Milwaukee Specialty Food and Coffee

To Me, Milwaukee

Tonight brings a sensory experience I haven't had in too long: brisk April air and the overwhelming scent of laundry from a dense South Side neighborhood--to me, Milwaukee. I'm enjoying a late dinner break at Classic Slice in Bay View--to me, Milwaukee. I note that with New Glarus Fat Squirrel in my plastic tumbler (this being Classic Slice) and a newly concocted, nearly perfect coffee blend in the grinder hopper back at the office, life seems very good indeed. The blend consists of 1/3 Anodyne Breakfast Blend, 1/3 Starbucks  Tribute Blend and 1/3 Alterra Delta Mud. Sobriety permitting, I'm going to go out of my way and drive through St. Francis on the way back, mostly because it's called St. Francis, but also because it's a place dedicated to others' interpretation of the faith that's been so much on my mind lately. That, too: to me, Milwaukee.

Editorials: Consumer Fads

Not sure if it's the cassette tape of Celine Dion's Falling into You in my car, but for some reason I was thinking of the American consumer fads of the mid-1990s that touched my early working life. One was Boston Market and the home meal replacement fad. Another was Barnes & Noble and the big box bookselling fad. During my time at these businesses, I learned many valuable lessons from managers who served as friends and mentors to me. I feel regret that the capricious nature of the American consumer may have impacted their careers--though obviously it would have been both for better and for worse. These fads of the 1990s reflected a generous, optimistic view of the US consumer. I wonder if the "take-away" from the decline of these fads has been for the service sector to go into lockdown mode and go after the quick, sure buck. (And I won't lie awake tonight staring at the ceiling while pondering that mystery.)  I guess I would wish that those who devise these concepts would base them more on fundamentals. 

You might have guessed where I'm going with this: I wonder if the cafe aspect of specialty coffee is next. Obviously, Alterra is a strong company, but they have also picked up the Heinemann's mantle--not to mention that they've been infused with a shitload of cash. I predict tough going for others, with perhaps "treading water" being the best outcome to hope for.

Current Events: Restaurant News: Pizza Man

I was saddened to learn of the fire that destroyed Pizza Man overnight.  I'd been there only exactly once, but from everything I'd heard, the owner is a well-respected and well-liked businessman.  I had been to Grecian Delight several times, which seemed to have changed hands.  I wonder if that will be rebuilt.

East Side/Riverwest: Snapshots: Apollo Cafe

It's been a while since I was last at the Apollo Cafe.  Friday night saw me return for my favorite, which happened to also be the special: the stuffed pepper.  My favorite part is the rice that comes with that dish, which must be spanakorizo.  If you get the "cheekenrice" (as the more ornery guy from the staff--who wasn't there last night--pronounces it), it doesn't come with the fancy rice.  They also have their own reliable Wi-Fi there now.  I'd been able to surf there on earlier visits, but only by mooching signals provided by neighboring establishments.

Glendale/Whitefish Bay: Snapshots: Kopp's Frozen Custard

For the past two nights in a row, I've gone to Kopp's Frozen Custard in Glendale(which, incidentally, has a beautifully redesigned website) for a hamburger with the works and a scoop of the flavor of the day.  Oh, the rigors of researching blog posts!  Seriously, between all their locations, I've probably been to Kopp's location a dozen times or even fewer in the last five years.  However, the trend is definitely moving upwards.

Don't get me wrong: even if the flavor o' the day, every day, were Crunchy Granola, I wouldn't be head over heels in love with the place.  For one thing, it's pretty much a public health and environmental catastrophe.  That being said, the menu, seemingly as timeless as Mount Rushmore except for the prices, has not followed the trend of piling on.  Healthier items aren't rolled out when the winds of fashion blow in that direction, but neither are unhealthier ones.  (Apparently the prevailing winds are in the unhealthy direction, though I don't exactly have my finger on the pulse of mainstream eating habits.)  I see you now have the option of adding Nueske's bacon, but that's about it.  Portion sizes on the non-custard food items are probably now healthier than comparable restaurants, though I'm not sure which restaurants those would be.  Kopp's seems to serve a different demographic than McDonald's or even Culver's.

I have to qualify my statement about the menu: for two or three years starting in about 1994, they had espresso drinks at the Glendale location.  It's hard to even speculate why.  I'd say it was a cool thing to do, but if I ever had one of the beverages, I have absolutely no recollection of it. 

Speaking of coffee, I see a lot of Kopp's in Alterra--the more so as Alterra grows.  In fact, yesterday I thought of this whole theory of sorts, namely that both don't follow more or less phony "scripts" for interacting with customers.  I worked at Kopp's (with minimal hours per week) for a long summer in 1993.  I remember having to watch videos about how to make the sundaes, but I don't remember being taught how to interact with customers or ever receiving any guidance in that respect.  Lest I be misunderstood, I'm all for scripts, despite their phoniness.  Both nights, I noticed the cashier often barking "Next in line!" and once, actually just "Next."  For real?  I wouldn't have responded positively.  Sorry, if that's how you summon me from a line, you better be stamping my passport.  Not taking my money. 

Wauwatosa: Photos: Le Reve

I stopped by Le Reve in Wauwatosa on Friday night, but ended up not opting to stay for dinner (no particular reason, just a mood thing).  I noticed that they have outside seating available now.

Restaurant news: Mama Mia's

Ever get confused by all the warring factions of the Mama Mia's family?  Click here for enlightenment.

Now, if I could only figure out that Sendik's deal...

Wauwatosa: Le Reve Reigns

I'm sitting at Le Reve nursing a cappuccino that's reminding me why I became a coffee lover. For dinner, I had the crepes with poulet (chicken), which was one of the more expensive items on the original menu at $9.50, but now is a bargain. It exceeded even the sandwiches and other items I've had here, which were fantastic in their own right. They've recently introduced more expensive dinner entrees, and expanded their hours accordingly (looks like they're open until 9 on weekdays and 10 on Saturdays). Co-owner Therese Hittman has been here every time I have. I think that's awesome.

Snapshot: Wauwatosa Ramblin'

Tonight's ramblings began at Le Reve, where I took advantage of the relative peace and quiet of a Friday evening to reacquaint myself with the Pan Bagnat ($8.50) and this here cappuccino ($3). (Note to POS system programmer: "Pan Bagnat" looks better next to "$8.50" than "Tuna Sand"!)  I've noticed that the side salad portion has been trimmed a bit; it was fun to come here in this place's first weeks and experience some extra helpings!  The capp was a killer, hiding some seriously strong espresso under an igloo of dense foam.  The espresso had a different, though not at all disagreeable, taste to it and took quite a while to be served (my food actually came up first), so I wonder if there was some improvisation.  Whatever the case, the results were very good, definitely well suited to power walking, writing or. . .who knows where my ramblings will take me?

Snapshot: Pizza Shuttle

I'm at Pizza Shuttle, tackling a beer that seems bigger than me (grammatically correct version: bigger than I) and doing very well at it.  If I were a regular beer drinker, I'd definitely consider three bucks for this monstrous New Glarus Organic a Good Deal. As it is, I'm making awfully good progress on the cup.  If it weren't for the noise level, I would seriously come here (even) more often.