Good times were had by all at the 10th annual Food Slam this past Friday night. Thanks to all you spectacular Slammers for coming to eat, drink, bid, and support WMSE, making Friday’s fiesta the biggest, funnest, and successfullest Slam to date!

And hey, check out that sweet video up there expertly shot in a gritty, dizzying, hand-held style by yours truly, Food Slam blogger Erin Harris. I think I missed my calling, Milwaukee. Writing, schmiting. I was meant to be a cinematographer on classic films such as Saving Private Ryan, etc. JK. But do dig the tune by magnificent Milwaukee musician and musical mastermind Rick.

Oh and big, big thanks to the fine local establishments that provided the awesome auction items, and a special shout-out to the following delicious vendors for supplying the tasty vittles:

Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co., Atomic Chocolate Co., Ball ‘N Biscuit Catering, Beans & Barley, Blue’s Egg, Bolzano Artisan Meats, Centro Cafe, Chubby Cheese Truck, Eat Cake!, Hector’s On Delaware, Indulgence Chocolatiers, Jake’s Deli, Jow Nai Fouquet Thai, Kasana Concierge Gourmet, Martita’s Mixers, Maxie’s Southern Comfort, McBob’s Pub & Grill, Milwaukee Ale House, Molly Cool’s Seafood Tavern, The Noble, Outpost Natural Foods, Paciugo Gelato, Purple Door Ice Cream, Red Rock Saloon, Revolucion Mexican Restaurant, The Rumpus Room, Sala da Pranzo, SPiN Milwaukee, Times Square Bistro & Pizzeria, and The Wicked Hop

Nectarous! Cheers! See you next year!

–Erin Harris

Oh, and you should all probably eat a light lunch. You’ll want your full appetite come tonight.

1. There might be one or two tickets left. Sales stop tonight at six, so get down to the station before then if you want to get your taste buds rocked tomorrow night.
2. Don’t forget that when you bring two or more nonperishable items to donate to the Hunger Task Force, you get a ticket for the free beverage of your choice.
3. The Food Slam ain’t just about tasty vittles—it’s also a bidding slam for getting awesome deals on sweet stuff like such as the following for instance:

• Starting at just fifty smackers is a makeup party for four, a unique experience that includes a one-on-one makeup application and lesson with Blush’s premier artists! Bring out the feather pillows, the Cyndi Lauper records, and the margarita mix, ladies, cuz the girls are gonna have some fun!

• Two pairs of tickets to any of the Brew City Bruisers’ exciting home-season bouts! Get out the Band-Aids, the crutches, and the steaks for them black eyes! Wait . . . you’re just a spectator—no first aid kit necessary. Just bring the good times! OK—the Bruisers supply those too . . . and lots of ‘em. How ‘bout just bring your splendid self and your vigorous vocal chords for cheerin’?!!

• You must be a luckystar cuz you shine on the opportunity to bid on this fabulous special-edition three-piece from Luckystar Studio’s Chimp Series. There’s a dude with a yellow background who’s gettin’ pretty chesty with the Superman thing, and then he’s over there regarding that banana peel, and I don’t know what he’s doing in that suit, but it’s definitely cool. Yeah, that chimp stuff’s definitely gots it goin’ on!

• Holy supercool handcrafted handiwork, Batman—get down to the Slam and check out the wrought-iron “Squiggle” candle holder hand-forged by Bay View’s own Milwaukee Blacksmith. Ain’t nothin’ as cool as something that took fire and muscle and iron to make—this thing’s gonna floor ya.

• Whoa, daddy, a two-hour experience aboard the Milwaukee Pedal Tavern! A 16-person bicycle-powered party on wheels! Whether you’ve got a pub crawl, a bachelor party, or a company event coming up, this is the travelling apparatus and terrific adventure for you. Bid starts at sixty bucks. SIXTY BUCKS? Pretty sweet for a super-fun segue to good times. Forget rotting away in dark bars—get some air with your booze, Milwaukee!

• Itchin’ for some ink? Put the pedal to the metal and the needle to the skin and bid on a $250 gift certificate for a custom tattoo from Spencer at Zoe’s Vicious Circle in Bay View! When the bidding starts at $55 for Spencer’s spectacular work, we’re talkin’ pirate’s booty here, ladies and gents. You’re liftin’ the loot, pilferin’ the plenty, and you ain’t even gonna walk the plank for it.

• And superartist extraordinaire dwellephant’s shootin’ ya some painted records. Painted records? Painted perfection! Check out the great Joey Ramone gracin’ the wax! And dang, dwellie whips it good! The dude from Devo’s painted on another record—mix it, spin it, turn it, loop it, whirl it, twirl it, swirl it, whip it, frame it, hang it, show it, love it, dig it, rock it . . . and, of course, crack that whip!

