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Archive for the ‘Dining out’ Category
At the end of a week when we’ve posted lots of Facebook fan offers for junk food, here’s a last-minute “Facebook only”special for something that sounds as though it would be healthier, as well as more satisfying and delicious. It comes from proprietor Tami Lax, Executive Chef Derek Rowe and the rest of the folks at Harvest Restaurant, 21 N. Pinckney Street:
“When YOU and THREE other friends join us for our $25 Three-Course James Beard Foundation Fundraising Dinner tonight [Sunday, March 7th] you will enjoy a bottle of 2007 Domaine de Gournier Merlot or 2008 Domaine du Tariquet Sauvignon Blanc ON THE HOUSE! This is a FACEBOOK EXCLUSIVE! Call to make your reservation and mention this special offer. Dinner will be served from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. We look forward to seeing you this evening. Call (608)255-6075.”
This is a a great price for a dinner at Harvest, where main courses alone start at about $18 and currently range up to $42. The bottle of wine makes it an even sweeter deal.
Of course it’s Oscar night and despite a menu that features beef brisket and homemade licorice gelato, it’s not easy to pull die hard movie fans and celebrity gawkers like Izzy the Intern (who’s already stocked up on Sprecher root beer and Doritios) away from their televisions. You, however, may want to consider abandoning the junk food, recording the Oscars for later viewing, and enjoying some fine dining.
If you can’t attend tonight’s dinner, there are two additional $25 Three-Course James Beard Foundation Fundraising Dinners still on tap: March 14th and March 21st.
Receive a 10% discount at when you dine at P.F. Chang’s and present your 2010 P.F. Chang’s Warrior™ Card.
To obtain a card, sign up online to receive the latest news and information from P.F. Chang’s and they’ll mail you a card. It usually takes several weeks for the card to arrive, so apply now if you want to take advantage of the discount thing spring.
The Madison-area P.F. Chang’s is located at 2237 Deming Way in Middleton.
Here’s the fine print: Card must be presented at time of purchase. Tax and gratuity are excluded. Limit one 10% discount per table. Void where prohibited. Not redeemable for cash. May not be combined with any other offer or discount. Not valid on the purchase of gift cards.
Mc Govern’s Club & Restaurant calls itself “Sun Prairie’s Birthday Bar.” If you celebrate your birthday at Mc Govern’s, they’ll give you a free draft beer or soda, a free birthday burger (or $5 off your birthday dinner), and a souvenir glass.
But if you’re not having a birthday this month, you can enjoy a BOGO offer on McGovern’s new “Hand Pattie Burgers.” Print the coupon on their website (scroll down the page a bit to find it) and bring it with you the next time you dine there between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. during the month of March to take advantage of this “Buy one burger, Get one free!” offer.
Mc Govern’s is located at 820 West Main Street in Sun Prairie.
Offer expires in 19 days, 20 hours, 54 minutes
The next Winter Dane County Farmers’ Market “Taste of the Market” Breakfast will be served from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 6th in the Madison Senior Center, 330 West Mifflin Street. The price is $7.50 or $3.75 for kids and senior citizens.
This Saturday, Chef and food consultant, Leah Caplan from Metcalfe’s Market, will be the guest chef at the “Taste of the Market” breakfast. According to “Taste of the Market” Breakfast Coordinator Judy Hageman, their menu will feature: “pesto Monte Cristo with ham and Swiss cheese; vegetarian: cheddar & pear butter Monte Cristo; hot multigrain granola with walnuts and maple syrup; sweet potato, apple and hickory nut Waldorf salad; and warm blackberry cinnamon roll bread pudding. Beverages: organic fair trade coffee or tea; and apple cider or cranberry juice. Milk is available upon request.”
For those of you who like to know the source for what they eat, here’s a list of farmers providing the food for this breakfast:
- Cheddar Cheese– Hooks
- Swiss Cheese – Bleu Mont Dairy
- Ham – Fountain Prairie Farm
- Blackberries – Francisco Dremsa
- Cinnamon rolls and pesto – Renaissance Farm
- Hickory nuts and walnuts – Hickory Nut Heaven
- Eggs – Pecatonica Valley Farm
- Maple syrup and sunflower oil – Cherokee Bison Farm
- Pear Butter – Future Fruit Farm
- Semolina Bread – Cabibbos
- Sweet Potatoes – Don’s Produce
- Spinach – Blue Valley Gardens and Snug Haven Farm
- Celeriac – Black Earth
- Apple cider and apples – Greens Orchards
- Granola served hot – Cress Spring Bakery
NB: The Winter Dane County Farmers’ Market Hours are from 8 a.m. until noon, so there’s time to shop before and after breakfast. For those who prefer to forgo a full breakfast, coffee and tea are available during these hours. Hageman says, “While we try to serve the menu that is listed in our promotion and this is most often the case, parts of this menu may be substituted or changed.”
