H 78°, L 55° | Tomorrow: 
H 85°, L 67°It might have snowed on Thursday. Some small patches of ice might still be clinging to the lakes, and weather that everyone can agree is “shorts weather” might still be a couple weeks away. But after Saturday this weekend, I am confident summer is finally around the corner. That’s because… Read more »
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Farmers’ Market ushers in spring
Succulent wings saturate Madison, campus
March Madness has come and gone, and my hopes of putting together a winning bracket were dashed again. I tore up this year’s bracket after round one on Friday – a new record. As it turns out, loyalty is not always the best policy. But even though my craving for… Read more »
Ghosts of late night cravings both past, present
I had one or ten drinks the other night. Like most nights out, I wanted something to eat..but not just anything to eat: I wanted something delicious. Something cheesy, meaty, salty and savory. I wanted - no, I needed - a Philly cheesesteak egg roll from Big Red’s Steaks. I… Read more »
Honored restaurant impresses meat lovers
Some may describe the James Beard Foundation Awards as one of the highest achievements in the culinary arts. Then again, others might describe them as snobbish or snooty, something like the Oscars for food, where dive bars and holes in the wall – the restaurant equivalent to romantic comedies or… Read more »
Chew On This: Making hearty choices locally
The holidays have come and gone and the semester is now in full swing. In my opinion, these are the longest months of the year. Before the cold reluctantly gives way to spring, we get caught in a cycle of blizzards, freezing rain and wind. If ever there was a… Read more »
Fish fry 101: Catholicism not necessary to partake
There are few things as quintessentially Wisconsin as a Friday night fish fry. When German Catholics settled Wisconsin, sauerkraut and wienerschnitzel were not their only contributions to the newly developing culinary scene. Being good Catholics, they also observed meatless Fridays. It is important to note, however, that “meatless” means an entirely… Read more »
Masticating Madison’s burger scene: Start with patties, buns
I had the opportunity to write about DLux, the new burger joint opened by Food Fight, a few weeks ago and it got me thinking about burgers. They’re just a patty and a bun, right? Sure, maybe at their core, but the styles of burgers have become so varied that… Read more »
Look no further to find quality sushi in Madison
I love sushi. While it may not be everyone’s favorite, I consider sushi to be the ultimate eating experience. The unique textures and tastes in each roll form a playground for the senses. But while sushi’s popularity has been steadily rising in the United States, there is a big misconception… Read more »
Delicious date spots for demanding denizens in the city
I know that a date for many undergrads might be an after-bar followed by a hasty exit the next morning. And even though a lot of you might not exactly be in date mode yet, the time will come soon. So if you’re looking for a good place for the… Read more »
In land of cheese, quality curds hard to come by
Madison is home to one of the finest universities in the country. But you know that already — otherwise, you wouldn’t be here. What you might not know, or at least fully appreciate, is that Madison is also home to more restaurants than any other city its size, which can… Read more »
A different sort of taste of Madison
Dear Freshmen, During the next four (or five, or six or seven) years, you’re going to realize Madison has a lot to offer as a city, not the least of which is great food. As a recent University of Wisconsin graduate, I have many friends well-versed in Madison cuisine. So… Read more »
Minneapolis’ Jucy Lucy: Hot, fat, and cheesey all over
Being from Minnesota, I feel obligated to impart a little of my home state’s cuisine into this column. Since we’re coming up on grilling season, this Tuesday we’re learning how to make the Jucy Lucy, a famous Minnesotan hamburger served at two competing Minneapolis restaurants, Matt’s Bar and the 5-8… Read more »
Battle your hangover at the Spring Farmer’s Market
In the fall, you jump in leaves, carve pumpkins and go to the farmers’ market. In spring, you wear t-shirts outside, grill burgers at the park and … go to the farmers’ market? Yes. The first farmers’ market of the year is coming up April 21, and even though most… Read more »
Beer tourney yields surprising results
Happy March Madness, everyone! This time of year, we begin to see a plethora of spin-off brackets come out, ranging in theme from restaurants to bands to clothes. The majority of these brackets, however, focus on food and drink. This year, my friends and I decided to jump on the… Read more »
Beyond beer and brats in Brew City
