Small Cakes, Big Night
In the October issue of Milwaukee Magazine, I wrote a story about the Cupcake Queen of Milwaukee – known in her day-to-day life as Sandy Ploy – and her pet project, the Iron Cupcake: Milwaukee competitions. These wildly popular baking extravaganzas center on a theme ingredient like mustard or breakfast cereal. Make no mistake – bakers are not thwarted in the flow of creative juices. Quite the contrary. The competitions typically feature around eight contestants and hundreds of tasters/judges. The latest Iron Cupcake event takes place later this month at the Milwaukee Art Museum. It’s part of “A Very Velvet Holiday” (Friday, Dec. 18, 5 p.m.-midnight). This time, instead of an open call for bakers, the competition is restricted to bakeries and caterers. Eight, total, will compete. Ploy is calling this event IronCupcakePRO. You’d like to be there to taste and judge cakes by some of the city’s best? Three trophies, crafted by local metal artists, will be awarded. Order tickets here.
Coffee Clash
The Third Ward’s Bella Caffe (189 N. Milwaukee St.), whose coffee has most recently been supplied by Bay View-based Anodyne, has jumped roaster ship. The corner cafe will now be using Alterra. Co-owner Tim Talsky says the change is due to convenience and cost. In August, Talsky took over a cafe called Four Seasons Coffee (Brookfield Towne Centre, 3815 N. Brookfield Rd., near Capitol Drive). That cafe already serves Alterra coffee. As soon as the Third Ward cafe runs out of its supply of Anodyne – any day now – it’ll move exclusively to Alterra. And come January, Four Seasons will have a new name – Bella Caffe, just like its sister cafe in the Third Ward.
Pizza, She-Vegas Style
Sheboygan is a bit of a drive from here, but not too bad. Certainly not too far to drive for pizza. Especially when it’s Il Ritrovo pizza, which has been in existence for almost 10 years. The restaurant has been in existence for almost 10 years, I mean. Next Saturday – that’s Dec. 12 – Il Ritrovo is having a holiday open house, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. There will be samples of meat, cheese and wine, as well as 10 percent off all retail items in the store. If you haven’t been to the authentic Neapolitan-style pizzeria (515 S. Eighth St., 920-803-7516), it’s across the street from its sibling, Trattoria Stefano. The pizzeria is not only that – a place that produces ’za. There’s a wine bar and a whole retail thing going on. Bottled wine, deli meats and cheeses, produce and giftware like pottery and candles. And Il Ritrovo is contiguous to another Stefano Viglietti-owned business – Field to Fork, which sells baked goods, coffee, sandwiches, etc. We’ve got a lot of pizza in Milwaukee, of course, but Il Ritrovo offers something different – pizza certified by the Verace Pizza Napoletana Association, which means the pizza meets the standards of Naples pie-making masters.
Custard Hiatus
Still wondering what’s going on at shuttered LIXX Frozen Custard (2597 N. Downer Ave.)? It’s been a few weeks now, and the place is just plain dark. I reached the shop by phone the other day and was told by an unnamed someone that LIXX won’t open again until maybe March. Huh.
Marvy Harvey
Some of you will still think of Harvey’s Central Grille and say, “Harvey’s Central Wha??” It’s the old Mequon restaurant Chip and Py’s (1340 W. Towne Square Rd., 262-241-9589). In honor of the snowflakes falling outside my office window today, Harvey’s has a new menu, featuring such entrées as Mediterranean shrimp linguine, salmon Japonaise with toasted coconut rice, wild mushroom tenderloin, and sesame duck fettuccini. The two-hour happy hour is a dealfest: $5 appetizers, no exceptions; $6 menu martinis; $4 house wines; plus 1 buck off any other alcoholic beverage.
Don’t miss this week’s Shopaholic to learn about new stores and events in the world of local retail.
If you spot any restaurant openings or closings out there, don’t hesitate to post it on my column, or e-mail me directly: ann.christenson@milwaukeemagazine.com
