The Old Fashioned is Old News

Why does everyone seem to love this place?  When people come to town they always seem to have heard of The Old Fashioned and suggest going there.  I have personally experienced this with friends and family, and I know others who have as well.  This boggles my mind.  The food is mediocre, and I say that only because I do enjoy their breakfast.  Their menu is scant in my opinion and the service is terrible.  I have just never been impressed by the place.

Exhibit A: The first time I ever visited the Old Fashioned I was not impressed by the menu.  There are not many healthy options on the menu and when I found what I thought sounded amazing and healthy (No. 35 grilled eggplant and portabella sandwich) turned out to have a highly unpleasant texture and zero flavor.

Exhibit B: I arrived at The Old Fashioned for lunch when my sister and mom were in town and we were meeting a friend.  The server got us water and took our drink order which seemed to take a while even though the restaurant was quiet at the time.  After getting our beers my sister asked for some lemons for our beers.  They never came, and we had to ask for them a second time, but by then we had almost finished our first beers.

I ordered their summer sausage sandwich which sounded delicious, and it was okay.  Very greasy, but okay.  However, I left the restaurant feeling sick and crampy - not how I want to end a meal.

Exhibit C:  Now, my husband and I always forget that the Sunprint Cafe is closed on Sundays (which is incredibly silly and feels like a bad business decision to me, but anyways) and we end up walking up to the cafe and realizing this after we arrive.  Therefore, we always end up having to choose another brunch option.  Automatically we think Bradbury's, but then we usually get there and the line is out the door, which means waiting probably another hour before eating.  At this point we probably have considered going to Gotham or heading somewhere down State St., but a couple of times we have made the decision to go to The Old Fashioned.  The first time we made this decision I was very hesitant, but thought I would give them another chance on breakfast.  It went well, the food was good, but again, not very healthy as half of our plate was covered in potatoes.

So, after trying to go to Sunprint again on a Sunday morning we ended up at The Old Fashioned for brunch a second time.  We ordered coffee when we first sat down and our coffee did not arrive before our waiter came to take our food order.  We reminded him and again, our coffee did not arrive until just before our food came out.  We waited probably 15-20 minutes for our coffee....

Exhibit D:  After having an okay experience for breakfast I decided to go to The Old Fashioned with my mom the next time she was in town.  Again we were meeting up with a friend and thought it would be convenient since it was the same place we met the last time we got together.  So, we get our coffee, etc. and are waiting for our food and when it comes out my mom's is cold.  They take the plate from her and apologize, but bring it back a minute later.  She's pretty sure they just threw it in the microwave or something.   NOT IMPRESSED.

I'm done with this place.   I applaud them for using fresh and local products, but their representation of Wisconsin eating is sad.  Some people say, "But what about the cheese curds?" and to that I say, "I prefer the curds at Graze."

Unless I'm going because someone else really wants to or am just going for a drink, forget it.  I'd rather spend my money at Bradbury, Lazy Jane's, or Sunprint Cafe (if they ever decide to  open for Sunday morning brunch)

Horrible service, mediocre food, have left feeling sick more than once.

Happy 2013

I'm Back!  

The last six months have clearly been hectic for me.  However, I can finally call myself a college graduate!  I did not realize how fast my last semester would fly by and how hectic it would be.  On top of the schoolwork I had a lot of things to organize, order, and finalize for graduation, and also had to deal with scores of holiday shoppers at work.  

With the holidays and graduation over I'm ready to get my life in order, start blogging again, buy a house, and get my career rolling.  What career you ask?  Well, I'm trying to figure that out for myself.  For now, I'll just keep applying to jobs that peak my interest and see where it all goes.

As for this blog, I'm going to continue posting.  I might be branching out and writing about more than food, but whether that's the case or not, I'll be around.  I have much more free time and am excited to blog again!

See you soon!

-J

Craving

So...I'm eating meat again...I want Los Gemelos so bad.  I wonder where they get their meat from...

HELP!!!

