavenly.
When it is my turn to chose, it will be a barbacoa burrito with all the fixings, that include; rice, black beans, hot red chili salsa, cheese and a side of guacamole. Hot and spicy! Al will go for the steak burito, rice, black beans, mild salsa and cheese. He prefers his more on the mild side. You will be fast to notice that the portions are huge, so if you have some control and can manage it, eat half, the rest will make a great snack or the next day’s lunch.
You will also probably notice that the design of the restaurant resembles the food, simple materials put together creatively to create a simply, delicious affair. The whole experience is enlightening right down to the hand picked music you will enjoy while you happily, devour your burrito.
Until next time when we are wondering to the Wonder Bar!
Sandi and Al.
Burnstad’s European Restaurant, Tomah, Wi.
by Sandi on Feb.20, 2010, under Burnstads European Restaurant., Chicken Paprikash & Spaetzel., European Cuisine, Favorite Recipes.
Close your eyes and imagine you are walking down cobblestone streets and window shopping into timeless little shops, when you encounter an upscale cafe with old world charm. You are seated and left to scrutinize your menu while your server acquires your beverage. When you open your eyes you believe you have somehow landed in Central Europe.
The entries on the menu confirm your thoughts. You have options from other countries such as Hungarian Speciality Chicken Paprikash; sauteed boneless chicken breasts simmered in a sour cream, paprika sauce served on spaetzle or German Jaeger Schnitzel served with mushroom cream sauce and spaetzle or even a Milan favorite Pork Osso Buco – tender braised pork shank served with risotto Milanese, garnished with traditional gremolata.
This is an exact re-enactment of an experience my husband Al, his brother Howard, Howard’s wife, Carol, and I were fortunate to happen upon. We were looking for a spot to have a relaxing dinner to celebrate Howard and Carols recent retirement. We unquestionably found the ideal eatery for us, since we are all fond of European cuisine. If European cuisine is not your thing you are sure to find a vast assortment of local favorites on the menu; such as fish and chips, pork chops,coconut shrimp also a great variety of certified angus steaks and of course hamburgers.
Chicken Paprikash over Spaetzle.
Our dinner began with soup and salads that was picture perfect. I chose the house signature soup; chicken spaetzle . Delish! The rest of the group ordered salad. Talk about paying attention to detail, this salad was beautiful and everyone mentioned tasty as well. We also received a variety of fresh baked bread, all baked in the adjoining bakery. The bread was served with herb butter. We were next presented with our entries, what a stunning presentation. Al and Howard had order the Hungarian Dish Chicken Papikash over spaetzle served with steamed vegetables, Carol the Jaeger Schneitzel and I had the Sauteed Walleye, served with oven-dried tomato cream sauce and roasted red potatoes, ( that were cut to look like mushrooms.) We were all in awe at the presentation, the plates were almost to pretty to touch let alone eat. NOT! We ate with lots of oohs and ahhs and all agreed what we were eating was scrumptious. We all sampled each entree without coming to a clear conclusion of the favorite. Each dish was equally well prepared and delicious. We each left with leftovers and the thoughts of the next day’s great lunch. I have to say it was probably my favorite European meal in Wisconsin to this point. I am eager to visit again and try another one of their specialties, maybe, roast duckling with cranberry chutney.
- My Walleye, with Roasted Potatoes and Veggies.
If ever in Tomah, don’t forget to check out the little village shops that are along the cobblestone paths in Burnstads, the great bakery and maybe even stop in the pub and have a beverage.
Chilito Lindo, Authentic Mexican Restaurant. Viroqua, Wi
by Sandi on Feb.14, 2010, under Chilito Lindo, Mexican
We had a plan of spending a nice quiet Saturday at home, until Al mentions he was craving Mexican food. Alas, this will give me the opportunity to check out a restaurant that I have been encourage to visit in Viroqua , and after all, I am always ready to eat. So we are off!
We are on our way to Chilito Lindo, a Mexican Restaurant that has been in operation since 2007 when the owners Paul Vina And Joan Tromp relocated to the Kickapoo Valley. Paul and Joan were inspired to create tasty, traditional cuisine using ingredients from local farmers and producers whenever possible. The dishes are prepared by hand from authentic Mexican recipes, that have been handed down from Paul’s family from one generation to the next.
