As Seen In WI.com

Milwaukee Brewers' outfielder Ryan Braun wants to open a restaurant.

Braun and some other investors are in the process of converting the old Cactus Club in Lake Geneva into the "Ryan Braun's Tavern & Grill."

Tom Romano, part of the development group, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel it will open in early spring and seat as many as 240 people.

Romano said a booth promoting the restaurant will be set up on Sunday at the Midwest Airlines Center as part of the Brewers On Deck show.

Braun finished last season with 203 hits, and batted .320 with 32 home runs and 114 RBIs. He was a National League Silver Slugger award for the second year in a row.

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Information from: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, http://www.jsonline.com

By BILL NOVAK

An alleged supermarket thief was caught red (meat)-handed Thursday night after he allegedly stuffed three raw t-bone steaks and a jar of mustard down his pants.

Tahija Charles Robinson, 20, of Madison, was tentatively charged with retail theft, resisting a police officer, disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property following his arrest at about 7:45 p.m. at Pierce's Market, 2817 N. Sherman Ave.

Madison police said Robinson was spotted by employees in the store, tucking steaks into his trousers.

"An officer arrived on the scene with the suspect still in the store," said police spokesman Joel DeSpain. "He saw the squad car and tried to get out by rushing at a sliding glass door, knocking the door out of its track."

Two store managers detained Robinson, but the suspect punched one of the managers in the face.

"The officer intervened and during the struggle a bottle of mustard rolled out of the suspect's pants," DeSpain said.

A Taser was used on the suspect to subdue him, before he was put into handcuffs and into the back seat of the squad car.

"The officer went back to the store to get statements from the managers, and when he got back to the squad, there was a t-bone steak on the floor of the car," DeSpain said.

The officer searched the suspect's pants legs and found the rest of the missing meat -- two more t-bone steaks.

By Nancy J. Stohs

A new Girl Scout cookie this year features a familiar flavor combination: cranberries and white chocolate chips.

Called Thank You Berry Munch, the cookie baked by Little Brownie Bakers in Louisville, Ky., is reminiscent of the white chocolate chunk cookies sold each year by the Wisconsin cranberry growers at the Wisconsin State Fair.

Unfortunately, the new cookie - using cranberries furnished by Ocean Spray - is not easy to find in the Milwaukee area. That's because the Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast council (encompassing Kenosha, Milwaukee, Racine and Waukesha counties, and parts of Dodge, Jefferson, Ozaukee, Walworth and Washington counties ) contracts with the other baker licensed to produce Girl Scout cookies, ABC Bakers, based in Virginia.

The cranberry cookies are sold by troops affiliated with other Wisconsin councils, including the Manitou Council based in Sheboygan, which includes troops in Cedarburg and Grafton; the Badgerland Council in Madison (south-central and southwest Wisconsin) and the Northwestern Great Lakes Council based in Green Bay.

For information on securing a box of the cranberry cookies, contact the Manitou Council at (877) 738-7014.

Or, to buy Girl Scout cookies from a local troop (many of the other cookies are the same), call the Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast Council at (414) 476-1050.

*Thanks to @Wine_Dine_WI for the tip on this story! Visit them at http://www.jsonline.com/general/47060672.html

By BILL NOVAK

Firefighters on Wednesday morning remained at the scene of a fire in DeForest that broke out late Tuesday night, destroying an adult bakery and novelty store.

The fire at Naughty Novelties, 6011 U.S. 51, was reported at 11:40 p.m. by a passerby calling 911. No injuries were reported.

Dane County Sheriff's Office Lt. David Dohnal said traffic on 51 was not shut down as firefighters fought the blaze, and morning rush hour shouldn't be affected.

"We still had units at the scene as of 6:30 a.m. putting out hot spots," Dohnal said.

...fire destroying any home or business is a bad thing, but the whole "adult bakery" part is rather inventive...don't you think?

JANE BURNS

Claire Dittman is the first to admit she's not the fastest grocery bagger in the world. But she performs the task efficiently enough that she earned herself a trip to Las Vegas.

On Feb. 11, the Edgewood High School senior will represent Wisconsin in the National Grocers Association's 24th annual Best Bagger Championship. She won the state contest in September, representing Metcalfe's Market. The prize was $500.

"I'm not very fast at all, but I'm good at the weight distribution," she said. "I can make bags kind of even. I think that's what made me win."

Speed isn't the only criterion for the contest. Technique, efficiency of bag use and distribution of weight also matter.

Dittman, 17, began working at Metcalfe's last May. She's one of about 40 baggers employed at the store, and they learn the task in a training video. In 2005, Alexandra Metcalfe, daughter of store owner Tim Metcalfe, won the state contest and the trip to Las Vegas.

By Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board

Welcome! January 20 is National Cheese Lover’s Day and to celebrate we are launching a brand new blog, 30 Days, 30 Ways with Macaroni & Cheese! We’ll kick-off the effort with one of our favorite cheesy recipes, but in the days that follow, we’ll turn the blog over to 30 top food bloggers from across the U.S. and Canada.

Each day, a different blogger will share her spin on macaroni & cheese with a blog entry, recipe and photos. Each recipe is made with Wisconsin Cheese - more than 25 cheeses will be featured throughout the month!

From simple to sophisticated, the recipes we feature will appeal to every cook, be it with kid-friendly recipes, gluten-free options and even a look at the sweeter side of macaroni and cheese. We’re counting on you to check back often to catch up on the featured bloggers and recipes!

MADISON, Wis. - People who sell less than $5,000 a year worth of food they can at home would not have to get licensed by the state under a bill up for a vote today in the state Senate.

The Assembly passed the bill last year. Once it clears the Senate, it then will head to Gov. Jim Doyle.

Current Wisconsin law requires facilities where food is canned, frozen or bottled for sale to obtain a license and be inspected. They must also work out of a kitchen not connected to their home.

The proposal would eliminate the licensing requirement and kitchen restriction. It applies only to those who sell at farmers markets or other community or social events.

Foods covered include pickled vegetables, most canned fruits, and canned tomatoes or tomato-based food like salsa.

MADISON - It could be some kids' worst nightmare: no candy or soda in school vending machines.

A Wisconsin State Assembly committee is debating a measure that would ban sweets from vending machines in public and private schools.

It would also require annual fitness testing.

DELRAN, N.J. (AP) -- The Campbell Soup Co. executive who was behind the enduring brands SpaghettiOs and Chunky Soup has died.

Donald Goerke was 83. A Campbell spokesman confirmed that Goerke died of heart failure Sunday at his home in Delran in southern New Jersey.

Goerke was marketing research director of Campbell's Franco-American line in the early 1960s when his group started dreaming up pasta in shapes that would appeal to kids. He chose the o's. They were marketed with the unforgettable tagline, "Uh-oh, SpaghettiOs."

Later, he helped introduce Chunky Soup, a hearty ready-to-serve soup that stood out from the company's traditional line of condensed soups.

The Waukesha, Wis., native worked for Camden-based Campbell for 35 years, retiring in 1990.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)