French Milwaukee
Cruising down Wells Street last night, I passed Cathedral Square Park, where it’s starting to look a lot like Bastille Days. The free four-day French fest (say that three times fast) starts Thursday. Some people troll from music stage to music stage. Others troll from food vendor to food vendor. The next few sentences are clearly directed at the latter Bastille goer. Festival food pretty much runs the gamut from Qdoba burritos to roast corn. But there are some indie restaurants here that’ll offer, if not French food, their own specialties. They include: Rudy’s Mexican Restaurant, Pacific Orient, Bayou Cajun Restaurant, Saz’s State House, Crawdaddy’s, Mader’s German Restaurant, Aladdin Middle Eastern Restaurant and Cedarburg’s Cream & Crepe Cafe. And for some really French-influenced food, Milwaukee’s Alliance Française will offer beignets as well as cheese plates and ham sandwiches provided by Larry’s Brown Deer Market.
A few weeks ago, I mentioned that Cathedral Square is the place to watch local chefs duke it out for supremacy in the heart-stopping “Battle of the Chefs” competition. The battle started in June and takes place every other Saturday, with the finale on August 11. Four chefs compete each time. The next battle is this very Saturday – July 14. Mark Weber (Mason Street Grill), Jeff Beale (The Capital Grille), Andy Stiyer (Moceans) and David Piette (Sabor Brazilian Churrascaria) will don their battle gear. The chefs are given $50 to spend that morning at the Cathedral Square farmer’s market and will have 45 minutes to show the judges what they can do. They square off at 11:30 a.m. in Cathedral Square. Another reason to go to Bastille Days.
A Spoonful of Piaf
La Vie En Rose. In English, this means literally, “The Life In Pink.” The Oriental Theatre is showing a film by that name, an homage to French singer Edith Piaf. Next weekend, Elliot’s Bistro, a short walk from the Oriental, is hosting a prix-fixe cabaret meal inspired by Piaf. Milwaukee singer Robin Pluer (who has made a career out of singing vintage chansons) will perform live at Elliot’s. The restaurant is now booked Thursday and Friday nights (July 19 and 20), but there’s still time to get in for the Saturday night dinner. You must act quickly, though. The menu ($49.50 per person) offers several choices within the courses (and wines are included in the prix fixe price). Here’s a possibility: consommé Parisien, pâté de canard, house salad, salmon with sorrel sauce and crêpes suzette. Seating, as I said, is very limited. Call 414-273-1488 for reservations. The date for that dinner is July 21. (2321 N. Murray Ave.)
Pizza Corner
Last week, I left you with a triple-baked pizza puzzler. Jim Metz, owner of Meglio Pizzeria (1888 N. Humboldt Ave.), is high on the triple-baked pie. What the heck is it? The signature pizza at his new restaurant. The pizza crust is baked once by itself, then with a layer of butter on top, then again once the cheese, toppings and sauce (yes, sauce last) are distributed on top. Say you don’t want the triple-baked pizza. “There’s [also] a thin crust for the weak of heart,” says Metz. Meglio offers whole pies and pizza by the slice ($3.95). Diners can eat in, carry out or have their pizza delivered. (1888 N. Humboldt St., 414-272-1888)
Go West
A month ago, Downtown Dining Week lured local folks to 30 Downtown Milwaukee restaurants for affordable prix fixe meals. Later this month is a similar event to spotlight restaurants in West Milwaukee and West Allis. It’s Best of the West Dining Week, July 23-29. A total of 15 restaurants have signed on, including Crawdaddy’s, Antigua Latin Restaurant, Doyle’s Milwaukee Inn, Forty8 and the Painted Parrot. Lunch specials are $5; dinner specials are $10. Read more at www.wawmchamber.com.
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 19. That’s 99.1 WMYX-FM.
And check out our Events Editor Julie Sensat Waldren’s picks for the best events in arts and entertainment on This Weekend.
