Nestled on the main drag of N Lamar Blvd, tucked in the corner of an old strip mall, next to a dry cleaner and behind a clothing store – Wink was surprisingly packed from the time we stepped inside at 8:45pm until we walked out just before 11pm. Extremely small and cozy, with a smattering of tables huddled together, the peach-colored space glowed with lively chatter and candlelight. Clad in plaid shirt and jeans, a very friendly young man named Alex greeted us each with a strong handshake, asked each of our names, and showed us to a table in the back corner.

Our waitress immediately brought out an amuse bouche for each of us – a tiny garlic tart for the gluten-eater and for me, a tasting spoon with small shoestring-cut cucumbers and a spicy pepper sauce to give it a strong kick. She quickly noted that she was also personally gluten free and that put me at ease... until she accidentally brought out regular rolls for me. Because it looked just like the other rolls around us, I double-checked with her (thankfully before taking a bite), and she immediately apologized and cleared off any plate or silverware that it had touched… the gluten-eater happily ate the gluten-filled roll for me, generously slathering up both rolls with fresh butter. While the moment of forgetfulness did make me a little uneasy for the rest of the meal to follow, she did restore my confidence with each plate served after that and noted how they made it gluten-free if any modifications needed to be made to it.

The hamachi poke came out first – a small “cake” comprised of chunks of bonito (sushi-grade fish) and avocado, covered in sesame seeds and a flourish of vinaigrette and greens on top (hold the wonton for gluten-free modifications). The light, fresh flavors of the cake fit the mood of the day and its delightful warm sunny weather – refreshingly reminiscent of late spring days, here in the midst of winter.

Foie gras taco, anyone? Yes, one of the best food ideas ever imagined! I have yet to meet a foie gras I did not like, but this foie gras tostada plate takes the cake! I would have gladly ordered another round of the buttery-rich seared foie gras, atop a corn tostada and surrounded with bright red tomatoes, lettuce, and queso fresco.... for dessert... or breakfast... or any reason, at any time!

For the main entree, my antelope was served with celeriac and mushrooms – a robust blend of spices gave it an hearty winter flavor, yet it was light enough to enjoy on a beautiful spring day.

The duck breast entree was delightfully paired with a cake of sweet potato slices (that added a hint of cinnamon to the dish), cabbage, and mushrooms - a melt-in-your-mouth, flavorful, decadent blend of flavors that was seasoned to perfection.

After missing breakfast to do a plantation tour in the morning, we were pretty hungry by lunchtime. Rolling into New Orleans, we headed for one of the first places that got good ratings - the Palace Cafe - after parking our rental car with a valet lot nearby. The weather was gorgeous - sunny and 70s - and sunshine kissed our cheeks as we selected a table outside along the sidewalk. Our waiter served us drinks - a Pimm's Cup cocktail and lemonade for me - and took our order.

My travel partner got the duck and alligator gumbo (I couldn't try it because it was NOT gluten free.) it was a rich stew of flavors with lots of chunks of meat and vegetables that had been braised all day.

I enjoyed a refreshing shrimp salad – several large grilled and marinated shrimp atop a bed of oranges, grapefruit, eggs, tomatoes, green onions, and chopped lettuce tossed in lemon vinaigrette. It was an excellent feast to fill my growling belly, while not being too heavy to walk around the French Quarter. 

The sunshine peeking through the high rises, a saxophone player serenading us from around the corner, streetcars rolling by, businessmen chatting over lunch, tourists and locals wandering down the street... an overall delightful moment to sit back, relax, and take it all in on a beautiful day. I can't get over the fact that it's the end of January and yet I am transported to a summer day. I may not go home to the snow and cold.

A smattering of picnic tables and blankets are spread out around the truck on the hillside, so you can relax while you eat your meal, if you have time to stick around. (Everything comes in compostable “to go” packaging if you need to eat on the run instead.) A small basin out front houses fresh herbs and inside they brew up a variety of butter coffee with ghee and protein powder. All meal options except for the soup – today’s flavor was tomato basil – are served cold and you can eat them chilled or heat them up yourself; I promise they’re good either way. 

