Today we were lucky enough to join Krankies coffee cupping session. I've heard many great things about Krankies and this was the best possible way I can think of to experience this gem!

The building is in an old near packing plant with bar up front, dining room in the center and roasting, packing and tasting room in back.  They are a local small batch roaster that processes around 100,000 lbs/year.

We did a blind tasting of 4 styles. On each side of the table was the same bean roasted different ways. It was fascinating to see the variations and even how each changes as the temperature changes.  A flavor wheel was present to help those like us with limited palette vocabulary!

My favorite was the Lemu, very rich nutty light roast from Ethiopia. I loved the smell and taste throughout the experience.  As it cooled it reminded me of a strong black tea. My husband preferred the darker roasts and since he brews the coffee we went home with a bag of railhead today!

The cuppings will be a regular Friday 10 am offering. We plan to go back as they rotate their beans seasonally.
Besides cupping they have Tuesday night wine tastings I'm looking forward to checking out.

Afterwards we had lunch in the dining room next to their art-o-mat! My husband went with a turkey sandwich special but mine was the winner... I come from Wisconsin so I have had a lot of these in my life but this was the best frickin' grilled cheese sandwich ever!!! It was on a hoagie bun with tomato, red onion, coke slaw and pickles the call the Griddled Cheese Hero. The cheese was provolone that was fried first to make it toasty and golden brown. It was such a unique combination with the cheese itself being grilled and topped with coke slaw and pickles just took it over the edge to greatness. This may be the best sandwich I have ever had!

So besides awesome coffee they had homemade sodas which I love to make as well, I tried pineapple!.. but I was really jealous of those with cocktails as those were beautiful. They have their own garden they grow some of what they serve and just started beekeeping so looking forward to that honey!

​This place is a true gem with amazing people that opened their doors to us and made us feel like instant friends. We look forward to many good times here!  Check them out at 211 3rd Street East, Winston Salem, NC and be patient with parking, lots of construction going on and not a lot of places for cars.

As my husband and I were sitting at one of our favorite bars eating some of our
favorite Mexican food at Margarita Paradise, he asked me when the first time my family brought him there...  my guess was around 1994ish.  I remember going there as long as I can remember eating good Mexican food!...  many birthday celebrations or impromptu family
gatherings were here.
Right after this conversation the General Manager, Amil Alarcon, came up to us with a card and said "I have to tell you guys something..." those words always make me nervous...  as he continued to say they are closing this location sometime this May.  We were sad of course and told him of our recent discussion but he promised us it's a good thing.  They will be moving into the new construction near the old CBS building on Hawley Road (813 S 60th St in West Allis).  They will still make everything from scratch but are expanding beyond Mexican and into more varieties of Latin foods.  The building was getting old I guess and the timing was right when this opportunity presented itself.  It's a much bigger space, closer to the freeway but they will be missed in the charming building.  The Margarita Paradise in the Milwaukee Public Market will not change.  We are sad to see them go but looking forward to new celebrations in their new space! 

Braise has got to be one of MKE's finest...  it's the city's first Community Supported Restaurant with several levels of membership.  You can always just drop in; reservations are recommended unless you want to take your chances like my husband and I prefer at the bar or in the back at the food bar where you can see all the kitchen action.  The building is a beautiful brick ex-bowling alley just North of the Allen Bradley clock tower.  Look closely inside and you'll find elements from the bowling alley days.  My favorite being the tables up front that were created from the actual lanes.

Starting with the drinks, all is very well thought out and executed.  Mixed drinks are great classics using liquor that's been distilled by small crafters in Wisconsin.  Several liquors are infused in house.  I'm a big fan of the wine dispenser which serves up wine from the casks.  Sometimes I stop in just for the Rishi Masala chai with milk steamed in their espresso machine.

Menu changes daily so it's always an adventure.  We prefer to stick with small plates so we can try a variety. Some of my favorites were raviolo, veggie verions of lasagna, and the tarts (anything from nettles to potatoes and onions!).  My husband loves the Crispy Pig, Pork Buns and any of the soups.  And don't forget he buckets of bread and butter blend to start... they are incredible!  Several varieties of bread in there and a seasoned butter on the side.

Desserts are not to be missed.  Sweet little cakes that melt in your mouth with a sauce (the fruit ones are my favorite) and a scoop of fresh whipped cream or ice cream.  My husband loves the chocolate pots de creme or the coffee based ones.  Tarts are also winners; anything from lemon to salted caramel.

Creative little tapas joint in Denver that I just love!...  like being inside a creepy forest wonderland.  Menu with wood carved cover, napkins with bug stickers securing the silverware inside.  

Wood tables, stump chairs, wild scenes projected on the wall.

Creepy cool vibe.  Leaky ceiling attended to by placing a glass under the drips...