explore milwaukee

Ardent You Glad You Read This?

by lisadiane

Well here’s a first my friends. I’m writing about something I loved in a timely fashion. Little heads up for you, this post is basically a test of how many positive favorable adjectives I know. Ready? Ok.

Ardent. Let’s talk about it.

My new mission in life is to stop going to the same restaurants over and over again. I think there’s enough great restaurants in the city to try a new one all the time! Little personal fact about me… part of my day job is to entertain clients. I feel there’s no better way to break bread aka do business than over food. I have my favorite impressive haunts in Milwaukee: Story Hill BKC, Bavette, La Merenda, Cafe Lulu… the list could go on of these affordable lovely great places that people really love when I take them there. But I know there is more to Milwaukee, and I’m ready to explore.

Tonight, I took a client to Ardent. Where do I begin.

Just a couple of businesswomen out on the town

We did the tasting with the pairing. I took pictures with my new phone, which means you will all be satisfied with the photos for once. *Little side story. Last weekend I was in Florida for a girls weekend with 10 girls in an Airbnb. I’m in the pool, cocktail in one hand, phone in the other, arms raised. Laughing, walking, talking, hit a deep spot, one hand goes down to steady myself, one hand goes up to save whatever I’m holding…. You can see where this story is going. New iPhone. Cocktail was saved, like an idiot. Wasn’t even a good cocktail.

Speaking of good cocktails… did I tell you about the pairings? 9 pairings. Nine amazing different wines… and even a Spotted Cow. The service was incredible. Man with Glasses and Woman with Fiance were uber professional. They explained every drink they set in front of us with the most pride I’ve ever heard someone take in explaining the “why” of something. One time the Man with Glasses was telling us about how the bark was peeled and the grape had skin and I swear I blacked out for a minute.

First round of snacks and tea in upper left hand corner, celery custard in top right, beef with egg and marrow plus cheesy bread in bottom left, and tofu soup in bottom right

Then there was the food. 12. Yes, TWELVE rounds. A couple of them were multiple things so it ended up being 17 different mouth experiences. I wish they didn’t show us the menu after so I could explain my favorites with my own words, but I’ll give it a try. You can also look at the menu they gave us afterwards for a tour of our experience. Or just go there.

Beef from Larry the cow in upper left, potatoes on potatoes with heaven sauce in upper right, the most magical thing that’s ever touched my lips in lower left, and radish wrapped tongue from an angel in the bottom right

Let’s talk about the cheese bread in the bag teamed with the beef tartar with the egg and marrow topping. All these things were from the same cow, Larry. Just kidding, they didn’t tell us his name, but, it could have been Larry because it’s from the award winning chefs’ family farm. I know I’m not explaining it right but it’s something very special. What about the foie gras carrot cone? That was literally the most magical thing I’ve ever put in my mouth. Ever. Or the radish wrapped tongue and cream treat. I. Can’t. Even. I literally died when I ate the potato dumplings with the potato chips on top in the bowl. DIED. DEAD. Or when the dessert round started and I had the coldest, spiciest, most interesting flavors hit my tongue. I was confused, content, scared, thrilled, curious. All at the same time. Or maybe that was the drink pairing talking.

The dessert round. On the left is a trio of bite size flavor explosions, upper right is all the flavors, textures, and temperatures of the world mixed into one dish, and bottom right is french fries dipped in a shake, but in square form.

I want everyone to have this experience in life. EVERYONE. If you have mucho extra casho laying around to spend, or a expense account and a client to impress, go here. Maybe you want to set the bar unreasonably high for a first date ruining first dates forever for the person you take, this is the place. Maybe you’re celebrating your 100th wedding anniversary. This is where you should take your spouse. Maybe you’re naturally rich; you should eat here every night. Maybe you’ve been given one day to live and you’re having a hard time choosing a restaurant. This is it. Maybe you found someone’s credit card laying in the street and you… ok, maybe I’ll stop there, you get the picture.

M&M. Mini Muffins and Menus.

PS: They sent us home with a mini muffin for tomorrow morning, so there’s also that.

PPS: The chefs mom knitted blankets for the back of all the chairs. You know. In case you wanted to snuggle.

I’m A Bird

by lisadiane

Am I A Bird?

Before you start reading this, I want you to put on “I’m like a Bird” by Nelly Furtado.  for the ambiance… got it? Playing in the background? Ok, you’re ready to read.

So I’m sitting having a lovely lunch with my brother Dave and his buddy Josh at St Paul Fish Company in the Milwaukee Public Market last week, and we sit down next to a couple friends of mine on the random. After a nice conversation they say they are off to ride some Birds. My, was I appalled!  The horror! They could get arrested!

Read more

Let’s Go Ride A Bike

by lisadiane

Let’s talk about cycling. Slow down, don’t get all excited… not ME cycling. Other people doing it.  Specifically, my family.

So I’ll start this story by trying to help paint a picture of how important cycling is to my family. I was conceived in August 1983 on the Elroy Sparta Bike Trail in Wilton, WI while my mom and dad were on a bike trip. No lie. Not sure of the logistics, but maybe it was even on a bike? No, that would be impossible. But they were much younger then? Ok, that’s all the brainpower I will put into thinking about my conception.  Enjoy the mental picture.

Read more