L’Etoile, Madison WI

This summer I’ve become a bit obsessed with L’Etoile, a chic farm-to-table restaurant in Madison, Wisconsin.

D and I usually stick fairly close to the lake when we’re in Wisconsin, but we’ve pretty much exhausted the dining options close by.  So one evening, we decided to venture farther afield, and did a quick google search to find a nice-looking restaurant in Madison.

As soon as we walked in, I had a good feeling.  It’s an airy space overlooking the capitol square, with crisp white tablecloths and big, colorful flower arrangements.

The food lives up to the setting, beautifully presented with an emphasis on local meats and produce.  And there’s a long and interesting wine list (it’s one of Wine Enthusiast’s 100 best wine restaurants).

A few favorite dishes from our (many!) visits:

Amuse bouche

Foie gras parfait

Mui cuit salmon

Olive oil basque cake (for dessert)

The menu changes often, based on what’s in season, and since there’s a three course tasting, a seven course tasting, or à la carte, there are quite a lot of dishes to choose from.