Heart of the Matter

Heart of the Matter

Photo of Cafe Benelux by Adam Ryan Morris Edible Love The heart is a lonely hunter. That sentence is actually the title of a movie. From 1968. It starred Alan Arkin. You may want more out of your Valentine’s Day than an old film and a dozen red roses. If you’re still looking for ideas of how to make love, not war, check these out: • Mystery Pizza Tour: A 2.5-hour tour of three local pizzerias offered by Milwaukee Food Tours, which offers a pizza tour every Saturday. But the pizza tour offered this Saturday, Feb. 11 is special. Valentine’s…


Photo of Cafe Benelux by Adam Ryan Morris

Edible Love
The heart is a lonely hunter. That sentence is actually the title of a movie. From 1968. It starred Alan Arkin. You may want more out of your Valentine’s Day than an old film and a dozen red roses. If you’re still looking for ideas of how to make love, not war, check these out:

Mystery Pizza Tour: A 2.5-hour tour of three local pizzerias offered by Milwaukee Food Tours, which offers a pizza tour every Saturday. But the pizza tour offered this Saturday, Feb. 11 is special. Valentine’s Day special. How? I can’t spoil the secret. But you will have plenty to eat. Tour at 11 a.m. Cost: $50 per person. To register, send an e-mail to theresa@milwaukeefoodtours.com.

• Lowlands Group is running menu specials at all of its restaurants – from Friday, Feb. 10 to Tuesday, Feb. 14. (The restaurants range from Cafe Hollander to Cafe Benelux.) A few examples: At Trocadero Gastropub, items include pan-seared skate wing over pine nut/dried cherry pilaf ($17.95), espresso-crusted Prime top sirloin ($28.95), chocolate-dipped strawberries “injected” with Grand Marnier ($6.95), and saffron and Champagne-poached pears with quenelle of cinnamon mascarpone sorbet ($5.95). Cafe Benelux is doing, among other things, seared scallops with polenta, tomato salpican and a red wine reduction ($19.95), and bone-in rib eye with braised rainbow chard and basil compound butter ($25.95). For more info and access to phone numbers and addresses, click here.

A heart-shaped meal at the Hilton? The hotel’s Milwaukee ChopHouse is doing up the big day with its “Your Plate Or Mine” menu. The four-course menu has choices within each course (oysters, 14-ounce prime rib, 8-ounce filet, flourless chocolate cake and so on). Cost: $55 per person, or $75 per person (with a bottle of wine). Friday Feb. 10, Saturday Feb. 11 and Tuesday Feb. 14. Fri-Sat 5-10 p.m.; Tues 5-10 p.m. (633 N. Fifth St., 414-224-2467)

Warm Graffito
In 2010, Wellington, Florida, was named one of the “Best Places to Live” by Money Magazine. The second Ryan Braun’s Graffito opened last weekend in Wellington, home of palm trees and equestrian competitions. If you find yourself dining in this part of the Sunshine State, you will find that the menu differs somewhat from the Milwaukee Graffito. A few dishes listed in the “secondi” section: a 20-ounce rib eye with potato gratin and mushroom pancetta demi ($49), and 12-ounce veal chop with cream spinach, farro and cipollini onion jus ($45). Also, chef Dominic Zumpano, of the Milwaukee Graffito (and one-time chef at sister restaurant Umami Moto), has relocated to South Florida. To learn more about that state’s Graffito, click here.

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Ann Christenson has covered dining for Milwaukee Magazine since 1997. She was raised on a diet of casseroles that started with a pound of ground beef and a can of Campbell's soup. Feel free to share any casserole recipes with her.