Each week on This Bites, sponsored by Whiskey Brown, dining critic Ann Christenson from Milwaukee Magazine and Radio Milwaukee’s resident foodie Tarik Moody dig into the city’s culinary and restaurant culture to help you find new spots, old favorites and the best ingestibles around Milwaukee.
Everyone loves a good list, and I feel like 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 Ann and I 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 Ann assures me 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.
Here are a few nearby places that made the cut, and you can find the full list over at Milwaukee Magazine:
- Apple Holler in Sturtevant
- Awe’s Apple Orchard in Franklin
- Barthel Fruit Farm in Mequon
- Honey Creek Orchard in Cedarburg
- Patterson Orchards in New Berlin
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 us discuss 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.
Listen to the full episode using the player at the top of this page or by finding This Bites wherever you enjoy your podcasts. If it’s the second one, leave us a rating or review while you’re there. Thanks.