And that ain’t even the half of it. There’s that, and more, and a ton of stuff galore. So sweet! Get stoked! And we’ll see ya at the Slam!

–Erin Harris

Riverwest’s smackdown, dynamite Centro Cafe is bringing its A game to the WMSE Food Slam this Friday at the Grohmann Museum on the campus of MSOE. For all you vegetarians who’ve had enough talk about salami and reubens and tuna and reubens and meat and meat and meat, chow down on Centro’s luscious lasagna layered with leeks, roasted butternut squash, garlic, and rosemary. It’s got this cream sauce, see, that makes you swoon, and the leeks are heaven, and the squash melts in your mouth, and it all comes together like the way a good band comes together, when everyone’s firing on all cylinders and you can believe in harmony and unity and perfection. And then there’s Centro’s vegan Caesar salad, which is cunningly creamy (how do they do it? Tahini and silken tofu, I think), fantastically fresh, and succulently snappy. These dishes are gonna shine as stars of the show come Friday night. You won’t be able to get enough.

And, while I was at Centro, I also tried their gluten-free pasta with marinara sauce, since I usually (except in anticipation of the Slam, when I get to write this blog) roll gluten free, and had shamefully not previously made it to Centro, though I had heard great things about their GF options. The pasta is good, you know, as good as gluten-free pasta can be, but what makes that dish is the well-balanced marinara sauce–bright, fresh, garlicky, rich, and neither too sweet nor too astringent. It hit the spot, I’m tellin’ ya–it was on the mark. I felt like Goldilocks, Slammers–the porridge was just right. Fo shizzle.

And regarding tickets, I really don’t know what to tell you. No, I’m kidding . . . I think there are a few left–maybe two–so if you ain’t got yours, hit up the station down at 820 N. Milwaukee Street during business hours (9 a.m. till 6 p.m.) through Thursday for a fix.

–Erin Harris

SCIENCE! And necromancy. I stepped down to Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co. with the charismatic and magnificent Buzz, illustrious host of the great WMSE show Buzz’s Garage, and got a brewing demo and coffee tasting divined by coffee conjurer Steve Kessler. As you can see in that video up there, the siphon-pot demo was like some kinda mad, cool science experiment conducted by Bill Nye or Mr. Wizard. The brewing apparatus looks like something in a lab, what with the little Bunsen-burner-like flame under the glass vessel. The vacuum action of the siphon pot swirls and whirls and spins like a cyclonic particle accelerator and forces the water up to saturate the savory grounds and produce an exquisite extraction. It’s almost like you’re watching an illicit substance being cooked up, and, I’m telling you, what comes out of that carafe is so good it might as well be against the law. We tried the Ethiopian Limu Natural brewed with this device, and the coffee’s berry notes and light, clean, creamy body knocked us over with deliciousness. Buzz weren’t jestin’, ladies and gents, when he said “Hey, that’s good coffee!” Well, OK, he kinda was, but just to make you laugh–he was serious too. When the alchemical magic gets coaxed out of a naturally processed Ethiopian heirloom bean with some kinda necromancer’s mojo, that stuff truly blows your mind.

And it’s gonna taste like a million bucks with Kasana Concierge Gourmet’s panna cotta infused with Madagascar vanilla and topped with homemade caramel with rum. This classic Italian dessert is creamy, aromatic, and knockout delicious with its sensuous, exotic, islandy twist, and knocked-off socks will be flying around the Grohmann when Slammers savor the panna cotta with my favorite Anodyne offering–Guatemalan Huehuetenango, which wins first prize for fullest body, richest flavor, and funnest name to say. Way-way-ten-ango. Way-way-ten-ango. Way-way-ten-ango.

So you’ve really got to step on it if you haven’t gotten your Food Slam tickets yet. They’re almost 90% sold out, and we know you wanna revel in the food event that’s gonna rock Milwaukee’s taste buds on October 7, so you best click here, if ya know what’s good for ya.

–Erin Harris

PS. Thanks to Milwaukee outfit Sons of Saboteurs for the use of their spectacular tune (in the video) called “It’s Just a Slide.”

–Erin Harris

Oh, Sweet Daddy . . . A Luscious McBob's Reuben!

