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Planning your Preakness party

Sunday, May 12th, 2013

Photo from www.preakness.com

Regarding cocktails, I think most people associate the Kentucky Derby with mint juleps. But what about the Preakness, the second leg of  the Triple Crown?

If you answered the Black-Eyed Susan, pat yourself on the back. (The Preakness also is known as “The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans,” because the winning horse is draped with a blanket of daisies meant to look like Black-Eyed Susans–hence the drink.)

So many people throw Kentucky Derby-viewing parties, but no one throws one for the Preakness, which takes place this Saturday. With that in mind, here are some recommendations on what to serve:

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Flavors of Madison

Sunday, April 14th, 2013

The second annual Flavors of Madison takes place from 5-7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 21 at the Concourse Hotel. For $40, you get to try dishes from about 25 area restaurants, so come hungry.

I was wondering how this event differs from the Taste of Madison. According to Joan Herzing, marketing manager of the Concourse, “The restaurants are all local and independent, the serving sizes are smaller so you can taste from more places and the tastes are included in your (admission).”

That means no national chains like Little Caesar’s, Capriottti’s or The Melting Pot; rather, you’ll get Pizza Brutta, Brasserie V and Old Feed Mill. I’m looking forward to the diversity of cuisine types, from Blue Marlin to Daisy Cafe & Cupcakery to Quivey’s Grove.  And yes, there will be a cash bar.

Last year, all 400 tickets were sold out, and this year, thanks to the bigger venue, 500 tickets will be available. The purchase price includes a a $10 Madison Originals gift card, good for about 50 restaurants, and helps fund two Madison College culinary scholarships.

For those unfamiliar with Madison Originals, it’s a not-for-profit association of local, independently owned restaurants and affiliated businesses in the Madison area. It also publishes a quarterly magazine.

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Food & Wine Festival shopping list ‘12

Sunday, October 21st, 2012

Whether you’re in search of some good food or need ideas for the holiday shopping season, here’s a list of items I purchased or will purchase from the Isthmus Food & Wine Festival held last weekend:

  • Mrs. Chippy’s Caramel Corn from Chippy’s Kettle Corn. I also enjoyed the Yumchata Oatmeal Cookie flavor and the Buffalo Wine & Bleu Cheese Dressing flavor.
  • Old Fashioned Malted Milk Powder Malt from CTL Foods. If you like Whoppers, you’ll love this. Try adding it to coffee.
  • Strawbanero jam from Blue Collar Cafe & Jams. Excellent combination of sweet and spicy. Loved the Bluebanero, too.
  • The garlic beefsticks and Teriyaki beefsticks from Otter Creek Organic Farm. These make a great snack!
  • The goat salami and Tuscan salami from Underground Meats. Makes me regret not signing up for its meat-CSA last year.
  • Plain 9-12 Gouda from Holland Family Farms. I had always ignored Gouda … until now.
  • Brick spread from Widmer Cheese Cellar. Why waste a cracker? I could eat this straight from the container.
  • Rob Abuelo 12-Year Rum. I doubt I’ve had a better rum. “Smooth” would be underselling it.
  • Dark Amber Organic Maple Syrup from Kickapoo Gold. You’ll never use Aunt Jemima again.

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The Food & Wine Show 2.0

Sunday, October 14th, 2012

Madison Magazine was the longtime organizer of the annual Food & Wine Show until this year, when it instead played host to a week-long series of events called the Festival of Foods, held Oct. 8-14. Just like Hollywood rebooted Batman, Spider-Man and the Incredible Hulk, the Isthmus took over the renamed Food & Wine Festival, which takes place Oct. 19-20 at Exhibition Hall, and added its own spin.

“We have refocused the event stressing local products and flavors,” Chris Majchrzak, Marketing & Events Manager at Isthmus Publishing Company, Inc., said. “And (we’ve added) more food, especially local food.”

I’m especially happy with the latter statement, as over the years I’ve noticed fewer and fewer food stands. But more on that in a moment.

Apparently, folks at the Alliant Energy Center didn’t want to see the show go away, so they contacted the Isthmus about taking over. The Isthmus also runs the Beer & Cheese Fest each January at Exhibition Hall, so it was a natural fit.

Majchrzak went on to explain that they hope to “slow down the pace of the event and emphasize the informational and education aspect as well.” That’s good for the exhibitors, because as with any food/wine-type show, there’s always a lot of drive-by eating that occurs.

But back to the food. I looked at the list of exhibitors, and it does appear to sport more food vendors than previous year. Examples include Osteria Papavero, Roman Candle Pizzeria, Old Feed Mill, AJ Bombers and Sprecher’s Restaurant.

