1. Try the Bob Uecker Tribute Custard at Kopp’s (Today Only!)
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
Today marks the first home opener without Bob Uecker behind the mic in over 50 years after his passing in January. Kopp’s has marked the occasion with a special flavor of the day in his honor, Mr. Baseball. It has caramel malt custard topped with beer nuts, fudge-covered peanuts and “a splash of Miller Lite.” I for one plan to try some tonight, along with a burger or two.
Also, I’d just like to say that I’m glad I wrote our article about this custard flavor because it gave me the chance to find this gem of Uecker quote that I’d like to share here:
“I got free custard every time I got a hit – so that was about once a month,” Uecker told CBS Sunday Morning in 2017. “You don’t get custard on the coast like you get in the Midwest. You can’t. Because the cows in California are too hot. Cows in the Midwest in the winter shake and shiver – that’s what gives the custard the air.”
2. Shake Off the Weekend and Catch a Brewers Game
CHRIS DROSNER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
I’m starting a petition to officially recognize today’s Brewers home opener as the actual start of the season. If you caught any of the games, or even saw any scores, from the statutorial opening weekend at Yankee Stadium, you’ll know why. The Brewers got shellacked in historic fashion; in Saturday’s game, Brewers starter Nestor Cortez – acquired in the offseason from the Yankees – gave up home runs on his first three pitches to his old mates. That is something that hasn’t happened in nearly 240,000 previous major league games. And that, folks, is baseball. But things surely will turn around during this week’s homestand. The Royals are in town through Wednesday, then on Thursday night the Brewers begin a four-game weekend series against the Reds. Let’s go Crew! – Chris Drosner
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
3. Try Teeccino Dandelion Dark Roast Herbal Tea
ANN CHRISTENSON, DINING EDITOR
I’ve had a long relationship with coffee. It’s been more on than off – until recently. I decided to cut the cord – not just with caffeine but all coffee, decaf included. It’s not been easy. I miss the mouthfeel and body – robust and velvety (I gravitate to dark roasts). I haven’t been actively looking for a substitute, but something made me think of chicory coffee. I’d had it once in New Orleans but don’t remember much about it. And I wasn’t thinking chicory when I was browsing the tea selection at the grocery store. But I came home with this stuff: Teeccino Dandelion Dark Roast herbal tea. Chicory is just one part of it. It’s got dandelion root, carob and ramon seeds (which have long been consumed in Latin America). You steep the tea bags in hot water for three to five minutes. Add cream, if you like – I do. It doesn’t taste like coffee. But it’s roasty and nutty and has a mimicking body. Not saying I’m a convert, but I’m intrigued. This stuff is strangely good!
P.S. I found it at Whole Foods.
4. Munch on O&H’s Brewers Kringle
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
I’m going one-two on the Brewers-related recs today, but I suppose that’s fitting for the day of the home opener. O&H Bakery sent our office some of their new limited-edition Brewer Lemon Blueberry Kringle last week, and it busted my most recent attempt at a diet. The lemon, I thought, was delicious, and the blue and yellow sprinkles added a little festivity to the start of baseball season. The kringle, which has lemon cake and wild blueberry filling, is only available now through April 6.
5. Check out the Midwest Gaming Classic
The Midwest Gaming Classic’s show floor is like a dream arcade: thousands of game cabinets, pinball machines and more, all set to free play – plus rarities like the one-of-a-kind prototype Sega Pluto. The Expo runs April 4-6 at the Baird Center.
– Evan Musil in the April issue
