Venture Wisconsin

03/10/2022

📍Reilly's Pub - Green Lake Terrace, WI
Have You Ventured Here?

Reilly’s Pub is an Irish bar on Green Lake’s southern shore. A warm environment with plenty of seating and a wrap-around bar, Reilly’s has been a gathering place in the community for many years. Faruk Dzelil recently purchased the staple in the fall of 2021 and says he doesn’t plan to make many changes.

Faruk emigrated from Macedonia to Fond du Lac with his culinarily talented family in 1997. He began cooking professionally in Florida at Italian and French restaurants before he moved back to Wisconsin to be closer to his family. And we consider ourselves lucky.

Reilly’s serves up classic comfort food such as a massive reuben and some less familiar items like seafood salad on a croissant. The cocktails are fun, especially if you have a sweet tooth. We capped off the night with a decadent grasshopper.

Located on the water, Reilly’s plans on hosting live music throughout the summer, so be sure to follow them to find out the best time to make the trip.

✏Andrew
Who would you hang at Reilly's with?

03/08/2022

Craft Beverage Flights Downtown Green Bay | What's In Your Neighborhood?

🥂Exploring Craft Beverage Flights🥂
📍Neighborhood: Downtown Green Bay
What's In Your Neighborhood?

Stops👀
Titletown Brewing Co.🍺
Copper State Brewing Co.🍺
Captain's Walk Winery🍷

Such a fun day. Three very different flight experiences, and a great way to explore Green Bay's Downtown.😁
*Paid Content

Who would you grab a flight with?🍻

03/08/2022

📍 Zest Bakery and Coffeehouse (Stevens Point, WI)
Have you Ventured Here?

Laid-back creatives Jake and Brandi met in culinary school in Chicago and bounced around the country before landing in Stevens Point, opening Zest Bakery and Coffee House in 2011. Located in the edge of UW-Stevens Point, Zest has become a feature for college students looking to caffeinate and cram. They have plenty of options. 🤓

Their lattes incorporate homemade syrups like cardamom, peanut butter, lavender, and even Guinness for clever combinations and are named with a serious sense of humor. The bakery case is a daydreamers paradise filled with items like the Bailey’s Cream Bar, Banana Cream Pie Cookies, Blueberry Strudel, and so much more. But don’t expect to see the same things everyday!😋

Zest also does catering for weddings and company events. You better come to the table with some ideas, though, because Jake and Brandi like to put the customers in the drivers seat. Client inspired cakes have included “The Gin and Tonic” (lime and juniper berry cake, with Lavender and gin butter cream) and “The Old Fashioned” (orange almond care, cherry and bitters soak and brandy butter cream). Just don’t ask for cake pops! (“That’s one thing I refuse to do,” says Jake through a grin.)

✏Andrew
Who would you grab a bite at Zest with?

03/04/2022

📍J's BBQ (Ripon, WI)
Have You Ventured Here?

Located in cozy downtown Ripon, J’s BBQ is owned and operated by industrious dreamers Susan and Jen, who are quick to point out that their son Jadon is the inspiration, backbone, and namesake of their popular barbecue restaurant.

With a remarkable story of ingenuity and hard work, J’s BBQ opened in 2014 and moved to their current location in 2016.

With Susan’s roots in Texas barbecue and Jen’s lifelong experience in the Wisconsin supper club scene, they combine an impressive 57 years experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry—and it shows. Their menu features staples like in-house smoked brisket and pulled pork, and creamy mac and cheese, all of which stand on their own, but trust us, best to pile your tray high. You won’t want to miss a bite.

While we were impressed by all the dishes on their own terms, it was the EIGHT homemade sauces that sent our eyebrows to the ceiling. We loved the Kentucky White and the Cranberry-Jalapeño Chutney, but there are no wrong answers at J’s. Don’t even bother asking Jen for the recipes, though. (Seriously, we tried!)

