> Divine Dining

Finally, a tapas restaurant has opened in Milwaukee, and unlike other restaurants in our emerging city who claim to be of the tapas variety, this one is actually doing something right.

La Merenda, 125 E. National Ave., is situated on a quiet street in the heart of Walker’s Point. If the owners, husband-and-wife duos Nick and Melissa Cataldo and Peter and Sandra Sandroni, hadn’t put a sign out in front of their building only a few months ago, this place would, unfortunately, be overlooked.

Eight months ago, Milwaukee welcomed a new flavor to its dining scene, a restaurant that offered something different from the standard fare: Ethiopian Cottage, 1824 N. Farewell Ave., was opened on Feb. 14 by owner Yigletu Debebe and his wife Almaz Bekele. Their goal was to not only bring the authentic flavors to Milwaukee, but an authentic slice of Ethiopian culture as well. Sitting at a table, which was actually more like a three foot basket, we were excited to take a look at the menu. Our server, Almaz filled us in on the traditional manner of eating.

Apples are one of the many wonderful flavors that autumn brings us Midwesterners. From cider to pies or eating them for breakfast in the morning, they are a great on-the-go meal that can be eaten sans utensils.

Twenty minutes west of campus is a wonderful farmer’s market in the heart of West Allis. Every year, the Nieman Family Orchard brings their harvest of more than 30 varieties of apples to the market, nearly selling out and going home early every Saturday.

Write down all of the stereotypes and things you think you know about remarkable restaurants and connoisseur cuisine. Now crumble up that piece of paper, toss it in the trash and prepare to broaden your horizons.

In no way are you required to wear a suit jacket. In no way should you feel out of place wearing your jeans and t-shirt you bought at The House of Blues last year in the dining room. In no way should you get a headache thinking about what fork to use or what kind of wine to order…at Hinterland, nothing matters but the forward flavors and the arresting atmosphere.

Looking through the large picture window on 222 E. Erie St., I could see people everywhere. They were standing in the lobby, seated at every chair at the bar and relaxing in the large grandmother chairs.

My heart sank. “Oh no,” I thought to myself. “The secret is out about Hinterland.” I immediately had visions of a two hour wait time and a grumbling stomach. Thankfully, it was only a vision.

I have been, very diligently, trying not to write about Cempazuchi on Brady Street. Why you may ask? Well, it’s because I am very biased. Not because I know the owner (which I absolutely do not), or because I know a server (I wish I did, I love free drinks) but because it’s my “go to” place to eat. I am in love with this restaurant for the food, decor, service and authenticity of southern Mexican cuisine.

Walking into the restaurant, I am always bombarded with color. The flowered and brightly colored tablecloths complement the large Mexico-inspired murals on the walls. On weekends the place is always packed to the brim. Expect at least a 45 minutes wait on a table if you haven’t already made a reservation on a Friday or Saturday night.

Two years ago, a very good friend of mine and I would meet up at the charmingly authentic Sala da Pranzo weekly for steamy panini, bottomless glasses of ice water and the occasional slice or two (or three) of cheesecake.

We would catch up on our lives, gossip about people we knew and dream about the day we would finally be able to order a glass of vino with our lunch, and then go right back to class an hour later.

It was only a couple of weeks ago that we were all cramming for finals and rushing to turn in papers and projects. I kept telling myself that after all my hard work this past semester I deserved lazy days on the couch eating stale Christmas cookies while Giada and Rachael taught me how to cook healthy in the New Year.

I can honestly say that I took my favorite ladies’ advice and cooked… a lot. So, needless to say I am itchin’ to get out on the town and retire my knife and saute pan for awhile.

Cafe Luna and Lounge has a long way to go before they ever get the recognition they think they deserve in the Milwaukee market.

I wanted to love Luna. I honestly did. But when your server ignores you the first 15 minutes upon arrival and there are only five others in the place, you start to feel as if you are invisible to the staff and therefore not worthy of service.

What I am about to do is unleash a big campus secret, that not even I knew about until a mere few weeks ago. There’s a little place on the third floor of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Union called the Kenwood Inn.

When the elevator doors open you will most likely be greeted with silence, as there is sort of a student lounge that, strikingly, had no students in it both times I visited the Inn.

Suburpia isn’t anything new to Milwaukee. The popular local chain rivaled Cousin’s Subs in the 1970s and 80s but was then forced to close down all 20 of their locations due to financial troubles.

With locations in Wauwatosa and Waukesha open for a little more than two years, Suburpia is slowly trying to regain their Milwaukee fame by opening another location on the East Side.

I’ve been trying to figure out a restaurant category to put Beans and Barley into. Upscale is definitely out and casual just doesn’t do the food justice. So I decided to make up my own category: a modern bohemian diner.

Let me explain. “Modern” because the food caters to all of these new eating habits that people are patterning themselves on lately. The vegan, the vegetarian, the red meat vegetarian, the gluten-free and the lactose-intolerant in us all can enjoy a perfect meal here.

Hear the word addiction and a bad connotation comes to mind. I have been addicted to biting my nails going on 20 years now. It’s disgusting and gross and I can’t believe I’m admitting it.

Where am I going with this? Well, I have a new addiction that I hope to keep up for the next 20 years and then some because it may just save my life.

Last Sunday I did something I rarely do. I switched up my brunch schedule.

I know you’re thinking that is a pretty risky endeavor. But I’ve heard some things, some good and some bad, about my latest spot, Good Life.

Last Saturday night, I actually had fun on Downer Avenue. I sipped on a couple of drinks, enjoyed great conversation with a few friends and ate some pretty decent food.

I was at Café Hollander until about 1 a.m., and I am thinking about going there again.

We only have a couple more weeks of class left until summer and I can already smell the brats and sauerkraut of June’s Locust Street Days, the beignets of July’s Bastille Days and my favorite corn dogs slathered with yellow mustard at August’s Wisconsin State Fair.

Although not my usual healthy picks, these Wisconsin summertime delicacies have been willingly shoved down my throat since the days of being pushed around in a stroller and I am not about to give them up now. If you think the absence of eight page papers and scantron sheets make you jump for joy when thinking about summer, what about all the great food? Milwaukee is known for its festivals and I have all of my favorite foods at these events listed below.

I thought I would end my column for the year on a high note. And what better way than to share my favorite places to eat in the city? I didn’t include any place that I cannot stand so if you are wondering why a certain place didn’t make my list, there is a good chance that I hate it. So without further ado, my favorite restaurants in Milwaukee.

20. Café Brucke