Dining Out- Weekend of July 2nd, 2005

For national ice cream month Cold Stone Creamery held an event on Saturday to showcase its five new monthly flavors offering free samples. Dishes were out of Oatmeal Cookie Batter (doesn’t taste like that), Black Licorice (boldness you’d expect), Ginger Wasabi (spicy), Fruity Cereal (like blue moon), and Tangerine Sorbet (tropical and light). I look forward to having these as the basis of their respective Creations throughout July.



Japanica
Greenfield


Tai Sashimi and Eel Cucumber Roll

Nice piece of red snapper and the roll offered sticky (rice), crunch (cucumber), freshness (eel) and salty (soy).


Décor: Accoutrements of a Japanese restaurant- sushi bar, tatami room, hibachi grills, booths and tables.
Service: Reserved politeness.

3 ½ out of 5 stars



Pleasant Valley Inn
West Allis


Bread Basket

Yeah, yeah, yeah you say. Big deal. But not all restaurants have something as lip smacking as zucchini muffins and rolls filled with pepper jack cheese.


Grilled Shrimp
Gulf shrimp and chorizo sausage skewered and topped with mustard glaze

A culinary delight of an amazing marriage of textures and tastes. The plump shrimp with the crumbly feel of the sausage. That spicy sausage and bold mustard boosting but not overwhelming the shrimp.


Décor: Tucked into a residential neighborhood of ranches and mature trees they would blend right in if not for the parking lot. Inside is a warm design to say fine dining while not being stuffy.
Service: She was a real pro.

4 ½ out of 5 stars



The day in Madison started out on a down note at the Mexican bakery Sacramento Bakery & Restaurant with a far-from-fresh Vanilla Muffin.



The Prairie Café & Bakery
Middleton


Raspberry Lemon Streusel Muffin
Sugary iced topping- bang, crisp crown- whack, sweet raspberries- pow, sweet tart lemon- whomp, crunchy pecans- thump!


Scramble Special of the Day
Two eggs scrambled with sausage, pepper jack cheese and onion

The similarity of the cheese, sausage and onion danced in gastronomic unison.


Décor and Service: Counter service where they bring it out to you in a very comfortable and casual atmosphere that begs to be relaxed in with no rush.

4 out of 5 stars




The monstrosity of a building housing the Madison headquarters of Bagels Forever is fronted by a small retail shop where the bagels are steeply priced at 30 cents. I splurged a dollar on a Pizza Herb Bagel and delighted at the zesty sauce and cheese matching the herb and how baking it made the bagel exterior crusty and interior soft and warm.



Hubbard Avenue Diner
Middleton


Potato-Zucchini Pancakes (1/3 order)
Shredded potatoes, yams, zucchini, and onion served with cranberry-apple compote

Very enjoyable medley of various flavors with a soggy stringiness with a surprising spiciness.


Fresh Strawberry Pie

On the north side of average with a flaky crust and chock full of strawberries with just enough glaze to fill in the gaps. But it has to compare to the Icebox Strawberry Pie at Strawn’s Eat Shop in Shreveport, Louisiana- one of the best things I put in my mouth in 2004.


Décor: Clean streamlined lines of a replica retro diner.
Service: Abysmal. 15 minutes before seeing a waiter and menu. Repeat to take order. 25 minutes to get said order. Never checked in. Presented check without asking if anything else was needed.

3 ½ out of 5 stars



Michael's Frozen Custard
Madison


I would have been better served to get plain vanilla. This P.B. Crisp is vanilla with peanut butter sauce and graham cracker pieces. Those round things are the ‘graham cracker pieces’ and chewing them got in the way of the dense custard with pronounced vanilla flavor.


A solid charred Hamburger whose diameter made up for what it lacked in thickness.