I had heard that Jonhathan’s Bistro in Appleton had closed.  My wife and I took a drive over there this past weekend and found this sign on the door confirming the rumor.

Brian Wine Bar

Saturday, March 6, 2010, 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
VIP Beer Dinner begins at 5:00 p.m.
EAA AirVenture Museum, Oshkosh, WI
(Must be 21 to attend) - Order tickets online
official website

Ticket Pricing
$50 Hops & Props ($45 for EAA members)
$100 Hops & Props VIP Beer School and Dinner hosted by Beckets Restaurant Chef Mike Buckarma and Merchant du Vin representative Brian Van Zandbergan.
Ticket sales are limited. For questions, call 1-800-236-1025.

EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, WI, cordially invites you to Hops & Props, a fine food and beverage-tasting event. Sample over 250 different extraordinary beverages provided by micro-breweries and distributors from across the world. Learn about the brewing process and history, and become a discerning beverage taster. Hops & Props will offer you an opportunity to meet master brewers and understand the distinguishing characteristics of Ales, Lagers, and hybrid or mixed styles of beers. Wheat beers, fruit beers, stouts, English Bitter, Porter, Meads…discover the differences and your preferences.

A VIP “Beer School” and dining experience will be offered at $100 per person. Opening prior to the general event (5:00 p.m.), this special VIP opportunity will bring together beer lovers with Beckets Chef Mike Buckarma and Merchant du Vin representative Brian Van Zandbergan to learn about and appreciate the process of brewing premier specialty beer while dining on specially-matched foods. VIP tickets include admission into the main event.

Great music from five live bands, food from area restaurants, coffee and sweets all add to this exciting event at the EAA AirVenture Museum.

Funds raised will support the community programming offered by EAA to residents in the Fox Valley Region - programs that engage families in activities, educational opportunities, and experiences that motivate and inspire participants at all ages.

You must be 21 years of age to attend. Admission price includes museum entrance, a commemorative tasting glass, a professionally prepared tasting guide, hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, live music, and much more.

Brian Event

This year’s Uncorked & Unccapped event is sponsored by Neenah & Fox Cities Morning Rotary

Clubs. Uncorked and Uncapped is an annual wine and beer tasting event.  One of our major fundraisers for community projects, the evening features quality wines from around the globe, a special wine/food/beer Italian “theme” room, locally crafted beers, excellent food, and silent auction.

Brian Event

This week I was in Oshkosh and visited Bangkok Thai Cuisine.  I have eaten here many times before with friends and have always had a good lunch experience.

Atmosphere: You will not find much for atmosphere, but what you will find is quick and friendly service.  I have always been greeted right away, seated and given a menu.  Booths run the length of the wall and tables in front by the windows.  There is a tv in the corner that always has a Thai music channel (I think) on.

Food: Even though I have eaten here quite a few times I have to admit that I have not explored much of the menu.  That is only because I am not a fan of curry sauces.  Luckily the other sauces offered are excellent, my favorite being the brown sauce.  They also offer a basil, cucumber and a sweet and sour sauce.  Want to add the brown sauce to a meal that normally comes with the cucumber sauce?  No problem, they will gladly let you mix and match.  After choosing the entree of your choice you can pick chicken, tofu, vegetables, beef, pork or shrimp to go with it.  On top of that is the spice level, chose from no spice to extra hot.  I don’t find this to be consistent from visit to visit so I would recommend choosing a milder heat then adding pepper flakes to your liking.  My personal favorite meal is the #37 - pork - hot (seen below).

Each meal starts with a bowl of the house soup seen above followed by your entree or appetizer if you ordered one.  The “special egg roll” is always on my lunch order.  A delicious deep fried egg roll served in a special sauce and crushed peanut.  Best egg roll I have ever had!

Lunch, and egg roll and a soda is $10

Conclusion: I enjoy visiting Bangkok and I am sure you will to.  Good food, prices and service.

Bangkok information:
website - none
address - 80 Wisconsin Street, Oshkosh, WI 54901-3562
ph# - (920) 232-0120
menu (pdf1) (pdf2)
Google Map
.

Brian $0-$8, $9-$15, Thai

Looks like Zuppa’s has a great looking event planned for New Year’s Eve.  All the information you need is below.  Enjoy!