And of course, I look forward to sampling endless wine and finding out what’s currently “in”–last year, Moscato was all the rage. Here’s a list of items I bought last year.

One-day passes cost $40, or you can get a two-day pass for $65. I’ve been given a discount code to save $10 on tickets, so please feel free to use it: foodwineblog

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Madison Food & Wine Show 2011

Wednesday, October 19th, 2011

The 10th annual Madison Food & Wine Show, presented by Madison Magazine, takes place Friday-Sunday at Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center. If you can’t attend, make sure to follow me on Twitter (@EatDrinkMadison), as I’ll be live-tweeting all weekend from the event.

As usual, I’m looking forward to sampling some of the 300 wines and taste some of the gourmet food. I even re-watched “Sideways” this week to get me in the wine mood. Here’s some more info on the event:

Tickets

A one-day pass is $37/advance, $42/door, while a weekend pass is $60/advance, $70/door. Order online or at outlets throughout the city. Note: no one under the age of 21 is allowed–no exceptions.

Friday, 5-9 p.m.

Events include “How to Host a Wine Party” ($10) and a beer and chocolate pairing ($10). Also, see the first two rounds of the dueling chefs competition.

Saturday, noon-5 p.m.

Check out the port and bleu cheese tasting ($10), Madison College’s pastry arts cake decorating and a Chef Showcase with Rod Ladson of Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse.

Sunday, noon-5 p.m.

The finalists of the Big Cheese Cook-off will compete to make the best grilled cheese sandwich. In addition, catch the finals of the dueling chefs competition.

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Memorial Day dining and events ideas

Sunday, May 22nd, 2011

I love Memorial Day because to me, it signals the start of summer here in the Midwest. If you plan on heading out of town, here are some events, restaurants and bars within a two-hour drive that I suggest checking out:

Lake Geneva area

  • I’ve enjoyed the all-you-can-eat fish fry at Popeye’s On Lake Geneva. Champs Sports Bar and Grill and Hogs & Kisses are some fun places to grab a drink or watch the game. I would like to try Ryan Braun’s Tavern & Grill (formerly the Cactus Club) some day.
  • On the other side of the lake is Fontana, which features the Abbey Resort. If you’re looking for a spa, the on-site Avani Spa is definitely the place to go (you may not want to leave!).
  • Not too far from Lake Geneva is Burlington, home of the annual ChocolateFest (Friday-Monday), complete with live music, chocolate and wine pairings and a chocolate eating contest. It’s a fun event, but I really mean this: there needs to be more chocolate! For example, most of the food vendors don’t sell chocolate.

Galena, Ill.

Kohler/Elkhart Lake

  • The Midwest’s only AAA Five-Diamond Resort, the American Club, will host many of the events for the Kohler Festival of Beer this weekend. I wonder if patrons are supposed to wear suits and dresses when they drink the beer?
  • Speaking of the American Club, the Horse & Plow is a pub and grill in the same complex that’s open to the public. Sorta has a Boston feel to it. For places to eat in Elkhart Lake, watch this informative video from the visitor’s bureau.

Please leave a comment below if you have some fun places or events worth checking out. Have a great weekend!

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Mint Julep season

Sunday, May 8th, 2011

A week before the Kentucky Derby, I was enjoying a mint julep at the Round Robin Bar inside the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C. What better venue than where DC’s first mint julep was served, thanks to “famous Kentucky Senator and Congressman Henry Clay,” who introduced the cocktail, according to the bar menu.

While the Round Robin’s mint julep is good, I don’t think it’s great, mainly because they use too much ice and so very little bourbon, then charge you $14 for it.

Fast forward a week, and I’m enjoying a few mint juleps for the Kentucky Derby, the first of three races known as the Triple Crown. In 2006, the race sold $1,000 mint juleps for charity. They were made with Woodford Reserve bourbon, ice from the Arctic, mint from Morocco and sugar from the South Pacific and served in a gold-plated cup with a silver straw. Not bad for $50 a sip.

Here’s my preferred recipe. You’ll need fresh spearmint (I get mine from the Farmers’ Market), simple syrup (boil a cup of sugar in one cup of water without stirring, then let it cool), crushed ice, club soda (if you don’t use simple syrup, then replace the club soda with water) and Maker’s Mark.

Muddle a few mint leaves with a splash of simple syrup. Add crushed ice, 2-3 shots of Maker’s Mark (how strong do you like it?), some more simple syrup (add according to how sweet you prefer it), more mint leaves, top off with club soda (or water), then gently stir with a straw.

