Discovering Racine

Kringle take two

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:07:58 GMT

When I started this blog about two months ago, I first wrote about trying Kringle from Bendtsen’s Bakery.

The responses from blog readers were overwhelming with each of you recommending your favorite Kringle place. Most of you told me to try O&H, proudly proclaiming that it was “definitely the best” and that their Kringle is “out of this world.”

I couldn’t ignore comments like those – and I’ll never turn down a reason to have Kringle – so one Sunday I stopped by O&H to see if you all were right.

I went to their location at 4006 Durand Ave., which includes a bakery, deli, coffee and hot drink counter, and store with cooking items and other seasonal knickknacks. I got a pecan Kringle with white frosting because I am told pecan is the original Kringle flavor.

It was good but I stand by Bendtsen’s on taste. Both Kringles were delicious but Bendtsen’s seemed sweeter and had a fresher, lighter pastry crust.

However, I liked the bakery and store atmosphere of O&H a lot more than the small bakery setting of Bendtsen’s. I had a lot of fun looking at all of their cookbooks, gourmet soup mixes and autumn plates. There were free samples too of spinach dip and Asiago cheese dip, which were both so good – I may have sneaked a few more samples than I was supposed to.

I also got a raspberry crème coffee and Mediterranean pasta salad that were both excellent.

All things considered, I’ll certainly be back at O&H but it may not be for the Kringle.

THE NUTS AND BOLTS
WHAT: O&H Danish Bakery
WHERE: Two locations, one at 4006 Durand Ave. and another at 1841 Douglas Ave.
WHEN: The Durand Avenue location is open Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Douglas Avenue location is open Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.
WHY: For the atmosphere. Get some coffee and mosey about the store taking it all in.
COST: Kringle’s start at $12, a bit more than Bendtsen’s. The deli and coffee items seemed low priced.
EXTRAS: Visit O&H’s Web site to enter to win a Kringle. New winners each week.

So I know everyone has their favorite Kringle place. But why is your favorite your favorite?

Homegrown is better

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:48:18 GMT

Saturday mornings in Racine have started to mean one thing to me: Farmers’ markets.

I love everything about them – the food, the people, the sounds and even the smells.

Brightly colored produce in every hue of the rainbow catches your eye at each vendor’s booth. The vendors are friendly and informative without being pushy. Other shoppers are polite, greeting each other with smiles. Fresh cut flowers, homemade soaps and candles, and cooking food all create a nice mixture of smells that entertain the senses. And at one farmer’s market I went to the air was even filled with the music a woman played on an accordion.

At a farmers’ market I went to one Saturday in Downtown Racine, 700 State St., there were about 25 vendor booths set up under different tents. Most of them had fresh produce but some also had hot drinks, plants, baked goods, candles, soaps and even homemade sauces and jellies.

Even if you don’t buy anything, I suggest going just to walk around and “tent shop” by looking at all they have for sale.

When I went I did much more than look though. I walked away with apples from a local orchard (who even knew we had apple orchards around here?), a beautiful bouquet with sunflowers that only cost me $3, green peppers, banana peppers, string beans and sweet corn, which turned out to be some of the best I’ve had. I come from a small farming town, so that’s saying something.

The produce prices at the farmers’ market seemed very worthwhile. Many items like peppers and corn were much cheaper than grocery store prices. And the food that was more expensive was definitely worth the price. For the quality and freshness– not to mention how long the veggies lasted without going bad – I have no complaints about cost. I especially have no complaints since instead of supporting a big chain, my dollars were supporting local food growers and local farms.

THE NUTS AND BOLTS
WHAT: Area farmers’ markets
WHERE/WHEN:
- Racine Downtown Farmers’ Market (I went to this one and highly recommend it)
700 State St., corner of State and Erie Streets
8 a.m. to noon Saturdays May through October
-West Racine Farmers’ Market
3100 Washington Ave., corner of Washington Avenue and West Boulevard
-Sturtevant Farmers’ Market
8505 Durand Ave., Fountain Hall parking lot
8 a.m. to noon Mondays May through October
2 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and 8 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Fridays May to October
WHY: For the best produce you’ll find in the area not to mention a relaxing and enjoyable shopping experience.
COST: Depends on what you buy but veggies, flowers and baked goods seemed very reasonably priced.
EXTRAS: Some of the farmers’ markets have booths with dog treats for the pets that may accompany you. For more info on these markets or to get involved, call Luann Gall at (262) 886-6197

Know of any other farmer’s markets or fruit/veggie stands worth checking out?

