When I moved to Milwaukee in 1983 I lived in Walker’s Point and spent a lot of time on the corner of 5th and National. And I can assure you a Walker’s Point Food Crawl back then would involve Rudy’s, Acapulco, a ham and egger kitty corner from Tech on National and a couple bodegas, at best.
But, as you know, that’s all changed and there’s more than enough gastronomic activity in the heart of old George Walker’s town to fuel a marathon of eating that could last months.
Luckily for us, Milwaukee Food Tours, OnMilwaukee.com and MKEfoodies have collaborated again on the Walker's Point Food Crawl – now in its second year – Saturday, June 1 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.
For a mere $50 for eight plates (or $75 for 14, and you know you want 14), you can sample the best of the best in Walker’s Point as 15 area eateries – including Braise, Ginger, The Noble, Industri, Clock Shadow Creamery, Purple Door Ice Cream, Milwaukee Brewing Company and the new Indulgence Chocolatiers – serve small plates of all kinds (including vegetarian options).
A number of places will also offer Bloody Marys and every admission sold between 11 and 11:30 includes one free Bloody at the restaurant of your choice.
In what to me is a surprising (and pleasant) twist, you can share your plates and vouchers.
But you’ll probably want to hoard your own so you can explore the amazing variety on offer.
While Braise will dish up milk braised pork on focaccia with horseradish quart and ramp jam, Steny’s will offer chicken wings. Times Square will serve pizza by the slice while C.1880 will offer onion carbonara with pheasant confit. Milwaukee Brewing will have beer samples, Indulgence will tickle your sweet tooth and Clock Shadow is doing pretzels.
You can buy your tickets online in advance or at the event in the tent in Steny’s parking lot on 2nd and National. More info is on Facebook.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