J’s has attracted an audience far and wide, and it’s easy to see why. Barbecue is a technique that requires a lot of love, something that Susan, Jen, and Jadon know a lot about.

03/03/2022

Oshkosh Restaurant Week 2022 Is On!

We explored Oshkosh Restaurant Week for our What's in Your Neighborhood? series!

Restaurant Week starts now, Thursday March 3rd until Sunday March 13th.

3-course-meals
$10 Breakfast
$15 Lunch
$27 Dinner

We visited:
Game Time Sports Bar
Dublin's Irish Pub
Chester V's
Piloras Cafe
TJ's Highland Steakhouse

This was such an amazing trip and so much more to explore around the city.

Let us know the best dishes and stops in the comments as you explore Restaurant Week!

03/01/2022

📍 Chops Green Lake
Have you ventured here?

You won’t believe what we found in Green Lake! Faruk Dzelil and his family opened Chops Fine Cuisine in 2017 after a major remodel of an old supper club. While the exterior is unassuming, inside you will find a classy environment, globally inspired dishes and cocktails, and a wine list to match. 🥃🌎

We started off with a smoked old fashioned and the El Diablo, a take on a margarita with Serrano-and-habanero-infused tequila, a tropical fruit juice medley, and homemade ginger syrup. The cocktails are cleverly engineered, with well-balanced layers of flavor from the bold to the subtle. But pick your poison wisely, folks, because these drinks are not designed for the meek.

We were treated to an ahi tuna appetizer with sriracha and wasabi dressing, perfect for sharing with a group of friends. We were also served up a gorgeous plate of—you guessed it!—lamb chops. They were tender and juicy with a complex pastoral flavor, topped with fragrant chimichurri sauce and served alongside truffle mashed potatoes, roasted asparagus, and a veal glaze. The plate threaded the needle of tradition and adventure and it was a battle of forks for the last few bites. 😋

A little advice from us to you: save room for dessert. A slice of blueberry cobbler cheesecake was enough to put us in a food coma, but also on the menu is Italian-imported gelato and a popular tiramisu served in a martini glass. 🍸

✏(Written By) Andrew
Who would you take to Chops?

02/25/2022

📍Cultivate Taste Tea Salon, Green Bay
Have you ventured here?!

Feel the zen take over your body at Cultivate Taste Tea Salon. A tea lovers paradise, and the perfect place to sit back, relax, study, or enjoy good conversation with friends. Owner, Jennifer Nowicki, supplies over 50 types of international award winning handcrafted and single origin loose leaf teas and herbal infusions. She also serves an entirely vegetarian menu featuring soups, salads, sandwiches, appetizers, and small treats.

Jennifer is a pretty cool person who has a deep passion for tea—and she’s one of only eight people that represented the US tea industry in two different world tea conferences in China (there’s even a photo in this post of her passes from the events!) 🤯 She’s been a certified tea specialist through Specially Tea Institute in NYC since 2009, and she’s the only person in Wisconsin to hold that title. She sources her teas directly, and is very proud of her knowledge and salon.

“If you have any questions, feel free to ask. People are welcome that know everything about tea, and people who know nothing about tea. I’m here to help guide you and open your pallet!” - Jennifer

✏️(written by) Camille

A must-visit in the Green Bay area! Which tea are you most excited to try?! We had the jasmine pearl 🤩

02/24/2022

Throwback to last July!

Thank you again to everyone who made our "Craft Music" stage at Paperfest possible.

We're reminiscing over here as we plan to bring back the original music and craft beer to Paperfest this summer July 14-17.

