This episode kicks off with big news about the legendary Red Light Ramen, which returns for a special one-night-only pop-up on Nov. 28. Find out what's on the menu, including Tonkatsu ramen, Japanese curry and those famous boozy slushies. Next, we celebrate TrueMan McGee of Funky Fresh Spring Rolls! After pausing a national roll-out, McGee pivoted to the Funky Fresh Virtual Kitchen, now offering weekly online ordering for pickup, meal kits like Tuscan salmon, and exciting pizzas (hello, jalapeño elote!). We also cover the latest dining news, including the new Soban Korean Eatery, billed as Milwaukee’s first fast-casual Korean restaurant, with plans for a downtown location. Plus, the Curry Cat MKE food truck is setting up a permanent spot outside Red Maple, serving Asian-inspired comfort food like golden curry and beef bogey walking tacos. Ann also shares her long-awaited review of 1033 Omakase, the intimate 10-seat spot with a Japanese prix fixe tasting menu. Without spoiling the whole thing, there were 14 courses and a heavy serving of '90s rap. Finally, we discuss the importance of "third spaces" such as Haven Cafe and Serenity Lounge that transition from coffee houses to late-night bars, helping the community connect. ##### This Bites is sponsored by Whiskey Brown Whiskey-Spiked Cookies.

We pride ourselves on our ability to cover a lot of ground within the confines of this podcast, and this episode might have pushed those skills to new heights as we went from Thanksgiving to food assistance to more secrets from Milwaukee’s dining scene and beyond. The Journal Sentinel’s excellent dining critic Rachel Bernhard thoughtfully gathered information about restaurants offering free assistance to SNAP recipients (the program is called FoodShare in Wisconsin) and then added a few more programs/events in her weekly newsletter. We highlight a few things, but please use those links to see all the ways you can give help or get help. In a much less critical part of this episode, we talk about five places where you can get a humanely raised turkey for your holiday meal. Top billing goes to Riemer Family Farm down in Brodhead, which is already sold out of their small whole turkeys but still has medium and large options available. Other nods go to local spots like Bavette La Boucherie and Becher Meats in West Allis, and the full list is available at Milwaukee Magazine. Also at the magazine, Ann put together a hush-hush collection of hidden restaurants around the area. The coolest one for my money is Azteca Bakery, which peddles items like Mexican pan dulce and richly delicious chocoflan from inside … the Piggly Wiggly on Oklahoma Avenue. She’s got three other options along those lines, all of which you can learn more about in her Milwaukee Magazine article. If two lists aren’t enough, you’re in luck. Going back to the upcoming holiday, Ann jumped to the end of the meal (or the beginning if you’re a nonconformist) to give you 10 places that’ll hook you up with the perfect pie for your Thanksgiving feast. Finally, with the weather turning, that means it’s time for Barnacle Bud’s to turn into Gene’s Supper Club. The flip happened earlier this week, but it looks like the temperature will dip in a big way starting this weekend, giving you all the more reason to visit the extended pop-up between now and Feb. 14. Stay warm, inside and out, as we move into the chilly season, and please find a way to help your community during this tough time. Even if our politicians get their act together, fighting hunger requires more than what our government gives. So give what you can. Thanks. ##### This Bites is sponsored by Whiskey Brown's Whiskey-Spiked Cookies.

This week, we reveal some of the secrets of our culinary adventures around Milwaukee. And by that we mean we're sharing a few of the city's fantastic secret menu items, including the hush-hush "Carolina" Negroni and off-menu Cacio E Pepe at Calenzo. We also reveal the location of delicious pork tacos at Cloud Red and the rotating "secret handshake menu" at Braise Restaurant. Find those and a few more over at the very not-secretive Milwaukee Magazine website. Something that's definitely not on the down low is the new Wicked-themed pop-up at Onesto (221 N. Broadway) from Nov. 24 through Dec. 1 (with a day off for Thanksgiving). This 21+ event features photo opportunities, appetizers, a chocolate fountain and cocktails like the popular Dubai chocolate espresso martini that "sparkle, smoke and shine." Plus, get ready for Mosaic International Bistro, which will replace Allure MKE and serve globally inspired tapas like Nigerian jollof rice. We also look forward to the launch of The Conroy’s modern supper club dining series, complete with Wagyu carpaccio, dry-aged meatballs, and a fancy "Bubbles and Bumps" happy hour (caviar and champagne); and then we say goodbye to Ouzo Cafe, which closed after 21 years but will continue its catering services. ##### This Bites is sponsored by Whiskey Brown.

