New Farm-To-Table Restaurant

Tomahawk steak. Photo from Facebook.

The Farmer’s Wife

A new farm-to-table restaurant, The Farmer’s Wife, is set to make its debut at the upcoming Forks & Corks event in West Allis. The restaurant itself, found at 6531 W. Mitchell St., could be open to the public by the first of October. The Farmer’s Wife is owned and operated by Robin Mastera, whose goal is, “always to serve classic comfort foods made with local organic ingredients.” Lori Fredrich of OnMilwaukee writes what to expect on the menu at The Farmer’s Wife:

With foundations built on comfort food fare and family recipes, folks will find familiarity in dishes like soup, salad, poutine, pot roast, meatloaf and grass-fed burgers. However, they will also find specialties inspired by a lifetime of travel and beloved memories.

East Coast specialties like lobster rolls, crab cakes and stuffed quahogs (clams) pay homage to her husband’s childhood home.

Meanwhile, dishes like the chicken pot pie are based on recipes Mastera’s mother made for her while she was growing up. And Southern favorites derive their beginnings from her and her husband’s travels around the U.S.

Daily specials will include Tuesday tomahawk steaks, fried chicken dinners on Wednesdays, lollipop lamb chops on Thursdays and a fish fry featuring beer battered and grilled cod or shrimp (along with fish tacos) on Fridays and an oyster bar from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday evenings.

The Chocolate Factory

According to General Manager Mike Toffler, The Chocolate Factory will open a new location at 7963 S. Main St. in Oak Creek. A press release regarding the new restaurant states The Chocolate Factory is opening in Drexel Town Square and will offer subs, salads, Wisconsin made ice cream and other sweets. Customers can use the 6th Street entrance until the main entrance is open. The Chocolate Factory also has locations in Cedarburg, Elm Grove, Oconomowoc, Pewaukee, Shorewood, Waukesha and West Bend.

Now Serving Lunch: Dandan

Beginning September 20, customers can enjoy lunch at Dandan, which you can find at 360 E. Erie St. in the Historic Third Ward. Lunch hours will be Tuesday-Friday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Chefs Dan Jacobs and Dan Van Rite are also hosting a four-course dinner on Thursday, October 6 for $50 per person. Ann Christenson of Milwaukee Magazine provides insight about the lunch menu and special dinner:

Diners choose an appetizer and main dish for $15. Apps are egg roll, veggie momo or shrimp toast. Mains include charred sausage with crispy rice cakes, mung bean kimchi pancake, smoked beef, ma po tofu, walnut shrimp and General Tso’s cauliflower.

They’re also hosting a four-course dinner on Thursday Oct. 6 (8 p.m.) with writer-angler-hunter-cook Hank Shaw, whose latest cookbook (Buck, Buck, Moose) features recipes and techniques for cooking venison. The Dans’ menu is in keeping with the Shaw book’s theme. The three savory courses: venison larb with pork rinds, chilies, fish sauce, toasted rice and cilantro; Happy Venison Hearts (made in the style of Dandan’s Happy Chicken); and ma po venison. Dessert features two pies — bourbon pecan made with pork fat and miso caramel, and green tea honey shoofly with candied cashews. The courses will be served family style, and seating for this dinner is at communal tables.

Shaw will be at Dandan the night of the event, selling and signing copies of his book.

Now Closing: Hibachi Boy

Hibachi Boy, located at 530 E. Mason St. in downtown Milwaukee, is closing on Sept. 14. The owners of the Japanese grill and bar described the closing as “a difficult but necessary decision.” Fredrich has more details about the closing:

The restaurant will be open for dinner this evening, and will offer its final lunch (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and dinner service (4 to 9 p.m.) on Tuesday, September 13, along with drink specials as a thank you to its customers.

The restaurant, which opened in April, specialized in Japanese style grilled items, rice and noodle dishes and sushi. It was preceded by Fajitas Grill Centro and Cafe Plaza Venezuela.