Each Friday morning on Radio Milwaukee, Milwaukee Magazine’s dining critic, Ann Christenson, and 88Nine's foodie Tarik Moody discuss Milwaukee’s culinary and restaurant culture on This Bites.
On this week’s show, we talked about a new spot in West Allis called The Peanut Butter & Jelly Deli, Milwaukee's Taste & Toast event and one of Anne's new favorite dining escapes in East Troy, WI.
The Peanut Butter & Jelly Deli
If you think there's only one way to make a PB&J, think again. The Peanut Butter & Jelly Deli in West Allis opened its doors on Monday to satisfy any nut butter or jam-related craving you can think of. This place is the first of its kind in Wisconsin. With five different types of bread and over 100 different jams, jellies and butters, you can order one of their specialty sandwiches or build your own.
That's what Ann did when she visited. She ordered a French bread with their house peanut butter and strawberry jam, all toasted on a panini press—a slightly more gooey and gourmet take on a classic.
One of the notable and more adventurous combos on the menu is the Grilled Cheese & Jelly—American or sharp cheddar cheese and a jam or jelly on thick Texas toast. Ann imagines that their jalapeño jam would pair perfectly on this hot sandwich. Another is The King, named after Elvis, who was known for eating a peanut butter and banana sandwich every day. Their version is a grilled sandwich with natural or honey roasted peanut butter combined with sliced bananas, honey and an option to top it off with bacon.
They grind their own nut butters in-house and get their jams and jellies made locally (but they also have Nutella). They have gluten-free options for their bread and their sandwiches are also very vegan-friendly.
Taste & Toast
Milwaukee Downtown's Taste & Toast event is kind of like the happy hour version of Downtown Dining Week. Sample what these places have to offer on March 5 – 9, 2018:
- AJ Bombers
- Bacchus — A Bartolotta Restaurant
- Blu Milwaukee
- The Brown Bottle
- Cantina Milwaukee
- Carson's Ribs of Milwaukee
- Clear Bar.
- Cubanitas
- DOC's Commerce Smokehouse
- Flannery's
- Harbor House
- The Knick
- Lobby Lounge at The Pfister Hotel
- Mikey's MKE
- Miller Time Pub and Grill
- Millioke Restaurant
- Milwaukee ChopHouse
- Monarch Lounge at Hilton Milwaukee City Center
- Oak Barrel Public House
- Onesto
- Pastiche At The Metro
- Pier 106 Seafood Tavern
- Point Burger Express MKE
- The Pub Club Milwaukee
- The Rumpus Room — A Bartolotta Gastropub
- SafeHouse
- Smoke Shack
- Swig
- Who's on Third
2894 on Main
2894 on Main in East Troy is a bit of a road trip, but worth it according to Ann. She calls it a charming and warm escape. On the menu, Ann recommends the carrot tacos that have a lot of delicious grains and pickled vegetables. The restaurant is also nestled cozily in between a market and a bookstore that are also worth a visit while you're there.
If you are a chef or a restaurant and have an announcement or an event, please send any information or press release to thisbites@radiomilwaukee.org.