Pink Heifer

Pink Heifer BBQ Saloon

After opening in Monticello a few years ago, Pink Heifer BBQ Saloon expanded to State Street this year. However, the new location doesn't have the full menu, full bar, ample dining space and charm of a historic building as the ...
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I recently vacationed in the U.S. Virgin Islands and enjoyed drinking fun, fruity cocktails throughout the week. Thus, I was happy to accept an offer to review Beach Cocktails: Pours, Drinks, Sips, and Bites ($21.99, Gibbs Smith), edited by Allyson ...
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Lupe’s Taqueria

September 18th, 2016

20160915_113834Lupe’s Taqueria opened in May in the Middleton Hills Center. It’s a tiny restaurant that serves simple but for the most part tasty Mexican staples, meaning that it needs to make a few improvements here and there.

Get in line and build your entree. Burritos, tostadas, quesadillas, nachos and salad bowls are $7.25, tortas are $8.25 and tacos (corn or flour tortillas) are $2.25.

For meats, choose from shredded chicken, chorizo, picadillo, roasted pork and beef. Toppings consist of Mexican rice, black beans, pinto beans, cilantro, onion, tomatoes, shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, diced jalapeño and cojito cheese.

The pork in my burrito was tender but a little bland. Fortunately, it was helped by the mild green sauce. The jalapeños added no discernible heat, probably because they were overly diced. Overall I would say the burrito was fine but certainly not satisfying.

Just the opposite, the diced beef in my taco was slightly tough (overcooked) but flavorful, and the hot sauce was actually hot. Meanwhile, the corn tortillas were under-heated, which partially ruined the taco.

If you work or live in the area, Lupe’s is not a bad destination for Mexican food, but otherwise there’s nothing on the menu that would draw me away from other taquerias in town.

Lupe’s Taqueria is open every day for lunch and dinner. For some reason, the restaurant has added team trivia on Thursdays.

Lupe's Taqueria Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

El Norteño Mexican Meat Snacks

September 11th, 2016

20160909_152630I usually keep snacks such as almonds and beef jerky–instead of chips and candy–in my office. When snack foods company El Norteño invited me to try its Mexican-recipe meat snacks, I accepted happily.

El Norteño launched on Jan. 1, 2016 right here in Madison after spending 12 months crafting its recipe. According to a spokesperson, it’s the only company selling authentic recipe cecina (meat that has been salted and dried) as a packaged snack in the country.

The product line features the aforementioned cecina ($45 for 12 bags), tira de carne (meat sticks; $25 for 24) in both habanero and habenero-lime flavors.

You’ll hopefully like that the meat sticks have a strong, beefy flavor, and the heat from the habanero peppers actually comes through. Even better, there’s a good snap to each bite, and you don’t have to worry about the casing getting stuck in your teeth like with other meat sticks.

20160911_085354Interestingly, the dried meat comes with a packet of hot sauce (I didn’t use it). The cecina is well-seasoned, to the point I would call it spicy (NOT spicy-hot). Compared to Jacks Link’s beef jerky, the cecina’s texture is slightly softer, and it carries more protein (16 grams vs. 12 grams) and has fewer carbs (1 gram vs. 5 grams).

Overall, El Norteño’s introductory products make for satisfying snacks, worthy of adding to your lineup.

You can order all the products online or buy them at stores such as Woodman’s and Kelley’s Market. A good place to try them in person would be at the Sept. 29 Bodega at Breese Stevens Field.

Boomtown Saloon

September 4th, 2016

IMG_20160828_123238If you’re driving from Lake Delton toward Wisconsin Dells, following Hwy 12 as it curves to the right, you’ll likely miss Boomtown Saloon, which is just a block beyond that turn. If you want surprisingly good bar food, keep going straight next time.

With far more bar seating than table seating, plus live music, a pool table, darts and pull tabs, it’s definitely more “saloon” than restaurant. However, a two-page menu had many items that exceeded my expectations.

For example, I absolutely loved the Memphis sliders ($7 for four). It’s diced, seasoned chicken with BBQ sauce, pickles and non-creamy cole slaw inside Hawaiian rolls. You’ll encounter lots of different flavors combined with crunchy and tender textures.

IMG_20160828_123650Meanwhile, the Nashville hot chicken ($12 for two, $17 for five) was not at all spicy, but it was still delicious fried chicken. Very crispy skin + moist chicken = satisfying (except for the missing heat). You also will find chicken and waffles ($9) and various fried fish on this portion of the menu.

On my next visit, I’m going to get the Sriracha Bourbon Burger ($12), which is topped with spicy cheese curds and a Sriracha-bourbon sauce. For sides, you may choose between sidewinder fries and Boomtown Hush Puppies ($6 as an appetizer). The latter are really deep-fried cornbread balls. Though quite dry, they were helped a bit by the accompanying butter-syrup cup.

My only disappointment was the southwest chicken wrap ($10). Boomtown puts excellent twists on the menu items, but this wrap was pretty standard, though the jalapeno ranch sauce enhanced the flavor.

Boomtown Saloon is open every day for lunch and dinner.

Boomtown Saloon Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

    Madison Symphony Orchestra Urban Air

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