Good Taste

FAVE LOCAL COCKTAIL JOINT: GIB’S. “I know I can get something more unconventional there.” –Thor Messer, of Merchant

AFTER A HOT SWEATY NIGHT IN THE KITCHEN, I’M DRINKING… “A draft of GERMAN PILSNER, a cold glass of rosé or Miller High Life.” –Dan Fox, of Heritage Tavern

FAVE LOCAL DESSERT: Cheesecake at A PIG IN A FUR COAT. –Susan Linley Detering, of Batch Bakehouse

I GRAB TAKEOUT FROM… “SUJEO. Not only do I get takeout there, but Tory Miller and I often trade food for our respective teams.” –Patrick DePula, of Salvatore’s Tomato Pies

FAVE SUMMER PRODUCE: TART CHERRIES from Healthy Ridge Farm in Door County. –Tami Lax, of Harvest and The Old Fashioned

FAVE LOCAL PRODUCT: MORREN ORCHARD’S apple cider. –Jonny Hunter, of Forequarter and Underground Food Collective

FAVE ETHNIC RESTAURANT: MINI HOT POT (on South Park Street). –Laila Borokhim, of Layla’s Persian Food

FAVE FOOD CART: BANZO. “I love their falafel.” –Melanie Nelson, of the Good Food Cart

FAVE ETHNIC MARKET: It’s a tie: ASIAN MIDWAY FOODS AND THE AFRICAN & AMERICAN STORE. –Mike Magee, of The Wise

FAVE LOCAL DISH: CHIRASHI (at Red Sushi) with a side of ponzu sauce. –Michael Pruett, of Food Fight

FAVE CULINARY SCENE (OUTSIDE OF MADISON): MINNEAPOLIS. –Caitlin Suemnicht, of Food Fight

IF I COULD ONLY TAKE ONE CHEESE TO A WINE PAIRING: “UPLANDS CHEESE COMPANY’S Pleasant Ridge Reserve—or their holiday exclusive Rush Creek.” –Andrea Hillsey, Square Wine Co.

ONE LOCAL EAT I CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF… “PIZZA BRUTTA is really crushing it right now, with owner Dan Lee using different whole grains and wheat in his crusts. And, he makes his own mozzarella! His food is really thoughtful and delicious, especially the Caprese salad, made with the homemade mozzarella, pesto and basil, and cherry tomatoes that come out of the wood fired oven, soften and juiced up—those blew my mind.” –Tory Miller, of Sujeo, Estrellón, L’Etoile and Graze

Read about more Madison’s Tastemakers in BRAVA’s July edition or at BRAVAmagazine.com.