Fountain of Youth
Do you like young wine? Then you might know what today is – the release of the Beaujolais Nouveau, which happens on the third Thursday of November. The speedy harvest and fermentation of this wine equals a beverage meant to be consumed while in its youth. Our local Francophile organization, the Alliance Française de Milwaukee, is hosting a celebration tonight at the Eisner Museum (208 N. Water St.). It’s pegged as a “wine, food and good conversation” event. The Alliance’s resident sommelier Guy Poitras is on wine duty, Larry’s Brown Deer Market is covering the food, and the pastry chef at the Tosa bakery Le Rêve is bringing dessert. Sounds nice. Alliance members get a discount: $35. For everybody else: $45. Nov. 20, 6-9 p.m. Call the Alliance for more: 414-964-3855.
So that’s one Beaujolais idea. Another is to head over to Trocadero (1758 N. Water St.) for its 7th annual shindig. There will be “banging of the bung” ceremonies at 5:30 and 7 p.m. The $36 Nouveau Night menu features a cheese plate, chicken Marsala, dark chocolate mousse and a glass of Beaujolais.
Dum, Dum, Dum, Dum
If you’re not Beaujolais-ing tonight – or even if you are – you can’t miss Bobby Flay on the Food Network. Back in September, Flay traveled all the way to Mukwonago to challenge the Elegant Farmer to a Throwdown! Yes, with a capital “T” and an exclamation point. Did Flay’s pie-in-a-paper-bag prevail over the Elegant Farmer’s? God, I hope not. Check out the results of this bake-off at 7:30 p.m. on the Food Network. In Milwaukee, that would be Time-Warner Cable Channel 67.
Pilgrim’s Progress
Still not sure where or how you’re giving thanks this year? Kil@wat is one of the restaurants serving up a holiday feast. If you’re thinking there’s no way you’re eating anything but a bird for Thanksgiving, I expect you’ll nix the regular menu (of things like Strauss lamb osso buco and miso sea bass), though it is available that day. For specials, executive chef Robert Ash is not without holiday inspiration. The appetizer: organic turkey ravioli with cranberry, toasted hazelnut and brown gravy ($8). The salad: Labelle Farms duck confit, chicory, sweet potato frites and candied pecans with tart cranberry vinaigrette ($8). The poultry entrée: Diestel Farms turkey breast with orange-sage glazed sweet potato puree, traditional stuffing and cranberry compote ($18). There’s also a chef’s tasting menu ($50). Nov. 27, 5:30-10 p.m. Intercontinental Milwaukee Hotel, 139 E. Kilbourn Ave., 414-291-4793.
Shopping Cart
How about that grocery store in the Third Ward? Yup, it’s there. It’s open. Good Harvest Market (346 N. Broadway) has about 6,000 square feet of Commission Row retail space. You need cereal? Check. Lettuce? Done. A carton of eggs? You got it. I saw several chest-high rows of holistic-healthcare products, a bulk foods area, bins of fresh produce, an organic salad bar and places to sit, eat and put off walking back out into the cold air. Unless you know it’s there, you might miss a hall that leads to more stuff in back – frozen foods and dairy items. Is this the answer to condo and apartment dwellers’ grocery needs? We’ll see. Check out www.goodharvestmarket.com for more.
Put That Out
It’s the fastest growing segment of the dining industry – smoke-free restaurants. OK, I’m making this up. I want to think it’s the fastest growing segment. Restaurants are getting into the clean-air act. Of late, we have Harry’s Bar & Grill (3549 N. Oakland Ave.) and The Knick (1030 E. Juneau Ave.). It all smells good to me.
Can’t get enough dining? I chat about restaurants every week with Jane Matenaer and Kidd O’Shea on “The Mix.” Listen between 8 and 9 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 4th. That’s 99.1 WMYX-FM.