It takes many volunteers to make this event successful. If you interested in volunteering, contact Ruth Miller at ferngulley
Chef Tory Miller’s next family-style comfort dinner at L’Eotile is scheduled for Tuesday, March 16th. The casual dinner, served at communal tables is $22, considerably less than the usual cost of dining at L’Etoile, where entrées currently listed on the menu run from $29 to $37.
The March dinner will honor the classic American Cooking of chef James Beard and will be based on recipes in “The James Beard Cookbook.”
Miller says diners might expect, “soft white rolls & homemade butter; beet & hardboiled egg salad with bacon lardon and tarragon vinaigrette; braised Fountain Prairie Farm shortribs and sauerkraut topped with crispy onions; and a Meyer lemon pudding with graham cracker crust.”
For more information about the Tuesday night comfort dinners, visit L’Etoile’s website. To make dinner reservations, call (608) 251-0500. Seating is limited and these events tend to sell out rapidly.
The next Winter Dane County Farmers’ Market “Taste of the Market” Breakfast will be served from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on February 27th in the Madison Senior Center, 330 West Mifflin Street. The price is $7.50 or $3.75 for kids and senior citizens.
This Saturday, Tory Miller and staff from Café Soleil and L’Etoile will work with teens from the Goodman Center’s Ironworks Café at the “Taste of the Market” breakfast According to “Taste of the Market” Breakfast Coordinator Judy Hageman, their menu will feature: “breakfast burger topped with an egg and drizzled with Hook’s cheddar cheese sauce; rainbow potato hash; fresh mixed greens with Renaissance Farm vinaigrette; mixed berry coffee cake; vegetarian option: substitute spinach for burger. Beverages: organic fair trade coffee or tea; and apple cider or cranberry juice. Milk is available upon request.”
For those of you who like to know the source for what they eat, here’s a list of farmers providing the food for this breakfast:
- Cheese– Hooks
- Burger – Marr’s Farm
- Lemon Pesto Vinaigrette – Renaissance Farm
- Raspberries – Sutter’s Ridge
- Blueberries – Lefeber Farm
- Potatoes – Butter Mountain and Driftless Organics
- Bread – Sylvan Meadows Farm
- Mixed Greens – Dons Produce
- Spinach – Blue Valley Gardens and Snug Haven Farm
- Mushrooms and onions – Black Earth and Blue Valley Gardens
- Apple cider – Greens Orchards
- Coffee – Just Coffee
- Coffee Cake – Compliments of Tory Miller, Café Soleil
Hageman says, “While we try to serve the menu that is listed in our promotion and this is most often the case, parts of this menu may be substituted or changed.”
NB: The Winter Dane County Farmers’ Market Hours are from 8 a.m. until noon, so there’s time to shop before and after breakfast. For those who prefer to forgo a full breakfast, coffee and tea are available during these hours. In addition, folk fiddler Paul Kienitz will provide musical entertainment from 8:30 a.m. until 11 a.m.
It takes many volunteers to make this event successful. If you interested in volunteering, contact Ruth Miller at ferngulley
Madison Originals discount gift certificates — good for up to 40% off a member restaurants — tend to be snapped up quickly by Madison-area diners. However, as of this evening, there are a limited number available for purchase online for the following restaurants:
Club Tavern ($50 certificate for $30 and $25 certificate for $15)
Coachman’s Golf Resort ($50 certificate for $30)
Brouxnellie’s Diner ($25 certificate for $15)
Cafe Costa Rica ($25 certificate for $15)
Dardanelles ($25 certificate for $15)
Hawk’s ($25 certificate for $15)
The Old Feed Mill ($25 certificate for $15)
Bean Sprouts ($10 certificate for $6)
Fine print: Gift certificates are good for the food portion of your restaurant bill, and expire six months from purchase. Only one certificate may be redeemed per table.
Central Coast Restaurant in Fort Atkinson is offering diners ½ off everything on its menu on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in February. Since we’re near the end of the month, there are only two days remaining to take advantage of this offer: Tuesday, February 23rd and Wednesday, February 24th.