We grabbed the carnitas on almond flour tortillas and the avocado BLT sandwich on almond- and coconut-flour bread from the cooler case and checked out before settling into a comfy spot on a picnic blanket. Sitting under their awning on a sunny day was the perfect way to enjoy a small meal before our trip out of town commenced. The bread for the BLT was hearty and sweet – a great blend with the fresh veggies and thick bacon. The tortillas were a bit crumbly (it’s to be expected with many gluten-free tortillas) but a little bit of the avocado spread held it together nicely – the flavor was pretty mild with fresh cilantro and sweet onions. Aaaah, it floated me away to memories of eating out on the patio on a nice summer day... 

When the Packers were playing on Sunday night, I knew that finding options for dinner out that night would mean going to a place that had televisions. After going past several local haunts, my suspicions were confirmed - many were closed due to anticipation of EVERYONE being glued to the TV.

I'll admit I'm a happy Bears fan in Cheesehead Country with the resulting peace and quiet after a nail-biter of a game. But hey, it was my 35th birthday and I wanted to go out for dinner and the football game wasn't going to stop me!

One of my favorite go-to restaurants in Milwaukee is Maxie's Southern Comfort, which is "open every single day at 4pm" (except for major holidays). And yes, they have televisions, so they were open on this night when Milwaukee had become a ghost town.

We bellied up to the bar and were immediately greeted by Sam, our friendly bar-keep. The staff is always smiling here, an extra dose of that southern hospitality that Maxie's brings to the Midwest.

The menu is full of mouth-watering Creole and Cajun inspired specialities. My entree of choice is usually the NC pulled pork, with a heaping mound of creamy slaw (in my gluten-free situation, because their fries don't have a dedicated fryer, hold the rough-cut fries...) 

But tonight I was in a saucy mood and selected the half-rack of St Louis spare ribs, with a thick layer of Kansas City-style tangy BBQ sauce slathered over the fall-off-the-bone meat. 

I substituted grits for the fries and beans and was not disappointed. Their grits are super thick and creamy, the perfect compliment to sooth the bite of the sauce. And don't forget the corn-arugula salad - one recipe that I'm still trying to replicate! The fresh taste makes me instantly slip into memories of lazy summer nights, when we can eat dinner along the front sidewalk and suck down Happy Hour oysters and drink specials. Until then, there's plenty of cocktails to keep us warm while we wait out the rest of these winter months.

Head down to Maxie's and... "Get some South in yo' Mouth"!
~Kati

A lot of families head to Wisconsin Dells in the summer to splash around at the waterparks, play mini golf, ride some rollercoasters, and just enjoy the sunshine while it graces Wisconsin for a few short months!

What happens when the day of your long-planned family fun finally arrives... and it's 50 degrees outside... or raining? Avoid being cooped up in a hotel room with grumpy kids or turning around to make the long drive back home - there's a hidden gem just down the road in a little town called Rock Springs.

That's how we stumbled upon the Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue & Educational Center a few summers ago. It ended up being a fantastic turnaround to what could have been a miserable day.

We checked in at the little booth and it was fairly quiet, so we ended up getting a personal tour with Jenny, one of the owners. They had just moved Daytona, a 3-month-old tiger cub, outside from living in their house and she was quite the entertainer. I would have loved to jump in her cage and snuggle her but she probably already outweighed me - and those claws still looked pretty long and sharp!

Jenny introduced us to each and every one of the dozens of big cats that live in the rescue. Many cats enjoy the luxury of their own personal sanctuary, some share a space. Every pen is huge, filled with toys and things to climb on, and surrounded by extremely tall metal fences. If one of the large felines decides to be "friendly" and come up to the fence, you are literally standing within 6 feet of them... absolutely amazing! (Just a helpful note that we learned: If a big cat starts to turn and lift their tail or leg... be sure you run the opposite direction as fast as you can, so you don't get sprayed!) 

And when that mighty king lets out a roar, it shakes you to the core!