Everyone loves a good list, and that’s especially true for food people. We love identifying and then arguing over the best … whatever — burgers, beverages or, in the case of this episode, donuts. Our sweet discussion gets a seasonal spin as we focus on apple cider donuts and nine local (and local-ish) places churning out the orchard-friendly bakery item. Up front, it’s important to note that we haven’t actually been to all of these places. But we're told that the team from Milwaukee Magazine who compiled the list adhered to the strict standards laid down by the nonexistent Donut Review Council of North America.  In news we found considerably more sour, the excellent chef-driven restaurant Brandywine announced that it’ll close Nov. 7, and it’s no surprise that every reservation between now and then got snapped up. This was a real gem in Milwaukee’s suburbs — and a real surprise considering chef-owner Andrew Wilson noted that “business has been fantastic.” But, as you’ll hear in the full episode, this appears to be a decision motivated by work-life balance and how difficult (impossible?) that is in the demanding restaurant world. We wrap things up with two more stops around Milwaukee. First, it’s Bartlett Avenue on the East Side, which said goodbye to upscale dining spot The Original in June. Co-owner Craig Rzepka decided to make a return appearance with a more casual concept called OG Pub & Grille set to open soon. Then it’s over to the Deer District, where the Bucks rolled out their new food and drink options for this season.

We're slicing off another savory section of Milwaukee's culinary scene on this episode, starting with Ann's recent Milwaukee Magazine story about Burmese cuisine that sees her dip into traditional dishes from places like Ni Burmese, Khan Aseya and Taste Amir's Roti. From there, we take a quick trip to another part of the magazine for Ann's take on Purslane, the new chef-owned restaurant specializing in Middle Eastern mezza (small plates) like the intriguing walleye falafel and a vibrant fatouch salad. Leaving the mag behind, it's time (well, almost time) for two major November happenings. Winning the chronological order is Milwaukee's first-ever Vegan Restaurant Week, which is slotted for Nov. 3-9 and will feature specials like vegan donuts at Gather Bake House and a vegan twist on the compact turkey dinner at Comet Cafe. Right in the middle of that veggie celebration is the long-awaited reopening of EsterEv on Nov. 5, which will see them making the big switch from a tasting menu to an a la carte format that'll include favorites like the caviar tater tot. Putting the cap on this episode is a chat about the new Flava House concept moving into the former Heaven’s Table location, as well as a new cocktail from Boone & Crockett’s for those of you who just can't let go of summer. ##### This Bites is sponsored by Whiskey Brown Whiskey-Spiked Cookies.

This week's food news is coming at us from all sides, so let's dig in. First, you'll get the scoop on Nakama, a brand-new omakase restaurant coming to the East Side from the minds behind Screaming Tuna. We're talking an intimate, 11-seat sushi bar experience with fish sourced directly from Tokyo's world-famous Toyosu Market. We also celebrate a thrilling new addition to Odd Duck, as Bryce Stevenson joins the team as chef de cuisine, bringing his acclaimed modern indigenous cooking to the menu. Plus, Ann shares some of her favorite Wisconsin-made kitchen products, including beautiful utensils from a former chef, tasty Soul Brew beverages and Elgato Chocolates that help save endangered wild cats. Check out the full episode for all of those items, plus news on cocktail classes at Agency, changes at St. Kate's and the future of the legendary butter burger at Solly's Grille.

