225 So. Soooooo Good!

I shared with all of you my first experience at 225 So. - Mia Famiglia and I gave it rave reviews back then.

I returned last month with some co-workers for Happy Hour and enjoyed some wine, appetizers, and flatbread. We stayed well past Happy Hour talking about everything except work (like you should) and loved that the owner kept coming over and checking on us. He even told us to throw something at him if we needed anything. I love his fun spirit and smile that I see - such joy in his business.

Last week, I introduced my friend Tiffany to 225 So. She knew the business from the Waukesha Farmer's Market but just hadn't had the opportunity to check it out yet. The place had a decent crowd for a Thursday night and the aroma from the kitchen was heavenly.

I walked Tiffany a bit through the menu before our server came over and explained to her what I have already tried and loved. The server then went a bit more in depth for Tiffany explaining that the chef was classically trained in Sicily and so some of the items might have a bit more spice. But also that everything on the menu except the handmade ravioli can be prepared gluten-free. This is awesome news to those that have a hard time finding restaurants that can provide this sort of catering on their menu.

We pursued a bit longer and selected a pasta entree each and I told her that we must have the bruschetta. It came out really quickly and looked scrumptious. I couldn't wait for her to try it. The balsamic is out of this world good!

I ordered the Whole Wheat Pappardelle with braised beef, pearl onions, mushrooms, and capers in a light cream sauce. It was PHENOMENAL. I was hesitant on the capers as I haven't been much of a fan from past experiences, but this dish pulled everything together and it was delicious. I paired it with a glass (or two) of Chianti and it took it to an even higher level.

Tiffany order the gnocchi and she loved it. Again she tried something unique and we both took home leftovers with excitement of when we get to eat it next.

We didn't save any room for dessert, but next time we must. I have heard so much about their Tiramisu that I have to try it. We didn't hurry out after our meal, but instead enjoyed the ambiance and chitty-chatted while finishing our drinks. It's a very warm and inviting space. I can't wait to go back again and definitely need to introduce my guy to this place soon!

There are so many amazing things happening for 225 So. and I hope that although it's off the beaten path, that it becomes a local favorite for others like it is for me! They have been granted some land from the city of Waukesha for an urban garden. I don't know much more about this at this time, but it's going to be by the river and then they can have "extremely" local produce!

They also have a great Happy Hour from 4 - 6 on Tuesday - Thursdays. Great drink specials, 1/2 price appetizers and $2 off the flatbreads. The Duck Confit flatbread gives Bernie's Tap Room some stiff competition. Luckily each are unique enough that I don't have to pick a favorite! And finally, you can purchase their sauces and ravioli at the restaurant and at the Farmer's Markets. See their recent interview on Fox 6.

225 So. - Mia Famiglia

Ever since I heard that 225 South was opening in Waukesha, I wanted to check it out. Finally, last week Thursday, a few of my girlfriends and I found a night that our schedules aligned for a dinner, and we chose 225 South - Mia Famiglia for our dinner.

My parents used to frequent the Mia Famiglia in Hales Corners until the restaurant closed to focus on retail business. The food was fresh and always made to order. A friend of mine also took a cheese-making class at that location. When I heard that Mia Famiglia was coming to Waukesha, I followed the construction updates regularly. And then when it opened, I watched for reviews. From everything I read, it sounded like this was a Waukesha-favorite already!


I got to the restaurant a little earlier than my friends and took a seat at the bar. I was greeted by a friendly bartender who told me about the Happy Hour specials and the house-made sangria special. I selected a glass of the red sangria and took in the ambiance.

The garage door was open on the front of the location, allowing passersby to look in and see (and smell) the restaurant. The garage door area also serves as additional bar seating with stools so you can look out the door and check out downtown Waukesha. A few high top tables are in the front of the restaurant and then some low tables are down the middle. Against the side wall is a long booth with tables and chairs so they can accommodate groups of all sizes. 


During the ten minutes that I waited for my friends, quite a few groups came in for dinner. This is a great thing to see at a local establishment. Everyone seemed really friendly and ready for a great meal!

My friends joined me shortly and we got a table in the middle of the restaurant. Our server (Carrie, Kari, Kerry?) greeted us and because it was all of our first time here, she told us about the menu. Most items are homemade and made to order --a few are not, but most entrees are. She also said they try really hard to locally source as many products as they can, and the fresh produce they are using currently is from local farms. I love that they are being locally responsible! She gave us a few minutes to look over the menu and then came back to take our order.

