In Our Spring 2017 Issue

Letter from the Publisher

Food for the Soul

I’m not sure when the days of winter changed from quiet and contemplative to hectic and full of obligation, but for me, and a lot of people I know, these past few months have brought with them a never-ending list of things to do. As I sit down to write this letter, March really is coming in like a lion. And I’m hoping that spring, right around the corner, stays lamb-like.

Traditionally a time for rest and rejuvenation, the pitch of winter and spring nowadays is just as fevered as every other season. Realistically, we can’t just take the time off and move to a warmer climate to avoid snowy and gray days. We have to find other ways of slowing down and appreciating what’s around us. Doing so helps keep us balanced when life moves faster and faster.

Eating and shopping locally help to slow down time, somehow. It starts with the way things are grown and the care that goes into planning, seeding and sowing. It continues on with the relationships between farmer, maker, chef and eater. It connects cultures, and it also transcends time. To get a sense of how broad something as simple as food really is, plan to visit Global Kitchen: Food, Nature and Culture, a temporary exhibit at the Milwaukee Public Museum.

Then, explore “old” Milwaukee, first by way of bakeries, with our Ethnic Edibles story. Continue with our walkabout along Historic Mitchell Street. Learn more about continued revitalizations in Lindsay Heights and Sherman Park with Well Being. Old meets new, and both are thriving in our city.

We’ve made it to spring, finally, which means the local produce we’ve been able to access all year round thanks to our winter farmers’ markets, is about to become even more abundant and ubiquitous. Check out What’s in Season, our handy produce guide (and also learn where to get your own “Green Goddess,” the beautiful grain bowl featured on the cover).

When my soul is weary, and time is passing me by too fast, I find that tangibles help. To balance my obligations, I load my life up with as many of my favorite things as possible. Happily, many of my favorite things are food, and I can’t describe to you how much I was filled up (heart and stomach) by visiting the places featured in this issue.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

-Jen Ede, Publisher & Editor