Hey, it's been a while I know, but I'm trying to get back into blogging on a regular basis, and right now I need your help!  It's sooooo hot in my apartment and we try to avoid running our portable AC because it really can only cool one room at a time and it uses a good chunk of electricity. 

This means that cooking in our 3rd floor flat becomes an extremely hot, uncomfortable task.  I'm begging you for some dinner recipes that can be made without ANY cooking.  Have a good gazpacho recipe?  Hand it over!  Hearty salads with a good amount of protein?  I'll take it!  We're dying here people!  (not literally, but almost).

Hope to hear from you all soon!  Thank you!

What’s With all the Sushi??

Madison seems to be turning into quite the sushi hotspot.  Off the top of my head I can name four sushi restaurants within a mile of my house and more are coming!! 
I have not tried them all, I have to admit, but can you blame me?  Restaurant Muramoto has stolen my sushi heart!  And I thought Takara was good…

Here’s the scoop:
The two times we have been here we have gotten the maki combo.  It’s a great deal, and you get a good variety.  It’s especially nice when you go with a lot of people because you can all share.  The thing about the maki combo…you don’t get to pick your rolls, the chef does!  I think that’s awesome, but others might be pickier so keep that in mind.
The maki combo gives you three sushi rolls, one regular, one inside out, and one special for $20.

This was my plate. 
Regular: Tekka Roll (tuna)
Inside out: Spicy Shrimp Roll (shrimp, masago mayo, scallion, seven spice, chili oil)  -  Umm…delicious.
Special: Rainbow Roll (tuna, hamachi, salmon, crab, avocado, cuke)  -  A lot of fish, very filling, but good.  I would try to eat/share most of this first so it doesn’t get too warm.

This was AJ’s plate.
Regular: Salmon Roll
Inside out: Spicy Tuna Roll
Special: Dante Roll (hamachi, cuke, greens, habanero tobikko)  -This one is VERY spicy…just a warning.  I love spicy, but this was ridiculously spicy because of the black roe.  But nonetheless, it was fun to eat.

Everything was great and the atmosphere is awesome too.  We usually sit at the bar so that we can watch the chefs cook.  Sometimes it gets a little intense, but you can thank them directly when its great!
On this trip we splurged and got dessert : ).  We were not sure what to pick since everything sounded great, but here is what our waitress suggested…

The top plate is the black sesame ice cream and below are the chocolate satsuma beignets with miso caramel. 
All of this was amazing.  The beignets were great both with the caramel and with the ice cream. 
The ice cream itself was surprisingly tasty, and the miso caramel I seriously could have eaten by itself it was that good.
A little pricey, but worth it once in a while for a great date night!

Insider tip: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights its $25 for all you can eat sushi.  Just FYI. : ).
Read what others have to say here.

V-Day Dinner

I love to use our Japanese dinnerware on occasions like this.  Valentine’s Day was great, and since my husband and I have been together for quite a while we just decided to cook a great dinner together and spend some quality time.  Here’s what resulted:
Baked salmon in a basil and lemon marinade, israeli style cous cous, and roasted asparagus.  It was perfect!

I marinated the salmon in the following:
~3 T olive oil
1 t dried basil
1 t dill
1/2 t salt
1/4-1/2 t pepper
pinch of dried parsley
lemon juice (about 2 wedges)
I marinated two fillets for about 45 minutes and then wrapped them in foil and baked it in the oven at 375 degrees for about 35 minutes.  Turned out great!

