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Kavanauh's Esquire Club - Madison - Friday Night Fish Fry
This entry was posted on 3/4/2011 1:30 AM and is filed under Supper Clubs Wisconsin, Friday Night Fish Fry.
We invaded the Madison fish fry culture the past week. It was a rather fun adventure for me. It is the simple things in life these days in this economy, that is catching my attention. Heide had some late errands to do in Madison so rather than drive a second car up to the, "78 square mile city surrounded by reality," I grabbed a ride on the bus from Janesville to downtown Madison for seven Bucks. Heide picked me up down on State Street and we headed for the famous Kavanauh's Esquire Club.
It is a well known joint up by the weinie factory (Oscar Mayer). The outside is nothing to write home about, but a lot of good restaurants fit that modus operandi. Inside you will find the consummate supper club demeanor. There is a central bar area. It is furnished with dark wood paneling. The bar is tight and fashioned in a hair pin design. It has a utilitarian bar-top but there is a good foot rail. They do have tap beer. That night three bartender dudes hustled to wait on the large crowd. I counted three flat screen television located in strategic spots. The bar area was decorated with cabinets filled with liquor bottles. No evidence of the rough economy on this night. We stood for a bit until a stool opened up at the bar for Heide - I always stand - and, we had to wait for about an hour for a table. This is nothing unusual in Wisconsin at a busy supper club.
There are at least three eating areas segueing off the bar area. The low ceilings are adorned with almost hokey Depression era light fixtures - classic supper club. The walls have sloping picture windows, allowing for the thought that the place might fit in quit nicely in the North Woods of Wisconsin.
When we got to our table, fresh bread was waiting for us. There was a dandy version of fish fry cole slaw waiting as well. The slaw was crunchy, creamy, and milky all at the same time. I ate Heide's serving too.
I tried the fried Cod and Heide went for the fried Perch. Neither of us needed to order extra pieces of fish as the offerings where large fabricated chunks, but very tasty.
This place is a Madison fish fry destination, a pilgrimage for the faithful if you will. There is some ritual and comradery going on in a place like this. This is the kind of establishment that begs noting that the aforementioned ritual and comradery is ensconced in the total fish fry experience.
You better try to get to this place at least once in your life if you are not from the immediate area. If you are in town sometime on a Friday, keep them in mind. Of course like most restaurants, they have other specials on other nights.
Kavanauh's Esquire Club is cool with Cool Dadio. Find them at 1025 North Sherman Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin. Call (608) 249 - 0193 for more information. Or, go to their Web site at www.esquireclubmadison.com/friday_menu.html .
Wisconsin Military Service Person Special Mention of the Week
(each week Cooldadiomedia mentions a Wisconsin service person killed in Iraq or Afghanistan)
Sergeant First Class Matthew Ignatius Pionk, 30, of Superior, Wisconsin died on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 in Sinsil, Iraq (Diyala). He was one of six soldiers killed when a house rigged with homemade bombs exploded during combat operations. SFC Pionk was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division out of Vilseck, Germany. The Web site findagrave.com notes that Matthew was born on October 10, 1977 in Duluth, Minnesota. He was a 1996 graduate of Superior Wisconsin High School. Matthew was remembered as a "wonderful humanitarian" and "worked with the downtrodden and those in need". When he was younger he worked on cars and had restored a 1970's Chevy pick-up truck. He was known to enjoy being outdoors, hunting, fishing and snowmobiling. He married his wife in 1998 and joined the Army a short time later. He was on his second tour of duty in Iraq at the time of his death. He had been in-country for five months. Sergeant First Class Pionk had been awarded the Bronze Star during his first tour in Iraq for helping an injured soldier.
The Star Tribune mentioned Matthew had recently moved to Eveleth, Minnesota with his wife and children. The Web site iraq.pigstye.net a data base for military casualties notes via information from the Superior Telegram that Matthew had connections to Iron Range and the Superior-area and his parents lived in Oliver, Wisconsin. Minnesota Public Radio noted on their Web site that Pionk was a platoon sergeant. He also had served with the 3rd Cavalry, 2nd Squadron, based out of Fort Lewis, Washington.
The Web site northlandsnewscenter.com called Pionk a Superior area Native. They noted his hometown as Oliver which is near Superior. They noted he was remembered for being quiet but more open after one got to know him. He got involved in the auto mechanics program during high school. He was part of the Superior Vocational Industrial Clubs of America, and would compete in skills competitions doing small engine repair.
At the time of his death Matthew was survived by his parents Duane Gregory and Sandra Joy Nace Pionk; his wife Melanie; their three children; two brothers: Jeremy and Joshua Pionk; sister, Katie Pionk; and, maternal grandparents, Paul and Joyce Nace. He was laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery in Superior, Wisconsin.
Sergeant First Class Matthew Pionk was the 86th Wisconsin military service person killed in Iraq since the spring of 2003.
As of this blog entry's posting date:
99,712 Iraqi civilians have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
9,830 Iraqi Security Forces have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
4,442 Americans have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
1483 Americans have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
318 Coalition soldiers have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
858 Coalition soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
32,046 U.S. troops have been wounded in action in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
10,407 U.S. troops have been wounded in action in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
103 Wisconsin soldiers have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
27 Wisconsin soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
145 journalists (several nationalities) have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
21 journalists (various nationalities) have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
Wisconsin military service person special mention of the week, military casualty, and journalist casualty information sources: Committee to Protect Journalists; cnn.com; Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; washingtonpost.com; thehighground.org; Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs; iraqbodycount.org; www.defense.gov/news/casualty.pdf; and, icasualties.org.
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