Hey if you’ve got the radio on on Thursdays from 3 till 6 pm, you know and love WMSE DJ Tom Wanderer, host of The Tom Wanderer Radio Experience. You know, that real gone cat who really knows how to lay a patch of sweet sonic delights. I caught up with the good TW at McBob’s Pub and Grill earlier this week, and we talked The Stones and The Stooges and Buzzcocks and The Who and The Jesus & Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine and Mad Men and spaghetti Westerns and Terrence Malick and drank beer and hung out on the patio at McBob’s and chowed down on mouthwatering reubens stacked with luscious, juicy corned beef; tangier-than-elsewhere sauerkraut; snappy horseradish mustard; and buttery, toasted marble rye. Oh, the scrumptious crunch, the tender beef, the savory zip of the fixins . . . I’m salivating as I recall the deliciousness, which was so ambrosial that Tom said that it was the best corned beef he’s ever had. He said that totally off the cuff, with genuine glee, as he whet his whistle on one of them award-winning reubens. I said, “Holy awesome quotes, Batman, can you say that again on film?” So check out the 12-second video down there of Tom’s gracious reenactment of his awe at his knockout sandwich. Sorry about the brevity–I was too busy downing Guinness to have the presence of mind to keep the camera rolling. Thanks to Milwaukee artists Sons of Saboteurs for the use of their song “Eleven 11.”

And Food Slam tickets are, as you can imagine, since the Slam is thee food event that’s gonna rock your taste buds on October 7, flying like hotcakes. They’re more than half sold out, so snap up a pair while you can, cuz you know you wanna feel that wild swing of euphoria that comes with chompin’ down on the best corned beef the great Mr. Tom Wanderer has ever had.

–Erin Harris

Old Milwaukee: 145
New Milwaukee: 109

Total Sales: 254
Total Donated: $508.00 

Old Milwaukee: 149
New Milwaukee: 88

Total Sales: 237
Total Donated: $474.00

As you can see, the total sales competition between the two cafes is a pretty close one, separated by only $34.00, but Old Milwaukee is demolishing New Milwaukee 294 to 197. Yup, Old “Carnivorous” Milwaukee has about a 100-sale lead.

Will the damsel catch the old guy? That’s up to you, Milwaukee.

Thanks to everyone who has so far purchased either sandwich from either establishment!

Next we continued our tradition of divvying up delicious sandwiches, and we each tucked into half a BLT and half a turkey sandwich. Jet over to SPiN with some work chums for a corporate event, or with just some regular friends for a game of ping pong, and chomp down on this BLT. It’ll strike a chord with your taste buds because the bacon ain’t just breakfast-table bacon–it’s deep, rich, crispy pancetta, and the mayo ain’t just bologna-sandwich mayo–it’s pesto aioli, rife with the heaven of garlic and the flavor and fragrance of fresh basil. The arugula gives the BLT bite and snap, and the toasted Tuscan bread . . . my God, why did I forget to ask them where they get that magnificent bread? Oh yeah–it was because I was so overwhelmed with the deliciousness of the turkey sandwich, which they’ll be featuring at the Slam. What could be better for an early-fall event than a sandwich that recalls one of the savoriest spreads of the year. The roasted turkey marries like rock and roll with the cranberry-orange chutney, and the cats in the kitchen at SPiN top it off with fresh baby spinach and creamy, pungent brie.

This is a sandwich you’re gonna wanna chow down on, so if you’re a lucky Food Slam ticket holder, you gots it goin’ on. But I admire anyone who doesn’t have their tickets yet. You’re living on the edge. You’re a thrill seeker. An adrenaline junkie. You’re gonna get your kicks, all right, as you hold back and back and back and feel the anticipation and wait for the rush. Then right at the last second you’ll shoot for the last pair of tickets as your palms sweat and your heart pounds and you can’t find your breath. But don’t drop the ball–you don’t wanna suffer Food Slam withdrawal. Be sure to score your tix and your fix.

And please stay tuned to this here blog for tomorrow’s news of The Tom Wanderer Dining Experience.

–Erin Harris

Food Slam tickets are just about 50% sold out, so if you plan to be one of 500 lucky attendees eatin’ and drinkin’ and havin’ a real good time on October 7, you gotta get your tickets before someone beats ya to the punch. So the gloves are off, Milwaukee–gird your loins, swing over here, and give ‘em the old one-two.

–Erin Harris

Words by Ryan

The first veggie burger Comet and Honeypie have ever created for WMSE is a huge hit so far. This comment came through on Facebook this weekend from Erik R:

“WMSE Veggie Burger at Comet. Holy f*ing ball of YUM! Come on folks! Go get one. Or two. Yes, they also make a regular beef version, too.”

If you missed Erin’s detailed post about both burgers, here you go. Now, go eat as many as your belly and conscience will allow from now until September 30th.

