I never thought I would say this, but…I LOVE MILWAUKEE!
I was there last weekend for the sole purpose of running in the Rock ‘N Sole Quarter Marathon. It was quite a haul from my Southern Indiana home, but the race sounded like so much fun. So…my roomie and I were Milwaukee bound.
As I have learned from past travel experiences…come prepared. That’s exactly what I did. I packed up a reusable grocery bag with gluten-free foods and snacks to keep at our hotel…just in case there was nothing I could really eat while in Milwaukee.
Heh. I totally pegged the city wrong.
In fact, Milwaukee is the home of the happiest place on Earth for anyone gluten-free. And that, my friends, is a completely gluten-free grocery store. YES! I kid you not. What is this oasis of gluten-free goodies called?
The Gluten-Free Trading Company.
Gluten-Free Trading Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
And it is located on South Chase Avenue in Milwaukee. Incidentally, they have another store located in Pewaukee, Wisconsin as well. Who would have thought Wisconsin would be a hub to embrace a gluten-free lifestyle. Mind boggling…but true.
I think I might have squeed aloud when I walked into the doors of the Gluten-Free Trading Company. Why? Because this little shop has aisles and shelves and freezers and fridges that hold only gluten-free goods. This means the guess work is taken out of it. I didn’t have to sit there going…”well, it doesn’t contain gluten, but it shares equipment with products that have wheat…so…” (Yes…those always go on the shelf. I’ll pay extra for the peace of mind of knowing that something is absolutely gluten-free). I literally could go in there with a basket and just pile stuff in (and I just might have done that…twice…) and not have to second guess anything. COMPLETELY 100% EVERYTHING GLUTEN-FREE!!
Pardon me while I do my happy dance of gluten-free joy. It was like a nirvana of gluten-free awesomeness. Seriously. I didn’t even know where to begin as far as shopping went. But what I did end up doing was snagging items I had never seen where I live to try out. Oh, I was one happy girl in that little grocery store. So happy. I think I was smiling like a loon the entire time as I was checking out products, deciding on what to try, and telling myself I could not buy one of everything…as much as I wanted to.
I went slightly over my budget. I admit it. But I was just so elated that such a place existed…where I could go grocery shopping and not spend half the time staring at ingredients, allergen information, and certain key words that clue me in on whether or not I can consume it or not. It was something I haven’t been able to do in over a year. And I loved every moment of it.
I loved it so much that I returned the following day…very close to their closing time to grab a few more things. I was leaving to head home the following morning, so it was my last chance. I was good and kept myself to a limited number of items. Even better, I discovered that the Gluten-Free Trading Company also ships. SO…if there is something I got that I love and still can’t get anywhere around here…they can get it to me. Let the second happy dance of joy commence.
And if Milwaukee wasn’t already winning me over with the restaurants aplenty that do gluten-free foods (see previous blogs), the fact that they have TWO such places that do just gluten-free stuff is astounding. I wanted to get over to A Gluten-Free Frenzy, which is a grocery store and café in Milwaukee, but they had closed by the time we made our way over there. So…something to check out the next time. From the Web site, I might just have to get a snack while visiting there too.
Milwaukee…you really surprised me. Between being able to safely eat dinner somewhere and have an appetizer, entree, and dessert, and being able to grocery shop in not just one, but two places completely dedicated to gluten-free foods…it just won my heart. I love you.
And I hope to come back and visit soon.
Now…what would it take to get a place like this near where I live, right?
*wistful sigh*
My haul from the Gluten-Free Trading Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
I love eggplant! Love it. It’s nutritious. Delicious. And highly underrated. Let’s face it…you say eggplant to someone who never really has tasted one and you get the wrinkled up nose and the comment that they don’t like eggplant. Well, how do they know? And have they ever had eggplant done right?
One of my favorite things to cook with eggplant is eggplant rollatini. This recipe is fantastic and snagged from one of my favorite magazines to dive into every month – Prevention.
It’s healthy, easy , and delicious. The eggplant is soft and tender, like a noodle…but healthier. And the filling…yeah…it’s the star. If you are unsure about eggplant, I recommend trying out this recipe and seeing if it changes your mind. Trust me…you’ll fall in love with it.
