News of the Week
• Mayor Barrett cut a ribbon this week – at least one that I know of – at the brand-spanking-new Crowne Plaza Milwaukee Airport hotel (6401 S. 13th St., 414-764-5300). The hotel is the product of a $14 million renovation. (The building was a Ramada Inn and Conference Center.) Among the amenities is Altitude, a restaurant servicing the general population for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The executive chef behind the menu of New American global cuisine is Paul Bohm, who has culinary experience from hotels in London and Hanover, Germany. The lunch menu includes salads like Mediterranean Caesar ($9-$17), and a customized Angus burger or Buffalo chicken flatbread ($10-$12). Dinner entrées kick in after 4 p.m., and feature Cajun tilapia with creamy shrimp étouffée, shrimp and scallop angel-hair pasta, double-thick pork chops and bacon-wrapped Kobe meatloaf ($18-$30). Hours are daily B 6-11 a.m.; L 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; D 5-10 p.m.
• Tessa Santoro-Schulte runs the Broadway Cafe and Bakery at 241 N. Broadway (once the home of La Boulangerie). Just over a month ago, Santoro-Schulte opened a small location in a building at 735 N. Water St. The new place serves the full sandwich/salad/soup menu (including daily specials), though the prep work is all done at the Third Ward mothership location. The new spot is open Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Yes, we have another SONIC. I feel like I just said that a few weeks ago. And as a matter of fact, I did. The chain of drive-in restaurants known for Coneys and Cherry Limeades recently opened a location in Waukesha – joining the car-hop restaurant that opened earlier this year near Miller Park. The SONIC vibe has also moved to Oak Creek, with a South Side location opening on Monday (Aug. 17). For all you bright-eyed folks, that means Tater Tots starting at 6 a.m. (8081 S. Howell Ave.)
Nice Noodles
Sunday, Sunday, Sunday. If you have some time on your hands this weekend, and want to learn a few new recipes, Cafe Manna chef Joslyn Kiley is doing a pasta cooking class at the Brookfield vegetarian restaurant (Sendik’s Towne Centre, 3815 N. Brookfield Rd.). Kiley will prepare four pastas – soba noodle confetti salad, whole-wheat spaghetti with veggie meatballs in veggie marinara, lemon-basil Alfredo, and Mediterranean pasta with Burgundy wine sauce. She’ll also explain what substitutions to use to make the dishes gluten-free. Again, the class is this Sunday, Aug. 16, 2-4 p.m. Cost: $35. To reserve a spot, call 262-790-2340.
Book it, Dano
Yeah, I know I didn’t give you much warning on Cafe Manna’s class (above), but I’m giving you plenty on Coquette Cafe’s autumn cooking series. (But don’t spend too long thinking about it. The classes will fill fast.) “Market Feast” kicks off the series on Tuesday, Sept. 29. Dishes featured include carne asada with market vegetable salsa, and grilled stone fruit soup with yogurt and hazelnuts. The second class, “Puglia, Italy” (Oct. 6), has some great-sounding stuff. (Doesn’t help that I’m hungry as I write this…) Panzarotti (filled savory pastries); crispy pancetta-stuffed artichokes; orrechiette with sausage, rapini and garlic; and Italian plum tart with brown sugar and almond crust. Additional classes are Oct. 20, Nov. 3 and Nov. 17. Time is 6:30-9:30 p.m; and the cost is $59 per class (with a 10 percent discount if you book the whole series). Call 414-291-2655.
Freshness Extended
The South Milwaukee Downtown Market has had a good past four weeks – good enough that the market’s been extended five weeks. Instead of late August, it’ll go through October 1. The list of vendors has increased every week since it started on July 23. At last count, there’s 40 vendors on board. That includes people selling fresh produce, flowers and gift items. Prepared foods range from hot dogs and sausages to baked goods from Wildflour Bakery. The market is held on Thursdays, 3:30-7:30 p.m. (On Sept 3., the hours will change to 3-7 p.m.) The location is 11th Avenue and Milwaukee Avenue, South Milwaukee.
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
