Mary Kastman… Get used to hearing her name in the local lingo. Since July, Kastman, former executive chef at Viroqua’s celebrated Driftless Café, has been doing pop-ups at locations including Milwaukee restaurant Amilinda.
The Evanston, Illinois, native announced today that she will take over the spaces occupied by Ardent restaurant (1751 and 1749 N. Farwell Ave.) Ardent’s Justin Carlisle said earlier this week he will close his restaurant at the end of this year.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
Kastman’s Mediterranean concept, Purslane – named after the leafy green plant – will utilize the current Ardent Lounge space and the old Red Light Ramen spot next door. She plans to open in late spring/early summer of next year. Kastman chose the restaurant name as a nod to something she’s particularly passionate about – fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Introduced to purslane when she was working at the Boston restaurants Oleana and Sarma, she discovered how well the herb works in salads.
At the Purslane brick-and-mortar, Kastman plans to offer “mostly” small plates (meze), she says. “I love to keep the focus on that,” she says. Dips such as hummus, mahammura [made of walnuts and red peppers] and baba ghanoush will be served with bread and seasonal crudite. She also expects to serve falafel. “And I love Moroccan food, so we’re gonna maybe see some tagines, maybe some tartare or crudo – in kind of an homage to the Ardent beef tartare.” As a culinary arts student at Madison College, Kastman was first introduced to Ardent’s Carlisle when she secured an internship at Restaurant Muramoto in Madison. He later hired her for her “first line cook job” at Madison’s former 43 North, she says. “He’s been a mentor and friend for almost 20 years now,” she says.
As for entering the Milwaukee dining scene while it’s having a moment, Kastman says she couldn’t be more ready. “There are important things happening here, and I just love the way the chef community gives back to the community,” she says. Being around other chefs “and a vibrant dining scene helps us create. It helps us continue to do what we do best. By looking to others for inspiration and talking and keeping those lines of communication open. I love Viroqua but I’m excited to be a part of a bigger dining scene with great people.”
Kastman will showcase the Purslane concept at a pop-up – Dec. 10, at 6 p.m. – at Amilinda (315 E. Wisconsin Ave.). The five-course tasting menu highlights the flavors and ingredients of the Mediterranean region. Click here to make a reservation.