Produce, schmroduce

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:07:57 GMT

Bare cupboards and empty fridge shelves can only mean one thing: time for grocery shopping.

So I got in my car ready to drive to Pick n’ Save or Wal-Mart. On my way, I passed Racine Produce, 3701 Durand Ave.

I decided to check it out – and I’ll probably never go back.

I was expecting great produce and instead I found overripe bananas and a store that smells of salsa everywhere. It’s hard to want to buy grapes and cherries when you’re breathing in pico de gallo.

I did buy a few veggies, but the prices were not any better than your standard grocery store and, once home, it didn’t last long. I ended up having to throw away moldy tomatoes and red peppers.

I’ll have to look elsewhere for my fruit and vegetable needs. Good thing the farmers’ markets should be in full swing about now.

THE NUTS AND BOLTS
WHAT: Racine Produce
WHERE: 3701 Durand Ave.
WHEN: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily
WHY: I still don’t know
COST: Similar to other grocery stores
EXTRAS: I might venture back if I’m making a specialty Mexican dish. They have all kinds of ingredients for that from dried hot peppers to cactus leaves.

Have any tips on good places to buy produce?

Sandy splendor

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:29:15 GMT

Listen up Racine. You have the greatest beach and you don't take advantage of it the way you should!

I had about three perfect ideas for my blog this week but had to switch things around after spending my entire Sunday afternoon at North Beach. I was just so taken with the quality of Racine’s lakefront beach.

Coming from Milwaukee, with its seaweed and trash infested beaches on Lake Michigan, I can boldly say that North Beach takes the cake. Milwaukee's several beaches are rather small given the city’s population and they are usually so crowded you're lucky to find a spot big enough for your blanket.

And in toward Chicago fun in the sun is even worse. I once drove around for 45 minutes looking for beach parking in Chicago before giving up. But Sunday I got a spot right away at North Beach near the Oasis.

On Sunday there was also plenty of space for me in the freshly combed sand, not a cloud in the sky and a reggae band playing at the Oasis. I felt like I was on a tropical island. My time there was so great I don’t even mind being a bit sunburned today.

Aside from the beach itself, I discovered the North Beach area has lots more to offer. There’s volleyball courts, a playground, a bike path and plenty of grassy areas complete with picnic tables. And the water is actually clear!

I have a few friends coming to visit next weekend and, if it’s nice out, I know we will stop by the beach. I encourage you to take a page from my book and do the same, while it’s still warm enough.

Did I mention the beach itself and the parking there are both free? Not that you needed any more incentive to go check it out – or to brag about it.

THE NUTS AND BOLTS
WHAT: North Beach
WHERE: Along the lake between St. Patrick and English Streets near Downtown
WHEN: Open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
WHY: Because the sand and the water are clean and the weather right now is perfect for spending time in the sun
COST: Free
EXTRAS: You can call the Beach Hotline at (262) 636-9233 for lifeguard and water quality information

How do you think North Beach compares to others on Lake Michigan?

Pork on a stick

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 23:15:42 GMT

Last week was my first ever state fair experience anywhere.

I was so excited because I had heard so many good things about the Wisconsin State Fair and I had been given so much advice on what to see, do and eat.

My time there was great – except for one tiny thing.

I was told to try something, anything on a stick. So I did. Sort of.

After lots of walking I saw a sign for pork on a stick and, thinking that sounded better than chocolate covered bacon on a stick, I jumped in line.

And the girl behind the counter gave me a basket with a pork chop sitting in it. She must have forgotten something, I thought, so I asked her where the stick was.

“Well, um,” she said, taking a long pause, as if knowing how lame what she was about to say sounds. “The bone is kind of a stick.”

So I sadly took my pork chop, bone and all. I looked online later and found a huge list of foods on a stick. Too bad they weren’t easier to find and all actually on sticks.

But my pork chop scenario was more than made up for by my first cream puff (good but very messy) and flavored milk for a quarter from Herb Kohl’s Milk House.

I also enjoyed walking past all the exhibits with kids art and infomercial products. The infomercial guy making salsa was so entertaining I watched for five minutes before realizing it.

And who can forget the animals. The sheep were my favorite but I liked seeing pig races too. In fact, they raced more than pigs. There were goats and they all had numbers and names like Nascar drivers.