Since we're coming up on the last day of summer, it seems as good a time as any for ... a Wisconsin-made frozen pizza taste-off! The staff at Milwaukee Magazine took on that delicious task recently, so we start our episode with Ann sharing the surprising (and kinda disappointing???) results. She also keeps us in magazine land for her recent review of Las Gardenias, a new(ish) spot with homemade tortillas, birria and unique desserts. Elsewhere, we give you the scoop on a couple local food events, including the Dining Out For Life fundraiser happening through this weekend that supports Vivent Health's mission to serve those most affected by HIV. Just beyond this weekend, Potawatomi Casino Hotel has its Gather & Grow dinners, which span two nights (Sept. 22-23) and include five courses of farm-to-table goodies. Finally, we literally save the best for last with Milwaukee Magazine's "Best of Milwaukee" awards, which this year saw the publication's readers make some very savvy decisions about their food and restaurant choices. And by that we mean they mostly agreed with Ann.

Tarik and Ann start this week's tour of Milwaukee food news with a trip to the Caribbean ... sort of.  The tropically minded cuisine will get a soul-food twist at new restaurant Jerkin' Me Crazy, which is set to open on Center Street this October. The concept from restaurateur Darryl Simmons will offer baked mac and cheese, chicken done three ways (jerk, curry, stew) and Caribbean-inspired cocktails — with some live jazz thrown in for good measure. Moving from Center Street to 3rd Street, the popular food hall just got a new tenant in Bebe Zito, the Minneapolis-based burger/ice cream joint from Ben Spangler and former MIAD student Gabriella Grant. When you stop by the new stall at the 3rd Street Market Hall, expect burgers (obviously), chicken sandwiches and ice cream flavors that can get a little unconventional. We also got another grand opening from a place we’ve talked about on the pod before: Summer of ’85, the flashback-themed bar/restaurant on MLK Drive that features a patio, arcade, DJ booth and menu with plenty of nods to the 1980s. The Pee Wee’s Big Adventure homage, “The Large Marge” (an oversized hibiscus/prickly pear margarita), is a personal favorite. Finally, we chat about the rebrand in the Deer District (Good City is now Explorium Distilled), as well as Ann’s captivating interview with Birch chef de cuisine Zach Castillo in the print version of Milwaukee Magazine. The two got into Castillo’s past as a ballerino (a male ballet dancer) and how the discipline required by the pursuit carried over to his next phase in the food world.

Our weekly delicious dive into Milwaukee's culinary scene gets a splash of mash-up on this episode, as Ann shares her review of IVR Bar — that's "International Variety Restaurant," by the way, and the new eatery comes by that title honestly. The ambitious project is a sports bar capable of seating 300 people, which all sounds pretty standard ... until you get to the Indian-Mexican fusion part. On top of that, Ann got the chance to chat with Milwaukee Wine Academy founders Tim Cole and Dr. Jeffrey Coleman, who have the oh-so-friendly goal of making wine approaching for everyone (particularly women and people of color) through cool events. And it wouldn't be a This Bites episode without a weekly roundup, which this time around hits the proposed Axolotl Cafe that's aiming to bring American-Mexican brunch fare to Bay View this fall. Ann and Tarik stay in that neighborhood for Outlaw Oyster's second location inside Crafty Cow, and head downward just a bit more to talk about South Side Dining Week's return in September. ***** This Bites is sponsored by Whiskey Brown.

It's another flavor-packed episode as we dive into Milwaukee's vibrant food scene, starting with news about Elsa's on the Park as they bring back fan-favorite menu items while keeping their new pizza offerings. Ann then shares her enviable quest to uncover Milwaukee's Best Burgers (the latest Milwaukee Magazine cover story), featuring must-try spots like The Diplomat and Wild Roots. Next, you'll get the scoop on the star-studded guest chef series at Birch and discover the city's newest cheese bar from the folks at Hill Valley Dairy, stocked with curated cheese boards and wine. We also chat about exciting upcoming restaurants, including French brasserie Cassis and NYC-Italian spot Il Pante, and dip into the retro vibes of Summer of '85, a new bar on its way to Bronzeville. Finally, Ann recounts her incredible (and hard-to-get!) experience at 1033 Omakase. ***** This Bites is sponsored by Whiskey Brown.

