Oh-So-Dreamy

Date night, Quality Grandparent Time, A Little Space Please...whatever you choose to call it, a night out with The Other is mighty important. If you feel as though you and Partner X have become 2 ships passing in the living room, make a reservation and GET OUT! We've become addicted to Dream Dance's Around the World Wine Dinners with Ray's Wine and Spirits. OK, that may be an exaggeration since a habit of this expense is equal to smoking $100 bills. When in Rome. We are eating in Potawatomi Land after all.

Not often enough, Dream Dance holds an event that features the food and wines of a country or region. Ray's teams up with Left Bank distributor and chef Jason Gorman of D.D. to produce a coursed dinner that heightens the wine experience and elevates the typical menu to art.

The most recent success was Pacific Northwest, exemplifying all that is fresh and wonderful about the cool coastal waters of Washington and Oregon. I know, I know...pinot noir and salmon. Mushrooms and oysters, blah blah blah. You can get that anywhere, flown in daily. This meal was definitely superior to the typical raw bar sushi joint experience. Let's discuss.

Course #1: a wee tiny little petite Fanny Bay Oyster with fennel and white pepper sorbet. Yeah, they rocked hard. You doubt me? The sorbet flavors opened up the palette and the oyster, as small as it was, shocked the senses with a lovely briny wash. Paired with this course was the 05 Banyan Riesling "Madera" Santa Lucia Highlands, from CA. The wine maker, we were informed was of Thai descent and quite a "hottie". He makes an admirable white; sea, salt and apples. The freshness lingers on the tongue briefly. A nice light mouth feel.

By course #2, my head was already swooning (note-a head start on the drinking happened while we wait for other diners to arrive, oops). Jumbo lump crab cakes are the star. Combined with a Pinot Gris that was new to me, 05 Brandborg Pinot Gris, Umpqua Valley, OR. Umpqua doesn't roll off the tongue, even when I'm sober. The base of this plate was a Thai basil cucumber salad, which plucked the bright flavors from this white. The acid in the P. Gris cut through the richness of the crab cake, in turn the crab mixed nicely with the typical gooseberry in the Oregon bottle. Not great by any stretch, but a flavor enhancer for the Asian inspired dish.

Everyone at our table was guilty of making squishy faces when reading the menu of our 3rd course. Beef Tongue Stuffed Walla Walla Onion. A delightful smoked wood aroma rose from the little onion, matching the rich berry bbq in the 02 Amani Syrah from Walla Walla. (that does roll off the tongue nicely. beef tongue) I imagined I was sitting around a campfire in the North Woods, minus the wind chill and the threat of bears. This match was perfect. I would never in a million years go to the extent that Chef J.G. did of mincing tongue and shoving it into an onion skin. Thankfully someone did!

The main course was, of course, salmon. By now, my notes are unreadable, I'm slurring and my table is having an intense discussion about cats. I think I wrote blackberries, smoky time mushrooms, bitcin’ salmon & bitter greens. Maybe I should take a tape recorder next time. What I do remember was that both of these Pinot Noir bottles had body way beyond what I've been feeling lately in my personal choices. They tend to be all over the place due to various climate and condition changes and it seems to me that the more $$ the better the product. Obvious? Who wants to find out that $30 isn't enough for an average pinot? This 06 Moshin Pinot Noir "Molinari Vineyard" from Sonoma was worth it. We ordered 2, we'll soon see if it was the drinky drinky or if it truly stands on it's own.

Finishing the meal was an enormous (granted, this word never once crept into my mind during this meal) huckleberry tart. Mild and not overly sweet, the berries yielded properly to the icewine which was considerably sweeter. Since it's at a premium, I made sure to enjoy this dessert wine. Sweet and earthy, simple. This 06 Pinot Noir Icewine from Adelsheim in the Willametter Valley was a tasty little bump at the end of the meal.

The fine people at Left Bank make a point of leading the troupes through the meal, pointing out the smart facts about the chosen pairings and at the end of the evening, the shy Jason Gorman makes a trip around the dining room to meet the guests. With such care taken to prepare beautiful plates with thoughtful wine pairings, it's hard to find fault with this dinner.

