FOME Food & Company
Unfortunately this restaurant is no longer in business.
Nea is notorious in Appleton. She’s made a name for herself with delicious cakes and Brazilian confections at Whisk & Arrow Sugar Studio. She grew it from a small to-order shop hidden on Wisconsin Ave to a team of bakers serving a drive thru and full coffee bar on Richmond St.
We found out she and her team recently opened a brunch place where Burgers in Paradise used to be on Ballard.
We trusted her baked goods but could we trust her soup? Join us on our trip to FOME Food & Company for a brunch you’re not going to find anywhere else in the Fox Cities.
In a Bite
https://goo.gl/maps/Ed2jRXzuj57UkkTW6
Ambiance: Upscale Diner
Music: None
Service: Good
Price: $$$
Food Style: French American
What to Order: Mazagran, Croque Madam
Go Again?: Definitive Yes
The Whole Plate
Ambiance
We soaked in the sun on a crisp Saturday morning as we made the short jaunt across town to Ballard Ave. Next to the Memorial Park entrance and kitty corner from GingerRootz, FOME Food & Company brings some bouje to the road with their black and white logo.
Don’t let this deter you, the inside is colorful and chique, boasting an open kitchen, coffee bar, and seating area.
We were never able to go to Burgers in Paradise before so we don’t know how much changed. Somebody go and let us know!
Service
FOME is a little different than other restaurants. How you order changes depending on what day of the week you come in. Wednesday through Friday, you order at the counter, grab some cutlery, take a seat, and wait for food to be brought to you. Saturdays and Sundays is full service with wait staff at your table. No matter what day, the FOME team will clear your table for you.
On the Saturday we went, there were 2-3 servers in the dining area delivering drinks and taking orders. Service was friendly and quick, able to offer insight on food and drinks as requested. Food was not as fast as we expected for the self definition of “fast casual” toted on their website. As we weren’t in a rush, it was fine to stare longingly into each eyes as lovers do. If you were hungry or had somewhere to be, you may have been annoyed. As they are recently opened, I put them in the ironing out the wrinkles phase and give ‘em some grace.
Food
Now for the food! The menu available online is just a Square site so there isn’t much flair to it. Menu design adds to the experience any restaurant delivers and Fome has more personality than their online menu leads you to believe.
I ordered the cornmeal pancakes. Now, I normally can clear a plate of pancakes no problem. These bad boys beat me and I had a quarter pancake left. I wanted to finish it! I just couldn’t. The pancakes are fluffy with a mild corn flavor. Despite corn kernels griddled in with the batter, I was hoping for a little more corn flavor. Texture was perfect though. Crispy edges and airy interior.
The pancakes come with a side so I ordered house made breakfast sausage patties. Delicious. I don’t think it was a blend so I assume all pork. Seasoning was classic breakfast blend that worked well when soaked in maple syrup.
Now on to my drink: the mazagran. This drink will change your perspective on espresso. You know a summer shandy? I mean of course you do, you’re from Wisconsin. For those unenlightened, it’s a mix of beer and lemonade. This is the coffee equivalent, with a shots of espresso and lemonade over ice. I was skeptical at first but was delightfully refreshed! This will be a regular drink for me when summer hits.
Lindsay got a croque madame with a side of bacon and an iced vanilla latte. Delicious!
Taking It to Go
Over all, Nea brings the same high-quality experience of her sweets into the savory realm. FOME is casually upscale, unique, and absolutely delicious. You’ll pay a premium compared to the other greasy spoons around town. But hey, you can’t get it anywhere else in town! Thanks for reeading. I’m off to get another mazagran.