DEVOUR Milwaukee

Vicki Carl and Kelly Wilson met on a Little League field in 2010, and the rest soon became history. Fusing their passion for baking and marketing, they set out to provide gourmet cupcakes to a hungry market in the Germantown area and beyond.   The girls started out small, hosting community events, and selling cupcakes to friends, family, and a few area consumers. They put their name on the map by offering non-traditional flavors like strawberry margarita, chocolate espresso, almond cherry, and hot fudge sundae. Within the first few months of business, Kurt Schulz Deli lent the ladies a hand…

Sapna is as an infectious disease doctor who travels around the world responding to TB outbreaks. She happens to be getting married over Memorial Day weekend.  But, before she takes her vows, she and her wedding party are spending their Saturday building raised beds for the Third Annual Great Milwaukee Victory Garden Blitz. If you ask me, it’s the perfect way for a couple to begin their new life together – getting their hands dirty while assisting others in their community to experience the joy and wonder of – not only observing the miracle of new life in the garden…

Everybody loves a good cookie.  Maybe your favorite is an ooey-gooey chocolate chip cookie, fresh from the oven and washed down with a nice cold glass of milk.  Or maybe it’s a classic Oreo cookie twisted apart so you can lick the filling right out. Or how about one of Grandma G’s Gluten Free Monster cookies, made with plenty of peanut butter, M&M’s and oatmeal?But, did you know that eating cookies during the month of May could make a big difference for kids with cancer? It’s true.   But, first I want to offer up some shocking statistics. Did you know…

Welcome to April – the land of rain, clouds, and … grilled cheese. Yup. Grilled Cheese.  It’s National Grilled Cheese month and I’m in the mood to celebrate.  So, get out that loaf of your favorite bread and a block of Wisconsin cheese.  Cuz we’re going to do some grilling! Nothing takes me back to my childhood like the memory of a warm, ooey-gooey grilled cheese sandwich, hot from the skillet.  I have fond memories of grilled cheddar on Roman Meal bread served up with a steaming bowl of tomato soup.  As I grew older, we got around to experimenting…

Unique. Fresh. Local. These words aptly describe Graze, a new magazine which just hit the shelves this past week at Outpost Natural Foods. If you’re familiar with Outpost, it probably won’t surprise you when I say that the magazine focuses on authentic, season, and local food. Nor will it come as a shock that the publication is completely independent, meaning it’s not supported by advertising or owned by a conglomerate. I was so excited after picking up my first issue that I tracked down Malcolm McDowell Woods, new media editor at Outpost and the man behind Graze. “We knew we…

They say your taste memory is one of the most powerful.  And I can’t help but agree. One of the highlights of my college career was a trip to Tunisia that I made with a mentoring professor and a few other lucky students. Although I was already seriously interested in cooking, and a flat-out push-over for trying new ethnic cuisines, I credit this trip with giving me first-hand insight into the brilliance of culturally inspired fare. The trip centered around the examination of Roman ruins on the North African country-side — fascinating history lessons accompanied by long, hot bus rides,…

So, let’s talk maple syrup. Are you a fan? For years, I didn’t think much of the amber colored sweetener. Sure, I learned in school that the sugar maple is Wisconsin’s state tree, but despite the fact that it’s sweet and sugary, I probably wouldn’t have named maple syrup among my favorite foods. It was something I ate on my pancakes in the morning, and occasionally drizzled over the top of vanilla ice cream.  It wasn’t until much later, when I realized that maple syrup is actually a fairly rare commodity in some places, that I really started paying attention.…

They say location is everything.  But, I might occasionally disagree, especially when it comes to restaurants. After all, some of the best places are a little bit off the beaten path.  Some of my favorites include Crazy Water, Tess, La Merenda, and Sobelman’s Pub & Grill.  And, more recently, I’d also add a relative newcomer to the block, Chili Lili’s Chili Bar. Chili Lili’s opened on the corner of Jackson & Menomonee Streets in June of 2010. Their location, which previously housed the short-lived Holiday House, is tucked back in the southeastern portion of the Third Ward – just around…

A Sunday afternoon filled with delicious chili, awesome beer, good company, and great music… what could be better? I’m not sure I can think of much, which is why we decided to head on down to the Ninth Annual WMSE Rockabilly Chili Contest at the MSOE Kern Center this Sunday afternoon. Rockabilly Chili is one of Milwaukee’s most popular, one-of-a-kind culinary fundraisers.  The event, which raises dollars for FM 91.7 WMSE Radio, features a unique selection of both vegetarian and meat-based chilis from area restaurants and caterers.   There really is something for everyone.  The 2011 line-up featured 50 competitors…

I remember the first time I saw that Mars Cheese Castle sign looming large over the Wisconsin highway. I was ten years old, and the promise of pulling over for some of that delicious Wisconsin cheese was about all I could hope for. The thought of all those kitschy trinkets, the smell of frying bacon, and the lure of squeakily fresh cheese curds were almost too much to bear.  And yet, even as an adult, the call of the castle is still exceedingly strong. The fact is, if Wisconsin is well-known for anything besides cheese, it is our landmark roadside…