Fratelli's

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Dating: eating and drinking

September 11th, 2011

I’ve recently read some amusing lists from across the web on what not to order while on a date, and what your beverage choice says about you. Here are my favorites:

  • Garlic and onions: I thought this was obvious, but I didn’t realize that the oils from garlic and onions stay in the bloodstream for 2-3 days, so don’t eat avoid these items prior to your date.
  • Martini: I see martinis as a drink you order at the bar while waiting for your table. “If you’re a guy, you’re trying to impress (and it’s probably working). If you’re a girl drinking a dirty martini, you’re a hot mess–the dirtier, the messier, the hotter.” Interesting.
  • Vodka Gimlet: “You’re a huge dork, but you hope sort of in a cool way?” I could see this. What, you couldn’t just order a martini? (See above)
  • White wine: “You’re definitely a woman. You’re possibly a little uptight.” Yikes, seems a little harsh. I know a lot of women who order white wine all the time. Now that I think of it … j/k
  • Ice cream cone: Apparently, you should generally avoid foods you have to lick to avoid becoming a “frantically licking moron.” Plus, it says “No guy needs that kind of pressure. No woman wants that kind of attention.” Hahaha.
  • Wrong situations for certain drinks: If you order a beer while at a cocktail bar, “you’re overprotective of your manhood or unadventurous.” On the other hand, if you order a cocktail while at a dive bar, you’re just plain “insufferable.” Actually, I’ve seen someone order a Merlot, and another person order a dirty martini, while at a dive bar. You could see everyone in the bar turn their heads toward them.

Sources: The Daily Meal, Betty Confidential and the Hot Dish

Sandwich musings

September 4th, 2011

Over the past year or so, I’ve had some interesting sandwiches, and here they are collected in one blog post:

The Fat Magnum at Fat Sandwich Company. Please don’t tell me how many calories are in this sandwich, because I’ve now eaten it … twice. It is an eight-inch roll with a double cheeseburger, chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks, bacon, eggs, french fries, mayo and ketchup. Despite an unlikely combination of ingredients, it’s actually really good, especially with a beer.

The Bobbie at Capriotti’s. I received a coupon in the mail to try it, which was a good idea since I don’t know if I would have spent money on a sandwich that came with turkey, cranberry sauce and stuffing, but boy, was I pleasantly surprised. I usually don’t mix sweet and salty, but the flavors in this popular item were perfectly balanced, and I definitely would recommend it to anyone.

The Aloha Slider at Fit Fresh Cuisine. Again, here’s my hesitation of combining sweet and salty–this burger had a slice of pineapple on it, plus a slightly spicy sauce.  But it was delivered to me while I was a judge for Taste of Madison, and I was impressed. The nice kick that you get as you bite in sealed the deal for me. (You still won’t catch me adding pineapple to pizza, though.)

Tropical Cuisine

August 28th, 2011

Tropical Cuisine opened quietly last month on Broom Street between W. Washington and W. Mifflin. It claims to be the “first authentic Puerto Rican restaurant in Madtown.”

With only a table of four as the only other diners during a recent lunch, I was surprised and annoyed that my order took 34 minutes. It’s probably why the restaurant has flat screens–which would otherwise be out of place–in the corners: so that you have something to do while you wait and wait and wait.

The appetizers list includes stuffed bananas ($1.75), cod fritters ($1.75) and rib tips (8/$4.50 and 16/$9). I tried the meat turnover ($1.75), and while eating it I couldn’t help but think that the meat patty at Jamerica is much more enjoyable than the bland counterpart I was consuming. It probably would have been better if it came with some sort of dipping sauce.

The steak jibarito, which is a sandwich that uses plantains, was better.  I liked the creamy sauce and the steak, though as a whole it was pretty messy. Note, if you don’t like plantains, which are much less flavorful than bananas, you may not like jibaritos.

The disappointment continued in my other sandwich, as I ordered the Tripleta ($6.25), which has ham, pork, pastrami and turkey, but instead I was given just a pork sandwich ($5.75). On top of missing several meats, there was very little pork; the sandwich was mostly just bread.

Other menu items include a steam table, which is one meat and two sides from the daily menu for $8.50; stuffed plantains, including one with octopus for $14.95; and soups, salads and a kids menu.

Tropical Cuisine is open Mon-Sat for lunch, dinner and carryout. There are metered spots in front, or you can park in the Metropolitan Place ramp behind it.

    Madison Symphony Orchestra Urban Air

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