I'm a Packer Backer. Just gonna throw that out there now. My husband and his family is from Wisconsin and I'm pretty sure it's on his birth certificate that he must back The Pack. Like a blood pact... or should I say blood Pack? My father has also been a Packer fan since he was younger. So either way, we try to get back for a game every year and this last fall when we went to the San Fran game, my husband and several locals were telling me I should feature this great restaurant on "The Dish."
It's this little place outside of Green Bay in a town called Suamico. It's simply named Chives. So I googled it and found some great stories on it and checked out their website. The owner is JR Schoenfeld the ex-Director of Catering for the Green Bay Packers. In fact, most of the offensive line eat at his place on Friday nights (little tip for ya) during the season. So I thought, what the heck I'll give it a try and see if he'll sit down for an interview or if he'll be a diva.
Much to my surprise his manager got back to me very quickly and said he'd love to do an interview! So I made the 14 hour trek and stopped by to see what all the buzz was about.
The restaurant itself is beautiful, tucked away in a scenic little town. It almost looks like a movie set, it's so perfect. JR was running a little late so my dad and I sat at the bar which serves so many great martinis, I wish I would have snagged a menu so I could bring some ideas back to Bismarck. I'm also thinking that might have been his strategy - ply the reviewer with alcohol and you're probably gonna get a positive review. Anyway, we chatted with several staff members who were either stepford employees or really did love where they worked. Everyone was so wonderful.
Then I sat down with JR and was a little intimidated. He knows A LOT about food and even though I watch a lot of Food Network, I wasn't sure if I could hang. As my dad and I got set-up for the interview I was trying to formulate intelligent questions in my head. I got nothing. But that was okay because JR was very nice, a basic salt of the earth kinda guy. We found it very easy and very informative to talk to him. Please check out the interview if you get a chance -
http://youtu.be/p6stiuKV8H0. There's some great cooking tips in there for everyone. And for sure check out the restaurant if you get to Green Bay for a game.
Our meal was unbelievable. Never had anything like it. Creativity abounds at Chives. The menu seems like a crazy science experiment, but when you taste it, it makes sense. It made me wanna be a chef. Also, please visit the website for his charity 7 Loaves,
http://www.sevenloavesproject.org/. It's such a great concept, "Give a man a loaf of bread he eats for a day. Teach a man to bake and his village eats for a lifetime." If you donate, that would be ever better:)
"A gas station for lunch you say? Why yes, I don't mind if I do. Today was a first for me eating at Northside Market. My tastebuds were pleasantly surprised. I was promised a party in my mouth. It was a rager for sure. The ever so famous Grinder started out the party with all those nummy layers on that home made bun. The avocadolicious followed with a close first. Turkey ... bacon... homeade ranch and more. We finished the swaree with homemade banana cake covered in peanut butter frosting. Ooooo la la! Can you say heaven? Everything was home made. Everything was delicious. This is definitely a recommendation for future lunches or caterings." - Michelle Tait
Erika Landers treated us to a fabulous sampler of The Grinder and The Avocadolicious Turkey Bacon Sandwich, Potato Sausage Soup AND Peanut Butter Banana Cake. Check out how she makes her infamous hoagies and grinders.... hoagies and grinders... http://youtu.be/xE4AQhSX_4o. 
