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Name: Karen Bell
Title: Owner/Founder
Location: 330 E. Menomonee St., Milwaukee, WI 53202
Q) For those of us who haven’t visited, please tell us – what is Bavette?
A) Bavette is a modern rendition of an old world butcher shop, focusing on whole animal butchery and sourcing grass fed and pasture raised meat from small local farms. Bavette also serves a daily changing menu of soup, salads, sandwiches, cheese, charcuterie, pates, beer, wine and cocktails.
Q) Describe the appeal that Bavette adds to the neighborhood, and why it is a vital part of the community.
A) In the past, every neighborhood had its own butcher shop, where everyone knew your name. We are trying to revitalize that tradition along with supplying a direct link to farmer’s products all year long. We provide traceability to our cutovers from the farm to the table. In addition, we are a unique neighborhood option for lunch, dinner or a glass of wine.
Q) What’s your personal favorite item/creation on the menu right now?
A) Steak tartare or carpaccio. Any of the pates.
Q) What has been your biggest struggle so far in your business? How did you overcome and learn from it?
A) Everyday has its own struggles and challenges, but probably the biggest has been the unpredictability of the business. Being a new business, it takes a little while to create patterns and predictability.
Q) What’s your current magazine (or blog) of choice?
A) Meatpaper, lucky peach, gastronomica
Q) When you’re not at work, you can be found enjoying/doing ___.
A) Eating, socializing with friends and family, reading, traveling.
If you are in the Milwaukee area and have not checked out Bavette yet, I highly recommend you do! Not only are they well-known in the city for their high-quality meat products, but also for their fresh, always changing lunch and dinner menu items. Even if you don’t eat meat, the menu abounds with plenty of options to enjoy. Thanks so much to Karen for welcoming me into her workspace and sharing some of her story with me!!
(film – FujiPro 400H :: camera – Contax RX :: lens – 50mm 1.4)
Oh my goodness! I love this place and I have not even tried it yet. How is it possible that I have not tried it yet???!?!? The decor is awesome. Such beautiful photos. Great work, Laurie. I’ll be a customer soon enough :)
Laurelyn, I just saw this post and I love it! What beautiful shots + a cool feature! :)
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