The couscous was actually the star of this meal and even though it looks a little boring on the plate, it was packed with flavor.  Here’s how I did it:
You need 3-4 T butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup onion, chopped
2 cups Israeli style cous cous
2 bay leaves
1 t Balti seasoning (wow, so good!)
pinch or two of cinnamon (maybe about 1/4 t, it depends how you like it)
salt and pepper to taste
2 1/4 cups vegetable stock (or chicken, or whatever you prefer)
Add the butter to a pot on the stove set at about medium heat.  Let that melt, then add the garlic, and the onion (peppers are good too if you have them).  Let the onion cook a couple of minutes and then add the couscous and stir.  Allow the couscous to toast, stirring occasionally for a few minutes.  Add spices.  Add vegetable stock and bring to a boil.  Once boiling reduce heat and let it simmer until liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes.
This was so good, and the Balti seasoning was genius.  Once I added it, the two of us could not stop smelling the dish and we couldn’t wait to eat it!
For dessert:
Vanilla pound cake with homemade strawberry sauce and vanilla ice cream.
To make the strawberry sauce you need:
1 pint fresh strawberries rinsed and sliced
1/3 cup sugar
1 t vanilla
Put 2/3 of the strawberries, the sugar and the vanilla into a pot on medium heat.  Stir with a whisk crushing the strawberries as they soften to form a saucy texture.  Then add the rest of the strawberries and serve!  MMM….I will definitely be making this for waffles and pancakes.
I want to know what you did for Valentine’s Day!! Did you go out to dinner? Where? or What did you make at home?  Let me know

Go-To Recipe—Cajun Catfish…or any fish

This Cajun catfish recipe is great and I have used it several times since I came across it.  It is very versatile as well.  I’ve used it with a couple different kinds of fish and it always tastes delicious.  The first time I made this dish I followed the recipe closely, but I doubled it because I wanted a lot of flavor. 
The Cajun coating for the fish consists of…
2T canola oil
1-2 cloves minced garlic
2t thyme
2t paprika
1/2t cayenne
1/2t hot sauce (add more or less to taste)
1/4t black pepper

Spread this on whatever kind of fish you like and bake it in the oven for its normal baking time.  So much flavor!! You will love it! I used this recipe for 2 catfish fillets.

The couscous is Israeli couscous, and one of the reasons this is a go-to dish for me is because I usually have some fish fillets in the the freezer and almost always have couscous in the pantry.  You could use regular couscous as well, but I enjoy the texture of the Israeli type. 

To make the couscous add some butter to a medium sized pot and add whatever vegetables you think you would like.  I really like peppers and garlic in this, but onions or zucchini would also be good.  You can also add any spices or herbs you’d like at this point.

Let the veggies cook a little and then add the couscous.  Let it brown for a minute or two in the pan and soak up the butter.  Then add stock of your choice.  I chose veggie stock and the ratio should be about 2:1 stock:couscous.  Allow it to simmer until the stock has been absorbed and the couscous is soft. 
Voila!  Delicious dinner!

Now, I have used this recipe to make breaded fillets as well.  Make the Cajun sauce as above, but add an egg.  Dip the fish into that mixture and then into some panko bread crumbs.  Then put in the oven and bake.  You may want to season your bread crumbs though, I used a little salt, paprika, and cayenne in mine and it was great!  Give it a try and let me know how you liked it!

Yes, I did.

I got a twitter account.  I know, I know, but if you’d like you can follow me @ASconnieEats.

I did this so it will be easier for me to share my food experiences with you all when I’m so busy with school, so hopefully that will hold true.

Send some tweets my way about your favorite Thanksgiving traditions/foods/recipes!

Best Coffee in Town…and Delicious Crepes!

There are so many coffee shops in downtown Madison, but I think I have found the best.  Many of you may know about it already, and I have for a while as well, but have finally found the time to write about it and am so excited to share it with you.  Bradbury’s on N. Hamilton St. has by far the best coffee I’ve had in this city.

Now, let me tell you, I am not really a basic coffee drinker.  I usually get the specialty drinks, like lattes and mochas.  I also drink regular coffee with some delicious creamer in it, but I have to say Bradbury’s pour over coffee goes down so smoothly and tastes amazing with nothing added to it! 

