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Make your health a top priority

May 12th, 2011

EatDrinkMadison.com is pleased to have Mike Tortorice, area manager for Anytime Fitness, submit this guest blog:

You see and hear about health almost everywhere you turn, yet the irony behind the whole wellness buzz is for many of us it still remains on our to do list. The health choices we make today have a significant impact on our quality of life we face for years to come.

The good news is we all have the ability to avoid being just another health statistic by making the proper health choices now. Routine fitness is becoming preventive health care for millions throughout the world and it works. That’s because it will help increases energy and reduces stress.

Routine fitness is a combination of cardiovascular training and basic strength and conditioning. Getting your heart rate up on a regular basis through simple activities like biking, jogging or even a brisk walk will go a long way. Having the proper balance of general strength training three times per week is also crucial.

Muscles in your body can deteriorate fast as you age, so just like changing the oil on your car every three months, your body needs to be maintained as well with basic weight training. This will increase your metabolism, which is the key to permanent fat loss. Being stronger can also help dramatically decrease injuries and arthritis while increasing flexibility.

Other benefits include supporting your ability to stand upright as you age, lower blood pressure, reduce risk of stroke, eliminate heart disease and diabetes, fight fatigue/depression and sleep better. Make today the day your health gets taken off you’re to do list.

Tipsy Cow to open; BW3s downtown to move

May 10th, 2011

Monday was a seemingly big day for restaurant news, as I received press releases about the opening of the Tipsy Cow and the moving of Buffalo Wild Wings downtown.

Regarding the former, it’s going to be another craft beer bar. This will make the second time the owners have copied what’s already on the Capitol Square, as they opened King & Mane after Coopers Tavern opened (both are gastropubs), and now they are copying Coopers again in the beer aspect. Still, I have high hopes.

I’ve had a lot of fond memories of the BW3s on State Street, especially from drinking the Buffalo Zoos (imagine a Wando’s Fish Bowl in a 22-oz glass). They are having some specials until they close later this month, then they’re reopening at University Square.

Announcing the Tipsy Cow

Madison, WI – Adding to downtown’s diverse restaurant and bar scene, Patrick O’Halloran and Michael Banas (co-owners of Lombardino’s Restaurant), along with Sue Kirton, are proud to present their newest venture, the Tipsy Cow, opening May 23, 2011 at 102 King Street.

The Tipsy Cow is a craft beer bar at heart while also following in the Wisconsin corner tavern tradition. With house beers from Left Hand and New Glarus having a permanent spot, the tap and bottle selection at the Tipsy Cow will be ever-changing, as they will be Madison’s go-to bar for some of the best and most interesting micro-brews from around the country.

To accompany these fine brews, chefs Patrick O’Halloran and Robert Kulow have crafted a menu that will please foodies and beer enthusiasts alike. Using high-quality, simple ingredients, the menu is a straight-forward approach to tavern dining. Here, traditional fare such as burgers and fries are given new life with simple touches. Menu highlights include white truffle fries, Spotted Cow-battered onion rings and the spicy slaw dog. These innovative dishes are enhanced by local ingredients including Usinger’s sausages from Milwaukee, Nueske’s bacon from Wittenberg and Whitetail Country Meats ham from Hayward.

# # #

FIRST BUFFALO WILD WINGS® IN WISCONSIN – STATE STREET IN MADISON – CELEBRATING MAY 21 CLOSING WITH PARTIES, RETRO PRICES

New, Bigger Location Opening Late Summer on University Ave.

MADISON, Wis. (May 6, 2011) – On Dec. 3, 1993, the nation’s tenth and Wisconsin’s first Buffalo Wild Wings® opened its doors at 529 State Street. The Madison fixture will be closing its doors for good on May 21 to make way for a bigger, better location steps away at 789 University Ave.

The popular Madison hangout, which opened just in time for the Badgers to beat Michigan State in the legendary Tokyo game, is saying thanks for 17 great years with big parties and 1993 retro prices. On Tuesdays May 10 and May 17, wings will be just 25 cents, and during its last week, drink specials all day long will rolled back to prices featured during happy hour in 1993.

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Mint Julep season

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.

    Madison Symphony Orchestra Urban Air

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