...except...the…location. Dream Dance is located in the single most smoky building I have ever smelled. To access D.D. the diner is forced to parade through the casino, picking up that awful ashtray eau d’parfume. Dream Dance itself lacks vibrant finishes and furniture. Dated artwork and dull colors do not inspire one to linger beyond the meal. Thankfully, they plan tp shut down for a month in the spring to move to the new space, haulting the Around the World series briefly. Please let there be an exterior entrance. If I wanted to experience the casino, I would so choose. I like to throw cash away, just like the next person. I’d prefer to do it after my $200 dinner, however.

Dream Dance Around the World Series
1721 W Canal St

(414) 847-7883

Investment: $70 ea
Sitter time: about 3 hours, unless you get lost in the casino

KID RATING: 0

PARENT RATING: 5, for sanity

BETTY BON VIVANT RATING SYSTEM: 1-5

1 = ABSOLUTELY NOT WORTH THE EFFORT, SAVE YOUR $ FOR BAROLO

5 = WOW, I WOULD STRIP NAKED AND ROLL IN THIS CHOW

You Love-Sick Fools

Who doesn't love to shop? Shopping eases the pain, numbs the aches of the hard work day and flushes all of those troublesome worries away. Except when everything is marked up 110% for a holiday such as February 14th. We all give in the to Gods of Hallmark and make those little (or grand, if you can so afford) gestures of love and like. Do so with style, and do it local.

I've listed a few of my very favorite LUV Holiday choices. Forgo the $100 boo-kay of red red roses and just buy her a pair of undies.

Sean Henninger's Atomic Chocolate available at Times Square Bistro & Pizzeria in Walker’s Point (605 S. First St., 224-6300). You can find him pairing his finely crafted chocolates with wines of all kinds at Grapes and Grain in Mequon. Such delicious wares should be savored, so buy a couple boxes. Curry...red pepper...mango.

Tool Shed, 804 E. Center, 414.562.9338. www.toolshedtoys.com "Milwaukee's first lady-owned sex toy store" has everything from the cute and cuddly to the..."um, what's that for?"

Girlie Pants online store: http://www.girliepants.com/ "Clean undies for dirty girls". Not local, but plenty sweet. All artist designed wear by a former Milwaukeean.

If you HAVE to do flowers, do them good. Fresh Design, modern flowers. Sue Shunta proprietor, 414 467 4310 contact@freshdesignflowers.com. Amazing website with photos so good I could eat them. The personal service is really where this online shop shines. Give her a call, she can help with your carnation vs daisy dilemma. www.freshdesignflowers.com/portfolio.html

Although they may not be dishing the feminist dirt currently, there are still tee-shirts to be had from Ladylike Wonderwear. Get 'em while you can, these fem tees are a soon to be a collectors item. www.citymoonstudios.com/ladylike/html/about.html

and please, if you'd like to share your bright ideas, drop me a line, I'll forward your post.

Enjoy the piercing of cupids arrows, or perhaps just curl up with a bottle of Rielsing, who needs men?

love-
Betty

Quickie with Maxie!

Maxie's Southern Comfort. Completely child-friendly, they have crayons, enough room and a loud din to cover any tantrum. The bathrooms even have a changing table! Yes, what a wonderful woman Maxie is. I think she may even like kids.

Maxie's offers a menu just for the shorty, with obligatory fried chicken (a little bland considering the portion is so large the Adult is going to have to finish it), fish fry, burger, and butter noodles. One thought, if you like your kid to get a few veggies with their carbs, ask them to hold the fries and bring out a side of their vegetable of the day. The second my daughter sees fries, all bets are off and nothing else is going to be consumed. I can't believe I still don't follow this advice. Must be the wine.

The wine...they have a great list. We opted for a white since we were all having fish and starting with the oysters for happy hour (half price!). The Albrecht Pinot Blanc, Alsace, France, 2005 has a hint of the sea in it, which makes for a lovely fish pairing. You can smell the ocean in this glass, and the lemony hint is subtle and superb. Check the web site for the other options. www.maxies.com. They have numerous specials on various days but the 2 that hit me were the $1 kids menu on Sunday and the Vino Vendsday. Again, check the site, it's got everything from menus to specials & catering.

OK, so this was to be a quick one, since I've been absent and I don't want to scare anyone with my rants. The oysters were excellent, fresh and briny. The gumbo was really good but okra, ick! Not for me. I had the supper club salad, with blue cheese and raspberry vinaigrette. I added ahi tuna for $7.95 (it says 8.95 on the web site?) and it filled up this salad perfectly. It was done seared and rare. Even the waitress remarked that it looked lovely.

