THE MORNING BLEND WITH CHEF MICHAEL FEKER

- December 18, 2008

MOLLY FAY:  We’re kicking it off this morning we’re in the kitchen with Chef Michael Feker.  He’s here from Il Mito restaurant in Wauwatosa.  So, good morning to you.

CHEF MICHAEL FEKER:  Good morning, good morning Alison.

ALISON DE CASTRO:  Good morning, good morning, what’s on the menu today?

CHEF FEKER:  Well, we are an osso buco.  We are doing the Strauss Veal Osso Buco.  And, I have been teamed up with Strauss because they do Free Raised® veal.  And, that means they are not caged, there are no hormones, there are no antibiotics, and the flavor is wonderful, yet it is tender.

ALSION:  Can you taste the difference the in the meat when it’s a kind of piece of meat like that?

CHEF FEKER:  Completely, completely you can.  And another thing is, if you care about getting your customers and patrons addicted, it is important to you how your meat, and how your food tastes.  So, to me, really it does matter, what I use.

MOLLY:  Is this what you serve at the restaurant?

CHEF FEKER:  I do, I do, and we have this as a feature tonight specially.  And, I’m doing it a la minestra, which is with a saffron risotto. 

MOLLY:  Look how tender it is, Alison.

ALISON:  Ok, so what are some of the ingredients, what did you put into this dish?

CHEF FEKER:  This dish, as you can see on camera - I wanted to show you – I first dredged the veal in the flour, I seasoned it, and look at this.

MOLLY:  Wow, that’s incredible.  I was just pulling the meat like this, and it’s so tender, it’s incredible.

CHEF FEKER:  It is, Strauss, Tim is wonderful, Randy are wonderful at Strauss. They do great.  They have farmers, they have ranchers that commit themselves to this concept.  They believe in it.

MOLLY:  Chef, I got to tell, you, this piece of meat is absolutely incredible, should I let Alison taste it?

ALISON:  I’ll taste it after, I’ll taste it after the break, because I have to talk a little bit.

CHEF FEKER:  That’s right, that’s right.

ALISON:  Thanks so much, Chef, I can’t wait to try it.

CHEF FEKER:  Thank you for lending me your house and your home.  Ciao.

MOLLY:  And come back soon.

CHEF FEKER:  Thank you, I will.

MOLLY:  Bye.