Snuggle up with some holiday cheer as OnMilwaukee shares stories of everything merry and bright in the spirit of the season.
The OnMilwaukee Ho Ho Holiday Guide is brought to you by Harley-Davidson Museum and MolsonCoors.
Have you been to Charles E. Fromage? Well, there's no better time to check it off of your bucket list.
Holiday cheer awaits at the West Side's coziest Parisian salon-themed gathering place at 5811 W. Vliet St.
Glittering lights, sparkling decor and a Parisian holiday soundtrack adorn the space, setting the stage for the “Paris, City of Christmas Lights” pop-up, a réjouissant affair that persists through Dec. 31.
Les boissons
During the pop-up, guests can enjoy glasses of wine or beer, snacks (including cheese spreads, olives, spiced nuts, chocolates… and cheese boards, of course!) and a very special themed menu of cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages (priced $13-$14).
That includes options like Joyeux Martini Français (Driftless Glen Vodka, Chambord, pineapple, nutmeg); Le Ventre Du Pére Noël (Driftless Glen Bourbon, Grand Marnier, Bittercube Blackstrap Bitters, house cherry syrup and 7-Up); Martini au Fromage (Death’s Door Gin, Lustrau Vermouth and five cheese glop-filled olives); and Kir Royale de Noël (Chambord, J.P. Chent Brut sparkling wine, Bittercube Blackstrap Bitters).
You can also treat yourself to a Holiday Cheer Cocktail, available in a choice of red (Driftless Glen Vodka, cranberry and seltzer, $13) or green (Death’s Door Gin, Green Chartreuse, Luxardo Maraschino, lime and seltzer, $14). Each is served up alongside an ornament that you can decorate while you enjoy (markers for decorating are provided).
Or warm up with Mulled Wine de France (French red wine blends, Grand Marnier, Berens Old Fashioned Brandy, mulling spices, orange); Tequila et Chocolate Èpicé (Espolon Reposado Tequila, hot chocolate, cinnamon, chilies, half ‘n half, whipped cream); Rhum Chaud Buerré (Twisted Path dark rum and Dorothy’s homemade butter batter); or a glass of Bourbon et Cidre de Pomme (bourbon, house-mulled apple cider, orange juice).
Zero-proof options are also available including Hot Chocolat (hot cocoa, cinnamon, chilies, half ‘n half and whipped cream, $11) and Soleil Du Norde (orange juice, cherry syrup, Bittercube Bolivar Bitters, seltzer, $11).
Be sure to pop-in during (or after) the Dec. 11 You Go Girl: Ladies Shopping Event on West Vliet Street for half-price bottles of wine!
The Paris, City of Lights pop-up takes place now through Dec. 31 with general hours Wednesday through Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m. and special hours on Dec. 31 from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Please note: Charles E. Fromage will be closed on Dec. 12 and Dec. 26 to accommodate private parties.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