We had noticed a "menu" of treats you could purchase for the cats when we checked in. The option of a whole chicken stood out and we went ahead and got one for a beautiful white tiger named Isis. One of the staff - usually Jeff, another owner - will lure the cat into a small house at the back of their fenced area and lock it up temporarily, so he can go into the cat's pen and leave the gift for the cat to find... in this case, an entire chicken, frozen solid! The cat paces excitedly, waiting to be released (once the staff member has safely exited the pen) and then it is on the prowl to hunt its prey as soon as the door is opened! Be sure to have your camera ready to go - they have such an amazing sense of smell... that chicken was found and fully devoured in under two minutes flat! 

Each cat has a story - some have been rescued from zoos that closed or bad circus environments, others were illegal "pets" that the owners could no longer handle.

The rescue runs entirely on donations and sponsorships; none of their funds come from government support. Right now they are in the process of building a new Vet & Educational Center on the property, so they can take care of surgeries and routine care onsite. The cost to erect the building itself was covered by a foundation in Minnesota, but the rescue still need funds to complete the project. Consider making a donation - click here! As their site says, "Your donation makes a roaring difference!" Thank you!


*Wisconsin Big Cats Rescue & Educational Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

Growing up, I would have never touched sushi with a 10-foot pole. But my boyfriend made me try it (reluctantly) several years ago and now I can't get enough of it! Even in the dead of winter, I regularly crave the sticky rice and fillings of a good roll. Luckily, my best friend is also a fan, so we meet up about once a month to catch up on what's going on in each other's lives and enjoy lunch together. 

Screaming Tuna is regularly voted one of the best places in Milwaukee for sushi and they have a fantastic lunch rolls special. The restaurant sits in a great spot at the juncture of the Menomonee and Milwaukee Rivers, facing north toward the high-rises of downtown Milwaukee. During warmer months, you can sit on the outdoor patio and watch several bridges go up as boats meander the waterways. Though the restaurant boasts a fun and trendy decor, they are very strict in their commitment to using only sustainable seafood and keeping the oceans full of healthy creatures. They are one of a few Midwest restaurants - the first and only in Wisconsin - that have partnered with the Montgomery Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch.

BONUS: Many of their rolls and other entree options are gluten free, which is often hard to find. (They do offer gluten-free soy sauce there but I tend to bring my own bottle of coconut aminos, a lovely substitute that my best friend also introduced me to a few years ago!)


DOUBLE BONUS: They have a punch card program! When you dine in for lunch, get a punch... get 6 punches, get a free lunch! (This really does NOT help the sushi cravings go away!)

The friendly staff starts you off with a piping hot bowl of miso soup. They stopped putting soy sauce in it a few years ago, so it's a true treat to warm up on a cold January day with a bowl of tofu, seaweed, and mushrooms mingling in hot broth. 

My favorite rolls are sweet and simple - tekka maki (tuna), sake maki (salmon), and the Philly (smoked salmon, cream cheese, scallions, rolled in sesame seeds), which I also have them add avocado into the mix. Hold the ginger and wasabi... still haven't quite acquired a taste for these yet. 

My friend is a big fan of the vegetarian AKA (avocado, cucumber, asparagus) and the Wasabi Tuna (tuna, avocado, tobiko, wasabi mayo) even though the wasabi normally has her tearing up within a few bites. She says it's good for clearing out her sinuses; I say she's a glutton for punishment.

So far in my travels, the only sushi that I've loved even more than Screaming Tuna is a little place on the Big Island of Hawaii - Sansei Seafood, Steak & Sushi Bar - where they literally pulled the fish out of the Pacific Ocean (a stone's throw away), fresh that day.

Cheers and may your sushi never smell fishy,
~Kati

FREE. That is always a great way to get someone's attention! 

I love that the Milwaukee metro area boasts some great farmer's markets in the summer... but when they all combine and move inside for the winter months, it's like a farmer's market on steroids! (Though the Dane County Farmer's Market during the summer around the Capitol Square in Madison WI still has the #1 spot in my heart!) 

EVERYONE can enjoy FREE parking and FREE admission to the Mitchell Park Domes from 9am-1pm on Saturday mornings (November to mid-April, excluding holidays) to attend the Milwaukee County Winter Farmer's Market, which is spread out through the main corridors and inside one of the domes! 

