 |  | | May 13, 2025
This week, I'm getting ready for a four-day trip to New York City and, naturally, I'm most excited to eat.
I already have all three evenings I'll be there booked out with dinner reservations: Jeju Noodle Bar (Korean cuisine) on Thursday night, Il Buco (rustic Mediterranean) on Friday night and for the grand finale, Le Bernardin (French seafood with three Michelin stars) on Saturday night. Though, if I'm being totally honest, I'd probably be just as happy with an authentic New York bagel, lox and schmear every night. I've had some pretty incredible culinary experiences in my travels, but as much as I value trying new restaurants in other cities, I'm reminded of something L'Etoile's pastry chef, Kristine Miller, said to me in a recent interview.
"Every time Tory [Miller, head chef at L'Etoile and Kristine's husband] and I go to New York or Chicago, and we're so excited to go to these really famous places, we always come away from it, like, we have really amazing stuff at home," she says. "It always reaffirms how lucky we are here and how much we have and how much people do in such a small market."
I couldn't agree more. No matter how many culinary hotspots I travel to, it always seems to remain that some of my favorite dishes and restaurants are right here — in Madison. Lucky we are, indeed.
Emma Waldinger is associate editor at Madison Magazine and an award-winning food writer. She curates this biweekly newsletter for Madison Magazine. Reach her at ewaldinger@madisonmagazine.com. | |  | | Dishes, dining and food experiences that I'm fixating on | | | 🥬 My contribution to Mother's Day dinner this year was an abundant spring salad. I tossed together radishes, sunflower shoots, ramps, asparagus and mixed greens with a homemade lemon and ramp vinaigrette.
🐐 Spring is one of the most exciting times of the year for me — and not because of the warmer weather or the burgeoning flowers, although those things are nice, too. What really has me excited is that Dreamfarm's goat cheese is back on shelves at the grocery store. I'll spare you my ramblings of praise and simply say this: If you don't like goat cheese, you'll like this goat cheese. It literally is the G.O.A.T.
| | | | | |  | | | Let Ahan be your guide to this versatile root vegetable, whether it's part of a sweet treat or a tasting note in your cocktail. | | | | | | On this 86-acre farm in Fitchburg, find a refurbished barn, hops production, experimental grain, sheep grazing and more. | | | | | | A former owner of Harmony Bar and Grill on the east side recounts running the beloved local bar through good times and bad. | | | | | | Get your tickets while they last for Seven Acre Dairy Co.'s Hilltop Dinner Series featuring meals served by top chefs and local legends! | | | | |  |  | | A curated selection of food-related events in the next two weeks | | | | | |  | Mobile platform looks to verify the farm-to-table label by connecting farmers, restaurants and diners through searchable local ingredient lists. | | | | This month, sample local wines and ciders, celebrate Norwegian heritage in Stoughton or taste vegan sausage at local festivals and cultural celebrations. | | | | | | | | Recent local restaurant openings and closings - Fast-casual Miko Poke on Monroe Street will be evolving into a new concept. Food Fight Restaurant Group announced that the restaurant will become HWY 1, a Baja-inspired build-your-own burritos, bowls and salads spot, in June.
- Touch of Ukraine, a restaurant opened by Ukrainian immigrants in the Union Corners development on Madison's east side, recently announced its closing after less than two years in business.
- Ha Long Bay has been quietly reopening on Williamson Street over the last few weeks. New owners Stephanie and Jacqueline Le have made some upgrades to the beloved east side spot — like adding a bar and creating a menu of tropical cocktails — but the food is all the same.
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