Coat a large baking sheet with olive oil cooking spray.
Coat a 9″x 9″ baking dish with cooking spray and place 1/2 cup of marinara sauce on bottom of dish to coat.
Peel the eggplant, if desired. (Personally, I left the skin on).
Cut lengthwise into 1/4″-thick slices. Place on the prepared baking sheet and coat with olive oil cooking spray.
Broil 6″ from the heat for 10 minutes or until softened and lightly browned, turning once. Reduce the oven to 350°F.
Combine the ricotta, Parmesan, basil, garlic and pepper in a medium bowl.
Divide evenly between the eggplant, spooning onto 1 end of each slice.
Roll the slices around the filling, starting from a short side.
Arrange seam sides down in the prepared baking dish.
Spoon 2 cups of the marinara sauce over the eggplant rolls and sprinkle with the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
Cover and bake for 25 minutes or until heated through.
Serve.
Eggplant Rollatini freshly baked and out of the oven
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The most difficult part of this recipe was slicing the eggplant. Originally the mandolin slicer was what I attempted, but that didn’t work out. A run to the grocery store later and another eggplant and I was hand slicing these as thin as possible. It worked. And my eggplant browned up nicely under the broiler.
Even better, once I arranged the 8 rolls of eggplant, sauced it, cheesed it, and allowed it to bake, it came out perfectly. I mean…what’s not to love about baked, tender eggplant rolled around a delicious blend of cheeses and topped off with sauce. I even used my homemade marinara sauce from my previous post for this dish. Perfect pairing.
Go on. Go get an eggplant and try this one for yourself. It’s not only nutritious…but it is guaranteed to satisfy even the pickiest palate.
Welcome to the point where I sit in the kitchen, staring at a bowl full of organic tomatoes on-the-vine, and think to myself it’s time to branch out a little and try to create and do something with them…because I had a lot of tomatoes and I didn’t want them to go to waste. I also had an eggplant in the refrigerator from my weekly CSA and I had every intention of cooking up some eggplant rollatini with it. So, what better way to use tomatoes up than to make your own marinara sauce.
And that’s exactly what I did. In a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-chef-pants sort of way. I went into the pantry, the spice cabinet, and the fridge and pulled out ingredients I felt would make a flavorful marinara sauce.
2 pounds organic on-the-vine tomatoes
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 small white onion, chopped (about 3/4 cup)
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup red wine
1 tsp dried basil (or 2 tbsp fresh)
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried parsley
salt, to taste
Directions:
Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.
Prepare an ice bath and place near the stove.
Using a paring knife, cut a shallow x onto the bottom of each tomato and carefully add the tomatoes to the boiling water and cook until the skins split, 15 to 20 seconds.
Using a slotted spoon, remove the tomatoes and place immediately into the ice bath. When they have cooled completely, removed the skins and discard.
Quarter the tomatoes. Remove the seeds. Chop the tomatoes and set aside.
Heat about a tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet set over medium-high heat.
Add the onion and cook until softened, 3-4 minutes.
Add the garlic and continue cooking until fragrant, about a minute more.
Stir in tomatoes. Cook until sauce reaches a simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low. Add the balsamic vinegar and tomato paste, and stir in. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Add the red wine and allow liquid to simmer and reduce. Add salt, to taste. Then stir in the basil, oregano, and parsley.
Pour the ingredients from the pan into a food processor and pulse until it is to the consistency that you like.
Serve over pasta, pizza, veggies…or whatever. This marinara is so versatile.
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I admit it…I was playing with fire when I went into the kitchen to cook this up. I started off with a recipe, but before even getting started, I tossed it out, said “Screw it…I’m winging it.” And that’s what I did. The result…a flavorful, robust, delicious marinara that I ended up using over homemade eggplant rollatini. Great flavor. The tomatoes and the wine pair up perfectly and really bring the flavor to the sauce. I surprised myself when I cooked this up. Now I can’t wait to get in there and experiment some more.
Please…try my recipe and let me know what you think!
