Salty vs. Sweet

Thank you, Anne, for you kind words yesterday per milwaukeeisnotthatbad.com.  You definitely got me typing again!

I’ve had this idea for a while now…it all started when I was leaving the Iron Horse Hotel after a date night with my husband at Smyth, (which I just have to say, I love the “bar food” at the Iron Horse so much more than their “upscale” selection).  After dinner, my hubby desperately wanted something sweet as we headed to our favorite late-night dessert place in the bar/cocktail area at Bacchus for their Molten Chocolate Hazelnut Cake and a quick glass of Mirabelle champagne.  Don’t get me wrong, it was a fabulous way to end the night, but my salty craving is just as strong, as his sweet…and no, bacon ice-cream does not do it more me either!  I just couldn’t stop thinking about the Iron Horse’s  house-made truffle chips and wondered why I decided to order a $30+ steak instead.  Well here’s my plight for individuals who crave the savory and tried and true places you can find home-made potato chips to satisfy your inner-salty.

• Cafe Lulu
• Saz’s State House Restaurant
• Bigg’s Roadhouse
• Swingin’ Door Exchange
• Miss Katie’s Diner
• Kokopelli’s Pub & Grub
• O’Lydia’s

Gluten Free Options

I love my mother dearly, but I’m being completely honest when I say, sometimes it’s difficult to have dinner with her due to her gluten-free dietary restrictions.  What I’m finding though, is that more and more Milwaukee restaurants are adding more gluten-free options (especially pasta, even pizza and bbq sauce) to their menus, which just makes my mom happy and my life a lot easier!  So, whether you have a dietary restriction yourself, a loved one does, or you just don’t like gluten because you think its bad for you, here are some fantastic hot-spots to hit up!

• Restorante Bartolotta in Wauwatosa
• Centro Cafe in Riverwest
• Transfer Pizzeria in Bayview
• Il Mito in Wauwatosa
• Beans and Barley on the Eastside
• Eddie Martini’s in Wauwatosa
• Water Buffalo in the Third Ward
• Cafe Manna in Brookfield
• Stack’d Bar in the Third Ward
• Cafe Tarragon in Bayview
• Saz’s in Milwaukee
• Roots in Brewer’s Hill

The Raw Bar

Okay, I blogged about mussels, but what about those delicious, aphrodisiac pieces in a half shell that have some people just crazy over oysters!  There are several spots in Milwaukee where the oysters are just outstanding.

Here’s where to get them:

Harbor House, during Happy Hour you can order oysters for 89 cents a pop!

Maxie’s Southern Comfort, during Happy Hour (daily from 4-6pm) fresh shucked oysters are half-off!

St. Paul Fish, get them fresh everyday, but on Thursdays, Blue Point Oysters are 2-for-1.

Barnacle Buds, (currently closed for the season), but Milwaukee’s only outdoor oyster bar sells them $18/dozen.

Mason Street Grill, “Throw ‘Em Back Thursdays” gets you a dozen oysters and a pitcher of beer for $20.

 

 

 

Tuesday Night Music

Once you get through a Monday, some of us need a pick-me-up now and again.  Since the weather is bordering “real” WI winter temperatures, I am not exactly inclined in hopping all over the city.  Several, very cool, Milwaukee hot-spots offer great music series’ on Tuesday nights, which may give you the hop, skip, and/or jump you need to get through the rest of the week!

Check out my top 3 picks:

Tonic Tavern for Jazz at 8pm

Brocach for an Irish Music Session at 8pm

Charro for Soul, Flamenco, Rock at 6pm

 

The Best Italian Beef

When it comes to Italian food, Milwaukee doesn’t have a “Little Italy” portion of the city, but that certainly doesn’t imply that we don’t have our fair share of authentic restaurants and famous Italian, immigrant families.  Today I would like to praise the Italian Beef sandwich, which encompasses a rich history of juicy meat, soppy bread, and either spice and/or  sweetness from a crazy, homemade giardiniera!  As a connoisseur of the sandwich myself, here is where I go to experience such an epic piece of heaven (in several areas of the city).

• Dr. Dawg
• Frankie’s Sammiches
• Martino’s
• Glorioso’s
• Sammy’s Taste of Chicago

Which establishment is your favorite?

 

 

Reiki

As the new year is beginning, many of us are hitting it hard back at work, yet still recovering from all of the holiday hoopla.  If you are in need of some spiritual healing to ease your mind, (as your ki (pronounced chi) is rebalanced) Reiki may be the right therapy for you.  Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing.  The purpose is to help people realize that healing the spirit by consciously deciding to improve oneself is a necessary part of the Reiki healing experience. In order for the Reiki healing energies to have lasting results, the client must accept responsibility for her or his healing and take an active part in it.  If this is of any interest, there are many practitioners throughout the city that are trained in performing this special technique.

• Health and Power Yoga Studio
• Rouge
• Milwaukee Reiki
• Loving Light Healing
• One Healing Heart

TRX Training

When I’ve been in the BEST shape of my life it involved TRX training (and Kate Gigstad from the WAC).  TRX suspension training was originally developed by the Navy Seals to prepare them for combat.  The TRX straps that you use, leverage gravity and your body weight to enable a variety of exercises that develop strength, balance, flexibility, and core.  Check out this video of quarterback Drew Brees using the TRX to get ready for the season!  YUM.

Here’s where you can try it for yourself:

• Drench
• Ramp Up Fitness
• The Fitness Asylum
• Elite

 

Wham, Bam, Pow!

The benefits from practicing in any of the many disciplines of martial arts are reflected both physically and psychologically.  Martial arts improves balance, flexibility, stamina, posture, and most importantly, self-confidence!  Many of us enjoy changing up our workouts now and again, so why don’t you try one of the oldest teachings on the planet, right here in Milwaukee!

• Roufusport
• Milwaukee Aikido Club
• T’ai Chi Ch’uan Center of Milwaukee
• Futen Dojo
• Matamoros Jiu Jitsu

 

Riviera Maya

There are occasional Sunday brunch days that I find myself only craving Mexican food for breakfast!  When that’s the case, Cafe Corazon is usually one of my first picks, but so is Riviera Maya.  Located in the heart of Bay View, Riviera Maya serves a very reasonable, tasty brunch filled with spice!  Every dish comes with your choice of Refried Pinto Beans, Black Beans, Rice or Riviera’s incredible Potato Dish.  The chorizo is lovely, the pico is as fresh as it gets, and their Chilaquiles (fried tortilla strips stewed in red or green sauce, with sour cream and sprinkled with queso fresco) are a must have.  Riviera serves a mean Bloody Maria and is open at 11am on Sundays.  Enjoy your time and definitely try the Huevos Divorciados for breakfast.

Bagels

Sometimes Sunday brunch just isn’t in the cards, especially if you’re running low on time.  If they were carb free, I would eat a bagel everyday of my life, but since that’s just not reality, I tend to spoil myself on the weekends!  If you’re into bagels as well, here are some suggestions (for any day of the week).  (If Blue Dawg Bagels was still around it would definitley be my number one choice!!!)

1. Bruegger’s on the Eastside and Downtown
2. Anodyne in Bayview
3. Alterra on the Eastside and the Lakefront
4. Benji’s in Shorewood
5. City Market in Shorewood
6. Brewed Cafe on Brady Street
7. Einstein Bros Bagels on the Eastside
8. Panera on the Eastside
9. Dunkin’ Doughnuts on the MU campus
10. Sven’s Cafe in Bayview