Since most of you reading this column probably don’t have cars and can’t travel very far outside of campus limits without suffering through needlessly long, loud and sometimes disturbing bus rides, I typically like to keep my restaurant exploration close to downtown Madison. But today is an exception. This week,… Read more »
Seven weeks of bread, fish, and breaded fish
Okay, guys. We got over the awkward, painful Valentine’s Day hurdle. We partied our way through Mardi Gras, and St. Patrick’s Day seems ages away. So what do we celebrate now? For Christians, it’s time for the long Lenten track to Easter. If you’re not, but really love fish, it’s… Read more »
Fed for less bread: Cheap eats round up
As much as I hate to play into the “starving college student” stereotype, I have to admit I’m a little strapped for cash these days. And if you have any self-respect for your college student identity, so are you. But truthfully, being low on funds doesn’t mean you have to… Read more »
Super Bowl competitors battle over regional foods
For any Packer fan, mere mention of the upcoming big game probably induces a cringe. But the respect Wisconsin lost in football can be gained back in food. Let’s look at the regional cuisine of the two competing teams in Super Bowl XLVI: New England Patriots: Clam Chowder Wisconsinites naturally love… Read more »
Re-thinking assumptions about favorite crusted dishes: Pie
What? Didn’t think you had any assumptions about pie? Think again. For many of us, pies are a sweet dish synonymous with the holiday season. Think of your family’s traditional Thanksgiving or (insert religious holiday here) spread, and often a pie or two will be part of that picture. Golden… Read more »
This new year, make feel-good resolutions you can keep
It’s mid-December and that means it’s time for final exams, Rose Bowl preparations, holiday shopping and get-togethers, and a new year is just right around the corner. Many of us will choose to make resolutions to encourage ourselves to make 2012 our best year yet. Although resolutions are typically synonymous… Read more »
Picking over strategies for college town grocery shopping
The holiday season ushers in snow, the end of the semester and visions of hot cocoa and homework-free days. It also brings the harsh reality that I spent all of my money on Christmas presents. For a college food columnist, the last few weeks of class bring the anxiety of… Read more »
Madison’s secret restaurant gems
Listen up, because hordes of underground Madison diners are going to be demanding my blood for what I’m about to disclose. Ready? Burn your Isthmus. Trash that Zagat guide. Yelp or Urbanspoon? Don’t even talk to me. We won’t be needing any of these “helpful” resources in deciding what to… Read more »
Cornucopia of food need not mean a gorge of plenty
Looking for some tips to have a happy Thanksgiving without feeling like a stuffed turkey afterwards? Read on, my friends. Thanksgiving undeniably puts some pretty tasty food on the table in front of our eyes in all of its glory: turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie.… Read more »
Touring Madison’s sensational Asian destinations
Contrary to popular belief, Asian Kitchen is not the best option for Asian food in Madison. Yes, their lip-smacking, MSG-ridden General Tso’s chicken is the perfect drunk food, and yes, the location is ideal for stumbling into, but if you are looking for more than Americanized question mark meats, Madison… Read more »
Smart library snacking for all midterm cravings
We’ve all been there. It’s midterms season, and you’re gearing up for your next big exam. Your plan is to spend the entire day cramming, so you post up at your favorite table at college library with all the necessities: snacks, candy and a couple jumbo energy drinks. These products… Read more »
Butterscotch Bliss at Iron Cupcake Madison Challenge
This Sunday, I made my way to the East Side Club to do one of my favorite foodie things: I wisely decided to forgo lunch and munch on mini cupcakes at Iron Cupcake Madison Challenge #7 instead. I was thrilled to be going. Iron Cupcake Madison is a cupcake bakeoff… Read more »
Cocoa loco: Recipes for all tastes
As we move slowly into the colder winter months, the prospect of shoveling snow, biting winds and wet boots fill us with dread. However, winter time brings many cheery seasonal traditions with it as well: snowball fights, a break from school, wearing that sweet winter hat you bought at Ragstock… Read more »
Column: Chew on This on Osaka House
A curious thing happened in Madison this past January. The restaurant Sushi Hut (505 State St.) closed, only to be replaced almost immediately by a new sushi restaurant called Osaka House. Could the new group of owners have simply opened up the same basic restaurant under a new name? “First… Read more »
Have your candy and eat it too: tips for a healthy Halloween
Well folks, it is time for the holiday that generates the highest candy sales: Halloween. Now I know for many of you trick-or-treating is not on the menu, but care packages from home, Halloween candy commercials or those daunting candy isles at the convenience store may have you going cuckoo… Read more »