There are just moments that occur while you are watching Food Network that you sit there, staring at the screen, drooling, and wishing you were BFFs with the chef because the dish they are making just looks and sounds so fantastic. Sometimes, these recipes are completely out of the league of the everyday home chef.
But not in the case of the recipe for Confetti Corn, compliments of the Barefoot Contessa. You know…she is an amazing chef and it’s not difficult to change up her higher-fat/calorie recipes to make them healthier. Believe me…I have done it. But there is no need for such things with this vegetable dish.
Trust me…no one I have made this for has disliked it at all. It always receives rave reviews. So…now it’s your turn to give this dish a try. I promise…you won’t disappoint. As Ina Garten says…you’ll be turning the flavor way up.
2 tablespoons unsalted butter (I used Earth Balance)
Kernels cut from 5 ears yellow or white corn (4 cups)
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons julienned fresh basil
Directions:
Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large saute pan.
Add the onion and saute for 5 minutes, until the onion is soft. Stir in the bell pepper and saute for 2 more minutes.
Add the butter to the pan and allow it to melt.
Over medium heat, add the corn, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 7 minutes, until the corn just loses its starchiness.
Season to taste, gently stir in the basil and serve hot.
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Yes…it really is that easy. And with the easy comes a dish that offers burst of flavor with little seasoning. The ingredients and fresh produce are the stars of this dish and they really shine.
But…don’t just sit here taking my word for it. Try it yourself. You’ll be surprised at how much flavor comes out of these vegetables. So delicious.
When it comes to Mexican delicacies like guacamole and salsa, there is one chef who I would bet my life on to have a fantastic recipe. That man is the amazing Rick Bayless. And once again, he proved me right when I was determined to make my own salsa for the first time…ever. This recipe is not only easy, but it has a nice slow burn to it. It’s fantastic and it will definitely show you how brilliant this chef is when it comes to Mexican fare.
One important thing I did learn…while cutting the jalapeños…should one accidentally squirt you directly in the eye…it will burn…a lot. And it will hurt…a lot. Oh…and your eye might swell up. Mine did.
Ah, the life lessons we learn in the kitchen.
But without further adieu…the recipe that won my salsa-loving heart.
1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes in juice, preferably fire roasted
1/4 cup (loosely packed) chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Salt
Directions:
In a small ungreased skillet over medium heat, roast the chiles and garlic, turning regularly, until they are soft and blotchy brown, about 10 minutes for the chiles, 15 minutes for the garlic. Cool until handleable, then pull the stem(s) off the chile(s) and roughly chop. Peel the skin off the garlic. Scoop into a food processor and pulse until quite finely chopped.
Add the tomatoes with their juice. Re-cover and pulse until you have a coarse puree. Scrape into a serving dish. Stir in the cilantro and lime juice. Taste and season with salt, usually about 1/2 teaspoon.
Serve.
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As I said, this salsa has a nice kick to it, and I even scraped out the seeds of the jalapeños. But, it isn’t too spicy. If you wanted less heat, I recommend using a milder chile or perhaps just using one as opposed to the two that I used. But, this is a nice, medium-heat salsa that compliments a good handful of gluten-free tortilla chips. And…yes…it really is that easy to prepare. So get your your pan and your food processor. This delicious and flavorful salsa can be yours to indulge in too.
Thank you again, master of Mexican cuisine. One again, Rick Bayless…you rocked it out.
Now that I’m back to being in one place for an extended period of time, I’m back in the kitchen with a vengence. Oh yes…you better believe my brain is coming up with new ways to dress up a recipe, creating my own, and just testing things out to see how they work. This…is my element. This is what I love. So, I step away from the freezer for a moment and pull out my baking sheets and ingredients. The plan is to use ingredients I have so no grocery store trip is necessary.
One of my favorite snacks of all time is apple with peanut butter on it. So…I just happened to have Reeses Peanut Butter Baking Chips in my pantry, apple cider and applesauce in my fridge, and a moment to spare for my favorite room in the house – the kitchen!
