I'm still reeling from the gluttony fest I enjoyed on St. Patrick's Day this year (pun intended). I haven't wanted to eat a full meal since then.
St. Patrick's Day on a Tuesday was lovely because it meant we didn't have to fight the crowds to get our food. I know Ireland isn't known for its food, but some of the offerings you can get in Milwaukee on this holiday would definitely make you think otherwise.
The morning began with a plate of love from Packy's Pub on Howell Avenue, 4068 S. Howell Ave. If you like an Irish breakfast, this is definitely the place to be, and if you missed it last Tuesday, never fear; Packy serves up the breaky on Sunday mornings, too.
Two fried eggs shone on a plate with bangers, rasher (thick Irish bacon), Irish white and black puddings (the latter of which is a blood sausage), potatoes, mushrooms and a marinated tomato with toast (and yes, you can choose brown bread). The feast isn't vegetarian friendly, but goes great with a fresh pint (Packy's pours a great pint and the lines are always clean) or a Bloody Mary.
After a few quick stops for beverages, we went to Champion's Pub, 2417 N. Bartlett Ave., for lunch. Bobby only makes his grandmother's stew once a year for public consumption, and this stuff is the bomb. Rich, thick, creamy and hearty -- it's everything a stew should be and more. Pair that with a slice of rye from Miller Bakery, and you're in Irish heaven.
Dinner for us was waiting at home in the slow cooker, where we had placed a corned beef brisket from Ray's Butcher Shoppe, 4640 W. Loomis Rd., in the wee hours of the morning.
The cooker was stuffed with brisket, cabbage, baby carrots, potatoes and a handful of corned beef spice from Penzey's, 12001 W. Capitol Dr. It was probably one of the best corned beefs I've ever had, and I solely attribute that to the quality of the products we used. If you haven't been to either Ray's or Penzey's, I recommend both. Highly.
Needless to say, I pretty much consumed an entire week's worth of meals in one day, so thank goodness St. Patrick's Day only comes but once a year. But, I'm already counting the days.
Amy L. Schubert is a 15-year veteran of the hospitality industry and has worked in every aspect of bar and restaurant operations. A graduate of Marquette University (B.A.-Writing Intensive English, 1997) and UW-Milwaukee (M.A.-Rhetoric, Composition, and Professional Writing, 2001), Amy still occasionally moonlights as a guest bartender and she mixes a mean martini.
The restaurant business seems to be in Amy’s blood, and she prides herself in researching and experimenting with culinary combinations and cooking techniques in her own kitchen as well as in friends’ restaurants. Both she and her husband, Scott, are avid cooks and “wine heads,” and love to entertain friends, family and neighbors as frequently as possible.
Amy and Scott live with their boys, Alex and Nick, in Bay View, where they are all very active in the community. Amy finds great pleasure in sharing her knowledge and passions for food and writing in her contributions to OnMilwaukee.com.