The first time I visited Bradbury’s I had a latte, and I remember wondering, “What’s taking so long?” but when it arrived, I realized it was made with such care, and the flavor and warmth made up for the wait.
At other coffee shops I usually end up getting flavorings in my lattes, but here it is completely unnecessary.  There is a perfect balance of bitterness and sweetness, and it has thick foam that is so yummy I would get coffee here everyday if I had the time and money.

Bradbury’s also serves crepes (for some reason I can’t figure out how to put the accent on the “e”).  They use local, fresh, seasonal ingredients and they are amazing.  I grew up eating crepes a lot.  It was kind of a tradition on my dad’s side of the family, but we would always make dessert crepes and have them for breakfast.  They were filled with fruits, sour cream, brown sugar, whipped cream, etc.  However, I had never had a savory crepe until I had this at Bradbury’s…

This is a ratatouille crepe WITH a dippy egg!!  Mmmmm!  It was so surprisingly good and it was a lot of fun to watch them make the crepes too.

The only complaint I have about Bradbury’s, and some may argue with me on this, is that it is the hole in the wall of all holes in the wall.  It is tiny.

This wouldn’t be so bad, except for the fact the food and coffee is amazing and so there is often a line that extends out the door, and sometimes you may find yourself with nowhere to sit.  On cold Wisconsin days this is especially annoying because of cold air constantly coming in from outside.  Here is a picture of seriously the entire café (ok, it does the accent automatically on café, but not on crepe, hrmph) including the kitchen area, and as you can see it is definitely a tight squeeze.
Overall though, best coffee and one of my top picks for breakfast.

Insider Tip: So busy on the weekends...

Oh, Hello

I know I haven't posted in forever.  This semester is kicking my butt.  Promise to post soon!!!  Have a great Turkey Day everyone!! Go PACK!

A Sconnie Eats San Diego Style

This summer my husband and I took our first major vacation together to San Diego and we had a blast.  We spent a lot of time relaxing on the beach and we also checked out the Zoo, Old Town, and the downtown Gas Lamp District.

The hotel we stayed at was in the Mission Bay Area and it was right on the Marina.  We were right on the ocean and just about a mile from Mission Beach.  The scenery, weather, and sunsets were all beautiful and we could not have asked for a better time.

Now, I may have mentioned before that I have added fish back into my previously vegetarian diet.  So, now I guess I’m more of a pescatarian, but I only eat fish every so often.  While we were in San Diego, I was so excited for some seafood.  In Wisconsin there really isn’t much a fresh fish scene, and when I am in coastal areas I just love the abundance of fresh seafood.

So, there are two places we ate at that we enjoyed. The first was actually a restaurant in our hotel called Firefly.  They have some great outdoor seating with a good view of the bay.  It was a little chilly though and the outdoor heater where we were sitting was broken.  Luckily another table left shortly after we arrived and we moved to their spot and started to warm up.  The service was a little slow.  We needed refills on our drinks halfway through our meal and didn’t get them until we were done eating.  That said, the food was still great.

For an appetizer we had their Bruschetta.  It was delicious.  There were six pieces with three different toppings:  Goat cheese, Mozzarella, and Carmelized Fennel.  It was really fun trying the three different kinds and it worked out perfectly that we each got one of each kind.  I definitely recommend this appetizer for those that go here.  It really impressed me. 





For our entrees, I had the Seasonal Catch which was a rockfish.  It came with Israeli cous cous and seasonal veggies.  The fish was cooked perfectly and seasoned well.  I have had an unpleasant experience with Israeli cous cous in the past and was a little nervous about getting it, but it was actually fantastic.  Everything on the plate just really went together well and the flavors were well balanced. 

AJ had the 1/2 Fried Chicken that came with garlic mashed potatoes and a tomato chutney.  It did seem a little small for being 1/2 of a chicken but AJ said it was pretty good and the potatoes were delicious. 
All in all we had a great time here.  The atmosphere I think could have been improved if the restaurant wasn’t right next to the hotel pool that plays music of its liking from the time they open until the time they close (past 10 pm).  I did however enjoy watching the fireworks from our table that Seaworld put on every night. 