Gluten-free baking is tricky, but satisfying. When you get it right, you get it right. I’ve been playing around with my scone recipe quite a lot lately, adding things and subtracting things to not just be gluten-free, but also vegan. Why? Because I love to experiment. And this, friends, was an experiment that went completely right.
Recipe: Gluten-Free Apple Cider Peanut Butter Chip Scones
Add the applesauce and apple cider. Mix together with a fork. Dough will be thick.
Drop large, tall dollops of dough (scones will spread when baking) onto lightly greased baking sheet.
Bake for 15-17 minutes.
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Do you love caramel apples? Well, surprisingly, that’s what these taste like…although with that peanut butter flavor there at the end. They are soft, delightful little breakfast goodies to bake up for anytime. And if you love apples with peanut better…yeah…you’ll like these. I promise. I mean…the flavor combination is a sure-fire win.
I hope to make these again soon. Baking up breakfast has never been more delicious and savory-sweet!
Walker Bros. Original Pancake House, Glenview, Illinois
Restaurant: Walker Bros. Original Pancake House, Glenview, Illinois
What happens when you leave the hotel bright and early, heading home from a fantastic vacation, and you have breakfast on the brain? You make a stop in the Chicago area for breakfast…that’s what happens. And when in the Chicago area, some of the best breakfast around is served up at Walker Bros. The Original Pancake House.
Walker Bros. is apparently a Chicago-area landmark. It’s first location was opened in 1960 in Wilmette. Since then, other locations have opened, but standards have been kept high. In fact, Walker Bros. was named as one of USA Today’s “Top Ten Pancake Restaurants in the Nation.” Additionally, Zagat sang their praises and named them Chicago’s “best breakfast – bar none.” Apparently, Walker Bros. is the place to hit up when the breakfast craving hits.
And…that’s what we did
You know a place is good when you turn into a full parking lot. And then…the line. It was a long line…and a rather decent wait to get seated. But the staff turned tables as fast as they could and we never really stood for too long somewhere. One of the hostesses came through to find out how many people were in each party to assist with getting the line moving. Oh, I was already excited about breakfast here.
We were finally seated, approximately 30-40 minutes after our arrival. The restaurant has this nice, homey appeal to it. Waiters wear white, button-up shirts and diner hats. Yes…those little folded hats that were a standard in every diner in the 50s. Talk about a throwback! The Glenview location is designed with solid oak, brass lamps, and stained glass. It’s beautiful. And bustling.
We were given water and given some time to peruse the menu. And there…a shining beacon on the pancake page…was gluten-free pancakes. I was sold. FINALLY…no omelets or eggs. I could get something that I normally can’t enjoy while out at a breakfast place.
We placed our orders. Cathy treated herself to one of the standards that Walker Bros. is known for – Three Little Pigs In A Blanket ($7.25), which is their own house-made sausage wrapped in fluffy pancakes, dusted with powdered sugar, and served with whipped butter and syrup. As for me…I had to order the Gluten-Free Pancakes ($7.25), which comes with whipped butter and syrup.
I was practically giddy with anticipation over these pancakes…for real! I don’t think I shut up about them as we waited on our order to arrive at our table. I got really excited when the little dishes of maple syrup arrived. Our food wasn’t far behind.
And holy flap-jacks, Batman…you get your money’s worth from the menu. My very large plate was filled with six fluffy gluten-free pancakes. Yes…six. Holy Moses. They were perfectly cooked up too, with that beautiful golden crust on the outside. I sparingly spread a bit of the butter over a couple of the pancakes, poured a touch of syrup over them, took a breath, and sliced through one with the edge of my fork. A moment later, I was enjoying the taste of pancakes…not prepared by me for a change.
The Gluten-Free Pancakes from Walker Bros. are light and fluffy for sure. They have the crunch of the outer, golden crust that I love when pancakes are done right. And the best part is…they are gluten-free, wheat free and peanut free. So…safe to eat if you have any of those allergens. Nothing is off with the taste. They are fantastic, reminding me of what classic buttermilk pancakes were like. Man, I’ve missed being able to have pancakes out at these places known for breakfast food.
