Let's get this party started. \n\nIt's been my good fortune to have a few opportunities to drop in on Madison this past year, marvelling at the miracle of the farmer's market with its 20,000 people genially all walking in the same direction and had great dinners and drinks at Nostrano, Merchant and Graze and great meats and cheeses from Fromagination. \n\nA friend more familiar with the scene than me learned I was heading through again and alerted me that The Underground Food Collective had just opened a butcher shop and it sounded fabulous. \n\nIt's fabulous. I stopped in last night and assembled a hotel room charcuterie plate for the ages - soft and bursting-with-fresh-fennel-flavor Finocchiona (sorry for the alliteration), Culatello (!) - lush and sweet with a just-right note of Funk, a 16 month Gouda and a country baguette as good as any I've ever had. The meat case was laden with sausage, poultry and beautiful cuts that made me wish my hotel would let me into the kitchen. \n\nWanted to make it back on my way back to Chicago today for a housemade Hot Dog with Kimchi and to load up on fresh sausage but couldn't quite swing it. \n\nThe owners are recent Chicago transplants who were probably eager to ply their trade in a supportive state and a city free of both Aldermen and abundant extra regulations. Their pickled product - displayed but not able to be sold - looked equally fantastic and the space is raw, gorgeous and not overly-styled. \n\nThey are Good Kids. If you're fortunate enough to live in Madison go support them. I'll be back, with a cooler. \n\nAlso check out the Collective's social media and videos. Funny, sincere, useful - Good stuff. Fight the Good Fight.
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