The sun’ll be shining at 6 pm on October 7, Milwaukee, but only at the Grohmann, where the Slam’ll be rockin’ till 10 pm. So get two tickets to paradise right here.

And instead of posting that Eddie Money song, I’ll share with you my favorite feel-good song ’bout booze ‘n sunshine–His Name Is Alive’s “Lemon Ocean.” It ain’t local, but it sure is lovely.

–Erin Harris

Jake's Scrumptious Chow. Clockwise From Left: Pastrami Dog, Assorted Meats, Reuben Sandwich

I stopped at Jake’s Deli today and dug into some mouthwatering grub. First up is the classic reuben sandwich, which, if you were lucky enough to hit the Slam last October, you’ll recall that we’ve got a kinda tradition of savoring at the food event that rocks your taste buds every fall. Crispy toasted rye bread, tangy mustard and sauerkraut, creamy thousand-island dressing, and juicy, hand-carved corned beef make up this time-honored work of genius. I also tried a pastrami dog, a killer new addition to Jake’s menu, comprised of luscious pastrami, a grilled hot dog, and Swiss cheese on a pretzel roll. And I sampled some lone meats–pastrami, corned beef, turkey pastrami, and salami. These meats are magnificently moist and savory on their own, and when you get ‘em nestled in a Jake’s sandwich with all the fixins and the juice runs down your arm, you know you’ve tucked into something good. The latest word is that Food Slam tickets are 40% sold out, so if you love corned beef…if you revel in pastrami…if you relish deli goodness and old-school tradition, scoot over to Brown Paper Tickets and get yourself a pass to paradise while you can.

And check out this video of me, Food Slam blogger Erin Harris, giving up my anonymity and telling you just how sumptuous Jake’s reubens are. Thanks to Red Stuff for the use of their tune “Surf/Drag.”

–Erin Harris

Purple Door Ice Cream's Espresso, Chocolate, and Salted Caramel Ice Creams

Ice cream for lunch. You scream for lunch. We all scream for lunch. I stopped down at Purple Door Ice Cream’s production facility yesterday and had ice cream for lunch, and O, Sweet Succulence, let me tell you how good it is. The espresso flavor, made with beans roasted fresh at Anodyne, pops with a superbly balanced kick ‘a coffee. The chocolate’s perfectly sweet, and the expert confectioners down at Purple Door ain’t afraid ‘a no cocoa. And the salted caramel, well, in the words of one of Purple Door’s retailers, the salted caramel is “make-out good.” I’m not entirely sure what that means, but I’m guessing it refers to the luscious sensuousness you feel when that sweet stuff lingers on your tongue. And the fourth thing that’s cool about Purple Door–if you’re wondering about the discrepancy between the number of flavors in the photo and the number of things in this post’s title–is Purple Door’s Milk for Milwaukee program. The good folks at Purple Door designate a portion of their proceeds to providing milk to local homeless shelters including The Guest House, The Cathedral Center, and Pathfinders. These cats are dedicated to both crafting deliciousness and helping people in need. So come to the Slam to get a taste of their nectarous goodness alongside, say, a knockout slice-a cake from Eat Cake. But you know the drill–you gosta get your tickets ASAP cuz there won’t be none left PDQ.

And here’s a video of Purple Door co-owner Steve Schultz talkin’ ’bout makin’ the sweet stuff. You’ll notice that the dude totally rocks.

–Erin Harris

Bolzano Artisan Meats Owner and Charcutier Scott Buer Talkin' Handcrafted Salami

Hey you know when you write the official Food Slam blog, you get to jet around Milwaukee and meet cool people who are passionate about creating spectacular food–and my visit to Bolzano Artisan Meats today just might take the cake. I attended charcuterie school and learned about owner and charcutier Scott Buer’s process of handcrafting delectable dry-cured salamis. I tasted the Old School salami–rich, aromatic, vibrant with garlic and cracked black pepper; the Pamplona Runner salami–smoky, sweet, delicate, and melt-in-your-mouth spectacular; and the Fumetti salami–a smoked salami rife with extraordinary flavor. The enzymes created by the fermentation process turn the fats in the meat into jewels as soft and rich as butter, and the delicate seasonings swim with a succulence that lingers on your tongue while your palate begs for a luscious swig of wine or beer. So by all means, get down to the Food Slam on October 7th to taste these magnificent meats that are lovingly crafted with locally sourced ingredients.

Word of caution: Get tickets while you can cuz the Slam’s already over 30% sold out, and you don’t wanna be disappointed!

