Late Fall Early Spring Get together

Re:Late Fall Early Spring Get together (BuddyRoadhouse)

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 14:56:19 GMT

starlady,

Unfortunately, your change didn't take hold. No big deal. I still think there should be a new, separate thread announcing this trip. We missed a lot of Contingent members on our last couple of get togethers because of misplaced or mis-titled threads. Your original intent was to get general information on our activities and I think (I hope) we've satisfied that need.

We look forward to having you join us in our various travels now that you know how to keep track of what we're doing. Now though, it's time to start a new thread here to discuss the Madison trip on May 2, 2010. I hope to see you there (both at the thread and on the tour).

Buddy

Re:Late Fall Early Spring Get together (starlady)

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 09:01:06 GMT

Jeff, I hope I changed the name of the link correctly. I am only now somewhat getting the hang of how to work these "links etc."

Re:Late Fall Early Spring Get together (JRPfeff)

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:31:30 GMT

I contacted starlady and she will change the name of the thread.

jrp

Re:Late Fall Early Spring Get together (BuddyRoadhouse)

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:09:06 GMT

Or start a new thread devoted to this trip. The original poster's intention was to get general information on our activities. Now that the thread has morphed into a discussion of a specific trip, it no longer bears relevance to the original question asked.

Brad, Madison is your stomping grounds, take the reins and steer this wagon train into a new thread, dedicated to the trip you want to put together.

Buddy

Re:Late Fall Early Spring Get together (abe_froeman)

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:05:44 GMT

Brad_Olson

Apparently Brickhouse BBQ opened last year on Gorham St. I didn't find a website for the restaurant but found this on a local dining coupon site.

Is it time to change the title of this thread?

Brad

I think at least change it to mention the date we picked.

Re:Late Fall Early Spring Get together (ScreamingChicken)

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:59:29 GMT

Apparently Brickhouse BBQ opened last year on Gorham St. I didn't find a website for the restaurant but found this on a local dining coupon site.

Is it time to change the title of this thread?

Brad

Re:Late Fall Early Spring Get together (cjucoder)

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:23:23 GMT

Count me in on this one. Got May 2 on my calendar.

I am really excited about this. I don't know Madison at all, and I love exploring new places and cities. I was in the Capitol Building one time to attend an award ceremony, but didn't spend any time in the city.

Not picky at all about cuisines or locations, I can find lots to eat on any menu or at grocery.

Re:Late Fall Early Spring Get together (BuddyRoadhouse)

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:43:04 GMT

Three for three! Yes!

Buddy

Re:Late Fall Early Spring Get together (JRPfeff)

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:30:37 GMT

Buddy,

Their review is here. This is the punchline.

There were some rough spots in our experience, though. We were short on water through most of the meal, which was a challenge given of the spiciness of the dishes. That, and the earlier annoyances, added up - but as Jim reiterated, the food was really good: "There's something to be said for a place whose food can overcome those annoyances."

We wouldn't recommend Himal Chuli as a first-date-type place, or somewhere you'd take a large group, but for simple, fortifying veggie-friendly food that will expand your comfort zone, it hits the spot.

Jim

Re:Late Fall Early Spring Get together (BuddyRoadhouse)

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:26:03 GMT

Yay! My good taste is confirmed by two people who I don't know. My life is complete! So, they like Vientiane and Chautara, any word on Himal Chuli?

Buddy

Re:Late Fall Early Spring Get together (JRPfeff)

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:54:30 GMT

Brad_Olson

I was stumbling around the Web and came across this blog:

http://www.madisonatoz.com/

I admire their determination!

Brad

After going to the great blog Brad linked to above, I knew we had to get JM & Nichole to join us for our May Eat & Greet in Madison.

MadisonAtoZ.com

What is it?
They say Madison has the most restaurants per capita of any city in the U.S. JM likes lists and Nichole likes to eat, so we decided to eat at (nearly) every restaurant in Madison in alphabetical order.

Here's our method: from Isthmus' (a local free weekly) "Eats" list, we print the list of restaurants beginning with the next letter, and go to each place in order, one time.

How Roadfoodie is that? I contacted them by e-mail with an invitation to join our Eat & Greet and received an enthusiastic response.

I also asked N & JM for advice on our stops on May 2. Here are their thoughts.

