Vacation Food Edition
About a week ago you may or may not have noticed my absence for a few days. We took one last small minivacation before school started by driving to Madison, Wisconsin, a town we have visited a few times over the years. This vacation has a few goals. It was meant to let the kids burn off some coped up Covid steam, to allow us to try some new to us foods and restaurants, and just to spend some time walking and relaxing.
This post is all about the food and our first meal was at Dotty's Dumplings which is known not for their dumplings (aren't even on the menu) but for their burgers. Above was my burger which besides the cheese had all the fixings and a garlic mayo sauce. It was quite delicious.
Old readers will know that we like to hit up farm to table restaurants where ever we go and do we made a stop at the Heritage Tavern which is a well known one in the area. Above was the appetizer of deviled eggs three ways.
My entrée was heritage pork snitzel from the pigs the owner of the restaurant raises. It was served on spaetzle and braised red cabbage and sprinkled with pickled aronia berries.
My wife ordered the pork belly with rare ahi tuna served on a mango chutney.
The slightly blurry photo is of the best carrot cake I have ever had bar none.
On another day we had some Japanese Ramen for lunch. Mine above was spicy pork with veggies.
My wife had a non spice version with sliced pork and other veggies.
For supper, we tried a Russian restaurant which unlike Dotty's above, IS known for their dumplings. I never knew Russian dumplings were a thing but these were delicious.
I thought I would give everyone a bit of background that in the age of Covid and rising case loads, we chose to eat all of our meals either at odd hours so that we were mostly the only patrons if we ate inside or we took them back to our motel room and ate them there. This way we could maintain social distancing while still enjoying new foods.
You're quite a foodie, and you are pretty careful about your exposure too.
ReplyDeleteSigh, Covid is ramping up here again among the unvaccinated. I certainly wouldn't eat at many of the places here in town frequented by the unvaccinated and even those that aren't, I probably would only eat at them at off hours. We don't eat out a lot that helps. Mostly on vacations.
DeleteNow this is my kind of blog!! These dishes look positively awesome, Ed--you've got me drooling at 9am! I can't get over those fancy deviled eggs... thanks for sharing :^)
ReplyDeleteEveryone online said to absolutely try the eggs and so we did. I'm really glad we did. I never knew you could make a deviled egg gourmet.
DeleteYou are a foodie for sure! I have not eaten half that stuff...well the hamburger looks great! AND the cake!:)
ReplyDeleteIn my adult life, the only thing I have passed on eating thus far is fertilized and partially developed eggs (called balut) from the Philippines. I still haven't ruled it out but haven't worked up the courage yet. I have eaten a lot of things that I will probably never eat again if given a choice but I generally like to at least try something before making a judgement.
DeleteIt all looks beautiful and delicious, even if not for me...
ReplyDeleteI'm seeing more and more breakthrough cases (like me!), but at least the vaccine seems to be doing its job in keeping them from being severe. I never let down my guard and don't plan to in the future.
I feel much like I did last fall that it is only a matter of time before we all get Covid again or in the form of a breakthrough infection. But like you said, at least it is reassuring that the vaccine is doing its job in lessoning the symptoms.
DeleteAnd for the record, I know someone who had it early on, got vaccinated when eligible, then had a breakthrough case of the Delta variant.
DeleteThis post is what I consider food porn. Your dishes look incredible. The hamburger appears to have a home made bun. The carrot cake doesn't look like cake--is is more like a layered carrot pudding/frosting? I would love to try it. Deviled eggs are my passion so if I could order any of the dishes, that would be one. Our numbers here have skyrocketed and I'm back to March 2020--ordering groceries for pick up and eating outside if I go to a restaurant, early to avoid any crowds. It's discouraging and scary.
ReplyDeleteI thought about using Food Porn as my title but shied away from it just in case it attracts unsavory people to this blog. Yes, the carrot cake had a layer that wasn't cake or frosting. There is a French term that my wife recites but which I can't ever remember. She is planning on trying to replicate this in the near future so I'm looking forward to that.
DeleteWas it this? (I perused the website)
DeleteCARROT CROSTATA – 12
spiced carrot marmalade, lemon oil, cardamom streusel,
ginger frozen yogurt
And I will just have a tomato sandwich in a few minutes for lunch, but at least it's "farm to table" or even better, "garden to table". This all looks delicious.
ReplyDeleteI've made a tomato and peanut butter sandwich occasionally. But if I have the ingredients and time, I prefer my tomatoes with bacon, lettuce and a squirt of mayo!
DeleteTomato and PB?? That's a new one on me. I'll take my tomato with avocado.
DeleteGreat food photos. The heritage pork snitzel plate looks especially delicious. I wonder what your children ate.
ReplyDeleteExcellent question. They ate an order of French fries because they were "full" and yet starving when we got back to our motel room. They aren't as adventuresome as their parents when it comes to trying new foods.
DeleteMan, that all looks good Ed! Jealous!
ReplyDeleteIt was really good. I kind of wish I could have bottled it up and passed it around but can only recommend you stopping there the next time you are in Madison, Wisconsin.
DeleteExtremely jealous of your food, Ed! It all looks wonderful and delicious. Hope the school year is off to a good start.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe just this past weekend I was so excited that school was starting so I had all this free time. Since then I've wondered how on earth I'm going to get any free time to accomplish anything but supporting two kids in school!
DeleteHoly smokes! My mouth is watering and this is a bad time since it’s time for bed. I’m so glad you were able to squeeze in one last trip. I haven’t been to Madison in ages!
ReplyDeleteIt was definitely nice to stretch our legs before the rigors of a school semester began.
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