And check out this video of Scott talking about Wisconsin’s revival of its history of handcrafting great beer, cheese, and other artisan products. And speaking of local craftsmanship, feel the good vibes in the background tune by Milwaukee outfit Black Eagle Child. The song, from the Lobelia album, is called “Families Get Together.”

–Erin Harris

Photo from The Cakewalk blog

We’re only one full day into the burger promotion with Comet and Honeypie Cafes, but already we are seeing some great early returns.

From Twitter:

@roachcraft – “The new @WMSE burger (minus mushrooms) gets a thumbs-up; not an instant heart attack like past entries, totally unique, totally MKE.”

We can only assume that Mr. Roach will convulse and die if he eats mushrooms because we can’t imagine any other reason to exclude the mushrooms. Locally grown, delicious mushrooms, even.

From the Cakewalk Blog:

“I split the WMSE burger with Sasa since there is no chance I could eat the whole thing myself. It was great, but what was really exciting to me was this brussel sprout that was garnishing the “Old Milwaukee” style burger. I planted a solitary brussel sprout plant, which appears to be growing alright, if not a bit on the slow side. If I can’t glean enough to pickle, I will procure farmer’s market sprouts to make these spicy hot brussel sprouts!”

While Ms. Cake wasn’t ready to tackle the entire burger, as Mr. Roach said, this year’s burgers are much less heart-attack inducing than previous years’ creations. During our tasted test, all four testers were able to eat half of the Old Milwaukee and half of the New Milwaukee. As we said in the initial burger promotion post, “do what we did—cut ‘em in half, divvy ‘em up, and taste the best of both worlds.”

Burger 1, the Old Milwaukee burger, celebrates the traditional Milwaukee staples of pastrami, sauerkraut, and thousand-island dressing by melding these classic ingredients in a luscious magnum opus that will knock you to the floor with deliciousness. The pastrami is blended with Wisconsin-raised, grass-fed beef in a succulent patty and topped with homemade sauerkraut that’s fermented with–yeah, you guessed it, Milwaukee–that good old-fashioned refreshment we all know and love known as beer, and capped off with creamy, made-from-scratch thousand-island dressing and big chunks of house-made pickles.

Burger 2, the New Milwaukee burger, is comprised of a crispy veggie patty with a tasty hazelnut crust, heirloom tomato confit, spicy olive relish, and blue cheese. The garlic in that olive relish melds with the blue cheese in a way you won’t believe. We all had a tough time deciding which burger was better—and that’s a testament to the magnificence of the New Milwaukee burger. When you get four carnivores together who are floored by a veggie burger, you know that veggie burger’s good. So get on down to Comet and/or Honeypie to try these bad boys, which are a steal at ten bucks each. And two of those bucks go to support the station, so you know you’re doin’ good by your gut as well as your favorite tunes. Rock! So bring a friend, order one Old and one New, and do what we did—cut ‘em in half, divvy ‘em up, and taste the best of both worlds.

And check out this 28-second video of Tom, Ryan, and Jason divvying up the burgers and trying ‘em out. Sorry about the quality, or lack thereof—I’m just getting the hang of this new-fangled twenty-first-century technology business. Dig the tune though—it’s a dang fine one by local band Red Stuff. I’ll be featuring local artists’ music in all the blog videos to come, and the music certainly makes this video, though I have to say the dudes in it ain’t too shabby themselves, not to mention, of course, them tasty burgers.
–Erin Harris

Yokel Local Outlaw Big Sam Spurhog Saddlin' Up to the Grohmann for the Food Slam

Yee haw, Milwaukee! Food Slam tickets are SOLD OUT! and WMSE is thrilled that the ninth annual Slam is going to be the biggest, funnest, and successfulest Slam to date. I caught up with Yokel Local outlaw Big Sam Spurhog and asked him to nail down the answers to a few FAQs about the food event that’s gonna rock your taste buds this very night. As always, Big Sam was initially terse, surly, and reluctant as hell, but he started talkin’ freely once I lubed him up with some fat cigars and a couple bottles of whiskey.

EH: You excited for the Food Slam tonight, Big Sam?

BSS: [Lighting a cigar and throwing back a shot] I reckon it’ll be ’bout as good a time as when I met up with them Carson twins out on the ole Carson ranch. Old man Carson was gone a-speculatin’ ‘n I struck a little gold myself.

EH: That’s great, Big Sam. Hey, the Slam’s at the Grohmann Museum, right? What do you know about parking around there?

BSS: ‘Round those parts you pony up real quiet so no one hears you comin’. You keep your horse from brayin’ ‘n you take ‘em by surprise ‘n show ‘em who’s boss.

