A Unique Meal
Football, already? Our columnist, the Sports Nut, is licking his chops in anticipation of the fall season. Why am I even mentioning sports, of all things, here? If you’re a football fan, you probably know that the St. Louis Rams is bringing its summer training camp to Mequon’s Concordia University this month (July 25-Aug. 14). It’s a first-time thing, and while it’s not the Pack, it is football, and maybe you and your sports-watching pals are interested in watching the team sweat it out on the field. That brings me to the relevance of this event to Dish on Dining. Shully’s Cuisine & Events and Concordia are hosting the “50 Yard Line Viewing Tent.” It’s a way to see some pro-football players on the field while you’re set up comfortably in a fully catered hospitality tent. Concordia lists the morning and late-afternoon practice schedule on its Web site: www.cuw.edu/rams/schedule.html. Shully’s offers several rates for the tent: $65 per person for morning practice, $80 per person for evening practice. The group rate for 25 or more people is $55 per person (morning) and $65 (evening). The tent can hold a maximum of 125 people, and you could arrange a private, exclusive-tent use rate (it runs $5,500-$6,500). The full buffet’s menu is a full meal, including drinks (wine, beer, coffee, soda). If you were to attend a lunchtime practice, you could fill your plate with Caesar and pasta salad, Usinger brats on cornmeal buns, slow-braised pulled pork with Sprecher root beer barbecue sauce and various cookies and bars. By contrast, the late afternoon/dinner practice tent will have Caprese salad, grilled chicken Marbella, barbecued ribs, buttermilk mashed potatoes and the obligatory sweets. Contact Shully’s if you’re interested: 262-242-6633. Concordia University is located at 12800 N. Lake Shore Dr., Mequon.
A Solid Marriage
Two foods that need no accoutrements: beer and bacon. They don’t even need adjectives. (You may wonder if beer can be considered a food. This being Milwaukee, I think it’s a given.) Whole Foods Market is religious about its monthly classes and tastings. Coming up on July 30 is a Beer and Bacon Tasting. Chef Jordan Short will offer varieties of gourmet and imported bacon. Each one will be paired with a different micro-brew. Contact Whole Foods to register: 414-223-1500. July 30, 6 p.m. $30. 2305 N. Prospect Ave.
The Pursuit of Lunch
The Third Ward has a fair number of restaurants open for lunch. But take it from anyone who works in the Ward, the spots for a good, quick, decently priced lunch are in the minority. Will Three Brothers Soup, Salad & Sandwich (184 N. Broadway) help fill the void? That is its aim. (Allow me to end any confusion: This business is not connected to the Serbian restaurant on the South Side.) The menu is pretty basic – made-to-order sandwiches ($5.25) are made with Boar’s Head meats. The salad bar is a build-your-own deal (two sizes: $4.25 and $5.50). They also have baked potatoes, soup available in three sizes ($2.25-$7.50), breakfast pastries and ice cream (including floats and shakes). The space is counter-service and has some seating – outside, as well as inside – but I can see carryouts being the bigger draw. Open Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sat-Sun 9 a.m.-5 p.m. www.threebrotherscafe.com/
Two Tips
You’ve got approximately 14 more days to eat at Osteria del Mondo while the menu pays homage to New York restaurant San Domenico (where Osteria co-owner Marc Bianchini worked before moving to Milwaukee in the ’90s). The East Coast restaurant just hosted its 20th anniversary celebration and is known for dishes like homemade egg yolk-filled raviolo with truffled butter, and veal in pancetta cream sauce with braised endive and caramelized pearl onions. Call Osteria (1028 E. Juneau Ave.) for reservations: 414-291-3770…. Here’s a thought for those of you who pack a picnic basket to take to Jazz in the Park in Cathedral Square Park. Indulge, Marc and Marta Bianchini’s new wine bar (708 N. Milwaukee St.), can set you up with a Wine Pack. The $28 cooler-tote includes wine glasses, a cheese board and knife, napkins and a wine opener. Wine and snacks will cost extra, but they’ll take 30 percent off of a bottle of wine. Call 414-390-9463.
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, July 24. That’s 99.1 WMYX-FM.