The entrées listed on the restaurant’s menu range from $13 (“Designer Pasta”) to $32 (Grilled Rack of Lamb). Whether or not you choose to make the trip to Fort Atkinson to take advantage of this offer probably depends on time; road and weather conditions; whether the menu items tickle your taste buds; and whether or not you think the whole kit and kaboodle is a good deal, worth your time and money.
Central Coast Restaurant is located at 1905 Central Coast Lane in Fort Atkinson.
Offer has expired
The next Winter Dane County Farmers’ Market “Taste of the Market” Breakfast will be served from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on February 20th in the Madison Senior Center, 330 West Mifflin Street. The price is $7.50 or $3.75 for kids and senior citizens.
This Saturday, UW Madison Dietetic and Nutrition students will be the guest breakfast team with help from chef David McKercher of Mermaid Café. According to “Taste of the Market” Breakfast Coordinator Judy Hageman, their menu will feature: “hash brown cakes with trout and bacon; vegetarian: hash brown cakes with braised mushrooms and garlic; topped with poached eggs and Mermaid hollandaise sauce and served on a slice of sourdough; salad of maple roasted carrots and fresh spinach; cinnamon baked apples; and mini berry scones with a taste of preserves. Beverages: organic fair trade coffee or tea; and apple cider or cranberry juice. Milk is available upon request.”
For those of you who like to know the source for what they eat, here’s a list of farmers providing the food for this breakfast:
- Eggs and bacon– Pecatonica Valley Farm
- Maple syrup – Cherokee Bison Farm
- Preserves – Sutters Ridge
- Trout – Artisan Trout Farm
- Mini-scones and Sourdough Bread – Sylvan Meadows Farm
- Carrots – Driftless Organics
- Potatoes – Driftless Organics and Butter Mountain Farm
- Spinach – Snug Haven Farm
- Cheese – Forgotten Valley
- Mushrooms – Black Earth and Blue Valley Gardens
- Apples – Greens Orchards
- Apple Cider – Ela Orchard
- Coffee – Just Coffee
NB: The Winter Dane County Farmers’ Market Hours are from 8 a.m. until noon, so there’s time to shop before and after breakfast. For those who prefer to forgo a full breakfast, coffee and tea are available during these hours. Hageman says, “While we try to serve the menu that is listed in our promotion and this is most often the case, parts of this menu may be substituted or changed.”
It takes many volunteers to make this event successful. If you interested in volunteering, contact Ruth Miller at ferngulley
Enjoy one last gastronomic indulgence before Lent begins. From 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Tuesday, February 16th Essen House at 514 East Wilson Street, will be throwing a “Fat Tuesday Party” featuring live Cajun music and an all you can eat buffet for $15,
The buffet will offer lots of Cajun-inspired cuisine, including jambalaya, red beans & sausage with rice, dirty rice with beef & sausage, and corn bread.
Wisconsin-style fish fries are a Friday tradition. Now Claddagh Irish Pub is trying to convince you to try their version of the fish, potatoes and cole slaw special at the beginning of the week.
Buy one fish n’ chips dinner and get another free when you buy two beverages at Claddagh Irish Pub. You may want to make those drinks Stella Artois, because Claddagh Irish Pub is currently offering $3.50 pints every day.
The Monday fish n’ chips BOGO (no coupon required) is a limited time offer, but there’s no expiration date given. Since Lent begins on Wednesday, we suspect this offer will be around for at least the next six weeks or so.
The Madison-area Claddagh Irish Pub is located at 1611 Aspen Commons in Middleton.
This BOGO offer has expired
Panda Express is celebrating Chinese New Year with a coupon for free Firecracker Chicken with the purchase of a two or three-entrée plate.
Alas, there are not Panda Express restaurants in Madison. The closest, ones, according to the Panda Express website, are in Janesville, Milwaukee, Appleton, and over the border in Rockford.
We know that not all are readers are in Madison — and that some of our readers visit other cities — so we’re posting this offer for people who fall into these categories. Besides, we thought the pandas were cute and we had fun reading the information about the Year of the Tiger on the Panda Express webzine.
If you want to use this coupon, you’ll have to move quickly: It expires on February 25th, 2010.
In honor of the 2010 Winter Olympics, Bluephie’s Restaurant & Vodkatorium “would like to help you drink like a champion.”
From February 12th to 28th, when you buy $12 in drinks, you’ll get half off an appetizer, The “appeTEASERS” on their menu include sliders, stuffed baby potatoes, and bbq pork bombs.