This is a great time for families - and anyone else - to get out of the house, shake off some cabin fever, and take a lovely stroll through the gardens without having to be bundled up in bulky winter gear. 

And while you're there, pick out some fresh produce, honey, soups, baked goods, cheeses, meats, elk antlers for your dogs... and more!

Onesto Italian, Milwaukee WI
Step out of the cold and into the cozy at Onesto Italian in the Third Ward. The warm glow of the overhead lights - which look like golden glass balloons - adds to the ambience and had me slightly mesmerized throughout the night. The interior boasts my favorite decor in this area - exposed ductwork, dark woodwork, and Cream City brick walls.

There was a short wait (15 minutes) so we grabbed a seat at the bar. It was pretty busy tonight, but it didn't seem overly loud or crowded. A mix of trendy disco instrumental music played in the background, not too overpowering that you couldn't have a conversation without shouting. We tried a few craft cocktails - my Cranberry Pomegranate Mojito (light on the lime) was fruity without being too sweet, his Third Ward Manhattan was just right.

Our table was ready after just a few sips - the hostess apologized for the wait, but it was so minimal that it was unnecessary. I was grateful that we were seated at a back table, farthest from the front door, so we didn't feel any draft from outside. Our waitress was also extremely friendly and knowledgeable in what was gluten-free - or could be modified to do so - on the menu. She was happy to check with the kitchen to confirm what was safe for me to eat. She was patient with us as we read the menu over and over; it was so hard trying to decide what we all wanted to try, so we ended up putting in our order course-by-course as we came to our decisions.

There were two soups available tonight; both were gluten-free so we got a cup of each. The roasted chicken vegetable soup tasted like it was straight out of grandma's kitchen - it was the perfect way to cut through this week of bitter cold, snowy weather. The tomato soup tasted roasted, with a hint of peppers, very thick and delicious, with a garnish of shredded basil on top (they left off the croutons to make it gluten-free). Between the two of us, both cups were almost licked clean.

The arugula prosciutto salad included juicy purple grapes, chunks of celery, and a smattering of mushrooms, tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette. It could have used a little less dressing, and I added a bit of ground black pepper, but overall it was a great combination of sweet and savory flavors.

We couldn't decide on just 2 entrees - we wanted to make sure that we also tried one of their housemade pasta dishes, so we got 3... best decision! My crispy seared salmon was very tender, served on a bed of sweet tomato sauce, peas, and onions. The small clams that came with it had just a tiny bite to them, but excellent flavor when mixed with the sauce. His seared chicken was served with a blossom of prosciutto on top and a basil marinara sauce that made the dish (the chicken had a few spots where it has been seared a touch too much, so the sauce covered it a little.) 

The highlight of the meal was the brisket bolognese. At first, I couldn't wrap my head around the combination of these two concepts, but with the housemade gluten-free fettuccine noodles, it was amazing. It was surprisingly light, as the bolognese sauce was subtly tossed with the noodles. The brisket was melt-in-your-mouth tender and blended perfectly with the sauce and noodles. I am glad I waited to try it until the end of the meal... the perfect crescendo of flavor! 

We walked away, satisfied but not overly stuffed, with enough leftovers to make at least 2 more small meals. Definitely check out this warm, friendly spot - especially during the blast of winter weather we're having!

OVERALL RATINGS:
5.0 stars for service
4.5 stars for food
5.0 stars for decor
4.5 stars for value/price

It's funny - or maybe ironic - that I ended up liking the "theme" with the big crashing wave background for my blog.

The last year has felt like I've been hit by one wave after another, crashing, splashing, drowning... and I'm not a great swimmer, figuratively or literally. I was beginning to feel like Jonah, swallowed up... but eventually spit out. (Is it a coincidence that I've felt a very emotional connection to Adele's Rolling in the Deep and Hillsong United's Oceans lately?)

But 2015 is going to be my year! I have my bags packed, ready to walk out the door at a moment's notice, my head held high. All I can do is pray that God shows me the next step in my journey.

Where will my next adventure lead me? Follow me and find out!