Could I eat all six pancakes? No. But I managed more than I expected. I was caught up in the taste, texture, and sheer brilliance of the Gluten-Free Pancakes. Walker Bros. managed to turn out a plate of pancakes that tasted like classic buttermilk pancakes…none of this cornmeal business…this was a classic pancake…minus the gluten. And yes…it made me so happy to be eating there.
When food can put a smile on your face, leave you satisfied, and just be fantastic…then something is being done right. Walker Bros. definitely sets a high standard for brunch places and pancake houses. They beat out any franchise or chain…hands down. It’s obvious they respect the products they put out and want to serve the best to every customer. The service was fantastic…the food…even better.
If you find yourself traveling through the Chicago area and a hankering for breakfast (no matter what time of day…they are open until 9:30 p.m.) hits…find a Walker Bros. I mean it. I will forever visit here because I know I can get amazing food that works with my food allergies. And…hello…I can eat pancakes!!
There are two certainties in life when I travel. One is that I will find a pub to dine at. The other is that I will split a banana split with my roommate. Why? Because that’s just how I roll, friends. And a trip should always be accompanied by good food and an ice cream treat. Worry about your figure another time. Ice cream is to be enjoyed.
So, after a long day of seeing the running in a Quarter Marathon, hiking down to the beach of Lake Michigan, dining at a great pub, shopping, seeing the sights…it was starting to get late…and my roommate and I wanted a sweet, cold treat to mark the end of a fantastic day and put some food in our now hungry bodies. Let’s face it…we earned it.
Before even leaving for Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I was already searching for our place to treat ourselves to a banana split. When all was said and done, I settled with Babe’s Ice Cream on South Kinnickinnik Avenue in Milwaukee. We ended up at a fantastic place. Babe’s is family owned and operated, which is always a plus. And they offer a high, fine standard of ice cream, which you can get by the scoop…or in a sundae treat.
For us…it was all about the banana split ($6.95).
With Babe’s banana split, you get to choose your ice cream flavors to go over your split banana. We kept it to the standard…vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. Then you get to choose three toppings. We once again kept it to the usual suspects: strawberry, pineapple, hot fudge. And the whipped cream (made in house) can either be vanilla or chocolate. We stayed with vanilla. All of that topped off with three cherries. It looked divine.
It was a hot day, so I quickly took pictures of the masterpiece and then, we raised our spoons and dug in. Wow. The ice cream was really good. The vanilla was your standard vanilla. Nothing special. The strawberry was pretty good too. But the star of the banana split was the dark chocolate scoop in the center. In fact, it was the scoop that lasted the longest because my roomie and I were trying to savor that one. Best chocolate ice cream I have had…anywhere. And trust me, friends…I eat a lot of chocolate ice cream. Especially when it is dark chocolate! I don’t eat much whipped cream, but my roommate encouraged me to have a taste of the vanilla whipped cream. That…was a soft, amazing bite. Very creamy and amazing with the flavor.
We were totally impressed with Babe’s Ice Cream. The staff was awesome. They loved talking to us about where we were from. Why we were in town. And our obsession with banana splits. A customer came over to take a picture of our sundae because she said her boyfriend claims pineapple doesn’t go on a banana split and she wanted to prove him wrong. DUH! The pineapple topping is a staple on a banana split. Everyone knows that!!
The atmosphere was really great. Very relaxed. We sat there, talked, and enjoyed our ice cream to the fullest. And when we left…we were full, content, and happy.
That’s what ice cream should do for you. That means you’ve had a good ice cream experience.
While Milwaukee is the home of frozen custard, which is delicious in and of it’s own right, I encourage you, if visiting, to seek out Babe’s Ice Cream and treat yourself to one of their amazing ice creams. Either just have a scoop or enjoy one of their signature sundaes. In the end…you’ll find yourself a happier person who just enjoyed some of the best ice cream there is in Milwaukee. Trust me. It’s worth it. Spoil that diet for one day. It’s okay.
