Pastiche Bistro and Wine Bar, set to open at the end of January at 3001 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., will feature a menu packed with Mediterranean -- southern French, Italian and Spanish, to be specific -- specialties.
"I was trained in French food and I always come back to French because that’s what I love. My style is not as elaborate as it was when I first started out; I’m more simplistic. I fell in love with French country cooking; it goes great with wine," Chef Michael Engel says.
Engel, who is the sole owner of Pastiche and was formerly executive chef at Hotel Metro, started working with a development team on remodeling the building in June 2009.
"I saw the space and loved it. I have some family history on this street; my dad grew up just several houses down from here. So, it was a great fit," Engel says.
Pastiche plans to serve dinner Monday through Saturday with special happy hour deals and an extensive wine list. The entrees will range from $12 to $25 and be followed by homemade desserts.
"This is going to be a traditional French bistro focused mainly on French fare. I wanted some room to move into Spanish and Italian foods, largely because we are going to have several wines from those countries and I really think Spanish wine goes best with Spanish food. But, mainly, we are going to have simple French food," Engel says.
Check back at OnMilwaukee.com for a more in-depth article on Pastiche once it’s open.
OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Maureen Post grew up in Wauwatosa. A lover of international and urban culture, Maureen received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
After living on the east side of Madison for several years, Maureen returned to Milwaukee in 2006.
After a brief stint of travel, Maureen joined OnMilwaukee.com as the city’s oldest intern and has been hooked ever since. Combining her three key infatuations, Milwaukee’s great music, incredible food and inspiring art (and yes, in that order), Maureen’s job just about fits her perfectly.
Residing in Bay View, Maureen vehemently believes the city can become fresh and new with a simple move across town.
