Fresh Arrivals
If “what’s new” is on your mind, next week will be a busy time for restaurant openings. In the Third Ward, both Swig (217 N. Broadway, 414-431-7944) and Fratellos (102 N. Water St., 414-271-1740) will make things official on Monday, April 14. Swig, which vacated its Water Street digs last year, has taken over the former home of Sauce. Local firm Flux Design took charge of the interior design; the menu is a combination of the small plates Swig was known for, as well as sandwiches (tuna teriyaki, three-cheese grilled cheese), salads (Greek, poached salmon) and entrées (shrimp ravioli, pan-seared scallops). Fratellos, the fifth location of a Wisconsin-based chain, sounds like a massive place – 8,600 square feet, with seating for 200 diners. The patio will seat 100. The menu targets every eater with sandwiches, pasta, seafood, steak, pizza. Don’t despair if you’re in the western burbs looking for something new. Brookfield’s Haute Taco, a taqueria and tequila bar in Brookfield Towne Centre, is also opening on Monday (18905 W. Capitol Dr., 262-781-1110). You’ll be able to get fish tacos, a chicken burrito, salad or torta (Mexican sandwich). The drink list: Margaritas, beer and South American and Spanish wines.
Sharing Secrets
We’re about mid-way through the Celebrated Chefs Series held at Mason Street Grill. Each Saturday until May 10 (10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.), a different chef will share his skills with a class of up to 20 at the kitchen counter inside this Pfister Hotel restaurant. This Saturday’s class (April 12) features Andrew Althoff, a sous chef at Mason Street Grill, preparing three specialties – fried surf clams with tartar dipping sauce, pan-seared sea bass with red pepper beurre blanc, and cauliflower gratin. Participants will sample the food, drink a little vino and pick up some tricks of the trade. (If you’re interested in the April 12 class, there are still openings, I hear, but they’re for guests who will book an overnight at the hotel.) The chefs in this series all work for Marcus Hotels and Resorts – e.g., Intercontinental Milwaukee Hotel, Grand Geneva in Lake Geneva, the Hilton Hotel. Take a look at what’s coming up:
April 19: Brian Frakes, the Pfister Hotel’s executive chef, prepares food inspired by WELL Spa at the Pfister.
April 26: Robert Ash, executive chef of Kil@wat at the Intercontinental Milwaukee Hotel, will make a warm fiddlehead fern salad, Strauss lamb bruschetta and grilled vanilla pound cake with Bing cherry compote.
May 3: Maggie Haller, a sous chef at Mason Street Grill, will tell you all there is to know about flatbreads. You’ll also get to try the Mason Street lager called “Pizza and Beer.”
May 10: Rick Starr, of Ristorante Brissago at the Grand Geneva, will cook Italian.
Classes are held on Saturday morning, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Cost: $20 per person. 425 E. Mason St. Call 414-273-8222.
Smoke With That?
My column last week sparked some interesting commentary on smoke-free restaurants. For those of you who don’t want their dining experience to be laced with cigarette smoke, you can peruse a list of smoke-free dining venues on this very Web site. The way to do that is easy. Go to the Complete Restaurant Search page on this Web site: http://www.milwaukeemagazine.com/dining/. Under More Options, click on “smoke-free. Then, hit the “search” button. You’ll see a list of more than 100 smoke-free restaurants.
Really Important Stuff
The May issue of Milwaukee Magazine has the distinction of carrying our Readers’ Choice Dining Awards survey. (Completing the survey and mailing it to us is a must-do.) This year, we’ve added a new way to vote for your favorite restaurants. For the first time, we’ve made the survey available online. Surveys submitted through our Web site will also be eligible for a prize in our random drawing. Please note that we accept only one survey per person, whether it’s the printed version in the magazine or the online version. (I promise you, we’ll be able to sniff out duplicates online, so don’t try it. We have the technology….) Click on the link below to access the survey. And please vote!
http://www.milwaukeemagazine.com/readerschoice/
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, April 17. That’s 99.1 WMYX-FM.
Also check out critic Paul Kosidowki’s picks for the best events in arts and entertainment in Culture Club.
