Eat Local Milwaukee

Challenge week is here!

2008-09-07T10:42:00.002-05:00

Today is the start of our Eat Local Challenge week! Join us at the Urban Ecology Center today at 1:00pm for our bike tour of area gardens! Ride your bike or rent one from the UEC. We'll meet some of our neighbors and visit their gardens to see what they've been growing this year! This is a great way to learn a little bit more about home gardening, to talk with gardeners about their triumphs and their challenges, and to spend some time getting to know others in our community!

Local Restaurant Fare

2008-09-01T12:36:00.005-05:00

There are many wonderful restaurants in the Milwaukee area that serve fresh, local foods. We were fortunate enough to partner up with a few of them for the 2008 Eat Local Challenge.

If you would like to share other outstanding opportunities to eat out and eat local, please feel free to add them in the comments section!

For more details, please contact each restaurant individually.

Beans & Barley Market & Café
1901 East North Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-278-7878, 414-278-7800 Menu Info

Beans & Barley plans to offer a local special at each meal throughout the week.

Highlights include:
Appetizer - Eggplant Caponata; Wisconsin Cheese Plate
Salad - Insalata Caprese; Roasted Beet Salad
Entree - Gratin of Heirloom Tomatoes, with Mashed Celeriac
Lunch Entree - Bluegill Sandwich with "Salt City" New Potatoes
Breakfast - Farmers' Market Omelet

Lagniappe Brasserie
17001 W. Greenfield Avenue
New Berlin, WI 53151
262-782-7530

Lagniappe Brassierie will be offering local items for lunch and dinner each day with rotating selections of the following:

Meat & Poultry:
Wisconsin raised bison, Hillsborough Farms Belle Rouge chicken, MacFarland Game Farms pheasant, Delavan Lamb

Produce:
Lagniappe Brasserie grown heirloom tomatoes (Black Krim, Cherokee Purple, Green Zebra, Old German, Pink Caspian, Brandywine, Mr. Stripey) as well as zucchini, patty pan, beets, garlic, mixed greens & herbs as well as West Allis Farmers Market purple and fingerling potatoes

Beverage:
In-house made lager beer with organic cascade hops

Dairy:
Roth Kase Gruyere cheese, Wuthrich Swiss farms State Fair award winning unsalted butter, World Champion Kiel Wisconsin Cheeses

La Merenda
125 E National Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53204
414-389-0125

La Merenda will be participating in the Eat Local Challenge everyday: highlighting a specific locavore special at both lunch and dinner.

The restaurant also features a Wisconsin Artisanal Cheese Plate, local brews, and other menu options that include local ingredients all year long. During the season, every menu item includes at the very least, on local ingredients, such as local tomatoes or garlic.

Meritage
5921 West Vliet Street
Milwaukee, WI 53208
414-479-0620

Meritage will be highlighting local menu items, available all week and all season long:

Yuppie Hill Poultry Stuffed Chicken Breast, stuffed with WI goat cheese and sun dried tomatoes. Served on a panzanella salad with Growing Power Tomatoes and organic, Minnesotan Bread.

The menu also features Pinn-oak Lamb & Wilson farm Pork Tenderloin.

Outpost Natural Foods Coop & Cafes
100 East Capitol Drive 7000 West State Street 2826 South Kinnickinnic Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53212 Wauwatosa, WI 53213 Milwaukee, WI 53207
414-961-2597 414-778-2012/ 414-755-3202

The Outpost market carries a large variety of local foods and beverages, the Outpost café uses local eggs and butter in their signature bakery. The café also plans to feature some local dishes during their Eat Local Challenge, the first 2 weeks in September; please inquire within.

Riverwest Coop Café
733 E. Clarke Street
Milwaukee, WI 53212
414-264-7933

Every day throughout the month of September, Riverwest Coop Cafe will feature the following:

Brunch: Veggie Scramble, with organic bread from Wild Flour, local organic potatoes, and choice of tofu by Simple Soyman or eggs from Yuppie Hill

Lunch: BBQ Tofu, with tofu by Simple Soyman, and featuring local produce from Growing Power and Willoway Farms.

Sebastian's
6025 Douglas Avenue
Caledonia, WI 53108
262-681-5465

Sebastian's plans to run at least one local special the entire week of the Eat Local Challenge.

Sign Up for the Eat Local Challenge

2008-08-25T10:14:00.005-05:00

Sign up and be counted!

You can sign up on the statewide challenge website and also leave a comment here to let us know that you are participating in the challenge.

What are your personal goals for the week?

How are you defining your local radius/borders?
Examples: 100 mile radius, within the state of WI, from your garden...

What amount of local food will you be choosing?
Examples: 10% of your food budget, 100% of your meals, $10 per week, 1 meal per day...

What are your exemptions?
Examples: Salt, Fair Trade Coffee, Tea, Organic Olive oil, Chocolate...

Then keep us posted about how your challenge is going- we want to hear from you!

Weekly Thoughts ... August 17-23

2008-08-18T13:33:00.003-05:00

After a lively Friends of Real Food meeting last Wednesday, I have a better idea about what kinds of foods I can expect to find locally (thanks to Jennifer's great presentation!). Group members shared names and stories about where they find tasty and local cheeses, grains, meats, and more! Let's continue the discussion on the blog!

Weekly Thoughts ... August 10-16

2008-08-12T20:14:00.004-05:00

Has anyone started to prepare for the Eat Local Challenge yet? It's still early, but now is a great time to start sharing ideas and local food sources with one another! Please add a "comment" to this post with your thoughts!