Quick Trip to Milwaukee to say goodbye to a friend

One of my best and closest friends is Jeanne, I met her 25 years ago when we were both cruising  on a great old ocean liner called the SS Norway (originally the SS France).  Since then we have cruised together many times.  I have also cruised with two of her 4 sisters and we always have a great time together.  Jeanne and her family live in Wisconsin just outside Milwaukee.  In recent month's Jeanne mother had not been doing so well, Jeanne is a nurse so in her off times she has been taking care of her.  I knew that she was not doing well but was shocked and saddened when Jeanne called and told me that her mother had passed away.  I really waned to go to attend the funeral but figured that I wouldn't be able to get the time off to travel.  I was very surprised when my manager not only allowed me but almost insisted on it!  I work for a really great manager!

I decided that I would travel up the day before, flying to Chicago and driving up to her home town of Waukesha less than 2 hours drive from O'Hare and west of Milwaukee.  I had the night before the funeral free and figured that with two Triple D places in the area, why not try them out!  After taking a noon flight from Dulles, I got the car and headed toward Milwaukee.  Let me tell you the best job in the Chicago area might be a road contractor!  The roads all around O'Hare were pretty torn up and don't even ask me about the traffic lights near the Des Plaines METRA Rail stations, one was 4 minutes long!  I finally make it to the Illinois Thruway for the drive north.  I passed some pretty cool places like Six Flags America, Gurnee Mills, and the Cheese Castle! 

Both places I wanted to try were in the city and even though I arrived in the middle of the afternoon. traffic was not too bad.  My first stop was a place that is unique to Milwaukee "Cempazuchi" is a Mexican Café and the day I arrived was Cinco de Mayo, the Mexican holiday. 

Cempazuchi - The Mexican Café in the middle of Milwaukee

FIESTA!

I was surprised as it was fairly busy, but not as busy as I thought it would be on a special Mexican day.  The place is decorated with a lot of bright colors and cool Mexican artwork.  After being seated I was served a bowl of house made chips and two different types of salsas. 

Chips and Salsa service at Cempazuchi

The salsas were very interesting.  One was in a red ramekin and that was very spicy so I just tried it once.  The other was in a yellow ramekin and it had a bit of a kick but was delicious.  There were a lot of spices in it but the one I really could taste was cinnamon, it remided me of the Cincinnati Chili at Hard Times Café in Manassas.  The home hamde chips were great, too!  I ordered one of the dishes that Guy made on his visit.  The Duck Taco plate. 

My Taco platter at Cempazuchi

The platter came with black beans, rice and a mango salsa.  The tacos was topped with cilantro and diced pineapple.  I must admit that I was a bit disappointed because the duck was diced small that it really didn't have much flavor and if I didn't know that is was duck I would have thought it was chicken.  The diced Mango salsa and rice were awesome!  The owner came out and signed my book and we spoke for a short moment.  I did like Cempazuchi and would like to go back and try something else.

I headed out to the next stop which was not too far away.  The place is well known amongst Triple D fans.  "Comet Café" is known to many as -The Bacon Place- each Sunday they serve bowls of bacon with all drink orders and their menu is very bacon oriented.  I was there on a Tuesday so no bacon bowl for me. 

Comet Café in Milwaukee

The Specialties of the Comet Cafe

Welcome to the Comet!

I decided to try the Open Face Meatloaf sandwich.  Not only was it one of the dishes that Guy made on the Comet episode but it also featured bacon!  The Meatloaf is encrusted in bacon and two strips topped the sandwich.  I wasn't sure what to expect but was very surprised when it arrived.

The Open Face Meatloaf Sandwich at Comet Cafe

Another view of my sandwich

The sandwich arrived and looked more like a small tower!  The base of the sandwich was a thick slice of Re bread with mashed potatoes, the meatloaf. tomatoes and onions, surrounded by a moat of gravy with a huge knife stuck through it!  This was a very full meal!  The meatloaf was awesome, potatoes very good, tasty sauce but as Guy would say "the kicker is" the Rye Bread, both delicious and salty to add great flavor.  My server signed my book and even though they had some great looking desserts I was way too full to try any.  As I was waiting for the check I noticed a lot of cool signs and place settings, this is a place that I really want to revisit. 

Weekly Drink Specials

I don't why but I really fund this a pretty cool place setting

I headed out a travelled west to Waukesha to visit with Jeanne and her family and celebrate her mother's life and support my friend.  My DDD count was now up to 408 but this was totally a bittersweet trip!