According to their online drinks menu, glasses of wine are $6, so you won’t have to imbibe a lot of alcohol to qualify for the ½ price appetizer deal. We suspect some of the vodkas in the “Velvet Rope” category cost even more than a glass of wine.
Bluephie’s at located at 2701 Monroe Street.
 Ikan Bandung
Restaurant.com is running a special Valentine’s Day promotion: Save 80% off Restaurant.com $25 Gift Certificate orders and receive a $15 FTD® Floral Reward. Use code HEART and Pay $2 thru 2/14/10.
Restaurant.com has coupons for less than a dozen Madison restaurants, but some are local favorites. Here are the current participants: Bandung, Claddagh Irish Pub, Jamerica, The Melting Pot, Africana, Badgerland Bar & Grill, Tutto Pasta Cucina Italiana, Halverson’s in Stoughton, and JB’s Italian Grille in Sun Prairie.
If you take advantage of this special 80% off promotion, you could, for instance, purchase a $25 gift certificate for Bundung that normally sells for $10 for just $2; plus you’ll receive the $15 FTD Floral Reward (valid toward regularly priced FTD merchandise).
We’ve purchased some Restaurant.com gift certificates and there are several things we like about them (in addition to the low price): (1) there are no shipping and handling charges applied to your order because once you’ve paid for them you print the gift certificates yourself (so you don’t have to wait for mail delivery) and (2) the certificates are valid for one year from date of purchase.
Each restaurant does have special rules (such as minimum purchase) about how the certificates may be used, but these rules are available for you to read before you purchase any certificates.
You are certainly not limited to purchasing Restaurant.com gift certificates for Madison-area dining establishments. Use their website search tools to find restaurants in other cities you may be planning to visit.
If you want to save even more money, purchase your Restaurant.com certificates through Ebates and you’ll receive 15% cash back.
Offer has expired
The next Winter Dane County Farmers’ Market “Taste of the Market” Breakfast will be served from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on February 13th in the Madison Senior Center, 330 West Mifflin Street. The price is $7.50 or $3.75 for kids and senior citizens.
This Saturday, Slow Food Madison will be the guest breakfast team. According to “Taste of the Market” Breakfast Coordinator Judy Hageman, their menu will feature: “scrambled eggs with sautéed mushrooms; rosemary-garlic roasted potatoes; tender fresh mixed greens with vinaigrette and feta cheese; nitrate free breakfast sausage link; and blueberry waffle with maple syrup. Beverages: organic fair trade coffee or tea; and apple cider or cranberry juice. Milk is available upon request. The cost $7.50 or $3.75 for kids and those who can’t eat an adult portion.”
For those of you who like to know the source for what they eat, here’s a list of farmers providing the food for this breakfast:
- · Eggs– Pecatonica Valley Farm
- · Maple syrup – Cherokee Bison Farm
- · Blueberries – Lefebers
- · Rosemary – Snug Haven Farm
- · Mixed Greens – Don’s Produce
- · Feta –Capri Cheesery
- · Apple Cider – Greens
- · Coffee – Just Coffee
NB: The Winter Dane County Farmers’ Market Hours are from 8 a.m. until noon, so there’s time to shop before and after breakfast. For those who prefer to forgo a full breakfast, coffee and tea are available during these hours. In addition, Hoot N’ Annies (fiddle and guitar) will provide musical entertainment from 8:30 a.m. until 11 a.m.
It takes many volunteers to make this event successful. If you interested in volunteering, contact Ruth Miller at ferngulley
Madison Winter Restaurant Week may be over, but Otto’s Restaurant & Bar, 6405 Mineral Point Road, is still offering 3-course $25 prix fixe “Chef’s Tasting Menus” on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
The menu changes weekly. This week (February 9th through February 11, 2010), the choices include: First Course: Roasted Cauliflower & Gruyere Soup or Salad of Citrus, Arugula, Artichoke & Prosciutto with Lemon-Tarragon Vinaigrette; Main Course: Grilled Yellowfin Tuna with Calamata Olive-Roasted Tomato Relish, Sauteed Napa Cabbage & Fennel, Roasted Red Potatoes or Grilled Certified Angus Beef Flatiron Steak, Mushroom Demi Glace, Sauteed Swiss Chard, Roasted Root Vegetables; and Dessert: Artisanal Cheese Plate or Passionfruit Sorbet.
Wine pairings are available for an extra $10.
For more information, including the regular full menu, check out the restaurant’s website.
