This Bites

This episode has a seasonal feel, with Agency cooking up a menu inspired by holiday movies and an ode to a classic cold-weather beverage. But we lead things off with big news about James Beard-recognized chef Kyle Knall's plans for a new French bistro in Milwaukee's Third Ward, then dip into the sweet with desserts around the world and pie charts (not the boring kind).

Milwaukee food lovers and restaurant-goers got a big helping of tough news over Thanksgiving weekend, as Justin Carlisle announced that Ardent will close at the end of December. As our hosts are both lovers of food and goers of restaurants, they couldn’t really start this episode anywhere else. Ann connected with Carlisle for a Milwaukee Magazine article that sounded a few somewhat-hopeful notes....

Everyone loves dumplings. So everyone should also love the first news item in this episode:  dumpling-making classes at The Wolf . These opportunities for delicious instruction are no joke. Chef Kristin Schwab set up a couple for December, and both of them sold out so fast that the restaurant decided to make them a monthly affair all throughout 2025. We break down this very cool experience, which...

The coming days will bring us two dining events in conjunction with Native American Heritage Month:  Nov. 14 at the Milwaukee Public Museum and Nov. 18 at the Ivy House . We talk about both at the top of this episode, but here’s a little more about the two dinners. First up is the meal at the museum — part of its full month of Native American Heritage Month programming. Ketapanen Kitchen, the firs...

Tarik and Ann discuss a cool chef collaboration, Wine in Wisconsin and a new brunch spot. They also share some important news about Pete's Pops!

Milwaukee gets its first taste of Japanese omakase in a new brick and mortar run by Chef Ray. Wanna make pho the right way? Ann and Tarik have details on some pho-making classes. Also, the Pfister hosts the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation's Food & Wine event with celebrity chefs on the second day of this long-running two day event. Plus the Dubbel Dutch Hotel is opening a Victorian-style teah...

This week, Tarik & Anne talk about new Colombian food at Crossroads Collective, Uncle Wolfies goes Southeast Asian, pierogies and much more... Produced & edited by Guru Amrit Singh

This episode starts with the news that Kinship Cafe is bringing services way beyond food and drink to ThriveOn King, the community hub located on MLK Drive between Lloyd and Garfield. The big difference-maker for the soon-to-open spot is its association with Kinship Community Food Center . The cafe will be a gathering place that serves healthy meals like sandwiches, bowls and salads. But it’ll als...

Phở 1 Phở is the topic and interestingly enough, a Phở battle. Find out about SapSap and Laotiian ciusine and how breakdancing factors in. Broth is also a topic as is the "new" Ardent and their prix fixe menu and lounge space. 

Raining on our parade to start this episode is Hot Dish Pantry — or, more accurately, the folks who own the building that Hot Dish Pantry calls home. HDP owners Laura Maigatter and Nathan Heck explained on social media that a recent real-estate decision to open a new restaurant gave them a push toward something they had been thinking about for a little while now. “To be very clear, we are not bein...

By the end of this month, the Milwaukee area will have a promising new option when Serious Dumplings — a small chain that up until now was limited to five locations in Florida — opens on Mayfair Road in Wauwatosa. The new spot just north of the Milwaukee County Zoo will fill a glaring hole spotted by sharp folks like myself and  Journal Sentinel dining critic Rachel Bernhard : a high-quality dim s...

It’s not often that we put aside our usual exhaustive efforts to cover as much of Milwaukee’s food scene as possible. However, it’s also not often that we get a chance to welcome someone deeply involved with an event as exciting as the one coming up in November. A couple weeks ago, we told you about Flavors of Africa & Diaspora: Best Chefs Wisconsin , a gala and competition the likes of which...

Tarik and Anne talk lobster, new eats on Vliet Street and a sandwich challenge from Mobcraft Brewing. And then there's Miss Dolly's Taste of Africa which combats domestic violence. Taste a listen... -produced and edited by Marcus Doucette

Anyone who loves Allie Boy’s Bagelry & Luncheonette will be happy to know its second location is now open on Farwell Avenue — a space that will make it possible for the owners to invest in some bigger equipment. And bigger equipment means more bagels. Speaking of “more,” there’s a news item that deserves some serious attention due to the ambition on display.  Flavors of Africa & Diaspora:...

One of the cool things about food in general is its ability to transport you from wherever you are to the origin of whatever taste you’re currently enjoying. But there’s always the local element — the restaurant you’re sitting in, the chef who prepped it, the place that supplied the ingredients. The event we talk about at the top of this episode is all about all of those things: the Fondy Farm Fea...

Food can take you to a lot of different places — sometimes figuratively and sometimes literally. Ann and Tarik focus on the first one as their own figurative trip around Milwaukee’s food scene gets started in this episode. The destination for the upcoming event in question is Alaska, and the good news is you only need to go as far as South 2nd Street for a taste of The Last Frontier. Braise is the...

Ann and Tarik lead off this episode discussing the impact (or non-impact) of the RNC on the restaurant scene. They also talk about Ben & Jerry's putting a foot in the Third Ward; cover a couple special dining events coming up, including one supporting the Bay View Emergency Food Pantry; and throw some love toward Morel (the restaurant) in Walker's Point. - Produced and edited by Marcus Doucett...

Ann and Tarik have a few of the latest restaurant openings, including some Lao and Burmese spots set to impress. They also go in depth on farm dinners and the benefits of being as close to the food source as possible, plus the why, what and how of the new Fresh Food initiative geared toward those in need. Produced and edited by Marcus Doucette

Tarik and Anne talk about the ultimate summer drinks and comb out the farmer's market scene. Discover Milwaukee's slushie, why Tarik eats kolrabi raw and gardening in general. -produced and edited by Marcus Doucette

Tarik and Ann talk around a few corners: St. Kate's new brunch, Georgia peaches and New Mexico pistachios. But the big deal is sausage, including how it's made and different cuts and grades. Produced and edited by Marcus Doucette

While the first food truck was likely a chuck wagon or perhaps the Wienermobile, you could argue that it didn’t reach its ideal form until tacos got involved. We’ve got plenty of that variety around Milwaukee, all of which you can follow on social media to keep up with their whereabouts. Ann and Tarik talk about a few of their favorites at the top of this episode, and you can find more in the taco...

Tarik and Anne talk Madison's Farmer's market, Top Chef and some sad news...  -produced and edited by marcus Doucette

Because dogs are great, most Milwaukee’s eateries are more than happy to cater to canines — usually with a bowl of water or a couple treats. But a few have really stepped it up with proper dog-specific menu items or, in the case of this episode’s lead item, entire dog menus. We also cover the rest of the city's culinary scene, including a couple unfortunate closings, even more  Top Chef , the retu...

We're covering a lot of ground on this episode, starting with where to take your pop for Father's Day food. There's also the revival of two revered pizza places, a new Japanese restaurant in Bay View, a very Milwaukee cookbook and, of course, lively conversation about the latest  Top Chef and the great fish boil debate it sparks. Produced and edited by Marcus Doucette

Tarik and Ann take you out to all kinds of cool spots and highlight some interesting events, like a food tour of West Allis, including butcheries and vintage-styled burger joints. Other highlights include Junior's BBQ, Yemeni cafes, Indian food in Hales Corners and Honeypie's celebration of 15 years in Bay View. Produced and edited by Marcus Doucette