We were first welcomed by a nice cozy feeling due to the warm decor and then again by our courteous, friendly server Melissa. She approached us with complimentary chips and salsa and while she was getting our Mexican cokes, we had time to pondered our menus. We had plenty of choices from; tortas( Mexican burgers), burgers, tamales, tostadas, enchiladas, tacos, Mexican dinner’s, fajitas and burritos as well as desserts such as flan, sopapillas and of course fried ice
Warm, Comfy and Cozy.
cream. If in the mood you could also acquire an alcoholic beverage from the Cantina such as a house margarita or your favorite Mexican beer. Al automatically order a beef burrito dinner, (what a surprise) ,which was an open ended burrito filled with beef, smothered with ranchero sauce and topped with jack cheese and sour cream, served with beans and rice. I am not that quick to decide and usually look for something on the healthy side. I asked our helpful server Melissa for a suggestion of the most popular. I took her recommendation on the Colorado burrito which was Grade –A steak diced and grilled with cheese, onion, and cilantro and served with a lime cheese. No beans and rice for me. I wanted to save some room to try their tamales. I order the pork tamale due to Melissa mentioning that they were made on site, and fresh. The tamale was delightful; I wished I had order a dozen. Yum.
My burrito and Tamale.
Al was also very content and happy with his burrito dinner.
When in the area don’t forget to check out the Viroqua area, it has a lot to offer from an awesome Food Coop, ( which I am soon to write a blog about), to all of the the downtown specialty shops.
This adventure ended with us both feeling satisfied that we had found a impressive spot for Mexican Cuisine that was only a short drive from home. A eating place that we will recommend to our friends as well as encourage them to be sure to ask for Melissa as a server.
- Al’s as always ” Burrito Dinner.”
As Al would say, ” Life is short, enjoy every burrito.”
Target Bluff German Haus. Camp Douglas, Wi.
by Sandi on Feb.13, 2010, under German Haus.
This is the place for great Authentic German Cusine.
Have you ever went somewhere and felt like you were in another country, time or place. That is exactly how you will feel when you walk into Target Bluff German Haus Restaurant. We had recently returned from Czech Republic when we first ate there with Al’s brother Howard and his wife Carol. It felt amazingly familiar as if we were right back in Europe. Even though the German Haus specializes in German Cuisine, the similarities to the great foods we had just eaten in Czech were unbelievable. So authentic. Carol planned it so the night we ate there was the one time a month they put on a smorgasbord. (Next time is Saturday, February 27 th starting at 5:30 with a price of $15.95.) Your not gonna want to miss it! We had the opportunity to try many German dishes such as Wiener Schnitzel, Brats, Jaeger Schnitzel,
a Little Bit of Germany. Yum.
Schwins Hazen and Veal Cordon Bleu and sides such as German Potato Salad , Spaetzle and Pickled Red Cabbage. This is a very small list of what all was on the smorgasbord. It is times like this that you wish you had an extra stomach. It was excellent! If German Cuisine is not for you, they also have a lot of different selections such as International Seafood Selections, Traditional American steakhouse. and lots more on their menu even burgers and fries.
On many occasion you may be surprised by the great Polka Bands and yodeling that is happening while you are enjoying your meal.
The German Haus Restaurant is located just off Interstate 90-94 at Camp Douglas, a mere 30 minutes north of Wisconsin Dells on I-90/94. If you are on the road and looking for a great authentic food or if you want a leisurely dining experience, the German Haus is the place for you. It is also located near the Omaha Bike Trail. The German Haus also has bike rentals as well as a gift shop you would not want to miss.
Omaha Bike Trail.
If you are looking for a weekend get away this would be a great place to go with plenty of options of places to stay, great food to eat and lots of things to do and see.
Until next time , when it will be Mexican again, ( Al’s favorite.)
Don’t forget : ” Life is Short, Enjoy every Sandwich.”
Sandi and Al.