No kernel of truth to corn syrup’s deleterious effects
I have a confession to make: I’m an anti-high fructose corn syrup person. Call me a food faddist or a granola nut, but I just cannot bring myself to accept corn as a replacement for sugar. Perhaps it’s the fact that the syrup is enzymatically processed or that corn is… Read more »
Change of seasons means one thing: Get your pumpkin on
As Halloween nears, pumpkins begin to appear on stoops and window sills all over Madtown. But in the rush to clean, carve and display these ghoulish orange globes, we often forget about their non-decorating benefit — namely, food! Really? Pumpkin? Look around you, Madison! It may seem like an obscure… Read more »
Caramel Craze: Newest fad sticky, sweet, salty treat
The first time I had a salted caramel was by sheer chance. On a trip to Nashville two summers ago, I found myself in a bakery with a mouthwatering display case. Not content to try only the fruit tart and almond croissant, I picked at random and landed on sea… Read more »
From pork buns to pot stickers, Willy eatery impresses
When you think of ramen, what do you picture? Fragile squares of dried noodles? Tin foil packets of powdered flavoring? A Styrofoam cup, perhaps? Well, clear your assumptions, because the laid-back Umami Ramen & Dumpling Bar at 923 Williamson St. is out to revise ramen’s “cheap-but-questionable” reputation. Built into an… Read more »
Endless summer: finding campus’ best frozen treats
View Ice Cream, FroYo and Gelato on State Street in a larger map In Wisconsin, summer tends to last the required three months, then disappears into the wet, cold and ugly season known as the rest of the year. Although summer is obviously over and the prospect of more 70… Read more »
Nosh pit: Tips for eating on-the-go
Maybe it’s a cold cut at Subway. Maybe it’s a double cheeseburger from McDonald’s, or a cinnamon raisin bagel from Einstein Bros. When we’re on the go and we need something to eat — quick — we often end up choosing the same meal from the same place every time… Read more »
Best of the best: Sifting through nearly 700 area eateries
For most college students, food is something that should be fast, hot and easy. Going to sit-down restaurants is not a priority, and venturing outside of walking distance to nosh is a rare occurrence. In Madison, this is a damn shame. Yelp lists 655 restaurants in Madison, not including… Read more »
Meal time in Madison: Top three delectable dishes around town
Having lived in this town for three years now, I’ll be the first to tell you Madison is not lacking in great food. The local produce and epicurean sensibilities surrounding the University of Wisconsin make it a nesting ground for myriad eclectic, excellent, individually-owned restaurants. These establishments cover a wide… Read more »
Conserve cash, eat in with sustainable, farm-grown ingredients
For many of my fellow students, the thought of spending 30 dollars for an entrĂ©e is simply ludicrous — that’s like two 30-cases. Yet that’s what you can expect to pay at L’etoile or Harvest, arguably the best restaurants in Madison. Both are hailed as gems of the Midwest, both… Read more »
Beefy showdown: A tale of two burgers
“This is no mere sandwich of grilled meat and toasted bread, Robin. This is God, speaking to us in food.” — Marshall, “How I Met Your Mother” Americans’ love affair with hamburgers goes back almost as far as our love affair with unhealthy eating. Ever since the 1880s, when Fletcher… Read more »
Delight in grown up grilled cheese
There are few sandwiches I hold in higher esteem than the grilled cheese. When done right, the simple combination of bread, cheese and butter has a special place in my heart (and stomach) that even the most elegant dish cannot touch. Perhaps my love stems from fond memories of meals… Read more »
Travel past Camp Randall for quality international cuisine
Start walking southwest from Camp Randall and you’ll notice the pavement beneath your feet is uneven and rustic, as though it arose organically out of the ground. Your mind will wander over the decorative shop fronts of a locally-owned Oriental rug store and a stately wine cave…wait, is that a… Read more »
Beyond the Square lies Willy Street fare
For many Wisconsinites, thoughts of Madison would be incomplete without thoughts of State Street. Seen as a major attraction, the six blocks between the Capitol and Library Mall are chock full of all things good in life: shopping, restaurants and hipsters. Tourist materials boast that State Street is home to… Read more »
Hay is for horses, oats are for comfort food craving students
Chew On This: Eat Your Heart Out, Quaker Oats Greetings, Herald readers. Your food columnists, Sam and Allegra, would like to introduce the new title for Thursday’s food column. Don’t worry, the column will still appear on Thursdays and will still be composed of pretty much the best food writing… Read more »
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