The other place we ate at that we enjoyed while we were in San Diego was called Saska’s.  This restaurant has been around for sixty years and you can tell when you walk in.  The place looks like a sixties supper club and really could use some updating.  We got seated however, in a really awesome booth.  It was like a sweet circle booth with a small table; perfect for two.  We also had a great view of the TVs which made us happy since we had been following the women’s world cup all week.
 
Our service here was a little slow, but didn’t feel so bad because they warned us ahead of time that our server was dealing with a large party and was a little behind.  Here, AJ had a steak stuffed with crab meat that he really really enjoyed.  He kept trying to get me to try it, but I believed him.  I enjoyed an amazing salmon filet.  I just love fresh fish and this was a great way to end our vacation.  I savored every bite of that fish and by the end of our dinner we were so stuffed.  We thought that after dinner we would take a walk and then come back for their late night sushi deals, but we could barely walk when we left we were so full.

I don’t have any pictures of the food from Saska’s but I will just say that it was delicious and we had a great time.  I will however, leave you with a picture of the sunset that night.

Caught off guard and regretting my response.

Today while spending some “me time” around the square doing crossword puzzles, drinking iced tea, etc.  Two women approached me asking me what restaurants are good in the area.  I reply with, “What kind of food do you want to eat?”  and they respond, “Healthy, vegetarian.”  I say, “Oh, ok, I’m a vegetarian too,” and I start to name a couple of my favorite restaurants around the capital square, I eventually send them off to The Capital Taphaus on State St.  They have a pretty good vegetarian sandwich.  They thank me and head on their way.

I was really caught off guard with this inquiry and as I walked home I knew there was a place I had forgotten about.  I thought and thought and halfway home it hit me.  The Great Dane Pub and Brewery.  AHHHH.  I wanted to run all the way back and find those ladies and send them to The Great Dane!  I have a food blog for crying out loud!  How could I not blurt this out immediately??  I blame downtown Madison for having so many restaurants.

So I think it’s time I let you all in on some amazing food and beer.

The Great Dane Pub and Brewery is one of our go-to places around here.  They have a diverse menu with a good amount of vegetarian options including pizzas, amazing mac and cheese, falafel, a veggie burrito, and more.  They also have great burgers, fish and chips, and lots of Sconnie favorites.

But the best Sconnie favorite that they have there is their beer! The Great Dane is a brewery and their beer is very very good.  Being a light-beer drinker I usually stick to the Landmark Light and the Crop Circle Wheat, but no matter what kind of beer you like they have a delicious option for you.

My only gripe about this place is their selection of side items.  I only get the fries there because all the other sides I have tried including their coleslaw and cous cous have been majorly disappointing. 
Other than that though, the rest of the food, the atmosphere, and the service are great.

I apologize to the women that I sent to the Taphaus, hopefully they still have a good lunch and a nice time there.  It is a great place, but The Great Dane would have definitely been a better choice for them.  I will not make this mistake again! : )

Insider Tip:  Sometimes this place gets crowded, so if you’re just going there for drinks, there is a Rathskellar with its own bar downstairs that a lot of people don’t know about.  I always seem to find seating down there.

Lazy Jane's Cafe

Located on well-known Williamson St. in a very eclectic neighborhood, Lazy Jane's Cafe offers up the homiest eating experience in Madison that I know of.  The cafe is basically a house that was simply converted into a communal eating space by eliminating some walls, adding some more furniture, and creating an ordering/serving area in the entryway.  The kitchen doesn't even seem to be very accommodating for the business they bring in; and I'm always amazed at how they can pump so much good food out of it.  This neighborhood favorite compiles homey furniture, cozy seating, and a mish-mosh of dinnerware to give guests a lovely home-away-from-home experience.

Let's not forget about the food here.  They have a great cafe menu with plenty of options and its a great place to grab lunch during the week, but my favorite time to go to Lazy Jane's Cafe is on Saturday mornings.  On Saturdays the cafe only serves breakfast which at any other restaurant would turn me off (due to my issues with eggs, and recent vegetarianism).  Fortunately, this place has some great surprises on their menu.  The last time I went, here's what I had.