This Bites is sponsored by Whiskey Brown and our Radio Milwaukee members. *** Oysters are divisive. Some people love them. Others run screaming from the table when presented with them. The folks in that last category might want to avoid Barnacle Buds on Aug. 5, as the riverfront eatery throws its inaugural Oyster Fest. The event, which gets the featured spot at the top of this episode, will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. — more than enough time to get your fill of the mollusk menu: An oyster sampler plate that runs a dozen deep (three each of three raw varieties, plus three grilled) An oyster po’boy slider One drink That’s what you’ll get in exchange for $55, and there are also opportunities to add a supplemental half-dozen oysters to your platter. On top of that, Barnacle Bud and his crew will serve up various oyster shots and specialty drinks to compliment the offerings. For more details on this perfect way to celebrate National Oyster Day, head over to the event page. Or maybe wait to do that until you check out what else we discuss on this episode: DanDan will host a very special dim sum brunch this Sunday with James Beard semifinalist chef Erasmo Casiano. West Allis is losing a mainstay as Chilango Express shuts down after service on Sunday. One of our hosts braved the very crowded Pan-Asia Supermarket to deliver a report on its first day in business. A few miles west of here, Madison Black Restaurant Week will celebrate its 10th anniversary Aug. 10-17.

Big voices can make a big impact on a restaurant. Sometimes, it comes in the form of a positive review from a well-respected critic. Other times, all it takes is a recognizable face popping into your eatery. That’s what happened recently to Carnevor and Room Service, both of which got a visit from celebrity chef and influencer Keith Lee while he was in town for his manager’s wedding. So far, Lee hasn’t shared anything on his highly followed channels about the restaurants or Milwaukee’s food scene. But that doesn’t seem to matter. The two eateries are still getting lots of attention, which can send foot traffic skyrocketing. We chat about this viral-ish situation at the top of our episode, breaking down exactly how important it can be to a notoriously fickle industry. Should a restaurant switch up its approach when an influencer like Lee pops in? How do you make a moment like this last? And should there be more of an effort to match local influencers with Milwaukee restaurants that deserve a little more attention? In addition to tangling with those questions, we make a return visit to Sinabro, which recently welcomed a certain local influencer (Ann) for an experience that showed just how much the Korean spot has grown over the past year. Then we bounce over to the Clarke Square neighborhood, where Guelaguetza Restaurante y Barra will move into the former La Cueva space at 2537 W. National Ave.

Two stars of Milwaukee's food-and-drink scene sit at the top of this episode, starting with John Dye's exciting new plans for legendary German bar Von Trier. The East Side stalwart recently held its soft opening as the new owner focuses on preserving a piece of Milwaukee history while continuing to serve food out of the historic spot. Our second stop takes us to Bavette La Boucherie, where the James Beard-recognized eatery will cut its dinner service so chef-owner Karen Bell can move a little closer to a healthy work-life balance. The restaurant will still offer lunch and an early happy hour, a move that reflects an industry movement toward saner schedules and sustainable working conditions. We continue rounding things up with news about a pair of supermarket openings: Supermercado La Hacienda on Forest Home Avenue and Pan‑Asia Supermarket (Wisconsin's largest Asian grocery store) on 70th and Greenfield. There's also the return of super-popular dining event Gather, an all-day brunch cafe called Waking Daisy that soft-launched today, and the quiet closure of East Side favorite The Original.

