Drinks & Eats of Summer

After our recent triple-digit temperatures, it seemed like a good time to help you cool things down by serving up a few of our favorite heat-beating drinks and dishes from around the Milwaukee area.That’s where we start this episode, which finds Ann sharing her personal approach to finding the best summer beverages. It’s actually pretty genius: Ask the experts. We’re talking bartenders, baristas and mixologists, all of whom have their own favorites that just might become your new favorite: Tripper Duval from Lost Whale goes classic with a frozen margarita (both boozy and non-alcoholic). The Mothership owner Ricky Ramirez similarly leans on an old standby, the mojito, noting that just about anyone can learn how to make a good one. Another one on the NA front comes from Fruition MKE’s Tiffany Miller, who suggests their MKE Refresher mocktail that blends teas, ginger, lemonade, lavender and mint. Food-wise, there are a few different approaches to lowering your internal temperature, including: Gazpacho, the traditional chilled tomato and cucumber soup from Amaranth Bakery & Café.  A slightly out-there strategy would be to spice things up at DanDan, where you can pick up a smashed cucumber salad that sprinkles in a little kick to go along with one of the most water-heavy veggies around. Chef Alex Hanesakda has a few summer-friendly selections at SapSap in Zocalo Food Park, including his take on chicken wings, smoked brisket fried rice and classic Mamma’s egg rolls. That’s a mere portion of the selections Ann lays out in her Milwaukee Magazine article, so make sure you check out the whole list. Speaking of lists, here’s everything else we cover in this episode: A new community-first pub, Soul of a Starr, is on the way in the Harambee neighborhood. The former PIzza Hut on West Burleigh is getting a big upgrade to become Julie Mae’s Southern Cooking. Vanessa Rose has taken a big step with her Mother’s pop-up, which now has its own brick-and-mortar space at 2900 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.