Me crossing the finish line of the Rock ‘N Sole Quarter Marathon – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Race: Rock ‘N Soul Quarter Marathon
Place: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Date: June 23, 2012
Time: 54:52
Apparently, last year, the Rock ‘N Sole Half Marathon didn’t work out so well. There were multiple hospitalizations, intense heat, and problems all around. But for this year’s race, they hired a new race director, changed the start time, had more volunteers, much more water, and added two races – a Quarter Marathon and a 5K race.
I could have run the half marathon, but being as I just ran one at the beginning of the month, when I was eying the Rock ‘N Sole race, I figured it was probably better to stick with the quarter marathon (that’s 6.55 miles). Besides, quarter marathons are rather rare, are a good distance, and it would fit right into my training for my next half marathon in September.
With no hesitation, I signed up. And this meant taking Friday, June 22, off from work and driving all the way from my home in Southern Indiana to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. My roommate and I decided to work it like it was one of your gym mornings, get up early, grab some breakfast at home, pack some snacks for the road, finish packing, and hit the road by 6:30 a.m. at the very latest. We hit the road at 6 a.m.
The drive up was long, but we put on the iPod and made it work. Somewhere in Chicago we dove into our GoPicnic boxes for lunch. And around 12:30 p.m., we were checking into our hotel in Milwaukee. Happiness. Soon after dropping off our luggage, we were hitting the road to downtown because I needed to hit up packet pick-up at the expo, which was happening at the Italian Community Center.
That expo was small as well, but larger than the one for Minneapolis. I walked straight back to the packet pick-up desk and got my bag that contained some goodies, race information, my bib, timing chip, and my shirt. The race excitement was definitely building now. It was feeling real. While walking around the expo, I was gifted with free socks being handed out by the main sponsor, BMO Harris Bank. Sweet. I eyed a few items at the expo, but as usual…lots of window shopping, no actual shopping. With all that done, and the expo fully explored, my roommate and I headed out to do some exploring and shopping in Milwaukee.
A few stores, some frozen custard, and a stop back at the hotel later, we were dressed in jeans and out of our travel-in-the-car clothes and heading out for dinner. Cathy found this great restaurant called Transfer Pizzeria & Café. And what made it so great, aside from the ambiance and amazing staff? Gluten-free bruschetta, gluten-free pizza, and a gluten-free brownie for dessert. Perfect ending to the night before the race. Carbs, dessert, and good times. It was back to the hotel afterwards to settle in for the night because the morning was going to be another early one.
It was 4 a.m. when my alarm on my iPhone began to go off. I got out of bed, grabbed my race clothes, and headed into the bathroom to change. Cathy turned on the Weather so we could see what we would be dealing with while I ate a serving of gluten-free cereal and she had a breakfast bar. We finished up, glad that it was in the low sixties currently and no rain was moving through, got our stuff, and headed downtown to the start of the race.
We arrived early so we could park in one of the free lots. We did get a spot in one with no problem. It wasn’t the one we were aiming for, but, hey…it was a spot. We grabbed the race bag and she got my sign and off we went. We could see the finish line from where we parked so now we had to make the walk to where the race was starting. It was a bit of a haul, but it wasn’t too bad. There were only a few runners currently mingling and standing around. Most people out there were volunteers. And as we neared the start line, which was in front of the Milwaukee Museum of Art on the lakefront, the sun began to come up and we had the most spectacular sunrise over the lake. It was fantastic.
So, we settled in on a bench and about an hour before the race, we had the rest of our breakfast. A granola bar for her and a banana with peanut butter for me. This gave my body time to digest. This was the same thing I ate before the Mini Marathon in Indianapolis…so I knew it would work out. Then, just as suddenly as the sun came up…it disappeared. And this thick wave of fog began to roll in off the lake. It was a blanket. No joke. The sun was completely gone and it was getting difficult to see too far in front of you.
It was kind of great though. I’ve run in heat, sun, snow, rain, cold, lightning…never fog. First time for everything. As 20 minutes to race time approached, the fog was even heavier. There were much more people around now and we all began our tradition of stretching and warming up. Everywhere you looked, runners were preparing for whichever race they were running.
