Wisconsin

[Mr. Cast Iron]

Does anyone care to share their experiences on Wisconsin restaurants?

I've recently eaten at Le Toile in Madison and it remains one of the best in the country. Locally grown and produced products, including an incredible assortment of some of the best cheeses I've ever tasted, and a creative young chef in Tory Miller, keep this venerable restaurant as good as ever. In Milwaukee, I was really impressed with Roots. Delicious meal with a great view of the city.

[kuan]

I liked Coquette.

And that german restaurant with the totem poles and braised duck legs on the Sunday brunch buffet.

[Suzanne]

Glad to hear that L'Etoile is still good. I never actually had the chance to eat there, but have met Odessa Piper, who started it, and really loved the concept. She sold it to the employees a couple of years ago -- and apparently they are keeping up with her principles.

[Mezzaluna]

All true! Kuan, I think you mean Karl Ratzsch's. Mader's is good too. Roots is on my list of "have to try that". Steak houses are making a resurgence here, but there are plenty of interesting places with fresh and eclectic food too.

In Kenosha try Mangia on Sheridan Road. Excellent Italian, both "nonna style" and well-done departures from red sauce and pasta.

Incidentally, watch for the opening of our conversation with Wisconsin master cheesemaker, Sid Cook next week! You can't talk Wisconsin food without good cheese.

[Devotay]

I'll put in a plug for Harvest, just a couple doors down from L'Etoile on Pinckney St. Owned & Chef'd by Slow Food Madison's founder Tami Lax. High-end, local, seasonal cuisine, excellent service, nice wine list.

[greyeaglem]

If you get over to the Mississippi side of WI, there's a place called the Harborview Cafe in Pepin that gets rave reviews all the time in the Twin Cities' papers. I've never been there myself, which is unforgiveable as I live about 45 miles from it. I intend to go this summer. The original owners moved to the west coast, WA or OR a couple of years ago and mentioned in a newspaper article that they might sell the place to the employees. Don't know what happened there, but I saw it mentioned in a St. Paul Pioneer Press review article as being one of THE places to go, so I guess they're still as good as they've always been. It's also very beautiful scenery around here, some of the most impressive in the country, so it makes for a nice road trip.

[mikeyman2]

There is a new restaurant that opened in Belgium, WI. It is called Curley's. Denneis Ghetto from the Milwaukee Journal gave them a great review. We love it! They have a web site Curley's Restaurant - Casual Family Dining.

[Waltwill6]

We stopped at the Harborview last week. I had a cassoulet with lamb sausage and pork tenderloin. Wonderful!