Now for some recs. We saw these places in your discussion and heartily second them:

Vientiane
Chautara
Doug's Soul Food
Cottage Cafe
Papa Bear's BBQ
Poppa Coronofoulos

We'll throw these into the ring, as well - though we haven't checked hours of operation:

Corner Store (crouching grocery, hidden curry)
Curve (best greasy spoon in town)
Greenbush Bar (Italian workingman's fare with a little more style and no pretension)
Luckenbooth Restaurant (a bit far afield, in Blark Earth, but great pie and Scottish breakfast)
Lucky Seven (divey homestyle Mexican OMG good)
Mediterrranean Cafe (cheap, fast, and line out the door most weekdays)
Michael's Frozen Custard (small local chain, in 4 rehabbed gas stations)
Mickey's Tavern (half off drinks Sunday afternoons if you're playing board games)
Nick's Restaurant (legacy downtown bar/diner)
Pat O'Malley's Jet Room (apparently we wrote so highly of this place that the local paper picked it up, and wrecked the secret for the regulars)

And here are some we haven't posted on yet, but know are good:
Anna's Pizzeria (Sun Prairie but dang good pies)
Carnival's (new soft-serve and hot dog place, they win the ballsy award for opening in the middle of winter)
The Haze (as fancy as we're going to recommend - lunch $8. Asian fusion BBQ, most value-driven of local culinary star Muramoto's ventures)
Smoky Jon's No. 1 BBQ (self-explanatory)

This is a great list to start from (Corner Store - Can you say Dining ala Trunk?), but we can keep looking.

I would also like to include at least one stop at a Madison A to Z review location. N & JM expect to be in the R's by early May and they think Rising Sons Deli is probably the best bet. We'll keep in touch as the tour gets closer to finalize this stop.

If you haven't yet, go to Madison A to Z and explore.

Re:Late Fall Early Spring Get together (BuddyRoadhouse)

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:26:44 GMT

irisarbor

Just a reality check from us suburbanites...
How long a drive to Madison?
is this a day or overnight jaunt...?

iris, we've made the drive in about 2 1/2 hours. With an early start and an extra cup of coffee before heading back home, Madison is easily a one day turn around, although I agree with Brad, there's enough there to make it an overnight.

I-90 is the most direct route. I-94 will also get you there with fewer tolls and, although it doesn't look like it on a map, perhaps a few minutes shaved off the travel time. Route 12 is a pleasant rural drive, but will take you forever and a day to get there.

If we go (probably will if it's a Sunday excursion), we will do it as a one day round trip.

Buddy

Re:Late Fall Early Spring Get together (ScreamingChicken)

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:10:31 GMT

I was stumbling around the Web and came across this blog:

http://www.madisonatoz.com/

I admire their determination!

Brad

Re:Late Fall Early Spring Get together (Davydd)

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:49:55 GMT

It is a 5 hour drive from the west side of Minneapolis. We made that trip numerous times when our daughter went to the University of Wisconsin Madison.

Re:Late Fall Early Spring Get together (ScreamingChicken)

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:23:14 GMT

From Deerfield it's probably 2-1/2 to 3 hours. Generally I-90 is the better route between Madison and Chicagoland although I see that you're closer to I-94, but if you have the time US-14 isn't a bad drive once you get past the Traffic Hell known as Crystal Lake.

Regardless of whether this turns out to be a Saturday or Sunday shindig there's enough to see and do in Madison to make an overnight stay worthwhile.

Brad

Re:Late Fall Early Spring Get together (irisarbor)

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:56:29 GMT

Just a reality check from us suburbanites...
How long a drive to Madison?
is this a day or overnight jaunt...?

Re:Late Fall Early Spring Get together (BuddyRoadhouse)

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 15:16:54 GMT

Brad_Olson

And not too far from there is Papa Coronofoulos on Buckeye Road. I hear the people in the Chicago area are desperate for good hot dogs so a stop here might be seen as a godsend.

Brad

Thank goodness you found this place Brad. We Flatlanders are totally Hot Dog deprived! How soon can we visit this place? And can we get ketchup on our dogs?

Buddy

Re:Late Fall Early Spring Get together (ScreamingChicken)

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 14:45:02 GMT

JRPfeff

We need Brad along on this one, since it is his home base.

Roadfooder Pancho is being awfully quiet...

Small-town and rural taverns are my home base. I'm not hoity-toity enough for Madison.

