Restaurant Week

The time has come again for Madison's Restaurant Week. This twice a year event (offered in January and July) has become one of the most popular tasting events in the city. For six days, guests can enjoy special sample menus at their favorite Madison restaurants for an affordable fixed price all week long. Participating restaurants will be offering 3-course menus for $25. All restaurants will be offering featured wines along with their special menu and some will provide wine pairings as well. Drinks and Gratuity are not included so please remember to tip your waitress! The summer edition will take place from Sunday July 25th to Friday July 30th but some restaurants choose to extend their menus through Saturday. The event is popular, so if you'd like to attend, book your reservation now and expect the restaurants to be busy. If you don't like crowds, you might want to stay in for dinner that week.
For a full listing of participants and menus, visit Restaurant Week Website

 

Taste of Wisconsin

The second annual Taste of Wisconsin celebrates the best of Wisconsin's food and beverages with a three day festival in Kenosha on the shores of Lake Michigan. This free event will take place from July 30 to August 1st at the Kenosha Harbor. The festival offers fresh-from-the-farm fruits and vegetables from Wisconsin growers, flavorful cheeses, local microbrews and wines and farm-raised specialty meats. Also enjoy culinary demonstrations, gardening workshops, exhibits and live music. Visit http://www.tasteofwi.com/ for more information.

Edible Madison

Edible Madison is a new publication dedicated to celebrating the abundance of local foods in Southern Wisconsin. The magazine is published quarterly with the seasons and focuses on local and sustainable food sources, organizations, and events.
They will be hosting two launch parties celebrating the recent first edition release into the market. The first event will be on Saturday, July 17th at the Oak and Briar Farm in Soldiers Grove, WI. The celebration featuring food, drinks and music starts at 6pm and will be catered by Rooted Spoon Culinary. Camping is available at location.
The second launch party will be on Saturday July 31st at Fromagination on the Capital Square in Madison. The event starts at 6pm and will feature regional cheese-makers and delicious food and drink.
For a subscription of Edible Madison Magazine or to learn about other "edible" communities, visit http://www.ediblecommunities.com/madison/

Black Market Amuse-Bouche Dinner

Black Market is a culinary team led by Gregory Walters from Madison's popular restaurant/bar The Weary Traveler. The team's desire is to showcase their talents and creativity by offering intimate monthly dinners open to the public. Inspired by the Underground Food Collective's successful family-style dinners and Gregory's experience working at Quince Restaurant in Chicago, Black Market is providing the opportunity for food lovers to come together, meet new people and experience a gourmet experience in a relaxed, neighborly atmosphere.
This month's dinner theme is "Amuse-Bouche" which literally translates to "entertain the mouth". The 12 course tasting event will be held on Monday, July 26th at Bon Appetit Cafe on Madison's near-east side. Two seatings of 25 people each will be offered at 6pm and 8pm. Tickets are $40 per person and you are encouraged to bring your own beverage to the table.
Visit blackmarketmadison.com for tickets, details, and menu listing.

Kickapoo's Organic and Sustainability Festival

The Kickapoo county fair is the Midwest’s largest organic food and sustainability festival. The 7th annual event will be held this year on July 24th and 25th (Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 10am-5pm). The festival is located on the grounds of the Organic Valley headquarters in the Kickapoo Valley of LaFarge, WI. The event will include food, music, bike and farm tours, cooking demonstrations, sustainability workshops, theater, kids' activities, dancing, author readings, and speakers. Weekend-pass advance tickets are available for $10. Go to http://www.organicvalley.coop/kickapoo/ for more information.

Stellenbosch and Paarl Wine Tasting

Bluespoon Creamery Cafe in Prairie du Sac is hosting it's next wine tasting showcasing wines from the Stellenbosch and Paarl AVAs in South Africa. South Africa is consistently among the top ten wine producing countries in the world known for it's ability to demonstrate wine distinction between areas. The tasting will be held on Thursday, July 22nd at 6pm. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased through the website bluespooncafe.com or at location.

A Day on the Farm

Madison's local REAP organization has organized a luncheon at the Jordandal Farm in Argyle, Wisconsin (W7977 Sunset Road). The event's hosts Carrie and Eric Johnson and Matt Walter have partnered with area chefs from the Madison Club, Restaurant Magnus, the Dayton Street Grille and Tornado Steakhouse to prepare a picnic-style meal and educational event. The meal of farm-raised ingredients will be held on Sunday, July 18th from 11am to 3pm and will feature a farm tour, kids activities and lessons about sustainable farming practices.

Tickets for the farm tours and delicious lunch will be $20 for adults and $12 for kids under 12 (plus $1.50 processing fee for online ticket sales). Kids 3 and under get in free. Event proceeds will benefit REAP's programs.

"REAP (Research, Education, Action and Policy on Food Group) is a non-profit organization that is committed to projects that reduce and shorten the distance from farm to table, support small family farmers, encourage sustainable agricultural practices, preserve the diversity and safety of our food supply and address the food security of everyone in our community." The organization raises support through events like this one and through projects such as their "Farm to School" program encouraging children's education and awareness.

Learn more about REAP at www.reapfoodgroup.org