The Half and Quarter Marathons were starting together at 7:00 a.m. The 5K would start at 7:20 a.m. So, around 6:45, the announcer began to tell runners to get into their corrals because the race would start promptly at 7:00. I gave Cathy a hug, and she wished me luck, and off I went to Corral G…my short-term home at the start of the race. At first, runners were scarce in the corrals. No, the fog wasn’t hiding them, they were just still making their way here. But soon we were lined up, listening to the National Anthem, and being told that at the top of the Daniel Hoan Bridge was our first water stop, but due to the fog…we couldn’t see it. So, we were to listen for instructions on where to be so we didn’t run into volunteers, tables or whatever. Yay, fog!
Runners head across the Daniel Hoan Bridge and into the thick fog
And then…the countdown began and we were off. Well, it took about 2 minutes to get from Corral G to the start line. Not too bad considering. And then, I hit start on my Garmin as I crossed the start line…and away I went with the group.
It was rather quick getting to the bridge, which was to offer spectacular views of the Milwaukee skyline, Lake Michigan, and the Summerfest grounds. But…we saw fog. Ah well. And, holding true…running up exit ramps…sucks. They are a lot steeper than they look, trust me. And about halfway up, my iPod shut off. So, I had to mess with that and get it working, which meant I wasn’t really running my best. But I got it sorted and back on track, and picked it up a little.
They were right…you couldn’t see the water station as you crested the top. But they had volunteers funneling runners through so that we all got in and out safely. Once we got past there, it was a breeze. Mile 1 was already behind me and I was making the push for Mile 2. The fog was beginning to become less dense, and the sun was making a play at coming back out. Mile 2 arrived just before we headed down the ramp to run a stretch of road. Mile 3 was at the top of the other exit ramp as we began to make our way back across the Daniel Hoan Bridge. There still wasn’t any visibility of the downtown, the lake, or the Summerfest grounds, but running in the fog was an adventure. However, with the sun breaking through, the heat of the day was starting to get felt.
Somewhere between Mile 3 and Mile 4, a man running in the half marathon stumbled and fell. I mean, took a hard crash down on the bridge. Runners stopped to help him up and make sure he was okay (I love the people in my sport!), and he shook it off and started back at a slower pace. He looked okay and seemed fine after that fall. That…is only a good thing.
Mile 4 kicked by us and soon we were heading off the bridge and into the downtown Milwaukee area. I felt great. This race felt great. I was keeping a good pace because I wasn’t completely exhausted yet. I was heading into Mile 5, feeling better than I did the previous 5 mile race the weekend before. It was awesome and I was having a great time.
Mile 5 marked the split. Quarter Marathon runners kept to the right to turn and head into the final 1.5 miles of the race to the finish line. Half Marathon runners continued on for 8.2 more miles. I made the split and was now running in downtown. We were guided through this beautiful area between the lake. With the sun out, it was a fantastic view. And I was loving it. Better yet, my legs were feeling strong and I was feeling better than I had on a longer race run in a long time. Mile 6 was here and I was moving really good. I knew I had just over a half mile to go. Normally I ride this out until I can see the finish line…but like I said…I was feeling good. Taking a risk, I picked up the pace.
The finish area was not in sight yet, but I could hear the announcer. So, I knew I was getting close. I came around a corner, and was heading down the street…then the course took another turn. There it was…the finish line. So…I decided to just put my all into the finish. Finish strong. That’s what I had every intention of doing. I pushed hard, I found the strength, and I tore it up to the finish line. I even remembered to stop my Garmin.
I saw Cathy up in the stands on the side of the course where all the 5K runners were coming in. She was screaming and waving her sign. I gave a fist pump of victory, not even looking at my time. It just felt good. The race felt good. I knew I had run it well. I made my way through runner’s services, receiving my finisher’s medal, water, some snacks, and getting my Finisher photo taken against the banner. Then it was into the Summerfest grounds to find Cathy.
It only took a moment to spot her, waving my sign at me from a shady spot. I hurried over there and finally checked my watch. If the official results were close to what my Garmin said…then I really tore this race up. That being said, I headed over to the results tent and got handed my ticket.