EH: That’s not the way I heard it. I heard there’s gonna be free parking in the MSOE lots located between Broadway and Milwaukee just north and east of the Grohmann.

BSS: [Pickin' his teeth] Could be.

EH: What do you know about free drinks at the Slam?

BSS: That ‘un’s easy. Just smash your last bottle an’ start punchin’.

EH: That doesn’t sound right. What if you bring two or more nonperishable food items and donate ‘em to the Hunger Task Force? I heard the fine folks at WMSE’ll give you a free beverage ticket.

BSS: That’ll work too, I reckon.

EH: You gonna do any bidding, Big Sam?

BSS: I got my eye on a couple ‘a things. I got my eye on that Annie down at The Establishment. I’m gonna win myself a good groomin’ with her.

EH: I think Annie’s service is a Brazilian wax, Big Sam. I’m not sure that’s what you had in mind. I bet Martita’s prize pack is more your speed. It’s two bottles of Martita’s Guiltless Margarita Mix, a bottle of tequila, and four margarita glasses.

BSS: Hoo-doggie! Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about!

EH: So you ready to do this thing, Big Sam? This Food Slam thing?

BSS: I’m riled up like a groom on his weddin’ night! I’m a-rearin’ to go!

EH: All right, Big Sam. Kick them spurs. I’ll see you at the Slam!

–Erin Harris

–Erin Harris

Blue's Corned Beef Hash, Poached Eggs, & All the Fixins

Forget Who-hash, Dr. Seuss, we’re talkin’ ’bout corned beef hash down at Blue’s Egg. I stopped at the Tosa breakfast joint yesterday and tucked in to this savory stuff, as well as a trio of grapes, homemade preserves, and whipped butter, and a not-too-shabby bloody Mary garnished with a crisp slice of tasty bacon. Get down to the Slam that’s happening on Friday night and whet your whistle on Blue’s delicious cookies and their mouth-watering corned beef grilled with potatoes and onions and topped off with cage-free, locally sourced eggs that will likely be scrambled rather than poached (as they are in that delicious photo up there). Pretty freakin’ tasty, daddy-o! Click here to get tickets while you still can cuz as of 3 pm on Tuesday, there were less than 70 left and they were flyin’ out the door by the dozen!

–Erin Harris

Chili Lili's Vegetarian Chili

Chili Lili's Chili Bar Owner Jay Schiek Proudly Talkin' Chili!

I  stopped by Chili Lili’s Chili Bar tonight and sampled the two styles of chili the tasty new Third Ward spice slingers are dishing out at the Food Slam this Friday. The Cincinnati chili with beef and a secret blend of spices including (but by no means limited to) cinnamon, nutmeg, and chocolate is layered with sweet and savory flavors that you’re really gonna wanna tuck into. The vegetarian chili with soy beans, eggplant, portobello mushrooms, and sweet and smoky mulato peppers is a knock-out, flavorful stew that’s packed with plenty of punch. I had Cincinnati over spaghetti and veg atop some tasty mac ‘n cheese, but down at the Slam this weekend, both’ll be served as miniature sloppy lilies–succulent sloppy-joe-sorta sandwiches on toasted lobster rolls–you know, those outstanding open-top rolls they serve lobstah in on the hahbah in that stunning state of Maine. Chili Lili’s is really rollin’ out the barrel of deliciousness, especially when you consider their slew of house-made salsas with chipotles, habaneros, and jalapenos. Spicy, limey, sweet, salty, and deep in flavor, made right on site and stacked with everything you want in a pack of fine salsas, this trio of tempting tastiness bears (as of tonight) Big Sam Spurhog’s seal of approval. Sloppy lilies and their salsa partners are gonna get big real quick, so get to the Slam on Friday so you can say you knew ‘em before they were famous. Dee-lish!

–Erin Harris

Chili Lili's Cincinnati Chili

Local Yokel Outlaw Big Sam Spurhog

I sat down with Local Yokel outlaw Big Sam Spurhog and asked him a few questions about the upcoming WMSE Food Slam. A man of few words, he was a reluctant subject at first. Once I rolled him a cigarette and poured two shots of whiskey, he started talkin’ like a house on fire. The following is a transcript of the conversation we had in an undisclosed barroom through the wee hours of this too-bright morning.

EH: What is the WMSE Food Slam, Big Sam?

BSS: That’s where me and the boys cook up some possum beans ‘n the man who holds down the most wins the prize mule.

