Food for Thought
Hot Dish: Curry Lover Ramen
In January, Bowl Ninety-One opened on College Avenue in downtown Appleton. The casual ramen restaurant took over the location previously occupied by El Patron Mexican Grill and Bar. The restaurant’s name is a nod to the roots of owner Yee Lee Vue, who came to the Fox Cities in 1991 from a refugee camp in Thailand. “I want to have that as part of my story and the dreams I have worked hard to create including this restaurant,” Vue said in an interview for our January issue. Vue also owns City Cafe in City Center Plaza and her family owns Mai’s Deli, both in Appleton. The menu at Bowl Ninety-One includes stir-fry noodles, fried rice, pho and ramen. This Curry Lover ramen, with a creamy Thai red curry tonkotsu broth, is a customer favorite.
Hot Dish: Chicken Tender Platter
Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen is known for hand-crafted meals, classic homemade recipes and, of course, those flaky honey butter croissants. The brand operates more than 150 restaurants in 27 states and now Appleton will get a taste of the action. In mid-April, Cheddar’s will open its newest location on W. Wisconsin Avenue. “We identified Appleton as a great area where this restaurant can become part of the fabric of the community long-term, and we’ve received incredible support as we open our doors,” says Sean Ryan, general manager of the soon-to-open Appleton location. One of the most popular entrees is this hand-breaded chicken tender platter – 33 million tenders are fried-to-order at Cheddar’s annually. Order the tenders classic, or have them coated in buffalo or honey hot sauce. The platter comes with french fries, coleslaw and honey mustard for dipping.
Hot Dish: Strawberry Bon-Bon
Appleton’s Wisconsin Avenue gained Whisk & Arrow Sugar Studio on October 15. The cute-as-a-button bakery retail shop is only open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., but orders are accepted throughout the week. Owner Nea Hahn is a native of Brazil, and came to the Fox Cities by way of Atlanta, California and Philadelphia. Previously, Hahn operated Molly’s Cafe in Kimberly, but decided to sell the breakfast and lunch restaurant to pursue her true love: pastries. While Whisk & Arrow is known for French macarons and over-the-top custom cakes, Hahn says these strawberry bon-bons are one of her favorite items to both make and eat. She takes fresh strawberries, coats them with a light caramel and covers them in 64-percent dark chocolate. They are a staple at parties and gatherings in Brazil.
Growth Spurts
Die-hard fans of The Cozzy Corner in Appleton rejoiced when owner Natasha Banks opened a second location in Kaukuana on August 10. Both restaurants specialize in Southern comfort food like fried chicken, baby back ribs, collard greens and hush puppies. The new location was prompted by requests from local residents. “We saw it as a good opportunity to spread out and serve more customers,” Banks said in her 2017 Golden Fork Awards interview. The Cozzy Corner won the Golden Fork for best homestyle/comfort food. The Kaukauna location has the same soulful vibe and menu as the flagship store, but operates different hours. Banks says the Fox Valley community has warmly embraced both locations. “We are truly grateful for the love we receive from our Appleton and Kaukauna customers,” she said.
In October, Mr. Taco owners Luis and Jennifer Morales expanded into Kimberly. “It’s a tight-knit community where everyone chips in,” Jennifer Morales says. “There was nothing in the area for Mexican food and we like to venture out.” Mr. Taco has locations in Appleton and Hilbert as well as their mobile food truck. Morales says the Appleton taqueria with a curbside window for walk-up orders is mostly to-go business and deliveries, while Hilbert and Kimberly are sit-down-style restaurants. Fans of the Hilbert menu will be pleased to discover their favorite dishes are also served at the Kimberly location. Morales recommends the seafood molcajete with lobster, crab, scallops and grilled tilapia covered in cheese sauce. Big appetites will appreciate the king burrito, which is stuffed with steak, chicken, chorizo and carnitas and weighs a whopping 10 pounds. In January, Mr. Taco Kimberly began operating on Sundays offering new entrees including breakfast tortas and burritos, huevos rancheros and build-your-own skillets.
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