When fall arrives, so does apple cider, pumpkin spice lattes and roasted butternut squash, but sometimes those classic fall flavors just aren’t enough to satisfy Milwaukeeans. Local restaurants are turning this harvest season into something delightfully weird. In food trucks, diners, grocery stores and beer gardens, you’ll find some strange food combinations featuring classic fall flavors. Try these five autumnal culinary inventions for a limited time.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Tacos – The Hale House
Head down to The Hale House Restaurant (10539 W. Forest Home Ave., Hales Corners) to try this quirky, fall-inspired treat. The dish features pumpkin cheesecake in a graham cracker-crusted tortilla shell topped with whipped cream, caramel sauce and candied walnuts. They’re clearly indulgent enough for dessert but also probably heavy enough for lunch or dinner.
Oktoberfest Beer Brats – Johnsonville and Leinenkugel’s
Beer and brats are like hand and glove, right? This fall spin on the beer brat brings Leinenkugel’s classic Oktoberfest beer to a Johnsonville brat. Is there a more Wisconsin-in-fall pairing than that? We’ve had these, and that darker, maltier brew brings slightly more depth to the beer flavor here than the standard beer brat. Prost!
Apple Crisp Cheese Curds – Lakefront Brewery
These special curds will be available at Lakefront Brewery (1872 N Commerce St, Milwaukee) as their Curd of the Month this October. They’re in a sweet apple batter and crispy breading, topped with vanilla apple icing and oats – you might want to pair them with the brewery’s seasonal Oktoberfest.
Apple Pie Avocado Toast with Caramel – Vocado MKE
Vocado MKE food truck is giving their avocado toast a makeover for the holiday season. Imagine their special blend of avocado mash topped with juicy honey crisp apples, freshly squeezed lemon juice, cinnamon, sugar, caramel and walnuts. If you’re feeling adventurous, don’t forget toppings like honey, balsamic glaze, or even eggs and sausage. You can catch Vocado at farmers markets, including Brookfield, Waukesha, Tosa, Shorewood and Greenfield – the truck’s full schedule is here.
Butternut Squash and Apple Cream Cheese Pizza – Flourchild
Flourchild’s seasonal sweet and savory “Butternut Touch My Squash” pizza is back, putting an unexpected twist on a classic fall comfort food. Stop by their restaurant (722 N. Milwaukee St.) to indulge in slow roasted butternut squash, smoked mozzarella, spinach, honeycrisp apple cream cheese, pickled peppers and fresh thyme on a fluffy crust. Or grab a frozen version to heat up at home.
