As the vendors at the Dane County Farmers Market started to pack up their unsold produce and the last of the market goers strolled around the square, a multitude of tents and kitchen equipment started to take over. Vendors heated grills and prepped food for what would be the 2010 Taste of Madison. A combination of food, beverages and music take over the square every year, and for two days it is a food lover's paradise.
Over eighty restaurants and caterers produced more than two hundred menu items, and there was much to be tasted. In addition, over 20 beverage stands served everything from wine to milk, so you could be sure that your thirst was quenched. If you want to experience the Madison food scene without making a huge dent in your pocket, this is the way to do it.
Food items ranged in price from $1 up to $4, with endless options to fulfill your deepest cravings. If you were a person craving sauce dripping BBQ, then looking no further than restaurants such as The Haze or Bourbon St. Grille would leave your fingers covered in sauce and your BBQ craving satisfied. If it is a sweet tooth that you were looking to satisfy, places such as Daisy Café and Cupcakery and Sassy Cow Creamery satisfied many foodies. No matter what type of food experience you came looking for, it was sure to be satisfied with a stroll around the Capitol Square.
As I weaved my way through Taste of Madison, enjoying the music coming from one of the three stages, I wanted to give appreciation to the culinary staples of our great state of Wisconsin. The Old Fashioned was able to start out my eating adventures with an order of gooey handmade cheese curds served with a blue tiger dipping sauce. My savory craving satisfied, I turned to Sassy Cow Creamery to fulfill my craving for sweetness. A dish of their vanilla ice cream was simply satisfying.
By this time my stomach was now full of all things dairy, and I thought what better way to celebrate Wisconsin food than to end my meal with a craft beer brewed locally in the Madison area. Capital Brewery was there with Supper Club, a classic Wisconsin lager that helped me wash down the day's eats.
Whether you are new to the city of Madison or have lived here your entire life, the Taste of Madison is sure to bring something new to all taste buds. Experiencing Madison through its food and music is one of the best ways to become acquainted with this great city. I am sure that many of you reading this who attended Taste of Madison were completely satisfied by the endless food options, cold beverages and three stages of music. If you were not able to attend this year, fear not because in one short year Taste of Madison will be back on the Capitol Square ready to serve you the best of what Madison has to offer.
