Photo Diary: Atwood Brew + Chew Food Tour
Madison, Wisconsin is one of my favorite cities of all time. It has that rare ability to offer all that a big city does while still maintaining its small town feel and charm. Not only do I have a lot of childhood memories from there but I feel like it continues to be an important part of my journey. Badger games, day camp on Russett Road, ice cream and carousel rides at Ella’s Deli, exploring local breweries with my family…
I felt like I knew Madison pretty well but Madison Eats Food Tours allowed my family and I to explore the trendy east side we had never really gotten to know. On a “girls’ weekend”, my mom, sister and I signed up for their Atwood Brew + Chew and discovered places that are now a regular stop in Madison whether visiting the city or just passing through! As an aspiring small business owner myself, I could not have been more excited to have the Madison Eats owner Otehlia as our tour guide! We discussed all things social media and blogging over the best food and drinks the Atwood neighborhood has to offer:
While it might be the taco palace of Madison, when I hear Tex Tubb’s, I immediately think of margaritas! Not only do they offer a flight of margaritas (pinch me, I must be dreaming!) but their grapefruit margarita (the Wake and Shake) was the very first thing I fell in love with at Tex Tubb’s. A new family favorite, I’ve sampled everything from breakfast to tacos, appetizers to desserts and haven’t been disappointed yet! I also love that they offer vegan nachos and a wide variety of vegetarian and vegan tacos. If you’ve never tried an avocado Frito, portobello mushroom or fried cauliflower taco, you need to stop here ASAP!
This adorable wine shop is the perfect place for a tasting, which is just what we did! Decorated in colors as vibrant as their wine flavors and decorated with furniture as eclectic as their offerings, you just want to hang out with a group of friends and sample your favorites. Their owners are incredibly knowledgable and always willing to chat or offer recommendations! Don’t let the name deceive you: Table Wine also offers carefully selected beer and spirits for all occasions. They also have a number of local classes and events from Wine Yoga to tastings featuring wines from exotic locales. If you’re from the Madison area or spending a weekend, check out their calendar!
An authentic Thai restaurant, the original Monsoon Siam was opened in downtown Charlottesville, Virginia. There they perfected their Tom Yum noodle soup, pad Thai and various vegetarian dishes before opening their location in the Atwood neighborhood of Madison. A restaurant that is equal parts casual and elegant, they pride themselves on authenticity and fresh ingredients. Although I love to try new restaurants, I’m not exactly known for being an adventurous eater (the opposite, in fact) but I pushed myself to be more willing to try things on this trip. Everything Monsoon Siam offered was delicious, especially the Tom Yum soup they are known for!
Next Door Brewing is exactly what you’d expect from a local Wisconsin brewery and pub: great food, great brews and cheese curds! Their beer is made in small batches right on location so we got to sample the brewery as part of our tour. I love the fun names and quirky descriptions of all their brews but of course I had to sample the Bubbler. Blonde ales are my favorite and this one did not let me down! The most unique (and delicious!) thing I tried at this stop was the yam crisps, a twist on my favorite sweet potato fries. Paired to perfection with the herb parmesan dipping sauce – yum!
If you love cheese curds, click here!
Two things immediately come to mind when I think of the Chocolaterian: ugly cookies and Parisian hot chocolates. If you’ve been to the Chocolaterian and you don’t know what I’m talking about, you are missing out! My sister and I have made special trips just to Madison for these two things and can’t pass the exit without at least mentioning them. This cute little cafe started as a candy shop but developed into a European-style cafe that still offers the original Christine’s Gourmet Toffee alongside their many pastries, lunch and brunch dishes, coffee and other beverages. This place is a dream come true for those like me with a giant sweet tooth!
*Unfortunately, the Atwood location is currently closed due to a fire that occurred after my food tour but their Middleton location is open and offers all the same great flavors and ambiance!
Madison Eats is always working with local restauranteurs to offer the best possible tours so restaurants and stops may vary. For the latest in Atwood Brew + Chew stops or to check out other Madison Eats Tours available, click here. For more photos from our Atwood Brew + Chew Food Tour, check out the album on my Facebook page here.
