Adventures at Wine and Dine Wisconsin + Giveaway Winners!
November 12th, 2012 | Author: Alysha
I’m so sorry I was MIA for my Thursday Things (I was even hoping to make it up with some Friday Things but no cigar). Last week was literally insane. Don’t worry, I’ll explain later. Just stay tuned for an exciting announcement later this week!
I’ve been looking forward to this past weekend for awhile. The lovely folks over at the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (they sponsored our cheese road trip this summer) gave me a few tickets for Wine and Dine Wisconsin, which they also sponsored. It takes place over two days, Saturday and Sunday, at the Delta Center in downtown Milwaukee. The venue is gigantic and was filled with food, wine and beer galore. Each guest was given a commemorative wine glass for tasting throughout the event.
Just like at Milwaukee Brew Fest, I gravitated toward Cider Square like white on rice (sorry, I just love that phrase and thought it needed a cameo on the blog). I discovered a new favorite – Hornsby’s.
The Nueske’s booth and a mystery appetizer from Molly Cool’s
Although Wine and Dine has a good selection of food (and especially cheeses), I thought the sweets to savory food ratio was a little off. I would have liked to see a wider variety of “real food.” There is a separate section called Critic’s Choice where you pay $19 extra to gain access to 30 additional restaurants (ticket prices for general admission are $45 in advance and $55 at the door). I’m sure the VIP section gave more savory options, which would have changed my opinion.
Bacon jam crostini from the Rumpus Room
You could also buy some really unique wine racks from The Barrel Broker. I just love that one on the far right — how elegant if you had a real dining room.
The gadget I was most impressed with was the Verismo from Starbuck’s (Oh, and I’m smiling like a crazy person because I sneaked a coffee for the second time that day and felt like a bandit). This appliance makes single-serving lattes in about a minute. I’d love to put this baby on my desk along with my Capresso electric tea kettle, but the Verismo starts at $199 and you can only buy Starbuck’s special pods. Still, this thing was pretty cool.
The Pasta Shoppe Giveaway Winners!
Thanks to everyone who entered my holiday gift box giveaway for The Pasta Shoppe. The winners are Sarah, Lisa and Sun! Please send me your mailing address to Alysha@Shesontherun.com so you can get your prize asap!
Question: Do you own a single-serve coffee machine? Do you think it’s worth it?
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I think I know what the announcement is….. :)
As you know, I have a Keurig. I do like it, however I used to make big batches of coffee and put it in the fridge for iced coffee and I can’t really do that with a Keurig so I picture myself using it more in the winter rather the summer.
Brittney @ Brittney Breathing recently posted..Restaurant Remake: Jose’s Blue Sombrero Seafood Burritos
I just started saving my leftover coffee for ices coffee about 6 months ago. I love doing that.
Alysha @ She’s on the Run recently posted..Adventures at Wine and Dine Wisconsin + Giveaway Winners!
LOVE! I wish I knew about this! I don’t think we could have made it this weekend, but I’m always amazed by how much is going on that I don’t know about! Seems so fun!
Laurie @ Love, Laugh, Laurie recently posted..Our New Kitchen
I’ll try to give you a heads up next time if there is anything fun going on :)
Alysha @ She’s on the Run recently posted..Adventures at Wine and Dine Wisconsin + Giveaway Winners!
That looks like such a fun way to spend the weekend. I need to find more wine tasting events here in Chicago! BTW, I love your dress! Super cute!
luv what you do recently posted..Happy Birthday BOY
I’m sure there are a TON in Chicago (and probably bigger and better than what we have in MKE).
Alysha @ She’s on the Run recently posted..Adventures at Wine and Dine Wisconsin + Giveaway Winners!
I have always wanted to attend a food festival like that, one day!
Alex @ therunwithin recently posted..MIMM: Abbreviated
I’m sure they have some good ones in DC. Do it!!
Alysha @ She’s on the Run recently posted..Adventures at Wine and Dine Wisconsin + Giveaway Winners!