Seitan Hash and Tomato Bisque

Tanya had the Biscuits and Gravy and Melon Soup.

It was all delicious as always, but I was really impressed by how good they made the seitan taste.  It was my first time every having it and it tasted just like any other breakfast sausage or meat (maybe a little spicier, but I didn't mind).

The tomato soup was incredible as well.  There were huge chunks of tomato in it and it was really creamy and seasoned well.

The melon soup was almost like a juice, and was surprisingly refreshing and palate cleansing.

Tanya said the biscuits and gravy were great and I trust her opinion :).  They looked amazing.

Lazy Jane's is one of those neighborhood places where you can tell they put so much love into the cafe and into the food.  It is incredibly inviting, cozy, and delicious; and the staff is fun and friendly.  I recommend Lazy Jane's all the time for visitors looking for a good local place for breakfast or lunch, and I'm recommending it to you now.  Check it out.  You won't be disappointed.

Check out their Yelp page here for more info.

Insider Tip:  The cafe is cash only, but they have an ATM inside.  Get there early on Saturdays to beat the rush for breakfast or go for a late brunch.  If you go later though, you may miss out.  They run out of some dishes quickly.

Surge Delivery Cafe

SURGE DELIVERY CAFE HAS UNFORTUNATELY CLOSED.  :(

I’ve been itching to tell you all about Surge Delivery Café in Madison and I’m finally getting to it. First of all, I really want to commend the owners for creating an amazing place to grab breakfast or lunch at an unbeatable price. 

All of the menu options here are vegetarian, but anyone can add their protein of choice for just a dollar more.  They have deli meats, free range chicken breasts, steak, bacon, breakfast sausage, veggie bacon, and veggie sausage as protein options.

Today, I had the Veggie Voltage.  It tastes like pizza!  It has provolone cheese, red onions, green peppers, tomatoes, and mushrooms all grilled on Madison Sourdough wheat bread; and it comes with a side of marinara sauce.

MMM!!! I have also had the Zeus Fuel and King Veggie sandwiches, and all have been delicious.  Check out their website and menu here.

They also have a great breakfast menu as most of their sandwiches can have egg/bacon/sausage added to them for breakfast-y goodness. 

This place really has kept health conscience and veggie eaters in mind through their choices of breakfast and sides including oatmeal, fresh fruit, salads, and gluten free pastries.   They also have an ample drink menu including organic Fair Trade coffee, fruit smoothies, and much more.

If you’re looking for something sweet, Surge doesn’t disappoint here either with its dessert sandwiches.  Dessert Sandwiches?  Uhh..Yes!  Like the one my husband and I shared today, the Hot Nutella Nucleus.  Amazing.

It’s just a grilled Nutella and Banana Sandwich! Who knew it could be so good?

Besides the delicious food, the prices are the best part.  I’m talking lunch for less than $5.  What a great deal for some great food!

I am so excited that this new vegetarian café opened up so close to home.  The owners really did a great job with the space as well turning the old Milio’s chain into a cool new café with an awesome color scheme and modern seating.  They seem to be earning a reputation as well.  I have been there three times now and each time it seems busier and busier.  Bravo Surge!!

