Pizza Paradise

Warmer days and crops in the ground mean there are many summer pleasures on the horizon. Today's musings were brought about by my buddy Kirk putting a stake in the ground and scheduling our summer pilgrimage to The Pizza Farm.

The Pizza Farm (formally known as A to Z Produce Farm) is the front yard of a working farm in Stockholm WI, about an hour southeast of Minneapolis and one of the coolest secret/insider things I know about. During the summer months on Tuesday nights only from 4:30PM to 8:00 this family turns their farm into a wood fire pizza kitchen.

Each of the ingredients is either grown on the premises or from neighboring farms (happy pig sausage) and the outcome and the ambiance can best be described as casual summer awesomeness. I am certain this pizza ranks as some of the best pizza I will ever have. Top five for easily--and that includes empty placeholders for Italy.

Now, all you get is pizza in a box so the rest of the experience is up to your own design. Some families have tables with place settings and even a little centerpiece, others come with simply a six pack and picnic blanket. Good times with great friends and phenomenal pizza.

Stay tuned for pictures and the 2010 rundown after we make the trek in late July.

Sushi and its Supply Chain

Day 11 of 30 Days of Thankful

I love fine food and a good a meal. Sushi is a special favorite of mine, probably because I don't have it very frequently... Not many of my friends share my love of sushi.

Tonight, I came across some of the best sushi I've ever had at Seven. The flavor and texture were perfect and so fresh I swear I could still smell and taste the ocean. I began to think about the journey of this fish from sea to plate and all of the people who made it happen. I'm sure yellow slicker clad Gorton's Fisherman has plenty of automation to churn out fish-bits as sticks; a level of automation that sushi grade just would not tolerate.

The fact that I can safely consume raw fish whenever my heart desires in spite of the fact that I live landlocked in the middle of the country is a little luxury that I am thankful for. Giving thanks from gill to tail, the supply chain that ferries the fish to my community and the fine restaurateurs who slice, wrap and roll a delicious, artful tradition from the far east to the plates of the midwest.

Papa Johns Cinnapie

So Papa Johns has a new dessert, the Cinnapie, that they are giving away free with a two topping pizza. Let me tell you how to eat this sweet treat...

Skip the dessert and eat it for breakfast the following morning. It goes great with a hot steamy cup of coffee, the Sunday paper and the NFL pre-game show.

London Calling

Here is the summary of a recent discussion with my friend, Michele, as we--in a brunch induced haze--hatched the plan to head to the UK...

(Context: Michele is my Las Vegas subject matter expert and we've been talking about an trip to Vegas together for years)

KW: Ok, let's talk about this trip.
MD: Yeah, about that. I have to say, I'm kind of over Vegas and need a break. But I do have this new passport that needs a stamp.
KW: That's cool. I think I can help with that. If I'm being honest though, I gotta say, I'm kinda over the whole Mexico/Caribbean thing.
MD: Well, I've been doing some research and I think we can get to London and back for under a grand.
KW: Get out!
MD: Yep.
KW: OMG... let's do it. We're going to London.

In all honesty, this transcript wouldn't hold up in a court of law but it is directionally correct. Two items to note gentle reader are that I am going to London (am super pumped) and I think the fine people at Jensen's spike their syrup with just a little bit of crack-cocaine.

My Kind of Town, Chicago Is.

I just got back from my first grown up weekend in Chicago (I’d been before as a kid [Great America] and in 2000 on a 14 week project in the suburbs) and an awesome stay at the Brown B&B.

The hospitality of the proprietors is eclipsed only by their company—and perhaps their adorable four-legged bell-hop Jackson. We had bluebird weather and the most amazing city as a backdrop to our exciting agenda. I would upload pictures but I am on the couch but my camera is two rooms and my feet still hurt.

• Friday: An early morning flight had me in the Windy City in time for a brownstone stroll from Kate’s to lunch. Then a city tour and wine and snack replenishment before settling in one of Chicago’s fine pubs, Halligan Bar where the Guinness flows freely for $3 a glass. We spent a while there then dined on pizza.
• Saturday: A leisurely breakfast and coffee was the fuel we needed for a Chicago Segway Tour along the lake front. It takes a while to get the hang of it but dang it is fun! And makes shocking use of every little ligament and tendon in your feet and ankles. Sunshine and the 7.5mph wind in our hair (top speed) plus a spicy Mexican lunch and strong margarita’s at El Jardin Café required a nap to recover. We dined at Calo Ristorante for dinner where we had the most amazing lobster ravioli. And tiramisu take out dessert for later.
• Sunday: A 12-minute stroll to the Addison El station, directly behind Wrigley Field, where we picked up the Red Line to take us to Soldier Field for the Bears versus Vikings. I had heard ahead of time that Bears fans could be, er, um difficult but that was not the case. We found ourselves surrounded by good humored fans who tolerated my purple pride. Dinner at Vines on Clark and it was time to pack and brave the traffic to O’Hare.

My quality time with Kate and Jason at the Brown B&B had come to an end but memories that will last a lifetime, pictures that I’ll share soon and cravings that will haunt me until I can visit again.

Peak Season

As soon as the gourds begin to swell and dot the landscape with orange my palate turns to all things pumpkin. Yesterday was an excellent example of my autumn weakness—two of my three meals contained a pumpkin feature. The graph* below is an illustrative example of the dramatic spike in my consumption.



Last year I made a special effort to test one new pumpkin recipe a week… this year I will endeavor to do the same and keep you posted on the winners. This week’s rundown was anchored by my annual favorite Bruegger’s offering, their pumpkin bagel with pumpkin cream cheese. So good, my annual Bruegger’s consumption probably mirrors the graph above. Oooh sooo good.

*Maximum of 21 on y-axis representing approximate weekly opportunities of three meals per day times seven days in a week.

An old friend with a new twist

Last night after our Spring pilgrimage to the Albertville outlet mall Michele, one of my best girlfriends, and I tracked down some dinner. Both in the mood for a burger we hit Grumpy's Bar and Grill where we split two of the most unique and tastiest burgers I can ever recall. Behold...

• Southern Style "The Elvis": Black Angus grilled to order and topped with peanut butter and crispy bacon. Don't judge, this one must be sampled then assessed.
• Cream Cheese Burger: Char grilled perfection topped with a healthy dollop of cream cheese laced with chives, garlic and bacon.

Don't walk; run to Grumpy's to satisfy your next hamburger hankering.