From what I could tell, everyone had a superb time chomping on chicken fingers and fries, ahi tuna in Cajun sauces and big steamy bowls of gumbo. This place does an nice little electric slide for me, I'll be back, with and without the kids. Maybe I'll even drink my way through the wine list. Care to join me?

~Betty!

MAXIES SOUTHERN COMFORT
6732 WEST FAIRVIEW, TOSA 414.292.3969

KID RATING: 5
PARENT RATING: 5
BETTY BON VIVANT RATING SYSTEM: 1-5
1 = ABSOLUTELY NOT WORTH THE EFFORT, SAVE YOUR $ FOR BAROLO
5 = WOW, I WOULD STRIP NAKED AND ROLL IN THIS CHOW



Happy Hour Every Day 4pm-6pm - Half-Priced Raw Oysters and Clams

Phan's Garden, Home Away from Home

Yeah, well... my home doesn't have pink walls and a humongous fish tank, but I do spend quite a bit of time here. So much that I've overlooked it as a viable spot for reviewing. It truly is a wonderful restaurant, not an unturned stone anymore. Many have found this spot even though it is way out of the way for most (except my family) (and most Mexicans & Hmong in Milwaukee).

The first thing to note upon entering Phan's is that you're probably not there for the ambiance. It's kind of a interior designers nightmare. Pink and red, glass and gold. A elderly person's bathroom gone awry. But then, you are there for the fabulous Pho, the $25 tab and the warm full belly feeling.

People with kids might want to try and wrestle someone for the booth with the fish tank, full of gold fish that luckily don't resemble anything on the menu. This provides for excellent entertainment while you wait for your apps. The booths, we've noticed, are impossibly far away from the table, so very little ones should opt for the high chair or have Mom leave feeling guilty for all of the rice that's under the table (like me).

For starters, we've always gotten the spring rolls, or A-2. These are the fresh, Vietnamese variety. They do have nice little fried rolls too, called egg rolls here, that are the size of a cigar. There's a great way to get both, which I'll indulge you with shortly. The spring rolls these days aren't what they used to be. They lack the herbs that used to come packed into these fresh and filling salad wraps. Now, they generally have 3 shrimp, lettuce and rice noodles. Not great, but the peanut sauce is good and these are filling for the minimal price. Hopefully, the herbs will come back in the summer.

Appetiser # 2, which doubled as my daughter's entree, were the friend dumplings. Like the Japanese & Chinese version, these are pork filled dough balls. Nothing too extreme, but they are a good size and the dough appears to be hand made, it's thicker and juicer than others. The Kid likes the meat most of all, but then that's not new. She shucked all the shells. Another app where the sauce makes it, tangy and tart.

The Husband noticed that we routinely order the same things here. I have ventured into other territory to try the Chinese options and they just aren't my favorite. Lots of cabbage and heavy sauces. Sticking with the Vietnamese standards, we're rarely let down. B-14 or Bun (full name undisclosed since I can't remember it) comes in a multitude of ways. Generally, the least adventurous is with BBQ pork and an egg roll (see! great idea). This dish is a large bowl of rice noodles, with cucumber and bean sprouts underneath. Piled on top is the meat, egg roll and whatever else you might order with it (fish balls, meat balls, etc). The sauce is a fish stock & vinegar, Rooster Sauce combo that spices it up.

Since this is the season for colds and flu, this place rocks for one main reason. Pho. This is a huge bowl of beef (or chicken) broth, with thinly sliced beef (or chicken) and loads of rice noodles. The soup come in two sizes, huge and enormous. On the side, the bowl comes with jalapeno slices, Thai basil, mung bean sprouts, lime and Rooster Sauce. Put them all in there, it makes for a sweat-inducing, cold-fighting bowl of healthy fun.

For the kiddies, ordering the appetiser sized portions of rice, pan fried noodles or egg drop soup works. You won't find a whole lot of vegetable choices unless your kid thinks Bun looks really cool. This place, on the whole isn't too child-friendly, but I can completely overlook that for the warm hospitality, the quick service and the super cheap prices. The bathrooms have improved over time but there's still no Koala Bear station. If you have a larger party, the banquet room is often available for the asking.