We're used to tying ourselves in knots as we criss-cross the city for the latest Milwaukee food news, but we hit a new level in this one as we dive into the amazing world of ... pretzels! Milwaukee Pretzel Company pretzels, to be precise, which are well worth the extra effort except for the fact that you don't need to put in quite as much effort to find them these days. You can get them everywhere from local beer gardens to German Fest and grocery stores to their own online store — and rightfully so because they're great. This episode also finds us reeling in news on Fishbone Seafood and Restaurant, which will open its very first sitdown location right here in Milwaukee after literally years of hard work from Bria Grant of UniteWI and her mentor, Master P. Yes, THAT Master P. On top of that, we've got some chat about the Chip's pop-up at Merriment Social that will feature ... well, chips; a new pizza joint called Love at First Slice coming to Sherman Phoenix; a switch from Carbon Steak to The Conroy; and the resurrection of Heirloom MKE's food truck.

After our recent triple-digit temperatures, it seemed like a good time to help you cool things down by serving up a few of our favorite heat-beating drinks and dishes from around the Milwaukee area. That’s where we start this episode, which finds Ann sharing her personal approach to finding the best summer beverages. It’s actually pretty genius: Ask the experts. We’re talking bartenders, baristas and mixologists, all of whom have their own favorites that just might become your new favorite: Tripper Duval from Lost Whale goes classic with a frozen margarita (both boozy and non-alcoholic). The Mothership owner Ricky Ramirez similarly leans on an old standby, the mojito, noting that just about anyone can learn how to make a good one. Another one on the NA front comes from Fruition MKE’s Tiffany Miller, who suggests their MKE Refresher mocktail that blends teas, ginger, lemonade, lavender and mint. Food-wise, there are a few different approaches to lowering your internal temperature, including: Gazpacho, the traditional chilled tomato and cucumber soup from Amaranth Bakery & Café.  A slightly out-there strategy would be to spice things up at DanDan, where you can pick up a smashed cucumber salad that sprinkles in a little kick to go along with one of the most water-heavy veggies around. Chef Alex Hanesakda has a few summer-friendly selections at SapSap in Zocalo Food Park, including his take on chicken wings, smoked brisket fried rice and classic Mamma’s egg rolls. That’s a mere portion of the selections Ann lays out in her Milwaukee Magazine article, so make sure you check out the whole list. Speaking of lists, here’s everything else we cover in this episode: A new community-first pub, Soul of a Starr, is on the way in the Harambee neighborhood. The former PIzza Hut on West Burleigh is getting a big upgrade to become Julie Mae’s Southern Cooking. Vanessa Rose has taken a big step with her Mother’s pop-up, which now has its own brick-and-mortar space at 2900 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.

In this episode, Tarik and Ann are buzzing over a new Italian spot from the James Beard Award-winning owners of Lupi & Iris, as well as an upscale Mediterranean eatery coming to the ground floor of the new Ascent MKE building near Cathedral Square. Our duo also dishes on beloved Jamaican restaurant Uppa Yard as it expands with a second downtown location on Water Street, promising classic dishes like jerk chicken and oxtail, plus new additions like live music. It isn't all good news, though, as burger lovers took a hit with the recent announcement that Dairyland will leave (or, rather, was asked to leave) the Third Street Market Hall. We return to sunnier topics as Ann takes us on a nostalgic road trip through Wisconsin's historic drive-ins, sharing favorite spots like Ardy & Ed’s in Oshkosh and Big Star in Kenoha, as well as the unique experience of car hops and frosted root beer mugs. Finally, we wrap things up with details about Purslane, chef-owner Mary Kastman's newly opened restaurant that took over the former Ardent space.

On this episode, Tarik and Ann lead things off by previewing the No Rules Dinner Party, a remarkable 19-course event celebrating women-owned businesses. You'll also hear them celebrate the highly anticipated first brick-and-mortar location of Ruby's Bagels; explore the history of the often-overlooked Muffaletta sandwich (as well as the place to get one in Milwaukee); talk about the Oaxacan cuisine you can get at new restaurant Flor de Piña; and deliver the scoop on Halal Restaurant Week happening June 7-15.