Tahini, The New Sour Cream/Mayo/Spread/Dip

I have been using tahini a lot lately, and most people have never heard of it, or may only use it when they are making hummus.  Since I have yet to find a hummus recipe to get excited about, I have tried to incorporate tahini into my diet where I can because it is a good source of protein. 
Made from sesame seeds, this sticky “nut butter” has a powerful, but bland-ish flavor to it (it’s a little difficult to describe).  It has 6 grams of protein, 3 grams of fiber, and 200 calories per 2 tablespoons.  At first I tried it by itself and couldn’t figure out what I would be able to use it for, but my first experiment was a success.
Vegetarian fajitas have become a staple dinner around my house and are a yummy way for me to use up leftover veggies.  I just sauté up a bunch of veggies and heat up some black beans, or pinto beans, maybe some rice, etc.  In the past, I would always spread sour cream on the tortilla before I put on my toppings; so to cut back on the amount of dairy in my diet, I used tahini instead.  To my surprise it added a lot of flavor to the fajitas and I really enjoy using it in this way.
Since that experiment was such a success, I started wondering how I could use it in other ways.  So, I made a sandwich and instead of Mayo (which I love, but is not very good for me) I spread tahini on my bread and also put lettuce, seasoned tomatoes, and raw mushrooms on it.  Delicious!!!
I buy East Wind organic tahini, it is about $8 at Woodman’s.  You could probably get a cheaper brand if you’re just trying it for the first time, but I have enjoyed this one and prefer to buy organic when I can afford to.

I also received two new vegetarian cookbooks for my birthday (Thanks to my wonderful husband) and there is a recipe in one of them for a tahini lemon sauce that can be made thicker for a dip or thinner for a sauce or dressing.  I will be trying that out soon and I’ll let you know what I think!
Do you have any uses for this versatile condiment?  Let me know in the comments!
Happy Eating!

A Delicious Dinner

This veggie pasta was super simple, light, and tasty.  What's really awesome about it is that you can use any vegetables you’d like or whatever you have left in your fridge.
Just sauté the veggies in a little olive oil, salt, and pepper, and cook your pasta.  You can use any long pasta, but I used spaghetti since that’s what was in my pantry.
For the sauce, melt about a tablespoon of butter in a small sauce pan, add juice from about half a lemon and 1/3 of a cup of white wine.  Bring that to a boil and pour over the pasta and veggies.  Yum!!!

I scream, You scream, We all scream for Gelato??

It’s that time of year again.  When its just too hot and you need an icy treat to cool your blood.  Head to Paciugo if you’re looking to feed your ice cream cravings.

Everyone will yell at me for saying that though.


It’s Gelato, not ice cream!

But really, who cares because it’s just darn delicious. 

This place boasts an enormous selection of gelato flavors including milk based, water based, soy based, and no-sugar-added options.  Every time I have been there, they have a new flavor(sometimes several new ones).

Not sure what to get?  No problem!  Taste as many flavors as you want before you make a decision. 

Still can’t decide?  That’s ok too.  In their small dish you can get a mix of up to 3 flavors.  Today, I had Cinnamon Coconut, Black Cherry Swirl, and Crème Caramel.  In a medium dish you can get up to 4 flavors, and up to 5 in a large.

To make it even better it’s served to you with a sample spoon, which is very small, and makes you take smaller bites and enjoy the gelato that much longer and that much more.

Located right on the corner of State St. and Gorham this is the perfect place to grab dessert after a dinner downtown.

Picture from here

Insider Tip: you think you can eat more than you really can ;)

Saturday Mornings In Madtown

Check out our treasures from a normal Saturday at the Farmer’s Market. 

Since it is still early in the season there isn’t much produce, and it has been a little slow traffic wise, but I will keep you updated as to what comes in.  I get so excited and love supporting our local farmers. 

Here we have small sweet potatoes (which have made delicious fries), portabella and white button mushrooms, salad greens, a tomato, some beef jerky for AJ, cheese curds, banana bread and a cinnamon roll for breakfast!

Produce wise, this is all that is really at the market right now, so I’ve really been taking advantage of the awesome mushrooms!  They are so delicious!  I made an awesome portabella burger with them.

Also, there are a lot of flowers, plants, honey, syrup, organic and grass-fed meats, and bakery items right now, but soon I will be able to get most of my produce here instead of going to the grocery store.

MmmmmmmMaharaja!

Though I can't claim that Maharaja has the best Indian food in Madison (since it's the only Indian restaurant I've been to in Madison) I will say that it is AMAZING and it is the best Indian food I've ever had.