JRPfeff

I threatened Bobbi with this place. I don't think I have ever eaten there, but my parents ate there every day after my dad retired. Might be worth a scouting trip by one of the Brad_ Olson clones. Definitely RoadFood.

Papa Bear's BBQ is just west of there on Cottage Grove Road, although I've never eaten there and haven't been in the area for a long time, so I don't even know if it's still open. Maybe some Saturday I might take a spin up that way to see what's going on.

And not too far from there is Papa Coronofoulos on Buckeye Road. I hear the people in the Chicago area are desperate for good hot dogs so a stop here might be seen as a godsend.

Brad

Re:Late Fall Early Spring Get together (stricken_detective)

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 13:56:13 GMT

JRPfeff
I threatened Bobbi with this place. I don't think I have ever eaten there, but my parents ate there every day after my dad retired. Might be worth a scouting trip by one of the Brad_ Olson clones. Definitely RoadFood.

They have quiche!!!!! I am in.

Re:Late Fall Early Spring Get together (JRPfeff)

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 08:10:04 GMT

Buddy - Nevermind what I said above. May 2 is a Sunday, so no Farmers Market.

Jim

Re:Late Fall Early Spring Get together (BuddyRoadhouse)

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:14:17 GMT

Baumgartner's was just an idle thought. If it doesn't fit in with the overall plans, no worries.

Buddy

Re:Late Fall Early Spring Get together (JRPfeff)

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:05:40 GMT

Buddy - Dottie Dumpling's offers the same burgers as at their previous 2 locations. I think their burgers are in the same league as Fred's. Right next door is Ian's Pizza. Worth a walk-thru to check out the daily by-the-slice offerings - Mac & Cheese, Steak & Frites, Breakfast Pizza, etc.

~~I don't know how Baumgartner's would fit in for lunch. It may work better as a last stop, as I'd like to keep the Farmer's Market open for those who want to go there before we get rolling.~~

I threatened Bobbi with this place. I don't think I have ever eaten there, but my parents ate there every day after my dad retired. Might be worth a scouting trip by one of the Brad_ Olson clones. Definitely RoadFood.

More to come ..............

Re:Late Fall Early Spring Get together (BuddyRoadhouse)

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:18:14 GMT

May 2nd looks good here.

Buddy

Re:Late Fall Early Spring Get together (abe_froeman)

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:13:04 GMT

May 2nd should be good for us.

Re:Late Fall Early Spring Get together (JRPfeff)

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:18:50 GMT

We need Brad along on this one, since it is his home base. How about May 2?

Re:Late Fall Early Spring Get together (MilwFoodlovers)

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:15:45 GMT

I'd be in for sure, will check w/Mrs MFL and my mother. In my mom's case, a RF tour on the 9th would her idea of a perfect Mother's Day present.

Re:Late Fall Early Spring Get together (abe_froeman)

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:51:39 GMT

The weekend of April 17th is out- my birthday on the 17th and bridal shower on the 18th (which means the Roadhouses are out for that weekend too, whether they know it or not) April 10th is no good, but the 11th might be okay.

I think the 24th or 25th should be okay, but that could change quickly. May 1st or 2nd is good. May 8th is good, but the 9th is Mother's Day (I know *my mom* would be okay with doing this, buy Mr. Maki's mom might object to us not being there)

Later than that, we just can't commit to anything.

ETA: I take it back- May 1st is out- roller derby game.

Re:Late Fall Early Spring Get together (ScreamingChicken)

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:42:27 GMT

JRPfeff

So I will hijack this thread and suggest a late April Eat & Greet for THE CONTINGENT somewhere other than Chicago. Which leads me to Brad_Olson's righteous dining experience at Doug's Soul Food in Madison. I think Madison would be a great change of pace for us and I can think of dozens of place to eat. The Farmers Market may be running by then, too.

The DCFM website currently implies that April 17 will be the first day for the outdoor market. It's also prom night at Stoughton High School so the Olson household could possibly be in maximum crisis mode.

The 24th and 25th are definitely out for me.

Brad

Re:Late Fall Early Spring Get together (ChuckL50)

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 07:19:06 GMT

I'm in. Any Sunday is good for me at this point.

Re:Late Fall Early Spring Get together (carolina bob)

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 04:39:40 GMT

Don't know if I'll be able to make this one. I'm hitting the road tomorrow AM on a two-week southern roadtrip ( another book-length trip report... run for your lives! ) , plus I'll be out of town during the first weekend in May.