Don’t forget your floppy hat.

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Bockfest

Sunday, February 27th, 2011

On the last Saturday of every February, Capital Brewery throws an outdoor party called Bockfest to feature the release of its Blonde Doppelbock beer. The event includes a 1K Running of the Blondes, live band and staff throwing fish from the roof.

I have to say this event is soooo Wisconsin–drinking beer outdoors in 20-degree weather with snow falling. After being a regular for a few years, I boycotted the event after the debacle of 2008, when Capital Brewery decided to let people in at 11 a.m. but not serve them until noon, allowed too many people to come through the gates (imagine more than 3,000 people wearing winter clothing crammed into a very tight space) and reduced the number of stands selling beer (lines were more than an hour to purchase beer).

Consider yourself forgiven, Capital Brewery. This year attendance was limited to 2,500, and there were plenty of places to buy beer (I never waited more than five minutes). Even better, patrons could purchase the Blonde Doppelbock (one per customer for the whole day) at the beginning of the event instead of later in the afternoon. This helped prevent a mad rush at the time the beer became available, and it allowed people a better way to pace themselves over drinking liters (the preferred volume at the event) of other Capital beers for the first three hours, then drinking an eight percent alcohol beer.

Many people got (free) tickets by attending the Bockfest Ticket Release Party. While the event started at 6 p.m., the first group got in line at 2:45, and by 3 p.m., there were already 12 groups in line. Perhaps an easier way is to book a room at a nearby hotel, which will not only give you a place to crash immediately after binge drinking for several hours, but also two free tickets.

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Arthritis Foundation Wine Tasting

Sunday, November 14th, 2010

EatDrinkMadison.com is pleased to feature an article from guest blogger Stephanie Caine of the Arthritis Foundation.

The Arthritis Foundation held its 12th Annual International Wine Tasting on Saturday, Nov. 6, at Full Compass Systems. The venue was alive with theatrical lighting, purple linens, pleasant jazz from the John Vitale group, and of course, an amazing collection of the area’s best in food and beverage.

Whole Foods Market selected the wine vendors, in addition to providing a spread of domestic and imported cheeses and other snacks—beautifully laid out and decorated with evergreens foreshadowing the holiday season.

Local winery Botham Vineyards provided souvenir tasting glasses, while Yahara Bay Distillers and Potosi Brewery added to the variety. There was truly something for everyone and much more than just wine at this tasting.

Also highlighting the lineup were the National Mustard Museum, Gail Ambrosius, Vom Fass and Shinji Muramoto, who assembled appetizers on stage as cameras fed the action to guests around the venue via large plasma displays. Certified Advanced Sommelier Toni Johnson of Professional Wine Consultants was on hand to share her immense knowledge of wine.

This year’s Wine Tasting included brief words by people of various ages with arthritis, who thanked guests for supporting the Arthritis Foundation. For instance, five-year-old Addie, who has juvenile arthritis, explained that she likes the regular shots the disease requires her to get because they make her knees feel better.

The Foundation funds vital research as well as local programs and services for those with arthritis. There were several fun ways to support the cause on that Saturday, including fabulous live and silent auctions, a mystery cork sale and an appeal for Camp M.A.S.H., a summer camp for kids with arthritis. The Arthritis Foundation sends its sincere thanks to everyone involved with the 2010 International Wine Tasting, for making it a great success!

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Creativity with the Onion, MSO and L’Etoile

Tuesday, November 9th, 2010

I had a chance to listen to Onion Founding Editor Scott Dikkers, L’Etoile and Graze Executive Chef Tory Miller and Madison Symphony Orchestra Music Director John DeMain speak on creativity at an event called 100:1 organized by Knupp & Watson & Wallman (KW2) last week at Sundance Cinemas.

Each speaker brought up a unique perspective to how creativity drives their profession—Dikkers mentioned how many hundreds of headlines are rejected to get down to the few that are used in each issue; Miller talked about walking into his cooler to get inspiration for new dishes; and DeMain recounted how new approaches helped triple audience attendance to MSO performances.

The audience of Madison-area business professionals (quite a few in the communications industry) also heard the unifying traits of creativity that were shared amongst the three. The one that resonated with me the most was persistence over raw talent. That motto probably works in most areas, not just in the creative world.

My favorite moment was when Miller admitted he has ADD and was having trouble concentrating during this presentation; in fact, he joked that he was trying to focus on the water bottle in front of him to stop drifting off.

For more information on the 100:1 events, check out http://www.kw2ideas.com/100to1.

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