Thank you to our 2021 sponsors for supporting original music:
Appleton Beer Factory
McFleshman's Brewing Co.
Stone Arch Brewpub
U.S. Venture, Inc
Butch's Pizza Inc., Kimberly
Heart of The Valley FIRE Fitness Camp
91.1 The Avenue
Arthur Schinke & Family
Event Production Systems
Fox Communities Credit Union

02/24/2022

Our final stop of the day was @tjshighlandsteakhouse - and it was the perfect ending to our day. We enjoyed their petite filet and their chicken martini 🍷

Their restaurant week menu is killer - they are offering some amazing options at an affordable price no one can deny. Definitely a must stop 🙌🏼

02/24/2022

Next on the list - @pilorascafe ! We hung out with their staff after hours and got a great inside look at how clean and organized their kitchen is, enjoyed a taste test of their homemade kombucha, and tried their Cajun Turkey Eggs Benedict 🍳

What’s your go-to dish from Pilora’s?!

02/23/2022

Stop #3 - quite the spread at @chestervsoshkosh ! We tried their chicken bruschetta & couscous, honey Sriracha chicken sandwich, bacon onion jam brisket sandwich, and Mary’s famous chocolate peanut butter bourbon barrel cake 🤤

Joe’s favorite from this stop? “The honey sriracha chicken sandwich. The smoked flavor is unbelievably delicious. I can’t stop talking about it”

02/23/2022

Second stop of the day - @dublinsirishpub ! We tried their Alfredo Cajun Gnocchi, and it kicked us with some spice but overall was a delicious, creamy, comfort food that Joe loved 🙌🏼

Always a fun time at the local Irish pub ☘️

02/23/2022

Today, we’re taking a test run on some @oshkoshrestaurantweek restaurants and dishes - and our first stop was at the newest sports pub in town @gametime.sportsbar ! We sampled their Oscar tenderloin and it was the perfect way to start our day. Creamy hollandaise sauce, crispy asparagus and a melt in your mouth tenderloin.

Who’s excited to try out their other #restaurantweek dishes?!

02/22/2022

📍Knuth Brewing Company (Ripon, WI)
Have you ventured here?

David Knuth (pictured) says his interest in craft beer started in 8th grade with a few samples. He started home brewing because his father-in-law bought him a beer kit for his bachelor party. Not a bad way to introduce a new family member. Knuth's flagship Blue Eyed Blonde was his first home brew recipe though the name came later. 🍻

David started in the food industry in college working with the Chrisitanos Pizza family for 11 years. Helping them open locations in Green Lake & Oshkosh. Eventually his wife pushed him to combine his hospitality skills with his home brewing passion. In 2015 the brewery was launched.

Knuth also serves food. They've been serving wood-fired pizzas since day 1. You can see their wood-fired andouille sausage sandwich and "The Coulee" salad. They serve a new soup daily and their menu stays pretty consistent.🍕

On April 16th they're celebrating 7 years with two bourbon barrel releases (Stout & Scotch Ale) & live music from Copperbox. You will also find live music at Knuth a couple times a month during the summer on the weekends.🥁

✏️(Written By) Evan

Who would you grab pizza and a beer with at Knuth?

02/22/2022

Oshkosh Restaurant Week 2022

😋Oshkosh Restaurant Week is right around the corner!😋

It was really cool to see how the restaurants are gearing up to show off their creativity for us from March 3rd to the 13th.🍾

⭐️How it Works?⭐️
All participating restaurants design a limited creative menu offering 3-course meals. Most offer 3-course lunch and dinner. Some differ and a few offer a breakfast!🍽

All the meals are the same price point across the city 🤤
$10 Breakfast Specials
$15 Lunch
$27 Dinners

Explore Oshkosh's finest culinary talent, spoil yourself, and it's all at an affordable price. Over 20 restaurants participating this year. Make sure to make reservations the event spans two weekends, so there's plenty of opportunity to enjoy.🧐

Who are you wining and dining at ORW?

02/20/2022

We had such an awesome day today on our Oshkosh Brewery Bus Tour! 🚐

Thanks to everyone who joined us, and thanks to all the participating businesses 🍻
@frbcompany
@fifthwardbrewing
@barebonesbrewery

If you didn’t get a chance to join us today - stay tuned for upcoming rides and events! Cheers!