EH: I think the Food Slam is actually an event held by WMSE where twenty-seven Milwaukee restaurants throw down some of the best food in town. WMSE DJs spin tunes, local establishments provide auction items, and Slammers eat and drink and bid and it’s a real good time. You know what I’m talkin’ about? [Big Sam strums on his guitar and doesn't respond. His eyes are covered by his twenty-gallon hat, but I catch glimpses of their haze every time he throws back a shot of whiskey.]  Where’s this year’s Slam taking place, Big Sam?

BSS: Down at Ma Shepherd’s saloon this year, I think.

EH: I heard it was taking place at the Grohmann Museum on the campus of MSOE. They’ve got art and stuff and that’s the new home of the Food Slam, I think.

BSS: [Blowing smoke in my face.] Could be.

EH: Which restaurants are being featured at the Slam?

BSS: That one I know. Mamasita’s bringin’ tamales, Hector’s is doin’ their puerco en adobo, the Ale House’s got that tasty stout pot roast they do, ‘n I even heard somethin’ ’bout Martita’s margaritas. All that grub ‘n drink makes me thinka that time I was down in old Mexico . . .

EH: I think I heard something about Ball’N Biscuit’s empanadas too.

BSS: Whoo-wee! Them’s the best empanadas I’ve had this side-a anywheres.

EH: What time does the Food Slam start? When does it end?

BSS: That shindig starts when the sun goes down and don’t stop till it comes back up the followin’ week.

EH: This moonshine might be going to my head, Big Sam, but I think the Slam actually goes from 6 till 10 pm. I think the bidding stops at 9 so there’s time to tally everything up and announce the winners, but I think the food and beverages keep flowin’ till about 10. Roll me another one of those smokes, Big Sam, and tell me what night the Slam’s goin’ down.

BSS: When the moon’s full and them mules get us to that town where they got them pretty ladies . . .

EH: You mean October 1?

BSS: Sure, that’s what I mean.

EH: This Friday?

BSS: Uh-huh.

EH: Would you say that the Food Slam is a family-friendly event?

BSS: If yer in a family way, I don’t think that’s gonna stop ya from havin’ a good time.

EH: Well said. Where do you get tickets?

BSS: I think they got ‘em on that there inner-net thing they got now.

EH: I think you’re right. Say, this seems like a pretty sweet gig for you, Big Sam. How did you become this year’s WMSE Food Slam mascot?

BSS: Some cartoon hombre found me in a heap in old Westerton’s barn. I stank like a hog ‘n I was covered in dirt ‘n whiskey. He picked me up, set me on that pig, tied a lasso to the pig’s neck ‘n dragged me over to Belle Whitley’s place. She cleaned me up ‘n got me on the wagon. Now you done got me back offa the wagon and I curse you, you lowdown dirty writerly temptress.

EH: Sorry, Big Sam. But you have to admit, we’re havin’ a pretty good time. Think we’ll have this much fun at the Slam?

BSS: Whoo-doggie! Folks’ll haveta tow me away with the strength ‘a sixteen horses. It’s gonna be a slammin’ good time!

EH: Thanks for your time, Big Sam.

BSS: Anytime. Now throw that empty whiskey bottle out them swingin’ doors. I’ll get us a fresh ‘un.

–Erin Harris

I stopped by Times Square Bistro & Pizzeria, that oasis of deliciousness that glows like a beacon in the cultural desert that is that strip mall on the corner of First and Bruce. There I sampled heaven in a baking dish in the form of penne al forno. The pasta baked with provolone and tomato sauce would be outstanding on its own, but the savory homemade meatballs really bring it home. Like most of the delights at Times Square, they’re lovingly crafted by owner, chef, chocolatier, and all around Renaissance man Sean Henninger. I also sampled four of Sean’s artisan chocolates, which made me swoon with delight. Two were caramels–one covered with dark chocolate and sprinkled with fleur de sel–and one covered with white chocolate and lightly finished with black sea salt. The caramel and the chocolate coatings are made from scratch and bear the perfect degree of sweetness, which is drawn out with subtlety and an edge of mystery by the deep, mineraly flavors of the sea salts. The blue chocolate in the bottom left corner of the photo–the one that’s making you feel faint with longing–is a whiskey-and-macadamia chocolate that’s like pudding inside. The fourth chocolate is so succulent that it’s a portal to a different universe. Come to the Slam on October 1 and taste what scrumptious majesty that universe is made of!