I have been here twice now, and the last time I was there I got a vegetarian dish and was recommended to have the Navarattan Korma which was mixed vegetables cooked with cream, herbs, and cashews.  

It. Was. Amazing.

I don't even know how else to say it or describe it, but the flavor was so good and I couldn't stop eating it.

Here it is in this picture (it's the closest one).

I went this time with my sister Tanya, my Aunt Dotty, my cousin Clare, and my husband AJ.  We all got something different and then put them in the middle so everyone could share.  Luckily my sister and aunt also got vegetarian dishes.  Everything was awesome and the waiter was so funny.

My cousin is the pickiest eater and she even loved her dish.

The setup of the restaurant is the only thing that I think could be improved, but I think they do ok with the space they have.  I felt however, that there wasn't a lot of privacy.  There are a lot of tables in a small space and there is no separation, booths or much for decor.  They try their best to set the mood, and the space is clean, so it really wasn't that bad.  Plus the waiter really made up for it.  We had a great time here.

And the best part???   Hot towels after dinner!!  Ahhhhh..... Bliss.

I recommend this to anyone who likes, or wants to try Indian Food.  They also have a lunch buffet that I haven't tried yet.

Update: Lunch Buffet = awesome

Livin’ the Veggie Life.

I think its been almost 3 weeks since I last ate meat!  I feel great about myself and proud that I have kept it up.  I actually haven't craved any meat or been tempted by my husbands steak dinners and hamburgers!  

What I have noticed so far.

1.  I feel better about myself as a person.  I started going vegetarian because of where most of our meat comes from and because of how the animals are treated in these places.  It is also kind of disgusting to me how much meat we eat in the US and I just wanted to do my part in helping these animals and get myself into a more healthy and whole diet.

I know most people don’t want to know what goes on in the slaughterhouses and chicken farms, but I don’t really understand why?  Because they know its bad?  Because they feel bad?  If you’re curious please watch this.  Even if you’re not curious you should just watch it to be informed about where your meat actually comes from.

2.  When I eat a vegetarian meal I feel satisfied, but I don’t feel as full, if that makes sense.  When I was eating meat I always felt soooo full after a meal, but now I can eat a meal and feel full, but feel better about it.  It’s like I got enough food in me and that food was much better for me, but my stomach isn’t bursting.  I attribute this to my increased fiber intake.

3.  Vegetarian dishes are amazingly delicious.  I’ve had a few at restaurants, but have also played with some at home (sorry I don’t have pics, I’ve been really busy). 

Last week I made a mushroom burger.  I took the caps of two portabella mushrooms, grilled them up and then put a little pepper jack cheese in between them and then ate it on a bun with all of the normal hamburger fixings.  It was so delicious, and didn’t taste much different from a hamburger except it was a little messier and the texture was obviously different.  Actually, I thought it was better than a hamburger, and when I was done eating it I felt so good.  Again, not too full but satisfied.

4.  I’ve been losing weight.  Not a whole lot yet, as I’m still transitioning to a point and haven’t had time to keep up with exercising, but the new diet keeps me fuller longer and keeps me from snacking.  Plus, when I feel good about my eating decisions I want to keep doing it because of these feelings, so I have some motivation.

5.  My husband loves it and is totally supporting me.  He still eats meat, but told me that he really likes what I’m doing and it just helps so much to have his love and support.  He offered to try Tofu with me and everything and has liked a lot of the things I’ve made so far.  A lot of times we will make something, like the hamburgers for example, and I will just use a vegetable instead of the protein he is using.

He also has been making better decisions, like switching to whole wheat bread!  I love him and love that he is taking my diet shift so well.

So, even though I will have to pass on a lot of things I’ve loved in the past like Wisconsin brats I am more happy with this diet. I feel better about myself from a moral perspective and feel better physically.  I can’t wait to continue this and see where it takes me.
I have tried a few recipes so far, but am still taking any suggestions for vegetarian dishes.  I can never have too many!