We each had a hard time choosing which dish to go with as so many sounded good, but we all knew we wanted pasta. I decided on the Rigatoni, and my friends chose the Mac and Cheese and Fettuccine. My friend also ordered the Bruschetta as an appetizer for us to try.

The Bruschetta came out just a few minutes later and looked absolutely divine. The tomatoes were so red and juicy and the aroma was delightful. The bread was lightly toasted and the tomatoes were piled high across the toast. It tasted even better than it looked and I highly, highly recommend this to everyone that dines there.

Our entrees came out a little while later. Because everything is made to order, the dishes do take a bit to come out, but it's not an unbearable length of time. We had time to catch up on what we have each been up to the last few weeks. I also noticed that the restaurant was almost completely full, bar area included. This is a great sign for a new restaurant.

When the entrees arrived, we were all extremely impressed. Portions were very generous and the food smelled amazing. And then the table got extremely quiet because we all dug in and couldn't stop eating. Everything was exceptional!

About my entree -- the chicken was possibly pulled from a rotisserie chicken as it had that flavor to it. The cream sauce was delectable but not overwhelming. It did have a little pepper kick, but knowing my taste buds, it's probably a pretty typical amount of seasoning. The dish was also generous on mushrooms and everything went together so well.

I took about half of my meal home, as did my friend with her mac and cheese. My other friend's entree was so good, she finished the whole dish. I bet I would have if I was her too, the shrimp looked so appetizing! Not to mention, shrimp doesn't reheat as well as chicken or mac and cheese, so it's best to eat it fresh.

We didn't save room for dessert, but Carrie told us to definitely save room next time. And we will, because we will definitely be returning! The have a great happy hour special until 6 pm with drink, appetizer, and flatbread specials. And I read on their Facebook page that they have late night specials as well on the weekends.

Pasta Sarah

A few weeks ago, my creative juices were flowing and I decided to make a pasta dish for dinner. I didn't really know what I wanted to make, so I just grabbed some ingredients out of the fridge and let the magic happen. 

I had some Italian sausages from Sorgs Quality Meats and Sausages so I chopped them up and decided to pan fry them. browned them and made sure they were cooked through and then removed them from the heat and set them on the side.

 I boiled up some Fettuccine noodles in salted water.

 Then I grabbed some zucchini, gold and red cherry tomatoes and chopped them up.

I put them in a pan with a little EVOO and sauteed them for a few minutes. The spinach wilted really nicely.

Then it was time to put it all together. I chose to cut up the sausage a bit more to 1) make more pieces in the dish and 2) make the pieces more bite size. I received a small tasting of Tomato & Basil cheese from World Market and decided to shred it up and add it to the dish.

I added just a bit of the leftover pasta water to keep it from gluing together and then added some grated Parmesan to complete the dish. In a matter of 10 minutes, this meal was done.

This came together really quickly and smoothly and I think the cheese is what made the meal have such great flavor. I'm sure I won't be able to make this meal taste the same again, but I'm really proud of my creativity. I shall call this Pasta Sarah.

Simply Irresistible Catering: Italian Sausage Lasagna

A few weeks ago, I told you about Simply Irresistible Catering and their Take 'n Bake meals. I finally had time to make the Italian Sausage Lasagna and it did not disappoint.

The lasagna is very tall in the pan and could easily feed 4 people if not more. This is the half portion that feeds 2 - 3 typically. I didn't have anything on the side with my first piece and was pretty full after. It's loaded with food.

It did take a bit longer in my oven than the required time, but it had been in my freezer for quite some time, so it could have been super frozen. I still took the cover off at the hour mark and then saw the edges browning up nicely in 45 minutes.

It started to get a bit dark around the edges when the middle still wasn't changing, so I did cover it with foil for the last 15 minutes I cooked it for. I left it in for another 10 minutes and pulled it out piping hot.

The top gets nice and crispy with a cheese and herb crust. This was fabulous and probably my favorite layer of the lasagna. I want to know her combination :)

There was plenty of Italian sausage, cheese and sauce in the layers, but not overwhelming and it held it's form. Sometimes lasagnas end up a little runny from too much sauce or cheese (too much cheese, I know - it's a sin I said that). But this lasagna was excellent.

Great flavors in the Italian Sausage too - not too spicy, just the right amount of spice.

I would recommend some garlic bread or steamed vegetable on the side if you wanted to make the pan stretch farther. And it warms up just great in the microwave and satisfies those late night cravings after a night of dancing and drinking at your friends' wedding!

