Dining & Drink

Madison baker to appear on Food Network's gingerbread competition

Andrea Behling,

Christina Schubert creates a masterpiece on "Holiday Baking Championship: Gingerbread Showdown," airing Nov. 29

A dynamic duo keep Middleton's K-Peppers kicking

Maija Inveiss,

Rachel and Eric Kim stay at the helm of the kitchen and in the front of the house.

Celebrate Pi Day with 7 local pie places

We've done all your Thanksgiving meal research so you don't have to

Gaby Vinick, Nathan Denzin,

Cooking for Thanksgiving can be stressful — nobody wants dry meat or bland stuffing — and we get it. Instead of being stuck in your kitchen for hours, here are 18 options for Thanksgiving dinner that are already cooked and prepared so you don’t have to do the work.

Arcade games fill the room inside of Aftershock Classic Arcade, set to open on December 1.

Two gamers aim to keep arcade games alive with soon-to-open arcade bar

Gaby Vinick,

Brad Van and Chris Welch are taking their gaming expertise to Aftershock Classic Arcade, a vintage arcade bar and family entertainment center, set to open on Dec. 1.

4 new protein purveyors in the Madison area

Hannah Twietmeyer,

Three new butcher shops and a fish market are operating under a modern set of standards with a focus on sustainability, mindful sourcing and ethical practices.

Madison Eats Food Tours navigated the pandemic like a tour de force

Otehlia Cassidy,

Otehlia Cassidy couldn’t have guessed that her 10th year as a food tour host would be marked by reinventing and relaunching her business.

Madison baker selected as Bread Hero of the Midwest by World Bread Awards

Maija Inveiss,

Tiptree World Bread Awards USA announced Madison baker Mo Cheeks of Bread & Justice as the Bread Hero of the Midwest.

Owners behind Settle Down Tavern open innovative cocktail-forward bar next door

Erica Krug,

Settle Down Tavern co-owners Brian Bartels, Ryan Huber and Sam Parker reimagined a former men's boutique into a new cocktail bar, Oz by Oz.

bowl of noodles with chopsticks at Little Tibet

Cozy up at 11 businesses specializing in homemade pasta

Gaby Vinick,

There are plenty of pasta-bilities in the local area.

5 Madison-area businesses among finalists for Good Food Awards

Nathan Denzin,

There are eight Wisconsin-made products that are up for the national awards

Taylor Green in the patio space of Everyday Kitchen

Everyday Kitchen delivers Wisconsin fare with a twist

Maija Inveiss,

Everyday Kitchen is a chef-driven restaurant that incorporates local ingredients into its modern American comfort food dishes.

Sconnie Burger from Cafe Hollander topped with cheese curds

8 local curd burgers you can enjoy year-round

Maija Inveiss,

While the CurderBurger is a first for Culver's, a few Madison restaurants have crafted their own renditions featuring cheese curds.

The former Manna care & bakery sign on the left and a copy of the new manna cookbook on the right

New Manna Cafe & Bakery cookbook is a cathartic mix of recipes, memoir, history and closure

Maggie Ginsberg,

When Manna Cafe closed in June 2020, the loss was hard to put into words, but that’s what Barb Pratzel has attempted to do with her new cookbook.

State Line Distillery helps create 'whiskey for good' in national collaboration

Nathan Denzin,

A partnership of distilleries around the country, Good Deeds Spirits, creates first cause-supporting whiskey blend, which includes a single malt whiskey from a local operation

Broken Board coffee cup with a pastry next to it in the coffee shop

Broken Board Coffee found a home within east-side skateboard shop

Erica Krug,

Tucked into a corner of skateboard shop Focus Boardshop, Broken Board Coffee’s presence has spread since opening in March.

plate of french toast with fruit and pecans with a large container of syrup from Everyday Kitchen

12 French toasts to add to your breakfast rotation

Sam Jones,

Savory or sweet, French toast provides a decadent base for any topping, stuffing or syrup you can stick your fork through.

One Barrel reopens with a new boutique barbecue food concept

Nathan Denzin,

After being closed for 18 months, One Barrel Brewing Co. introduces barbecue to accompany its brews.

A culinary trip around The Globe

Maija Inveiss,

With dishes inspired by more than 20 countries, this North Henry Street spot has the range of a worldwide culinary tour.

13 Small plate-focused Madison restaurants

Tory Miller's Estrellón to close permanently

Maija Inveiss,

After seven years on West Johnson Street, Estrellón announced on social media it will be permanently closing its doors.

barn with tables and people gathered in front of the tables

Native chefs revitalize Wisconsin’s ancestral foods and spotlight Indigenous food sovereignty

Lyndsay Green,

Modern-day Native culinarians across the state are returning to the land and consulting age-old traditions to reclaim their ancestral foodways through meals.

In this image Blind Shot Golf and Social Club's storefront is lit up at night. With the stores name hung up in neon letters.

Blind Shot leads the way with non-alcoholic offerings

Nathan Denzin,

Blind Shot Golf and Social Club is trying to add to the drinks scene in Madison, by offering a wide variety of non-alcoholic drinks

Topped with a thick, marshmallow-like, vegan fluff and swirls of cinnamon, the Colectivo "Pumpkin Spice Fluff Latte" is served in a to-go cup on the wood counter.

Your list of not-so-basic fall drinks

Gaby Vinick,

In honor of "pumpkin spice" season, we've put together a local guide to 32 fall specials available at local coffee shops and cafes.

illustration of people working in the kitchen with a pan on fire and tickets overwhelming the counter

Fanning the flames in the restaurant industry

Candice Wagener,

Shutdowns and restrictions may have struck the match, but the local restaurant industry’s deeply rooted problems were grease on the fire. And as staffing struggles hit an all-time high, fewer people are in the kitchen to tend to the flame.

close-up of grapes at Wollersheim Winery

Gallery: Wollersheim Winery harvests grapes for its finest red wine

Maija Inveiss,

On a Saturday morning in September, a group of people woke up early to harvest Maréchal Foch grapes for Wollersheim Winery's finest red wine, Domaine Reserve.