This past week Heide and I veered up to Madison in conjunction with the Wisconsin Film Festival. We went to a documentary about combat in Afghanistan; it was shown at the Memorial Union up off Langdon and Park Streets. The film was later in the evening so we had plenty of time to find a Friday fish fry before hand.
Dexter's Pub had been on my fish fry bucket list for a bit. According to madisonfishfry.com this eatery has been a Madison mainstay for some time. And, they have written about the joint on several occasions always with high regards.
Dexter's is the consummate neighborhood gathering spot. You will find them sitting patiently at the corner of North and Johnson. It is a humble place and unimposing from the outside. A few flat screen televisions line the walls of both the eating area and the bar area. In the eating area there are tables in the center and booths along the walls. The ceilings are low.
We stopped at the end of the busy bar to order a couple adult beverages and the bartender came out from behind the bar and hunted down the hostess who in turn sat us at a tiny table for two in the middle of the fish fry drama. From our vantage point I could also witness just of a glimpse of the grill theater-action going on adjacent to the bar area. Our waitress was friendly and quick.
Once settled in, we shared a bowl of tasty clam chowder. It had a hot peppery taste. Good crunchy and creamy cole slaw came to the table in preparation for the meal. It had a sweet taste. Fresh rolls and butter accompanied the deal as well. I ordered a Miller Lite and Heide tried a Goose Island Root Beer.
Heide tried the fried Perch of which I grabbed a piece off her plate. I tried the deep fried Cod of which I carved her off a hunk to try. There was a tad of seasoning in the breading of my Cod. Heide's meal came with a baked potato and I chose the brew fries which have a garlic and chilli theme. Heide finished her Perch. My portions were so abundant, I asked for a to-go box and Heide ate my leftovers for lunch the next day. This says a great deal, because tavern fish is not always a good leftover the next day.
Our whole experience was pleasant. Having lived and worked in Madison for a while a few years ago I am almost embarrassed to admit I never popped into this place long ago.
Dexter's Pub is cool with Cool Dadio. Find them at 301 North Street, Madison, Wisconsin. Call (608) 244 - 3535 for more information. Or, go to their Website at
www.dexterspubmadison.com .
Wisconsin Military Service Person Special Mention of the Week
(each week Cooldadiomedia mentions a Wisconsin service person killed in Iraq or Afghanistan) Army Sergeant Steven John Christofferson, 20, of Cudahy, Wisconsin died Monday, April 21, 2008, in Bayji, Iraq, in the Salahudin province, north of Baghdad. He was killed when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device (roadside bomb). Sergeant Christofferson was assigned to Company D, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel noted Christofferson was one of two soldiers killed in the incident. Steven was a 2006 graduate of Cudahy High School. The Journal Sentinel went on to mention both of Steven's parents and grandfather had served in the military. His father was on active duty at the time of Steven's death. Christofferson had deployed to Iraq in September of 2007. Steven was remembered as a good athlete and played football and ran track. He was the oldest son.
The Website legacy.com noted his military Company as Delta and made mention of Mad Dog 5th Platoon.
The Website iraq.pigstye.net via information from WTMJ Channel 4, noted Steven was also a wrestler in school. Family was quoted as saying he joined the Army while still in high school. He had plans to someday open an auto shop.
The Website findgrave.com noted Steven was born on September 5, 1987. Sergeant Christofferson's military awards as including the National Defense Service Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; Weapons Qualification, M4, expert; Bronze Star, and Purple Heart.
The site jsonline.com ran another article and mentioned Steven's great uncle Harlan Nefstead a Baptist minister officiated with the funeral rites. At the time of his death, Steven Christofferson was survived by his mother, Michell Christofferson; father, Jeffrey Christofferson; brothers, Dakota and Dillon Christofferson; grandfather Joe Gervasio; aunt Monique (Dennis) Nimphius; and great aunt and uncle Verna and Harlan Nefstead. Sergeant Steven Christofferson was the 91st Wisconsin military service person killed in Iraq since the spring of 2003.
As of this blog entry's posting date:
0 American and Coalition casualties in Libyan "Operation Odyssey Dawn" since March 2011
100,213 Iraqi civilians have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
9,903 Iraqi Security Forces have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
4,444 Americans have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
1521 Americans have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
318 Coalition soldiers have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
867 Coalition soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
32,051 U.S. troops have been wounded in action in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
10,749 U.S. troops have been wounded in action in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
104 Wisconsin soldiers have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
29 Wisconsin soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
147 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.