For just $10 for the half pan, this is a steal! I got some Blue Apron meals sent to me in the last week and although the flavors are great, $20 a dinner (10 per person) is a bit much for my wallet. And I don't know where the products are from or who makes them. Using Simply Irresistible, I have met the owner and had a great conversation with her and know that her meals are made right here in her downtown Waukesha shop and made with love!

I highly recommend you check her out and try a meal. I only have the carrots left and have a pork tenderloin with those carrot's name on it for later this week. And then I'm going to have to restock from her selections :)

What a perfect, easy meal to make for your family now that kids are going back to school. Or you just want to have something delicious and not tear apart your kitchen to make it. Her meals are worth it folks!

Michael's Italian Restaurant - A Staple on my Faves List

When my parents or I are looking for a place to go in Waukesha that we will get excellent service and great food options, Michael's Italian Restaurant is always on the top of that list. I joined my parents there a few Fridays ago before we headed down to Waukesha's Friday Night Live.

The website lists them as being in Waukesha for over 35 years and I can vouch for excellent food for at least 10 years! When I used to work at Fox Run Sentry Liquor (RIP), the owner would occasionally spring for pizzas for us during the holidays and Michael's was one of his favorite take-out spots. They do not skimp on toppings and provide the toppings finely chopped so it's easy to eat. Not to mention two pizzas could feed a hungry staff for days because it's so filling.

It took me a few years to actually get inside of Michael's but my Aunt came into town and my parents suggested we give it a shot. Ever since then, it's been on our list as a favorite stop in Waukesha.

Although they have an excellent fish fry, I am always one to go outside the norm and try something else than the nightly special. Sometimes this works in my favor and other times not. Here, it was one of the best choices I have made (food wise) in the last year.

My parents both chose fish frys - Mom got the baked haddock and dad went with the perch. I, on the other hand, went with Chicken Marsala. I only order this dish at truly Italian places so I know the sauce is made from scratch.

My parents were both extremely pleased with their fish choices, as they always are. A nice, light and flaky batter on the perch and the haddock was broiled to perfection. And you get plenty to eat as you can see from their plates, not to mention a bread basket to go with the salads that we got as well.

And my Marsala was divine. Michael's does it a little different in that they pan fry the chicken first to get a nice Italian seasoned crunch to the chicken, but you can still see the chicken through the breading so it's not to heavy. The breast is nice and moist and very flavorful sans the sauce they put with it. The mushrooms and Marsala sauce are some of the best that I had and although I should have saved half of this meal for a later time, because it's a huge portion, I became a member of the clean plate club (taking after my father of course!). The steamed veggies and pasta were a great addition to the dish and I just kept right on eating and eating, savoring every bit of the sauce and chicken.

I highly recommend you check this place out in Waukesha. The parking lot is small, but they have street parking and a lot next door they use. Plus the traffic flows in and out quickly due to a lot of To-Go order pizzas.

The website provides the general information that you would find - menu, hours, location, but also a Gluten Free menu (YAY!), coupons and promotions! I also didn't know that Michael's caters, but I will have to keep that in my back pocket in case I am every in need. 

Simple Irresistible Catering

 
You know a company is utilizing social media properly when its posts drive you to make a purchase. This is the case for my sudden impulse to try Simple Irresistible Catering. Because of the business' activity on Facebook and Twitter, I was able to find out that in addition to catering small events, they offer "Take and Bake Meals" that you can order thru the website or come into the shop and grab-n-go.

I checked out the website and it took me a long time to slim my list down of what to try first. I got a half order of the stuffed meatballs, an order of the glazed carrots and a half order of the Italian sausage lasagna. I scheduled to pick them up 24 hours later at the shop and they were ready and waiting for me completely frozen in oven safe aluminum containers. Directions are right on the lid so you can't misplace them when you are ready to heat them up.

During my pickup, Megan, the owner, and I got to chatting a little bit and I found out even more about her ties to Waukesha and her love of food (which we obviously share!). She and her sister have worked at some of the downtown businesses and Megan decided to take the plunge and start up her own business in downtown because she loves the area. She has had great success with catering small custom events and her business is really growing by word of mouth and by those that have attended her events and are planning one of their own.


Ok - let's get into my food. I originally chose the meatballs to serve to my boyfriend and his boys but I just couldn't wait to try them. Sports and tournaments kept postponing our dinners together, and I was getting impatient on trying these, so I went for them all on my own.

I used my new oven to get these heated up and cooked some spaghetti while I waited for these to finish. The oven worked perfectly on convection and the directions were easy to follow and worked perfectly.

