 |  | | June 24, 2025
Riding out the heat in my air-conditioned home this weekend, I almost forgot about the summer solstice. That is, until I snuck out to grab some mulberries off the tree in my yard to bake muffins for a visiting friend. Ripe strawberries, juneberries and mulberries (not always in that order), are the trifecta for me that signifies it's officially summer. Harvesting mulberries — while holding onto my ladder for dear life as the tree branches whipped back and forth in the wind — was the final link in that series of events this year, and I remembered the solstice just in time.
The beginning of summer also means we're roughly halfway through the year. Well actually, with the Madison Magazine print calendar running three months ahead of schedule, it's already October for our writers and editors. But I want to pump the brakes before we get too far ahead of ourselves and check in with you — the reader. Are there stories we haven't told yet this year that you want to read? I'm always keeping my eye out for new ideas in the food and farming landscape of Madison and surrounding counties. If something comes to mind, send it my way by replying to this email or shooting a note to ewaldinger@madisonmagazine.com — I always respond to reader mail.
While you're at it, feel free to let me know how I'm doing with this newsletter in our survey.
Emma Waldinger is associate editor at Madison Magazine and an award-winning food writer. She curates this biweekly newsletter for Madison Magazine. | |  | | Dishes, dining and food experiences that I'm fixating on | | | 🍅 Homemade salsa season is this close — just a few more weeks until an abundance of tomatoes are coming off the vine to nearby farmers' markets. Until then, I'm reminded that local youth organization Mentoring Positives produces a fantastic salsa that's sold online and in local grocery stores, like Metcalfe's Market and Willy Street Co-op, all year round. I recommend the spicy version, which Mentoring Positives clarifies is "Midwest spicy" (i.e. not too spicy).
🫛 A sugar snap pea side dish was the star of a recent dinner I had at Fairchild with Madison Magazine's editor-in-chief, Andie Behling, and Glenn Krieg, CFO of our magazine's parent company, Morgan Murphy Media. The vegetable from Young Earth Farm in Randolph, Wisconsin was perfectly (which is a word I don't use lightly) sweet and crunchy in a sauce of wasabi butter and horseradish. I even got to sneak some sugar snap peas off the plate of someone else's risotto entree, served with butter-poached morels, green garlic and lemon.
| | | | | |  | | | The food truck, which is popular for its burgers, churros and fries (including vegan and vegetarian options), doubles its fleet and vending schedule. | | | | | | A pair of women caught on a security camera at Lola's Hi/Lo Lounge, that's who — and they aren't the only two pilfering items from local restaurants. | | | | | | "The Wisconsin Whey" offers an in-depth look at 12 cheesemakers — and the cheesemaking process — in Wisconsin's Driftless Region. | | | | | | In the mood for Mexican? Ancho & Agave brings together quality ingredients, refreshing beverages and good times for a crave-worthy experience. | | | | |  |  | | A curated selection of food-related events in the next two weeks | | | | | |  | HWY 1 replaces Miko Poke, offering burritos, bowls and salads, plus happy hour deals and on-tap beverages. | | | | These 21 dog-friendly restaurants, patios and bars in the Madison area are sure to get your four-legged friend's tail wagging. | | | | | | | | Recent local restaurant openings and closings - Tailer Nicole Wine & Cupcakes kicks off its grand opening weekend on June 27 with live music, followed by artist talks on Saturday, June 28 and a wine and mimosa brunch on Sunday, June 29. The new lounge space in the Black Business Hub (2352 S. Park St.) will serve wine by the glass, cupcakes made in-house and bottles of wine for retail.
| |  | | |     | | |