02/19/2022

We just drew the 6 names for the Brew Deck from everyone who filled out our survey about brewery bus tours! 🍻 Everyone drawn has been emailed.

Today is our first ride in Oshkosh and is sold out. Check in is at Bare Bones Brewery Oshkosh location from 12:30pm to 12:50pm.

Keep your eye out for new bus tour dates in March! Cheers.

02/11/2022

☕️New Coffee Flights☕️

Pictured here:
1. Their Valentine's Flight, available today through Monday (with pink topping)
2. Their winter flight, available for a couple more months.

Less than a year old, Il Bar Coffeehouse & Bistro is a coffeeshop in Kimberly growing into quite the community gather place.

02/09/2022

Our fifth and final stop of the day @ SALT for some dinner and night cap drinks 🤩

First thoughts all around is that SALT is gorgeous and you feel the sense that your enjoying fine dining with a staff and atmosphere that still feel comfortable and casual. Their cocktails and drinks are expansive and exciting, and their dining experience is even better. Known for their fresh seafood and decadent steaks, they’re also famous for serving their entrees on Himalayan salt rocks to emphasize flavor and experience. Worth the visit - we know we can’t wait to visit again soon!

02/08/2022

The fun never stops @313dodge - beautiful craft cocktails, old fashioned flights, cheese and meat boards and other fun small plates this afternoon. They’re a hoppin’ place to grab some pre-dinner snacks, listen to some live music, or grab a night cap glass of wine. 🥂

02/08/2022

Almost 100 years old - Hill Top Bakery is a must visit for all things baked goods in Kaukauna! We tried out their apple turnover, their triple chocolate donut, peanut squares, and they even made us our own Venture Wisconsin donut cake! Always a good time @ a classic, local bakery 🧁

02/08/2022

Alright Kaukauna, third on our list is @pagonis_pizza_ for some lunch. We got to try their antipasto salad, their calzones + Stromboli’s, and a bruschetta appetizer. Everything is so fresh and delicious, and really helped fill our belly’s for the rest of our day ahead!

02/08/2022

Kaukauna - what’s in your neighborhood?! That’s our venture today! First stop - @kaukaunacoffeeandtea ☕️

Filled with sunshine and plants to create an eclectic, energetic, and comfortable vibe. Serving fresh and local food along with amazing and flavorful coffee options. 👏🏼

01/25/2022

Venture Wisconsin

🍻Have You Seen Our New Venture?🍻

We've been working on organizing brewery bus tours around the region. Keep an eye out because we're really working hard to make these amazing for everyone involved and the details will fluctuate in these first few months.

Upcoming Tours & Details🚌
Fox Valley Brewery Bus Tour | Thursday 2/3 (4 breweries)
Oshkosh Neighborhood Brewery Bus Tour | Saturday 2/19 (3 breweries)

Here's How The Rides Work:
*You check in at the first brewery and we take care of your transportation for the remainder of the event.
*At each stop we do a coordinated tour (coordinated with the other breweries so it's not repetitive).
*You will get 3 or 4 samples at each spot (Between 10oz and 20oz of beer at each stop)
*You will have multiple opportunities and at least 25+ minutes to purchase and enjoy a pint at each brewery (time at each stop depends on city, brewery, and day of the week)
*We will also have a sampling of food at one of the middle stops. Typically pizza or flatbreads. (We call it a sampling because it will be significant, but not all you can eat. You can also order your own appetizers from a limited menu if you desire.)

Here's What Is NOT Included on Rides:
*Beer on the bus since there will be plenty had at the breweries.
*Pints at the Breweries. (Pints can be purchased at the breweries at any time)
*Tips. Please tip your bartenders and consider bringing a tip the bus driver.

If the tour has to be rescheduled or cancelled for any reason, you will be refunded if you don't wish to attend any newly added date or tour.

More details and times in our events tab. Stay tuned for more updates.😁

Venture Wisconsin is a Wisconsin based entertainment and media comapny that produces events and social media content in Wisconsin.