SPECIAL BEST OF MILWAUKEE | PRESENTED BY BUNZEL'S OLD-FASHIONED MEAT MARKET & CATERING
LO C ALLY- OW N E D FOO D & D R I N K CHOCOLATIER
Indulgence Chocolatiers 211 S. Second St. indulgencechocalatiers.com
Chocolates and truffles and bars. Oh my! Is this the stairway to chocolate heaven? The vote is in. And the answer is “yes!” There’s cocoa mix and dipped fruit and seasonal chocolate and ... well you know the rest. Simply, indulge. (Harry Cherkinian)
FINALISTS:
• Freese's Candy Shoppe • Kilwins Milwaukee Bayshore • Tabal Chocolate
FARMERS MARKET
West Allis Farmers Market
6501 W. National Ave. thatswhywestallis.com/farmers-market From mid-May until the end of November, three times a week, the West Allis Farmers Market plays host to a changing line-up of farmers, gardeners, food trucks and other vendors. The permanent stalls with a solid roof overhead means rain or shine the market goes on. (Susan Harpt Grimes)
FINALISTS:
• Shorewood Farmers Market • South Shore Farmers Market • Tosa Farmers Market
GROCERY - ALL PURPOSE
Outpost Natural Foods - Bay View 2826 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. outpost.coop
Founded at the start of the ’70s, Milwaukee's longest-running natural food co-op helped
introduce the city to the concept of healthy eating. All four locations of Outpost Natural Foods are good places to look for organic, seasonable produce, as well as a fantastic array of wholesome packaged goods hard to find elsewhere. You don’t have to be a member to shop at Outpost. (David Luhrssen)
business has been serving the Milwaukee community for over 70 years. So, they definitely know their way around a meatball with pasta. What could be easier while you shop for food is to order it up and eat it too? (Harry Cherkinian)
FINALISTS: GROCERY – ALL PURPOSE
• G. Groppi Food Market • Sendik's Food Market • Whole Foods Market
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Festival Foods Fresh Thyme Market Metro Market Sendik's Food Market Woodman's Food Market
FINALISTS: GOURMET GROCERY
FINALISTS: TAKE-OUT DELI
GROCERY - ETHNIC
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Cermak Fresh Market
WINE SELECTION
FINALISTS: GROCERY – ORGANIC • Beans & Barley • Fresh Thyme Market • Whole Foods Market
Multiple locations cermakfreshmarket.com
The Chicago-based chain is a natural fit for Milwaukee. In the competitive world of groceries Cermak offers variety of ethnic foods catering to Mexican, Puerto Rican, Greek, Italian, Polish, Russian and other European and Latin American cultures. (Blaine Schultz)
FINALISTS:
• Glorioso's Italian Market • El Rey • Pacific Produce
GROCERY-GOURMET/TAKE-OUT DELI
Glorioso's Italian Market
Allie Boy’s Bagelry & Luncheonette Beans & Barley Benji's Deli Bunzel's Meat Market Danielle's Deli G. Groppi Food Market Rupena's Fine Foods West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe
Ray's Wine & Spirits 8930 W. North Ave. rayswine.com
Over the past 60 years, Ray’s Wine and Spirits has become well-established as the local go-to place for a big wine selection with a knowledgeable staff who can help you navigate your options. With over 8,000 wines from all around the globe, you’re sure to find a new or different wine every time you visit. (Susan Harpt Grimes)
FINALISTS: • • • •
Corvina Wine Company Discount Liquor Inc Nonfiction Natural Wines Thief Wine Shop & Bar
1011 E. Brady St.
Voted a readers’ favorite for both grocery and take-out deli, this family-owned
M I LWAU K E E M US I C ACOUSTIC MUSICIAN
ALT COUNTRY
BLUEGRASS BAND
Peter Thomas
Bella Cain
The Whiskeybelles
Peter Thomas is a cellist with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra but he is also a co-founder of MusiConnect, which brings music to people in safe spaces during this pandemic. The concerts are free and typically done in driveways of people’s homes. (Harry Cherkinian)
FINALISTS:
• Catelyn Picco • Jake Williams • Matt Davies
48 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS
Few groups in Milwaukee’s music scene operate to the scale of country band Bella Cain. In a normal year, the band plays over 100 shows, with regularly touring production crew as a full-fledged unit. The band’s sound has gradually started to incorporate original material, transforming the once cover-only band into new territory. (Allen Halas)
FINALISTS: • • • •
RAT BATH Rebel Grace Richie Allen The Midnight Purchase
Purists may scoff at characterizing the Whiskeybelles as a Bluegrass band. With music based in traditional country, the female trio are familiar faces at local outdoor festivals. Sure, all bands faced challenges during the pandemic but Whiskeybelles guitarist-vocalist Chrissy Dzioba Clobes became a mother of twins and had weathered carpal tunnel surgery. (Blaine Schultz)
FINALISTS:
• Chicken Wire Empire • The MilBillies • Thriftones
