Caution:  Spectacular pictures of spectacular food follow.  We will let the pictures speak for the food and refrain from commentary! 

Samba Brazillian Grill (Chef Bob) & Lange Family Farm - Flanke Tostone

 Tornado Steakhouse (Chef Patrick) & Cherokee Bison and Black Earth Valley Farms - Marinated Bison Prime Rib with Sauteed Oyster Mushrooms and Au Jus.

A Caprese-like salad, for which we unfortunately lack official information.  If anyone can provide it to us, please contact us.  We would love to give this chef and this farm credit, because it was awesome!

Mermaid Cafe & Driftless Organics, Jordandal and Prairie Hill Farms - Gazpacho Andaluz

L’Etoile (Chef Tory) & Willow Creek and Normandy Valley Farms - Crispy Braised Pork Belley with Watermelon Tossed in a Spicy Mau Xiong Thai Chili Vinaigrette

The Madison Club – Fountain Prairie Farm - Sambal Marinated Beef Heart and House Fermented Market Vegetable Kimchee

The Madison Club & Artesian Trout Farm, New Century Farm - Pan Seared Rainbow Trout Served with Hard Boiled Egg Aioli, Shaved Radish, Bok Choy and House Made Tortone

The Madison Club - Dessert and Pastries, including Raspberry Cheesecake and Sour Cherry Tarts

Carr Valley Cheese

Fresco & Keewaydin Farms - Grilled Vegetable Gazpacho and Grilled Cheese

Sheraton Madison & MacFarlane Pheasant Farm, Castle Rock Organics, Merry’s Garden of Eatin, Farmers’ Market - Pheasant Roulade with Smoked Blue Cheese, Anaheim Peppers & Ground Cherry Relish served over Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes with Roasted German Brown Garlic

Jacs Dining & Tap House & Spring Valley Produce, Keewaydin Farms, L&L Greenhouse, Tipi Produce - Ratatouille Stuffed Gougeres

Ale Asylum - Hopalicious Pale Ale, Contorter Porter, Tripel Nova Belgian Tripel Ale

Crema Cafe & Langes Meats, New Century Eggs, Harmany Valley Farm, Farmer John’s Cheese, JenEhr Family Farm, Sassy Cow Creamery - Toasted Cedar Grove Cheddar Sammy with JenEhr Farm Cauliflower

The Madison Club & Black Earth Farms, Garden to Be - Summer Berry Sangria Cocktail

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Washington Hotel Coffee Room
402 W Lakeside Street
Madison, WI 608-257-2999

Hours:
7am – 8pm Monday – Saturday
7am – 5pm Sunday

We have to admit, we didn’t even know that the Washington Hotel Coffee Room existed until a good friend told us about it.  Tucked away in a quiet, residential-like neighborhood on Lakeside Street, this coffee room shares quarters with Lakeside Fibers and borders Monona Bay.   

The coffee room is a sister establishment of The Washington Hotel, on Washington Island, WI, hence the name.  They specialize in fair trade certified and organic coffees,  locally produced foods, including cheeses, meats, produce, and dairy.  The wheat that is used to make their wood fired brick oven breads is grown on Washington Island.  They also serve wines by the glass.

We wandered over to the Washington Hotel Coffee Room on a recent Saturday morning after a very early trip to the Farmers’ Market.  The interior of the room is warm and inviting, with a craft area set up against one wall.  There are plenty of tables, and a comfortable living room-like area as well.

We settled in on the outdoor deck, despite the brisk breeze coming in off of Monona Bay.  This deck alone is a spectacular reason to go and get a cup off cofee or a light lunch here.  While small, it provides secluded getaway from your typical Madison coffee shop atmosphere.  With an expanse of lawn lined with trees, it is by far the most restful commercial place where we’ve sat to sip coffee.

We’d review the coffee, but we have to admit that we aren’t really coffee snobs.  It was good, hot and plentiful.  But what caught our eye was the cheese plate on the menu.  Sure, it was 8:00 in the morning, but we’re in Wisconsin.  That makes the cheese plate ($10) fair game for breakfast.

 The cheese came from Carr Valley, and it was terrific.  The selection included a smoked gouda, a cocoa-rind cheese, and a unique cheese that was one part sheeps milk cheese, one part goats milk cheese.  Served with some of the above mentioned bread and some seeded crackers, it was a great way to relax after a trek around the Capital square.

We’ll go back to the Washington Hotel often.  Next time we’re looking forward to stopping in for a light lunch, sampling one of the uniqe sandwiches and a glass of wine.

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Liliana’s Restaurant
2951 Triverton Pike
Fitchburg, WI 53711
Phone: 608-442-4444

Hours:

Restaurant
Lunch Monday through Saturday 11am-2:30pm
Jazz Brunch Sunday 10am-2pm
Dinner every day 5pm-9pm

Bar
Sun 10am-2pm, 5pm-9pm
Mon-Thu 11am-10pm
Fri-Sat 11am-Midnight
Happy Hour Mon-Fri 4-6pm

Liliana’s in Fitchburg has introduced a new summer menu.  This menu features  appetizers such as Barbecue Prawns, Shucked Oysters, and Ceviche, salads that include what we believe to be the best salad in town (their Cucumber Watermelon Salad, pictured below), and entrees like Chicken Roulade, Pasta Fresco,  and Pulled Pork Pasta.

In addition to the new menu, be sure to check out their Tuesday Tasting Menu.  They’ve taken a unique approach to what has become a relatively common trend in Madison restaurants.  Each week they offer a unique menu, which is put together by a holding a competition with the chefs.  The best ideas are compiled together for the three course Tuesday Tasting Menu ($30), after which that menu is retired.

Liliana’s also offers music Tuesday through Saturday nights, with no cover charge.  Click the video below to catch a glimpse.

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