The meatballs are almost 2 inches in diameter and smelled heavenly when I pulled off the lid to finish cooking them. I couldn't wait to try her sauce as the only sauce I had on hand was "sugar free from a can." You can't really get more bland than that. I could see the chunky tomatoes in hers and you can see the spices and herbs in her sauce.

I plopped two meatballs on top of spaghetti and covered it with her sauce. I did add a bit more of my own, because I love sauce and then added a little Parmesan to top it all off.

The meatballs were scrumptious! Just the right amount of cheese in the middle of them and tons of Italian flavor. I wanted to eat more but I didn't want to be gluttonous. I chopped them up and mixed it in with my spaghetti and sauce so I had a little with each bite. Her sauce really had excellent flavor - I would buy just that if she would jar it :). And I think two meatballs is the perfect serving size. Some nice sauteed vegetables on the side or garlic bread would have really pulled this meal together but alas, I didn't have any and didn't think to order her Parmesan Garlic Bread  or Garlic & Herb Butter Vegetable Medley. 

A half pan (6 meatballs with sauce) is $9.95 + tax and this would have served my boyfriend and his kids just fine with pasta and garlic bread. So let's add $5 for that and we have a meal for the five of us for around $3 a person. Can you go anywhere and get that good of a deal? Not that I can think of. As an example, we went to Taco Bell with the kids for lunch and it was over $25 for us to eat and we weren't even satisfied with the quality of the food presented to us and the kids were still hungry. Simply Irresistible is homemade by a local business for a great price. I am definitely a fan and can't wait to try her other entrees I ordered.


A little more on Megan and her biz:

Megan graduated from WCTC's Culinary Management Program and is a proud member of the American Culinary Federation.

She doesn't have a specific catering menu because she really enjoys working with the individual clients to provide them just what they want. She does offer all of her take and bake options for catering too!
 

Albanese's Roadhouse

First let's start with this beautiful sunset I captured a week ago! I had to take the picture from my car as it was 2 degrees outside (seriously) but it was worth the extra drive to get this shot. I'm definitely printing this to hang up in my place. 

 
And now the real reason you wanted to read this blog post :)

Freshman year of high school I met Kathy in Mr. Staude's math class at Mukwonago High School (class of 2000 baby!). It was a super boring class but I'm glad that I had it with her because we became really great friends. We dated best friends in high school, did it a few more times in college (haha) and even dormed together for a year before she continued her education at UW-Milwaukee for Radiology.

Even though we don't see each other like we used too, we still pick up right where we left off the time before. I love those friendships. She got married this summer and had a wonderful outdoor wedding and super fun reception and is now expecting her first child - a girl!

We were able to meet up for dinner last week during one of the "not-as-bad-polar-vortex" days. She had never been to Albanese's and I suggested it as it's not too hard to get to from my new place and I knew we would want something warm in our bellies.

We pulled into the parking lot at the start of another snow storm and the lot was packed. I couldn't believe it! That many people go out to eat in a snowstorm on a Monday night?

Well we walked in and the bar was completely full, but not a single person was in the dining room. We  picked a bar table and joined everyone else. They were in snowmobile gear and I made the assumption they were a group and road there together. They started to bundle up and were getting ready to "head out" and I wondered where the trails were in the area.


Well silly me, I should have realized this is Wisconsin and we are nuts. They were actually going outside to play in the year-round bocce ball leagues that Albanese's hosts. They have 81 teams and have run leagues for 20 years! I love Wisconsin, and maybe if I had a few cocktails in me I would play one game of it in the snow, but I just don't think I would stay warm enough to play it too long. But everyone seemed to be having a blast.


And then the bar was empty and it was just me and Kathy and two people at the actual bar enjoying dinner. We didn't mind because then we had an easier time chatting and looking over the menu. PS - Plenty of TVs to catch the big game!

 

And now about the food. I went for the special of the Penne Rosa and was not disappointed at all. The plate was piled high with penne pasta smothered in cherry tomatoes, zucchini, artichokes, arugrula and an alfredo tomato sauce. There was a little bit of a kick, but on a cold night, this was awesome. If I would have allowed myself, I could have polished off the whole plate, but then someone would have to roll me out the door. I decided to save some for leftovers!

Kathy went with the Mostaccoli Sorrentina that was pasta smothered with cheeses and topped with a hearty tomato sauce. She was in heaven. It hit the spot and she had plenty to take home as leftovers.

And here are my leftovers covered with Parmesan cheese. It was just as good the next day when the flavors melded a little more.