THE NUTS AND BOLTS
WHAT: Wisconsin State Fair
WHERE: 640 S. 84th St. just outside Milwaukee in West Allis
WHEN: It’s over. Sorry. But get pumped for next year!
WHY: They have just about any food you can image plus 25 cent milk in assorted flavors. Try the banana.
COST: $10 adult admission plus $10 to park. The rest is up to you depending on what you eat and see.
EXTRAS: Do a better job finding food on a stick than I did.

Did you go to the state fair this year? What was the highlight of your trip?

Blue ribbon for Blue Sombrero

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:58:21 GMT

Mexican restaurants are my favorite so I’ve been on the prowl for good places in Racine.

A teacher I interviewed for a story suggested Jose’s Blue Sombrero. She said the restaurant alone was enough reason to live in Racine, so of course I had to check it out.

And I’m so glad I did.

As soon as my friend and I walked into the restaurant at 6430 Washington Ave., I knew it would be good. The place has very festive and brightly colored decorations like sombreros and Mexican blankets.

When we got seated, warm chips and salsa were already on their way to our table. The salsa was pretty good and my friend went as far as to say it was the best he’s ever had. I love peppers and anything spicy but he doesn’t at all, so it’s a safe bet to say this salsa satisfies all taste buds.

After the salsa, the drink menu was the next thing to catch my eye. Jose’s has a signature drink called El Tornado. It’s frozen sangria swirled with a fresh-made margarita. If you are a tequila fan, it’s amazing. I highly recommend it.

For dinner, I had enchiladas with a spicy red sauce and the portion was pretty big, enough for leftovers which actually kept and tasted just as good a few days later. It looked a bit like the dishes in this photo courtesy The Journal Times.

All in all a good dining experience. If you’ve never been, I suggest making the trip. And if you’ve been there before, I think you ought to go back and try something new – or at least get their frozen sangria. I know I’ll be back.

THE NUTS AND BOLTS
WHAT: Jose's Blue Sombrero
WHERE: 6430 Washington Ave.
WHEN: Open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and closed Sundays.
WHY: Great salsa and an intriguing margarita/sangria mixed drink
COST: Entrées range from $8.49 to $19.99 (but that’s for shrimp and steak dishes)
EXTRAS: Their Web site has the complete menu and there is another location in Brookfield.

Got another Mexican restaurant worth trying or is Jose’s your favorite?

Lake Geneva

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:35:02 GMT

I know this blog is about discovering Racine, but allow me to branch out a bit this week.

There are so many great places only a stones throw from Racine and residents here should take advantage of them. One of those places is Lake Geneva.

I was there this weekend on a trip with friends from high school – we go every year – and I recommend it to all of you as a day trip. It’s only about an hour away and, if the weather is good, there’s no shortage of things you can do. Many of those things are free or pretty cheap too.

There are public beaches as well as a walking path that goes the entire way around the lake, about 20 miles. On the path, you can see some of the most gorgeous houses around. My friends and I picked out dream houses on our walk, eventually joking that the big houses were too small for us.

This one was my favorite. The photos are courtesy of my friend Susan.

Some of the homes have belonged to folks like the Wrigley's, of gum and Wrigley Field fame, the man who started Andes Candies, and Marshall Field, who founded a department store bearing his name.

If walking isn’t your style, you can see many of the same houses and views by driving around the lake on North and South Lakeshore Drives.

Or – this is the best but can be a bit pricey – see it all from the water. You can launch your own boat, rent one or take a guided tour. I happened to take a tour this weekend for work that showed me many of the houses on the lake and explained some of the history. I annoyed my friends the rest of the weekend by spouting out Lake Geneva trivia – did you know that property on the lake sells for $18,000 to $36,000 per square foot? Or that 85 percent of lake residents are from Chicago?

Aside from the outdoor activities, you can pass time in Lake Geneva by window shopping, enjoying some great seafood restaurants and sampling ice cream – I think there is an ice cream shop on every corner. It all makes for a day filled with fun and sun.

THE NUTS AND BOLTS
WHAT: Lake Geneva
WHERE: About an hour southwest of Racine. The towns of Lake Geneva, William’s Bay and Fontana are on the lake and have beaches.
WHEN: This summer.
WHY: It’s perfect for day tripping.
COST: Depends on what you do but it can be pretty cheap.
EXTRAS: Scuttlebutts, 831 Wrigley Drive in Lake Geneva, has an awesome Friday night all you can eat fish fry. You can enjoy your fried or baked cod while looking out of the restaurant’s huge windows right at the lake.

Ever been to Lake Geneva? Any suggestions on what people should do there?