While the Fox Valley has some great Asian restaurants, the rest of Wisconsin has numerous fun places to choose from. Madison, with one of the most diverse culinary settings, has unusual and exciting offerings such as two Nepalese restaurants near each other on State Street. Himal Chuli Restaurant at 318 State Street is a cramped but delicious little place for what I think is authentic Nepalese food. The son of the owner, if I understand correctly, owns the nearby Chautara Restaurant at 324 State Street. We tried the Himal Chuli and really enjoyed it. My wife's parents lives in Nepal on a service mission for their Church and loved the country, making the food all the more interesting to me. Related to some of my favorite Indian flavors.

In 2010 I also tried Saigon Noodle at 6754 Odana Road Madison, WI 53719. Awesome place--some of the best and least expensive Vietnamese food you'll find. I love pho and many other Vietnamese dishes. I was also pleased to see that many of the guests were Asian. That's not a sure sign of good Asian food, but it's a hint that I don't take lightly. Delicious! Phone: (608) 827-9120.

For Thai food, the King and I in Milwaukee is a perennial favorite (but it's been a while since I was there), though the lunch buffet may not always appeal. But for dinner, it's highly rated and delicious.

The best Chinese in the state, though, may be Confucius in Appleton, especially if you arrange for their authentic banquet. This is the place to take a special visitor, such as the official from the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. that I had the privilege of entertaining a while back. Home run!

What are your favorite Asian restaurants in Wisconsin?

Labels: Asian, Chinese, food, Madison, restaurants, Thai

Appleton has been in the news a lot this week--or rather, it's northernmost suburb, Green Bay. We're very proud of that part of our community. :)

Actually, it's wonderful living in the tall shadow of Green Bay, just a few miles to the north and a little bigger than Appleton. The Packers make all of us incredibly proud (almost all of us: there is the exception of a local Bears fan apparently still in hiding, last spotted staggering on College Avenue after the bars closed).

The Packers and the whole network of folks who support them and help them are a real class act. It's nice to see class rise to the top like it did this week in Dallas. Go Packer!

Appleton is just 30 minutes away from Green Bay, Wisconsin, a.k.a. the Center of the Football Universe. It's a privilege to be in a region with such a great legacy of excellence. As dramatic as the Packers' games can be, some of the most important drama occurs off the field. One touching example was shared by an observant reporter in Milwaukee who attended a charity event that Aaron Rodgers did for the MACC Fund (Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer). I learned about this story today while attending the downtown Appleton Rotary luncheon (what an amazing group of Rotarians Appleton has, by the way!).

"'Save me a spot': A side of Aaron Rodgers you may not know" by Jen Lada of WITI-TV in Milwaukee gives some great insights into Aaron. I was thrilled to see that Aaron's favorite book is the Bible. Wow. I was also thrilled to see that we share the same favorite movie, The Princess Bride. But I was caught by surprise and a bit of emotion with the dedication that he wrote on a football at the charity event for a father whose daughter passed away from cancer. What he wrote wasn't done for show but was simply a reflection of the mindset and compassion of this real hero. Jen explains:

Rodgers' answers and poise on this night were certainly admirable. And I honestly didn't think I could respect Aaron more than I did when we wrapped our hour-long question and answer segment. But I was wrong.

My friend, the father of that young girl who passed, was there that night - enjoying the opportunity to reconnect with many of his MACC Fund family members and revel in the charity's big night. He was one of several attendees brought up on stage where he caught a football thrown by the quarterback of the Green Bay Packers. The evening was already a smashing success for him and his grateful family.

And then he asked Aaron to sign the football he'd caught. He wondered if he'd make it out to his daughter. It isn't shocking that Rodgers obliged. What caught me off guard was the dedication he made. It wasn't until after Aaron left that I first saw the autograph... and the simple yet sweet message that brought tears to this father's eyes: "To Cheri the angel. Save me a spot. - Aaron Rodgers"

Awesome. Go Packers!