The best apple cider donuts, Brandywine’s end, Bucks food and more

Everyone loves a good list, and that’s especially true for food people. We love identifying and then arguing over the best … whatever — burgers, beverages or, in the case of this episode, donuts.Our sweet discussion gets a seasonal spin as we focus on apple cider donuts and nine local (and local-ish) places churning out the orchard-friendly bakery item. Up front, it’s important to note that we haven’t actually been to all of these places. But we're told that the team from Milwaukee Magazine who compiled the list adhered to the strict standards laid down by the nonexistent Donut Review Council of North America. In news we found considerably more sour, the excellent chef-driven restaurant Brandywine announced that it’ll close Nov. 7, and it’s no surprise that every reservation between now and then got snapped up. This was a real gem in Milwaukee’s suburbs — and a real surprise considering chef-owner Andrew Wilson noted that “business has been fantastic.” But, as you’ll hear in the full episode, this appears to be a decision motivated by work-life balance and how difficult (impossible?) that is in the demanding restaurant world.We wrap things up with two more stops around Milwaukee. First, it’s Bartlett Avenue on the East Side, which said goodbye to upscale dining spot The Original in June. Co-owner Craig Rzepka decided to make a return appearance with a more casual concept called OG Pub & Grille set to open soon. Then it’s over to the Deer District, where the Bucks rolled out their new food and drink options for this season.