Why Wait for Good Food?

On the weekends, mainly Sundays since that is my only day "off" from my corporate job and going to school full time, I like to indulge at little diners around town, but hate the wait. I figure the longer the wait, the "coolness factor" starts to diminish, no matter where you're at.

Here's a tip for any diner to limit the wait on satisfying your hunger.

Just skip right by the hostess, past the line of people waiting for tables, and plop your happy self on a stool right at the counter. Most counters are right in front of the grill which gives you a front row seat to watch the magic happen.

*Now this has worked for majority of the diners that I have been to, but if it's an unfamiliar diner I would talk to hostess first before proceeding to the counter....you don't want the diner bouncer to kick your little happy butt right off that stool (j/k...maybe)

Wisconsin State Fair

It was a fair of many different types of food, people and missing toothed carnies from all over the dairy saturated state of WI. I went with my cousin and her family on a hot and humid day; where no matter what you do or don't do, you sweat in places you never knew could sweat. There were the many vendors of pizza, ice cream, and of course cheese curds on every isle. The smell of fried food, farm animals and cigarettes filled the air...a good sign that you're at the right place.
I have heard about the prized cream puffs that "are like no other cream puff you have ever had." I'm always up for trying something new, but didn't have much of a thought that it would be "heaven on earth" as everyone had said to me before. Now having tried it...yes it is a puff of something great. The Wisconsin Bakers Association cream puffs are light and airy which makes you fully believe indulging in the sweet treat will have no effect on your calorie intake. When you first take the first bite of the cool puff it almost has a cooling affect on a hot summer day. I was happily surprised that the cream was not too sweet that went well with the light layer of powdered sugar on top. The outside had a nice texture of flaky airy golden goodness that compliments the cream inside well.
Now I am one of those foodies that strongly believe that you can fry nearly anything and it will be good...that definitely was the case with the fried peanut butter and jelly. All this time...why didn't I think of something like this? Crispy on the outside with a light layer of powdered sugar with warm creamy peanut butter and grape jelly...almost like a jelly doughnut but a tad bit better. It was so rich and almost would have been better with some vanilla ice cream on top...but hey...I'll take what I can get for $3. Then at the same tent I tried chocolate covered bacon...a scary thought at first... I do like chocolate (a lot) and I do love me some bacon...but together...not so much. I will give it to the guy that came up with the innovation, but I would stick with the pb & j for now. The crispy bacon is doused in dark chocolate mixed with sea salt...which makes it sweet and salty, but almost too salty and not enough sweet.
The state fair was fun and full of different animals and fried culinary experiments with greasy carnies lerking about. I definitely would go again...just with more water for those hot summer days and salty fried morsles.

Circus Fair And Bastille Treats

I'm figuring out more and more as I do these blogs that most of them will consist of food. My love. This evening me and Dana went to the Great Circus Parade at Veterans park ( http://circusworld.wisconsinhistory.org/Parade/EventOverview.aspx). Not too much was going on besides screaming babies and food vendors. The main attraction for me was the animals. We saw llamas, baby deer, a dairy cow (its Wisconsin of course), ostrich, goats, and...the reason why I went there...Asian elephants! There were about 5 total including a little fuzzy baby! Then to check off one of my to-do's I got to ride one! It was definitely worth the $6! Their hair felt so coarse almost like plastic. And their skin was so rough it was unbelievable. Now I just need to ride one in Asia.

We then decided to check out Bastille Days ( http://www.easttown.com/categories/4-bastilledays), which was pretty much a crowded group of people drinking and eating...what's not to like about that? To start off the night we had a sangria, which was stronger than I had expected. Yet still served it's purpose of quenching my thirst and loosening me up. The aromas of the food and the music completely filled the air. Food vendors of local restaurants are always a nice way to sample the place before fully committing. From Sabor ( http://www.saborbrazil.net/) we had Parmesan pork and garlic beef skewers, that just melted in your mouth. It was moist, tender, and full of robust flavor.
After watching some street entertainers attempt to pull a good show sans half their memebers due to a car accident I had to have a crepe (it is a French festival for goodness sakes!). Where to get a good crepe? Of course from a place called Cream and Crepe Cafe (http://www.cedarcreeksettlement.com/cream.html). I couldn't resist trying a crepe with warm caramel, fudge with vanilla custard (we are in the midwest), topped with whipped cream and nuts...sorry I don't remember exactly what it was called. It was heaven in a crepe. So rich and a sure way to satisfy a sweet tooth. 

To finally end the night nothing better but a creme brule from Lagniappe Brassserie ( http://www.lagniappebrasserie.com/) it was everything that a good creme brule should be, crunchy braised top with a creamy rich filling topped with fresh raspberries and blueberries...just a little bit of love.
It was a nice way to end a day and start the weekend.

Amazing Eats and Drinks

Tonight was pretty lax as far as going out. Seems like lately I just haven't been into the whole bar scene, as I used to be...call it getting older or what ever you want. Just not my thing anymore. Don't get me wrong I do enjoy a drink or so and hanging out w/some amazing people but I don't get the point of drinking where you're totally incomprehensible.
So tonight me and my boyfriend of 3 awesome years went to a very chill little cafe called Cafe Brucke ( http://cafebrucke.com/ ) for a bottle of wine and some appetizers of curry artichoke dip and a Mediterranean chicken sandwich , and of course the house wine from Chile. Amazing of course. The app had a very warm and unique taste of familiar curry dishes of Thailand or India, then a reminiscent flavor of traditional artichoke dips. The Mediterranean chicken sandwich had a layer of clamata olives and some sun dried tomatoes (the only ones that I would eat) and some fresh leafy greens. A layer of heaven on a toasted crusted bun. The wine of course was very refreshing even though it wasn't very warm for a July summer in WI. There were great tones of fruit, espcially apple possibly. Very good for a chilled white wine (sorry don't remember what type it was...I'm horrible I know). We then went to a small-ish tea cafe off of Brady St(http://bradyst.com/index.html) and had a can of Gordon from the Oskar Blues Brewery (http://www.oskarblues.com/). It had a great sweet taste like sweet tea or tea with honey and then the end notes of the beer taste...amazing! So all 'n all a good night.

First Timer

So here comes the newbie, first time blogger. Well shouldn't say first time...I had my fair share of myspace blogging but now...now it's on! Definitely can't wait to let the world know my thoughts, ideas, loves/hates, and perspective on what there is out there to discover. Stay tuned...