Brian Event

This week I am reviewing Pete’s Garage in Oshkosh.  Pete’s Garage is close to one of my work locations.  I have been lucky enough to visit a few times for lunch.   This is what I would consider a great neighborhood bar.

Atmosphere: This is a real man’s bar.  The floor is made of diamond plate and the bar looks to be stainless steel.  The walls are painted black and full of racing posters, beer lights, and large screen tv’s.  There is no lack of entertainment either, gambling machines, dart boards,  jukebox and one of my all time favorites, Golden Tee.  There is usually one person working behind the bar,  so don’t be in a big hurry if you stop for lunch.   They are always friendly and do a great job with how busy I have seen them on lunch hour.  Since I have only stopped in for lunch, I can’t speak to the nightlife after hours.

Food: The menu here is bar food.  The menu here is also entertaining!  Everything on the menu has a name that relates to cars parts.  You can start your lunch with some valve caps, shocks and struts (cheese curds and mozzarella sticks). Then move on to the transmission burger followed up by some blinker fluid.  Take a look at the menu link below, you get the idea.  I normally order a burger or my favorite the leather interior (prime rib sandwich).  This is a good size great tasting sandwich. For .25 cents more they will add mushrooms and onions.  For a $1 more you can get an order of fries to go with it.  Burgers here are also great, I would say better then average.  I have have had many of the appetizers and have been happy.  Though I think its tough to screw up deep fried mushrooms and poppers.

My bill today with sandwich, fries and a soda was eight dollars and change.

Conclusion: This is a stop that I enjoy for lunch. Yes its just bar food but,  the people are friendly, food is good and the prices are right.  Being able to watch sports center on your lunch hour is also a plus.

Petes Garage info:
website - petesgaragebar.com
address - 1514 Oregon St. Oshkosh, wi
ph# - (920) 235-9897
menu
map

Brian $0-$8, $9-$15, Sports Bar

Thanks to our friends over at Foxvalleyfun.com for the following announcement.

The Old Bavarian is a well known name in and around Appleton.  They have been around for many years, many of them located at 523 W. College Avenue.  A bit over a year ago the family decided to move their operations to their current location, 3025 W. College Avenue, in Grand Chute.  Their new space offers more bar and dining space, a larger kitchen and the ability to smoke in the bar (for now).  But this isn’t about the Old Bavarian…

The family still owns their original building downtown and after two failed businesses by a renter, Frank decided to realize another of his dreams - to open a true German Brau Haus.  This newest venture is known as OB’s Brau Haus (OB standing for Old Bavarian of course).  The Brau Haus will be focused on one thing - lots and lots of fun…

Food will be limited to brats (only $1 Sunday thru Tuesday) and the star of the show will be the beers.  They will offer the usual selection of delicious German beers (similar to Old Bavarian) and they will also be featuring their own beers.  When I was in there today, I saw a dance floor with a DJ booth, a beer-pong table, a giant tree stump, which will soon have nails pounded into its rings and a decent looking bar.

The atmosphere is going to be great.  Frank wants to offer his guests great beer and run a bar that is fun.  Nothing pretentious, nothing overly gimmicky.  Just a taste of the German beer hall in downtown Appleton.  Frank even tells me that the employees will be wearing the traditional German attire (guys: this will be enjoyable for you…)

Opening day is set for Thursday, December 3, 2009.  They open at 4:00 PM, 7 days a week.

Here is a taste of the specials and weekly events:
Sunday - Tuesday: $1 brats, $2 domestic bottles and $2.50 rail mixers
Wednesday: live music 10:00 PM - Close
Thursday & Friday: Live DJ spinning a variety of music 10:00 PM - Close
Saturday AKA Beer Fest: beer drinking games with DJ’s mixing your favorite songs 10:00 PM - Close

So stop into the new Brau Haus on Thursday, December 3 and see what it’s all about!

OB’s Brau Haus
523 W. College Ave.
Appleton, WI

Brian Event

Tom Dix from Wirtz Beverage will be at Red-n-White on Thursday December 3rd
from 6:00 - 8:00 PM. They will be sampling 4 fabulous ports and 2 robust zinfandels.  Everyone attending this tasting will receive 25% off all retail merchandise that night.

Call for reservations
920-882-2141
$15 Per Person

Brian Event