As the weather warms up (any day now), the culinary scene often turns up the temperature as well — and that’s definitely the case on this very stuffed episode. Taking things chronologically, we’re less than a week away from the start of Downtown Dining Week, which has been treating diners to deals at some of Milwaukee’s top restaurants for nearly two decades. This year’s event runs from May 29 to June 5 and offers discounts for lunch ($15 or $25 per person) and dinner ($35, $45 and $55). With 29 eateries participating, we’re once again spoiled for choice. That’s why we decided to share a couple standouts to get you started: For your $15 lunch, consider Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen and the Café at The Pfister. At the $35 dinner level, Flourchild Pizza and Doc’s Commerce Smokehouse both jumped out at us. Jumping to the $55 dinner class, Bacchus and Aria at Saint Kate have enticing menus. Because we’re a full-service podcast, we don’t stop at mere recommendations. We also include some pro tips in this episode, one of which is to reserve early because the prime slots on Friday and Saturday fill up fast. You’ll have to listen for the rest. Speaking of the rest, here are the oh-so-many things we talk about on this one: Summerfest and Northcott Neighborhood House have added a ticketed tasting event called “A Taste of Juneteenth” to the festival’s first Saturday (June 21). Pabst Blue Ribbon has collaborated with NY-based cheesemaker Yancey’s Fancy on a beer-infused cheddar cheese. The EsterEv team is making the best of a flood situation by taking the restaurant’s food on the road for a series of pop-up dinners. Ann put together a profile of ElevAsian co-founder Erik Kennedy for her other gig with Milwaukee Magazine. The Ivy House will host the annual Botanical Battle Royale featuring Wisconsin’s top bartenders June 1. Nationally acclaimed food-truck brand Cousins Maine Lobster will bring their renowned mobile presence to Milwaukee this June.

Everyone’s got mom on the brain this week (rightfully so), which hopefully means you’ve already made plans to say thanks to that special person by treating her to some outstanding food. In case you haven’t, we start this episode with three suggestion for where to take mom — if they’re still taking reservations: Blackwolf Run in Kohler is offering a Mother's Day brunch from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. that includes salads, fruits, crudites, sausages, avocado toast, grilled citrus salmon, red wine braised chicken and pepper steak sauté, carving stations, omelet stations and desserts. Crafty Cow has you covered at all of their locations with some very cool-sounding fare. The cinnamon roll funnel cake jumps out, but there’s also the "Mother of All Hangovers" (a burger with cheddar, jalapeno, fried eggs and chipotle aioli) and the "Mother's Morning Bowl" (waffled hash browns with smoked cheddar, Nashville fried chicken and chicken gravy). EsterEv opted for a different direction with high-tea service from 12:30 to 3 p.m. You’ll find 10 menu items paired with offerings from Rishi Tea and served in ceramics crafted by Kate Riley. Breakfast cocktails will also be available. You’ll hear a few decidedly global news items as well, led by the exciting news that SapSap has officially joined the regular food-truck lineup at Zócalo Food Park. SapSap will also take part in an upcoming event titled “Hidden Flavors of Asia” that’s going down June 1 at Pilot Project Brewery, while a taste of the Mediterranean will soon find a home at the top of the world’s tallest mass-timber building. If you’re looking for something food to do a little sooner, The Cooperage will host Sashay & Souffle this Friday to benefit Midwest Sad. In addition to the culinary portion of the title, the drag-show fundraiser will include “show-stopping performances” and “fierce fundraising.” This weekend will also bring a new menu to Outlaw Oyster that features dishes like Octopus Aguachile Negro, Caviar & Hash Browns and something called an Octodog.

Our latest helping of Milwaukee food news starts with savory pasties from Mr. Dye's Pies, gets festive with the inaugural Miche Fest (as in Michelada) at Zocalo and explores the enticing menu of Sinta, a Filipino pop-up at Bavette. We also preview Semolina's hands-on Sunday Supper series, share the new tenant taking over Crossroads Collective and check out Southern-style eats at Bronzeville's soon-to-open sports bar, One-Seven Cafe & Lounge.