I have tried Albanese's Fish Fry and am a big fan - Italian seasonings in the light breading give it an extra flavor you won't find elsewhere. The Italian beef sandwich is great and now I love the pasta, I just have to come back and try the pizza, and I LOVE pizza so this will be a true test. I have heard only great things so I hope that this holds true!

The sports lounge had some great appetizer specials Mon-Thursday and a wing night. I might have to get my friends together to try that out some night too! But overall, this is a Waukesha "Must-Try!"

Kathy and I planned a lunch date in the middle of February so stay tuned for where we check out next. Of course I will have other things to write about between now and then in case you were worried :)

#MKEFoodies - Wild Earth Cucina Italiana

Tonight, I had the opportunity to experience a dining venue at Potawatomi Bingo Casino like many won't be able to. Wild Earth Cucina Italiana is not typically open on Mondays, but for the #mkefoodies group, we were treated to a special night of food and drinks in a food station atmosphere.

The restaurant ambiance has a warm, earthy feel to it, with natural stone on the pillars, brown tones and foliage. Large booths were against the walls and tables filled the middle of the dining room.

We were greeted by Paul & Lori of the #mkefoodies group and provided aprons from Wild Earth with a pocket full of swag. The swag included poker chip mints, green apple lip balm, a recipe, info on Potawatomi and menus from the restaurant. Prices were extremely reasonable for what the ambiance portrayed and I couldn't wait to dig in.

The first stop we made was to the "make your own flatbread" line. A counter of toppings was laid out for us to fill our plates with. Then we put our name on a card and chose our sauce and in about 10 minutes our name would be called for our flatbread as they made it fresh in their wood fire grill.

If you have been following along, I am on a flatbread kick lately (see this too, and this)! I chose sausage, tomatoes, marinated red peppers, mushrooms, and artichokes and they added fresh mozzarella to it for cooking.

We stopped at the Italian soda station next and asked what was recommended. Our Barista suggested a sugar free Raspberry soda with lime and Tiffany went for that. I am still on a Mango kick and she suggested getting the soda with cream for a true dreamsicle experience. The whole station took me back to childhood with getting phosphates from Chocolate Factory with my grandma. And before the Carroll University bookstore cafe changed hands, they used to have Italian creme sodas and I would treat myself to those quite often between classes. It was delicious and hit the spot. 

We then went and got carved beef over mashed potatoes. I'm a meat and potatoes kid and the potatoes were buttery, garlicky goodness. The meat was a little too rare for me in the middle, but had great flavor on the outer edge. Tiffany went back for a second piece that was a bit more done later in the night and thought it was spectacular.

Tiffany brought back the Salmon Penne for us to split and it reminded me of a widely-loved special from Gondola Grille (now Jose's Blue Sombrero on Bluemound) with a rich buttery, cream sauce. It was soooo delicious. I always forget how much flavor peas and asparagus can add to a dish. I will definitely be making this at home because they provided us the recipe.

Next our flatbreads came and it looked so much better than I could have imagined. I selected the garlic and oil as that is what I used on mine at home. The veggies did make the middle of the flatbread a little soggy, but the flatbread itself was really good. I couldn't put my finger on it, but the dough or oil that was used had a nutty taste. I didn't mind, but I couldn't figure it out.

Tiffany went wandering for a bit while I captured a few more pictures and found the Caprese salads. The fresh mozzarella was salted and peppered lightly over a ripe juicy tomato and drizzled with oil. A piece of their dinner Ciabatta bread was put on the side and I used it to soak up the olive oil. This was delicious.

And then there was even dessert - pistachio, cherry and chocolate gelato with a vanilla wafer cone and chocolate biscotti. The gelato was nice and creamy and I used the cone to scoop my gelato with for a good crunchy bite. The biscotti tasted like a deliciously fudge brownie edge with a sweetness in the aftertaste that was somewhat fruity. Again, another unexpected, but lovely flavor. 

After the event ended, we went to the Fire Pit Sports Bar & Grill for a nightcap and were greeted by two handsome, young and fun bartenders. Not only was I mistaken by a security guard for being 22 (+10 mister but thanks!), but the bartenders were really fun to chat with and it was a great way to end our evening.

I highly recommend checking out Wild Earth Cucina Italiana and really any of the other restaurants in the Casino. I have eaten at Spit Fires before and I have heard good things about the new buffet, nothing about the Asian place, but it's been there for a while so it must be good.

Consider coming to an #mkefoodies event soon. This even was a $20 charge for all that food, but most events are much less than that. Follow the group on Facebook and Twitter for updates about upcoming events.