4 of the best dishes our critic ate in October 2024

In her Best Bites series, food critic Rachel Bernhard lists some of the most delicious dishes she’s had in Milwaukee in recent weeks. From food truck finds to gourmet dishes, these are some of her favorite things that appear on her plate each month.

It’s hard to believe it’s already November. October came and went in the blink of an eye, and right after its release my very first top 25 restaurants list And favorite casual restaurants This past month I’ve been ready for some relaxing snacks, festive sips, and thinking ahead to all the fun the upcoming holidays have to offer.

We’ll get there soon enough, but for now, here are some of the best things I ate in Milwaukee and beyond in October.

Boscaiola pizza at Il Ritrovo

To break up a road trip I was taking north, I stopped by Il Ritrovo515 S. Eighth St., Sheboygan, the celebrated pizzeria I’ve had on my list for a decade? It was busy during the lunch hour on Friday and I had heard so much praise for the pizza that I wondered how it could live up to the hype.

Gee, what took so long? After one bite of the Boscaiola pizza ($20), I had practically already planned my next trip to Il Ritrovo. That chewy, puffy crust should be the model for all Neapolitan-style pizzerias, with bubbly edges and a spicy bite thanks to the dough’s slow fermentation process.

The Boscaiola is the stuff of umami lovers’ dreams, packed with a blend of roasted mushrooms that double the earthy flavor of the smoked mozzarella and truffle cheese they mingle with. Paper-thin pancetta and a hint of fresh rosemary round out the pie, one of the best I’ve tried in recent memory.

Cheers also to the house olive oil on every table, beautifully balanced with a fresh, slightly grassy taste (and, oh, so delicious on the freshly baked bread that comes to the table before the meal). On my next trip you better believe I’m going to stock up on a few bottles to take home.

Tender goat dish at Blue Star Cafe

I was already confident in my choice to record Blue Star Cafe1619 N. Farwell Ave., Unit 100, at my list of favorite casual restaurants in Milwaukeebut a final visit to the small Somali restaurant before the piece was written sealed the deal. And the dish that confirmed my decision was the Tender Goat Casserole ($13.99), a huge plate loaded with aromatic rice, thinly sliced peppers, potatoes, raisins and of course goat meat, which is marinated and slow roasted so it delivers the best flavor comes. table incredibly juicy and falls off the bone.

Some people shy away from goat due to its reputation for tasting a bit gamey, but that’s not the case at Blue Star, where the goat’s mild flavor pairs beautifully with the rest of the dish and brightens with a squeeze of fresh lemon on the side. Top it with the restaurant’s amazing green basbaas sauce for a touch of fresh heat and you’ve got one of the best budget-friendly dishes in town.

Sun-dried tomato and roasted pumpkin seed guacamole at Antigua Latin Inspired Kitchen

When I met some friends at Antigua Latin-inspired cuisine6207 W. National Ave., West Allis, I had lomo saltado on the brain. The classic Peruvian dish of stir-fry steak with rice and fried potatoes is my favorite, and Antigua’s version is quite good, but it’s the appetizer we shared that night that I keep thinking about.

Antigua’s guacamole ($10.50) is thick and sturdy, stacked like a pillar and served with blistered, house-made tortilla chips with enough firmness to hold all the guac you pile on top. A dash of lime juice, raw onions and fresh cilantro are standard, but the chewy, sun-dried tomatoes and a hint of pepitas (pumpkin seeds) take this guacamole to the top.

I’m not normally drawn to sun-dried tomatoes, but their intense sweetness added a warm depth of flavor to the spicy guacamole, and the crunch of the pumpkin seeds brought a salty, almost buttery nuttiness that kept me coming back to to scoop up the plate. beautiful.

Pork arepa at Anytime Arepa

I always find it difficult to make a choice about where to eat Market Hall 3rd Street275 W. Wisconsin Ave., but boy am I glad I landed on it Always Arepa when I stopped by for a quick lunch last month.

The Venezuelan-style pork arepa ($12.99) was just what I was looking for on a cold fall day when I was craving something savory and comforting.

I love seeing the arepas sizzling on the flat top grill behind the counter, made fresh to order and served so hot and toasty.

This sandwich is a two-handed sandwich, absolutely filled with juicy shredded dark pork. I added black beans and Monterey Jack cheese to mine, which only increased the coziness and had me reaching for my fork to scoop up every last bit that came out of the sides of the sandwich. A touch of vibrant green avocado sauce helps cut through all that richness, with mild acidity that was a welcome balance.

Rachel Bernhard joined the Journal Sentinel as a food critic in June 2023. She’s been busy exploring the Milwaukee area’s food scene, sharing her favorite finds with readers along the way. Like all Journal Sentinel reporters, she purchases all meals, does not accept gifts and is independent of all establishments she covers.

What should she treat next? Contact her at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @rachelbernhard or on Instagram at @rach.eats.mke.