–Erin Harris

We all know that WMSE presents a sonic fusion of diverse tunes, so naturally the deliciousness at WMSE’s annual Food Slam fundraiser embodies that same passion for diversity. Meat, meat, meat, you might think if you’ve perused the posts below, but fear not, Milwaukee vegetarians, cuz Soup’s On’s got you covered. I visited the Water Street institution today and tasted the stupendous soups they’re rockin’ at the Food Slam a week from tonight. The vegan herbed pea is packed with potatoes, carrots, and celery and beautifully garnished with fresh rosemary, green onions, barley, and lemon. The vegetarian pumpkin chili is rife with black beans, chickpeas, pumpkin, and nopales cactus. Garnishes include queso fresco, cilantro, shredded cabbage, and lime. The soups themselves are extraordinary on their own, but then the fine folks at Soup’s On go that extra mile by piling on all that signature raw deliciousness, which caps your whole eatin’ experience off with brightness and zest. In addition to these savory and fragrant comfort soups, Soup’s On is serving up an outstanding Waldorf salad at the Slam. You know you wanna fill your belly with all this freshness, so get your tickets here while you still can!

–Erin Harris

–Erin Harris

McBob's Mini Ruebens

I stopped into McBob’s tonight and sampled the mini Reubens they’re throwin’ down at the WMSE Food Slam next Friday, October 1. It’s no surprise that Milwaukee Magazine repeatedly commends McBob’s with its Critics Choice award. The lean, moist, delicious corned beef on buttery toasted marbled rye is slathered to perfection with sauerkraut and horseradish mustard. The rye is crisp and crunchy. The corned beef is juicy and well seasoned. The sauerkraut is bright and pungent. The horseradish mustard kicks like a mule. Together these ingredients tell your taste buds why McBob’s has a national reputation for outstanding grub. Hands down the good folks at McBob’s bring their A game to the creation of this magnificent sandwich. So get your Food Slam tickets here and wash a couple of these bad boys down with some fine Milwaukee Brewing Co. suds!

–Erin Harris

Click here for tickets!

Fresh Oysters on the Half Shell

Hey, Casanova, strut into the Food Slam at MSOE’s Grohmann Museum on Friday, October 1 and set your senses ablaze with Molly Cool’s fresh oysters on the half shell. The Old World Third Street tavern’ll be settin’ Slammers up with two varieties of luscious oysters from Maryland and Dabob Bay. Drenched with fresh lemon, the magnificent mollusks ooze a briny sensuality that’ll light your fire as surely as a couple glasses of Trapiche’s wines’ll give you fever all through the night. Not only are the cats at Molly Cool’s gonna shuck oysters on site, they’re also dishin’ out their signature hot crab and spinach dip, which ain’t no slouch itself. Rich, creamy, salty, and succulent, it’s a pretty perfect pairing to the classic aphrodisiac known as the oyster.

Word on the street is that Food Slam tickets are just about half sold out, so if you’re not yet a proud ticket holder, you’re gonna wanna shoot over here and grab a pass to the food event that’s gonna rock your taste buds and maybe your whole night. Yeah, you can indulge in Molly Cool’s delights any night of the week–and hells yeah you should!–but if you bring two nonperishable food items to the Slam to support the Hunger Task Force, you can start the night off right with a free drink!

–Erin Harris

Heavenly Hot Crab and Spinach Dip

–Erin Harris

In the meantime, fasten your seat belt and hold onto your hat as local writer Erin Harris whisks you off on a lightning-quick, Indy-500-style whirlwind preview of the awesome vittles and delectable libations to be had at this year’s Slam. Keep your eyes peeled to this here blog to check out reviews and photos of all the chocolates, cakes, puerco en adobo, soup, tamales, and brisket that’ve got your name on ‘em.

And until that delicious evening two weeks from now, sate your hunger with the burger that that cat down there under this text is advertising for. If that badass dude sittin’ on top of the pig down there looks to you like his wallet is the one that says bad motherfu**er on it, that’s because it is. Dude is stacked with a ridiculous amount of deliciousness from BBQ pork to beef to bacon to sausage to a fried egg. And if he looks like he’s gonna take a sledgehammer to your heart, don’t worry. He’s a real health nut. He’s got some lettuce there in between those two chunks of tasty meat.

–Erin Harris

Personally, I have one regret. I was too busy eating, talking, and drinking the good libations of the Milwaukee Ale House to increase my bid on the handmade Plush Team monster I so desired. It was a scary, round, brown creature with a small nose, two sharp-looking teeth, and a little sash. Folks said it was a Wookiee. I’m not a huge Star Wars fan, but I am a fan of handmade monsters. So whoever won the Wookiee is a lucky soul. But whoever won him should be warned: they will have a more sober, less easy-to-beat bidding competitor next year.

Next year! See you all then!

–Erin Harris