Last night I had a date with the Milwaukee Public Market.
I fell in love with farmers’ markets when I moved downtown a few years ago. I like them so much that in the summer I spend almost every Saturday morning biking from the East Town Market to the East Side Open Market to take in the aroma of fresh herbs and flowers, and to sink my teeth into ripe plums and sour apples.
Up until 2005, I spent the long winter months pining for the healthy, local, organic foods found at the outdoor markets and the vision of winding through aisles of stands and perusing their offerings. But once the Milwaukee Public Market opened, the city’s premiere year-round market easily filled that void and stole my heart.
Located in the Historic Third Ward, the Public Market offers the same feel as most weekly farmers’ markets, but it’s a little different. The Public Market is a permanent, all enclosed fixture rather than a collection of farmers stationed under foldable tents temporarily taking over Cathedral Square. Still, the Public Market features specialty food vendors that are all local or family owned and about half of which are actual farm/produce stands like a typical farmers’ market.
I usually shop and dine at the Milwaukee Public Market a couple times each month. And last night I longed for a visit.
After an exhausting day at work I didn’t feel like cooking, so I stopped in the Ward on my way home to get supper and to pickup a pre-made entree for lunch tomorrow. I found parking unusually fast and then headed toward the allure of the Market.
First, I needed a caffeine fix, so I hurried to the Wisconsin-based Cedarburg Coffee Roastery, which was all the way on the opposite end of the Market. On the way there, I snatched a sample of Havarti cheese from atop a glass case filled with rows and rows of cheese. Note: this is the Cheese State. The line for coffee was surprisingly long, but it moved fairly quickly. With a steaming cup of Americano, I could now enjoy a leisurely stroll through the bustling market.
With a variety of food vendors – The Soup and Stock Market, Sushi-A-Go-Go, St. Paul Fish Company and C. Adam’s Bakery – the Public Market is an ideal place to stop for a quick bite downtown or to grab dinner for the family on your way out of the city.
Inside the Market are unique, high quality selections of artisan and ethnic fare and organic and freshly-made foods. Despite an enormous demand for healthy and organic products these days, what I think is most important is the vast amount of local produce available at the Public Market. Ultimately I believe that local produce is better in an environmental sense than anything organic that’s flown or trucked into the city. Plus, a venue that sells local products is a huge improvement over the average big-box, cookie cutter retailer in the suburbs that ship in frozen foods from other cities in the United States.
Around the perimeter, there are local entrepreneurs like a bread bakery, a cheese vendor, a butcher, a fishmonger, a confectionery, and a florist, plus specialty items like sausages and jams and cooking oils. The vendors that make up the hub of the market are mostly all produce sellers and there’s a really cool spice shop thrown into the mix. The end stall is El Rey, a Mexican produce vendor selling fresh tropical fruits like pineapples and mangos that had been imported from Mexico and South America.
Several laps around the market worked up an appetite, and the delicious scents wafting throughout the place made my mouth water. Without hesitation, I proceeded en route for my favorite vendor, Ceriello Fine Foods. This Italian food merchant boasts tapestries of fine local cuisine, a full deli, high-end red meats – including amazing, grill-ready burgers – poultry and of course wonderful pastas, sauces, salads and other Italian specialties that compete with my grandma’s bona fide home cooking.
I ordered the Chicken Francese and a side of pesto penne, which the seller heated up for me. Then, I ascended the winding staircase to the second floor Palm Garden and slid into a seat at a table along the balcony. The food was buttery and filling, but really difficult to cut with a plastic knife. Have you ever tried cutting an orange with a spoon? That’s what I mean.
Also upstairs is the Madame Kuony Demonstration Kitchen where classes like the one Eric and I took last winter are held several times per month. The stainless steel appliances and the polished kitchen attracts instructors ranging from Public Market vendors and local chefs to nationally known cookbook authors and renowned culinary connoisseurs. The Market’s website has a list of all of the upcoming classes. Take a look here.
As I swallowed the last bit of my food, I glanced up at Wheel of Fortune playing on the plasma screen TV overhead, but I couldn’t resist eavesdropping on the two women to my right who were bellyaching about how they had to pay at each individual station. Hey, that’s a farmers’ market, ladies. Initially I wanted to march over there and tell them not to talk about my date that way. Instead, I stayed in my chair and thought, if it was such an issue, why not simply buy a Market Card, load it, and conveniently swipe it at any of the vendor stands?
On my way out I picked up tomorrow’s lunch from Aladdin’s hot and cold Middle Eastern buffet – I’d been craving falafel for days! I also snatched a Dixie cup of red wine from Sheridan’s Finest Wines and Generous Spirits, which didn’t compliment my zesty Italian dinner very well.
As daylight waned and the cold wind whistled through the alley, I really yearned for summertime and I began to anticipate the start of the summer’s farmers’ markets. Still, I’m really glad that I can have a mid-winter fling with the Public Market anytime.
The Public Market also hosts an outdoor urban farmers’ market along St. Paul and Broadway Avenues, just adjacent to the indoor Market. Every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. beginning in June, activities abound, including live music, cooking demos and kid’s events, plus the opportunity to stroll through the market for fresh seasonal produce while basking in the summer sun.
The Milwaukee Public Market is always able to warm my heart and feed my stomach just like true love should, so I’m sure the Market and I will find ourselves on another dinner date very soon.
_______________________
Milwaukee Public Market
400 N. Water Street, Milwaukee
Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday;
8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
OK, now you've got me! This has been on my list of things to do - since opening weekend and I am embarassed to realize that it is now 3 years ago!
Thanks for such an informative blog. I feel like I was there myself and my mouth is watering!!
I will definately make plans to go down to this.
Posted by: wfbdoglover | March 26, 2008 at 04:41 PM
Don't feel embarrassed! It took me awhile before I actually got there. But definitely go, especially in the summer for the outdoor urban market. I think you'll like it.
Oh! When you go, make sure you try Ceriello Fine Foods' tomato vodka sauce. It's to die for!
Posted by: Karen | March 26, 2008 at 04:53 PM
My favorite pasta is Penne ala voda! I will definately look for Ceriellos!!
Thanks!
Posted by: wfbdoglover | March 26, 2008 at 10:34 PM
I love the Public Market, but we always forget to go there. It's good for getting little treats to bring over to people's houses and have you SEEN the mini-key lime pies?? So adorable.
Posted by: Julia | March 27, 2008 at 11:18 AM
There is a great article I read about how they are trying to get local farmers more involved with the market. Apparently the market is doing so well because of the consumer's need for readymade meals. I love that the market is located in the 3rd Ward and is super convenient for those getting off of the express way or coming home from work. If you don't have the time to cook but want a meal that tastes homemade then the Public Market is the place to go.
Posted by: Melanie | March 27, 2008 at 01:40 PM
Julia, I've had the mini key lime pies you mentioned. They are delicious! I actually brought a bunch to my friend's b-day get-together and they were a hit!
You're right about the Public Market being the place to go for little treats. The pre-made plates, spreads and cheeses make great party snacks!
Posted by: Karen | March 27, 2008 at 03:14 PM
Melanie, I’m one out of the many people who apparently go to the Public Market specifically for the ready-made meals.
That sounds like an interesting article. Where'd you find it?
Posted by: Karen | March 27, 2008 at 03:15 PM