Official results of the Rock ‘N Sole Quarter Marathon are that I finished in 54:52. I was 171/1917 finishers overall. That…my friends…is AWESOME! I was 59/1309 women to cross the finish. And I was 12/228 people in my division. You know what the most amazing part is? That I beat out my last Quarter Marathon time by almost a full 10 minutes. I was shocked. Stunned. And I have to admit, the time and effort I’ve been putting into my training for these races is really starting to pay off. I can see the difference in my running. I have never felt that amazing at that point of a race. And when I look at my split times for each mile…for the first time ever…I ran a negative split, doing the second half of my race faster than the first half. In fact, my last two miles were my fastest, which averaged out to a pace of 7.4. Holy crap!
To say I am proud is an understatement. I am amazed. I am elated. And I’m still in awe. What a great race. I had a good time and I really found my stride. I learned to push myself beyond what I figured was what I could handle and discovered there is a lot more left in me than I thought. I finished strong, had a good race, and hope to come back for it again.
By now, my friends, you know the drill. When I go out of town, one of the main requirements when it comes to eating out is finding a good pub. Well, there are plenty to choose from in Milwaukee, trust me. And when possible, it’s best to ask a local about where to get the best pub grub in town. But, I sort of stumbled upon this place via an Internet search. And my roommate mentioned it to a local at the race and she gave it her approval.
The pub: Brocach Irish Pub & Restaurant in downtown Milwaukee.
There was much anticipation coming into a late lunch/early dinner here. We needed to wait for the dinner menu to be offered and not the brunch menu, as it would be a crime for my roomie to go into a pub and not be able to have the fish and chips. So, we hit there around 3:00 p.m. and were greeted in the little alcove inside the door and taken to a table upstairs. Except no one informed our waiter that the upstairs was reserved for a wedding party. So, back down the stairs we went and were given a nice raised table to settle into. Our waiter took our drink order and we settled in to peruse the menu.
There were plenty of options on there for a vegetarian. However, with me also being gluten-free, I was pretty much limited to a salad. Which is fine, because they had a list of delicious, large salads to choose from…varieties on flavor…everything a vegetarian could ask for. So, I sat there and went over which one I really wanted to try. My roomie helped me come to my final decision as her mind was already set on the Fish and Chips ($13.50).
So when our waiter returned to take our order, she did her standard, and I put in for the Very Veggie Salad ($8.00).
The pub wasn’t hopping yet. The wedding party was en route, but we were there at an odd time to order food. So, our wait wasn’t very long before we had plates of food being set in front of us. My roommate’s fish and chips actually looked like a decent, normal portion. Nothing that would be too much. And my salad was freakin’ huge.
The Very Veggie Salad was a toss of mixed greens, grape tomatoes, green beans, red onions, cucumbers, chickpeas, and artichokes. All of this was tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette, which I meant to ask for on the side, but they didn’t drown my salad in it, so I was okay with it. It was a very colorful salad, with lots going on. LOTS.
So, after taking my photos for the blog, I picked up my fork and dug in. And here is what I loved about it. The artichokes lent a perfect hint of bite to the salad. I love artichokes, so including them in the salad made a perfect compliment to the other ingredients in there. The green beans were al dente. The chickpeas gave me some much-needed protein. And the rest of the vegetables were all fresh. Every forkful brought a new blend of flavors. And the dressing was the right match for this kind of salad. Light so as not to overpower the great vegetable combination going on in the bowl. Yeah…I was one happy girl at the table.
My roommate loved her fish and chips, so we were both quite content at the end of the meal. What’s more is the pub vibe you get at Brocach. It’s laid back. It’s easy-going. It’s like a true pub in Ireland. The Euro 2012 matches were playing on the television near the bar. We could still hear ourselves talk as we settled in to eat. It was the perfect setting and I’m glad we ended up going there.
Brocach has a lot to offer and a little bit of something for everyone who walks through the doors. They served up amazing food without a long wait. And provided the perfect setting for a great dinner out in Milwaukee. And we left just as the wedding party was beginning to arrive. So, we actually had really good timing. Next time I’m in Milwaukee, would I go back. Sure. But there are other pubs to try…although it is definitely not out of the question.
The Celiathlete 