Baked Goodness
A few summers ago, we had an intern who was in the habit of buying the cake bites at C. Adams Bakery at the Milwaukee Public Market (400 N. Water St.). She’d often walk back to our office mid-day with a bag of these one-bite delights (mini versions of cupcakes in flavors like red velvet) and nibble as she worked. I like those cake bites, too. (And frankly, would love to be eating one right now.) The bites are a specialty of baker Lisa Crum, who has added more flour, butter and sugar to her life with the opening of C. Adams Bakery and Logan’s Cafe in the Mequon Pavilion (10942 N. Port Washington Rd., 262-240-9856). To backtrack a bit, a few years ago, a young man named Logan Laack was working at Crum’s Third Ward bakery. He and Crum became friends. After Laack died (following a heart transplant) in August 2009, the aptly named baker pushed on with her plans to open a cafe specializing in breakfast (one of Laack’s favorite meals). C. Adams staples such as cookies, brownies and cakes are available in the new bakery. Crum has also added fresh-baked breads (brioche, seeded wheat) to her repertoire. The cafe, with modest table and counter seating, serves made-from-scratch breakfast all day. Options include ham strata, pecan pie pancakes, strawberry-banana stuffed waffles, homemade granola parfait, and baked oatmeal. Prices: about $4-$8. Hours: Mon-Fri 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat 7 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
Sacred Sunday
Bartolotta Restaurant Group deems this Sunday (Jan. 23) a historic day. In honor of our state’s professional football team and a certain game that will be played on Sunday, Joe Bartolotta – restaurateur and sports fan – is giving some of his employees a reprieve. Lake Park Bistro (3133 E. Newberry Blvd.), normally open for dinner on Sunday nights, will be closed (but open for brunch, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.). Harbor House (550 N. Harbor Dr.) and Ristorante Bartolotta (7616 W. State St.) will also be closed that night. Bacchus (925 E. Wells St.) has a private event going on in the evening, so this doesn’t apply to it. But the next bit of news does. The restaurant at the Cudahy Tower is doing something different on two nights this winter. Inspired by chef Thomas Keller’s California restaurant Ad Hoc (which serves a prix fixe, family-style menu), Bacchus is doing its version of Sunday night, family comfort-food dinner. The dates are Feb. 20 and March 20 (5-7 p.m.). Servers will wear jeans (at Bacchus, no less!), and dinner will be served in the bar and conservatory only. The four-course menu ($39.95, minus drinks, tax and gratuity) will include an appetizer or salad course, entrée, cheese course and dessert. The one detail I have about the menu is the entrée. On Feb. 20, it’s Strauss veal meatloaf; on March 20, roasted Berkshire pork. Call 414-765-1166 for reservations.
Chili to Fight the Chill
If Gallery Night in the Third Ward is calling to you this Friday, you will need to defrost afterwards. A good place to do that is Chili Lili’s (525 E. Menomonee St.), the Ward’s homage to all things chili. A new dish has been added to eclectic, chili-fied menu: chili lasagna, a casserole made with corn tortillas and the restaurant’s Cincinnati chili. (Wondering what other chili varieties are offered here? Well, Texas, vegetarian, Southwest roasted corn chicken, spicy pizza….) Another reason to do chili: Owner Jay Schiek is rolling out the restaurant’s first Sunday brunch this week (Jan. 23). The menu will feature chili eggs Benedict, a chili breakfast burrito, and a breakfast pizza chili flatbread. Instead of serving the Cincinnati chili on top of spaghetti, the brunch version will be over eggs and hash browns. Other brunch items without the word “chili” in them: decadent chocolate oatmeal and peach melba baked breakfast pudding. Brunch service starts at 9 a.m. sharp. Chili questions? Call 414-897-0555.
Look for more Dish on Dining on Tuesday.…
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If you spot a restaurant opening or closing, post it on the comments section of my column, or e-mail me directly: ann.christenson@milwaukeemagazine.com.