It hasn’t been easy to create a list of Madison-area restaurants featuring special Valentine’s Day menus, but judging by the responses we’ve received to our lists of places to dine out on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, we know that people want this kind of information.
We’ve posted a preliminary list with its own separate page: “Dining out on Valentine’s Day: February 14, 2010.” You’ll find a tab for it at the top of the page (above the Madison on the Cheap title and banner photos).
Over the next week we’ll be adding more entries as restaurants return our calls and e-mails. Plus, we’re eager to list as many restaurants as possible, providing they meet our criteria: (1) open and serving on Valentine’s Day and (2) serving a special Valentine’s Day menu instead of or in addition to a regular menu. If you know about a Madison-area restaurant that meets these criteria and should be added to the list, please let us know: use our contact form or send an email to madisononthecheap
Eating out on Valentine’s Day isn’t necessarily cheap, but based on the menus we’ve seen so far, it can be delicious. Besides, who wants to be cheap on Valentine’s Day?
For every $50 you spend at P.F. Chang’s on Sunday, February 7th, you’ll receive a $10 “Be Our Guest” card to use on a future visit. The offer is good on dine-in and takeout.
Fine print: The order must total $50 after all discounts are applied and excludes taxes and gratuity. The offer does not apply to gift card purchases.
The Madison-area P.F. Chang’s is at 2237 Deming Way in Middleton.
The Admiralty restaurant in the Edgewater Hotel is trying to persuade diners to enjoy a meal in its elegant dining room (with marvelous views of frozen Lake Mendota) on Wednesday evenings in February.
Make a dinner reservation for any Wednesday night in February, mention the code words “DATE NIGHT” and you’ll receive one free entrée with the purchase of one of equal or greater value. The least expensive entrée on the current dinner menu is butternut squash ravioli at $26. But if you’re going to splurge on dinner at The Admiralty, we recommend the Steak Diana at $36 because it’s prepared tableside, adding a touch of theater to your dining experience.
The Edgewater Hotel is located at 666 Wisconsin Avenue. For dining reservations, call (608) 661-6582.
Offer has expired
The next Winter Dane County Farmers’ Market “Taste of the Market” Breakfast will be served from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on February 6th in the Madison Senior Center, 330 West Mifflin Street. The price is $7.50 or $3.75 for kids and senior citizens.
This Saturday, Slow Food UW, with help from Jonny Hunter from the Underground Food Collective, will serve as guest chefs. According to “Taste of the Market” Breakfast Coordinator Judy Hageman, their menu will feature: “Bison pastrami (homemade with Cherokee Farm bison brined in apple cider), served on a sandwich with a fried egg and tomatillo sauce on Silly Yak bread; salad with Don’s mixed greens, homemade Fountain Prairie bacon (without on vegetarian), Driftless Organic shaved carrots and sprouted lentils; and Butter Mountain roasted smashed potatoes. The vegetarian option includes: Sandwich with Black Earth smoked oyster mushrooms, Blue Valley wilted spinach, fried egg, tomatillo sauce and Hook’s cheddar. Beverages: organic fair trade coffee or tea; and apple cider or cranberry juice. Milk is available upon request.”
For those of you who like to know the source for what they eat, here’s a list of farmers providing the food for this breakfast:
- · Eggs– Pecatonica Valley Farm
- · Bison – Cherokee Bison Farm
- · Bread – Silly Yak
- · Pork Belly for Bacon – Fountain Prairie and Pecatonica Valley
- · Carrots and Tomatillos – Driftless Organics
- · Mixed Greens – Don’s Produce
- · Spinach – Blue Valley Gardens
- · 2 yr. Cheddar – Hooks
- · Mushrooms, Onions and Shallots – Black Earth Farm
- · Lentil sprouts – Troy Gardens
- · Apple Cider for the Brine – Ela Orchard
- · Apple Cider – Greens
- · Coffee – Just Coffee
NB: The Winter Dane County Farmers’ Market Hours are from 8 a.m. until noon, so there’s time to shop before and after breakfast. For those who prefer to forgo a full breakfast, coffee and tea are available during these hours. In addition, Cajun Stranger Trio will provide musical entertainment from 8:30 a.m. until 11 a.m.
It takes many volunteers to make this event successful. If you interested in volunteering, contact Ruth Miller at ferngulley
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DISCLAIMER We post deals as we find them, but schedules sometimes change and everything has an expiration date. Prices and promotions are always subject to change without notice. It's always wise to call ahead and make certain a bargain is still available or an event has not been canceled.
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