Great Taste of the Midwest

The Weekend Ahead Aug. 7-9, 2026

Here's a curated list of the major Madison, WI events happening this weekend ...
GM Banh Mi

GM Banh Mi

On a busy stretch of W. Johnson Street sits GM Banh Mi, which opened last fall. It can be tough to find parking nearby, but the bread is worth the effort ...
The Great Gatsby

The Weekend Ahead July 31-Aug. 2, 2026

Here's a curated list of the major Madison, WI events happening this weekend ...
ActivatedYou

ActivatedYou

I am a proponent of anything that can improve health and wellness, and thus I was happy to accept an offer to try products from ActivatedYou ...

Great Harvest Bread Co.

January 3rd, 2015

If you’re a follower of low carb, slow carb or Paleo, Great Harvest Bread Co. on the near west side isn’t going to jibe with your lifestyle. However, it’s worth it if you’re willing to take a cheat day, because, as the name implies, it does bread very well.

For example, I was a fan of the honey whole wheat loaf ($5.75) and the extreme cinnamon swirl loaf from the Everyday Bread menu. Both were moist with a soft crust. Among the daily breads, I enjoyed the cheddar garlic loaf ($7.95), although it was more subtle than I expected. It was better once I heated it up to melt the cheese a bit.

Desserts include cookies, scones and muffins. If you have trouble deciding, there are plenty of free samples of both breads and desserts that you may try.

You get your choice of bread with the sandwiches. For one, I wanted as plain as possible, so I ordered the ham & swiss ($7) on white. This is an ideal sandwich for non-adventurous eaters. On the other end of the spectrum, I got the robust chimichurri roast beef ($8.25) on Dakota bread. The fresh chimichurri is the predominant flavor. I just wish I picked a different bread, as the Dakota–chocked full of seeds and nuts–is better with butter than in this sandwich. (Speaking of butter, I also bought a really tasty garlic butter ($4.25), fresh whipped in the store.)

The “limited time” sandwich has remained the same since the grand opening in September, though an employee told me it will soon change each month. Currently it’s the Smoked Turkey Goddess ($7.75), which consists of a delightful combination of avocado, parsley, basil, tarragon, scallions, lemon juice, smoked turkey breast and Havarti cheese.

Great Harvest is open Monday-Saturday for breakfast and lunch. A word of caution: it’s very warm inside due to all the commercial ovens running continuously, so dress appropriately if you’re planning on dining in.

YPNYE preview

December 27th, 2014

Following is a guest post from Andrea Mace, an organizer of the annual YPNYE, held Dec. 31 at the Hilton in downtown Madison.

In November 2013, I had a conversation with Regina McFarland, Chris Stark, Patrick Fosdick and Katie Gaynor, and we discussed how there’s nothing to do in Madison on New Year’s Eve. That led to “why can’t we throw the best New Year’s party Madison has ever seen? Hence, YPNYE was born. We sold out the inaugural event, which featured entertainment by DJ Aaron Jai and all-inclusive desserts and premium cocktails.

This year will feature a theme of Old Hollywood glam, so dress the part of your favorite silver screen legend. Tickets are $99 per person and can be purchased at ypnye.com or facebook.com/ypnye.

Upon arrival, guests will be greeted with red carpet photos. Fresh Madison Market will be providing desserts, and we’ll also have post-midnight snacks. Wirtz Beverage is providing the premium cocktails, wine and beer. DJ Aaron Jai will once again lead the entertainment.

Also worth noting is the champagne toast and a VIP lounge, which includes special craft cocktails and hors d’oeuvres for $135.

Saving the best for last: 100 percent of the profits from this event are donated to a local cause. This year we have selected Special Olympics Wisconsin and hope to present them with a sizable check after the event. See you at YPNYE!

The food lover’s gadget wish list

December 21st, 2014

Whether you’re a foodie, love to cook, have a killer home bar or simply want to make your life more convenient, here’s a list of gadgets that are sure to make good gifts:

Magnetic safe kitchen timer

One-click butter cutter

Gin and Titonic ice cube mold

Sushi Bazooka

Amplifier fridge

Pizza scissors spatula


Bottle opener remote control

Watermelon tap

All ends baking pan


    Madison Symphony Orchestra Urban Air

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