For those of you not from Wisconsin, I’m sure you’re reading the title and going, “wa wa, what!?”

Wauwatosa is a western suburb of Milwaukee. Its name means “firefly.” That was one the facts I learned last weekend on our Milwaukee Food Tour.

Last year we went on a Bloody Mary Brunch Tour for Brenton’s birthday. Ironically, his birthday is today. Another ironic fact is that I won the tickets through Married in Milwaukee. And if you know me, you know I’m obviously not married!

The tour started at the Wauwatosa Farmers Market.

We checked out Bolzano Meats first.

Then came Purple Door Ice Cream. Holy mother of diary. I am obsessed with this stuff. It’s made locally in Milwaukee and would put any pint of Ben & Jerry’s to shame.

We tried chocolate, peanut butter and strawberry wine. I have got to pick up a pint (or heck, a gallon) of the strawberry ice cream. It was so fresh, flavorful and creamy.

Next, we visited Cafe Hollander. This place is always busy, and it’s easy to see why. When we lived on Milwaukee’s East Side, we would visit there frequently, and their food was always amazing (especially the portobello mushroom burger).

Striking a post with my Valentine’s Coffee.

The first tasting was meatballs with a curry ketchup. I think Brenton was in heaven.

Their benelux salad was amazing. I could eat this salad every day for lunch.

Next, we visited Oro di Oliva to taste premium vinegars and olive oils. I’ve seen places like this before but never actually stepped into one. Although their products are more expensive than oils and vinegars in the grocery store, this is one case where you really get what you pay for. Everything I tasted (from the mushroom and sage olive oil to the raspberry basalmic vinegar) was intensely flavored, clean tasting and the best quality I have ever had. If you need a gift for someone who loves to cook, I highly recommend buying from a store like Oro di Oliva.

Afterwards we ate pizza and drank wine at Pizzeria Piccola. We tried the four seasons and the margarita pizzas. I loved the four seasons because it had olives, mushrooms and artichokes. Bring on the veggies!

The One Way Cafe satisfied my sweet tooth. Their lemon bars was so citrusy. And that crust…to. die. for. For the chocoholics, there was a brownie alongside that was rich, dense and fudgy (is there any other kind?!). The lemon bar was my favorite though. I’d drive the 20 minutes to Wauwatosa just for that.

The tour ended at Niemann’s Candies where we sampled their caramels. I’d hate to admit, but they blow our homemade caramels out of the water. Maybe I can trade my firstborn child for the recipe.

All in all, we had a great time on the tour. Milwaukee Food Tours offers a variety of tours throughout the Milwaukee area. I’d love to take my mom to the Cedarburg tour. We love shopping and having girls’ days in that town, and what better way to explore it more than through food?

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