Oh, and the drinks, I almost overlooked them! The Mango smoothie is a great way to have your little darling to get some fruit. Phan's does offer a few beer and wine options, although we generally don't partake in the Asian beer. The wine is pretty foul, unfortunately. The iced coffee is thick and sweet with condensed milk and double-strength brew. It's best consumed as a desert.

I hope you enjoy Phan's the way I have for so many years. With all the the Hmong restaurants popping up on National Ave, it's been a hard contender to beat. Enjoy!


PHAN'S GARDEN
1923 WEST NATIONAL AVE 414.384-4522

KID RATING: 2
PARENT RATING: 5
BETTY BON VIVANT RATING SYSTEM: 1-5
1 = ABSOLUTELY NOT WORTH THE EFFORT, SAVE YOUR $ FOR BAROLO
5 = WOW, I WOULD STRIP NAKED AND ROLL IN THIS CHOW

2008 Resolutions...to eat MORE!

A Most Happy 2008 New Year to you! I thought I'd share my first resolution, publicly. To EAT, DRINK and BLOG more. I've been slacking since the holidays hit and I intend to sharpen my pencil and scrub the wine glasses and get to work. Join me, please.

Cheers!

Betty bon V

Cha-Cha-Cha La Merenda

International Tapas…conjures visions of squid in a sublime French bisque…okra in a tangy marinara sauce, toast points with gravy? Oh wait, that’s Shit on a Shingle. That does exist, unfortunately. La Merenda in the Historic Walker’s Point Neighborhood, has not only created this genre of cuisine consumption, but excelled.

Thrown off our regular path of lunching in scenic spots, my companion and I duck into the once-a-dirty-foundry spot on National. Inside, lively orange and yellow hues brighten up a space that, with few windows, needs all the help it can get. As we sit, order tea and peruse a lengthy menu, things brighten up.

La Merenda lunchtime options offer Cold, Sandwiches and Hot. Within these styles your tastes can range from Italy, Israel, Thailand and Peru, all without the dysentery. The sunny flavors of the White Bean and Tuna Salad provide a light starter, firm beans and flaky tuna. Moving on to the tangy mint Tel Aviv Citrus Salad, we do not get our passports stamped and end up adoring a Croque Monsieur and a La Merenda BLT in France. Oh I almost hugged my little bite of Croque as the béchamel sauce was something that I have dreams about when my husband is working late.

When we’ve recovered from our lustful experience of France, we head over to Indonesia for the hot course. Creamy, coconut milk surrounds the shrimp in this dish known as Sambal Goreng Udang. The amazing combination of mashed potatoes, coconut curry sauce and shrimp is something only a crazy chef makes up in his head and then makes us eat. At least that’s what I’m telling myself to relive the guilt of my overindulgence. The last dish is Pancit from the Philippines. I’ve had this dish several times and it is always satisfying and tasty. Asian noodles tossed with chicken, Chinese sausage, carrots, and shitake mushrooms, how can you go wrong?

We skipped the dessert, it just seems too decadent to do during mid day. Unless you’re enjoying your third martini lunching in the ever popular networking spot, the strip club, which I have never done. So we get the check, gratefully pay a meager pittance for such a wonderful meal and head back to a lazy afternoon at the office.

International Tapas La Merenda style, is not one to shake a maraca at, unless you’d just rather have a burger for lunch. In that case, I’ll see you at Culvers.

Parent Note: While La Merenda does have high chairs and is now, as of October 1st, non-smoking, it’s not a comfortable place for kids to hang out. The din gets a little high in the evening and the food is just a bit off-course for the young ones who don’t do spicy. As I say that, I did drag The Toddler there a couple of times and she loved the curry mash, but that was about it. Dinner was rushed and you should really find the time to savor the lovely food presented at La Merenda. Get a sitter.

LA MERENDA
125 EAST NATIONAL AVE 414.389.0125

KID RATING: 1

PARENT RATING: 5

BETTY BON VIVANT RATING SYSTEM: 1-5

1 = ABSOLUTELY NOT WORTH THE EFFORT, SAVE YOUR $ FOR GIN

5 = WOW, I WOULD STRIP NAKED AND ROLL IN THIS CHOW IF I WAS A DOG

More Props to the Hood

Gaze as we visit to 2 first class local events on the glorious WEST Side. Marvel at the wonderful costumes of the Asian dancers parading down National Ave. Rubberneck at the culture of the Cello in the Garden event held in the Forest Home Cemetery. All...right here in our backyard.






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Cheers!
~Betty