My office has a single-serve coffee machine. I like how the coffee is always fresh, but those little plastic cups are so wasteful! I feel terrible throwing them away every day.
I’ve heard about re-usable ones, maybe I should try to get my manager to buy those for us instead!
Alex @ Brain, Body, Because recently posted..West Coast Trip
I agree. The waste is a big issue for me too. I hope your office manager can get you the reusable ones. I’m all for being green!
Alysha @ She’s on the Run recently posted..Adventures at Wine and Dine Wisconsin + Giveaway Winners!
I can’t wait to hear your announcement! Looks like you had an amazing time! I’m still jealous of all the awesome foodie activities you do. I never can bring myself to spend the money on those things when they happen in Atlanta. I need to stop being so stingy.
Carol @ Lucky Zucca recently posted..The Wise Words of a Professor
Ok. All my foodies don’t even measure against all the wonderful food you’ve had in Europe!
Alysha @ She’s on the Run recently posted..Adventures at Wine and Dine Wisconsin + Giveaway Winners!
Looking forward to the announcement! :-)
I have a Keurig and I love it! It makes sense for our household because my husband RARELY drinks coffee, so there would be no point in brewing an entire pot!
Erica @ For the Sake of Cake recently posted..Half Marathon Training Update – 11/12
That makes a lot of sense. Brenton and I both drink a ton of coffee so we’d be using probably 3-4 pods a day.
Alysha recently posted..Adventures at Wine and Dine Wisconsin + Giveaway Winners!
I really wanted to attend Wine & Dine for the chef talks, but $45 seemed steep so me, so I skipped it. Glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Karis’ Kitchen recently posted..Potato Leek Soup
I think $45 is really steep too. But if you drink a lot of beer/wine, that alone would be worth it.
Alysha recently posted..Adventures at Wine and Dine Wisconsin + Giveaway Winners!
I’ve got a couple of comments for ya! 1. Your outfit is super cute and so is that first pic of you with the wine, 2. I’m glad you mentioned that about the sweet to savory ratio and the fact that for $19 more you got to try the “real food”. Knowing this ahead of time would really affect my decision to go and spend the $45 as we were debating doing it and I think that extra $19 was a bit overshadowed in their advertising and 3. We bought a Keurig less than a month ago and both love it. I’m not a coffee drinker, but I look forward to my hot apple cider or chai tea in it at night. Much more economical for us since Chris is the only coffee drinker so less waste. But, the coffee/tea, etc is between $8 and $10 at our grocery store, so it definitely pads the grocery bill every other week!
Erica recently posted..A Very Fall Weekend
Thanks for the outfit compliment! My dress is actually from Goodwill (I love a good bargain!). Also, I could definitely go for some hot apple cider these days. I need a nightcap that doesn’t have caffeine (or booze!)
Alysha recently posted..Adventures at Wine and Dine Wisconsin + Giveaway Winners!
I love going to events like these! I always want to try every single thing on menus, so a tasting is perfection. Too bad more restaurants don’t do flights/tasting menus regularly.
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted..Work It Out 1.5
I love the tasting too. That’s why I’m obsessed with tapas!
Alysha @ She’s on the Run recently posted..Adventures at Wine and Dine Wisconsin + Giveaway Winners!
Aww, you look so good in those pics!! Before I went meatless, we bought all our bacon from Nueske’s. Hubby is still a carnivore and loves their stuff!! You go to such fun events!!
Alissa N recently posted..Sweet Potato and Spinach Sauté
My BF turned me onto Neuske’s too! We visited their flagship store in Northern Wisconsin this summer. It was wonderful!
Alysha recently posted..Product Review: Zensah Compression Socks
It all looks so amazing! I’m glad that tasting was a good one, because I think they can be very hit or miss!!
Brigitt @ Cook With B recently posted..Quinoa Cakes With Kale and Dijon Yogurt Sauce
I agree with you. And what one person may like, another may not. I would definitely like to go to more tastings though :) I’m sure you’d have some pretty awesome ones in NYC- plus with your job connections..wink wink!
Alysha recently posted..Thursday Things