Let’s face it, sometimes you just need to find cheap therapy in a drink, a friend, and a snack. Recently the stars aligned for a nacho date – I was ready for a happy hour cocktail and knew someone who hadn’t eaten lunch… and could also use a drink.

Nicole, founder of Nachos and Dreams, and I made our way to Alchemy in
Madison, WI. We didn’t know it at the time, but NACHOS WERE ON SPECIAL. Talk about kismet!

It was 5:00, but I had an insatiable hunger and the Jack LaLanne Jumpsuit Bloody* sounded amazing (freshly juiced carrot, celery, pickle, lime, tomato, Guinness, vodka, etc.). Nicole got one, too, because she knows how to make up for a missed lunch like a champ.

After enjoying our tasty drinks/lunch, we dove hands-first into a delicious plate of nachos. The fresh, crispy chips were coated with a generous portion of cheese sauce made from bechamel, cheddar, and chihuahua cheese. The next layer was tender chipotle-honey braised flank steak, followed by roasted corn pico, pickled red onion, lemon crema and mango-habanero salsa. If you’re not drooling at this point, you might be on the wrong site.

They. Were. Amazing.

At one point the friendly, attentive bartender came back to check on our progress and saw that we had nearly cleared the plate but for a small pool of cheese sauce. It took a lot of willpower to not scrape (lick) the bottom of the plate, but we held back. It’s highly unlikely that she took the plate into the kitchen and did just that. But, you know what? We wouldn’t blame her.

I don’t know if it was the drink, the cheese sauce or the conversation, but I think Nicole and I both felt better… I’m pretty sure it was the cheese.

Ya er No?

Ya – it’s a nacho no-brainer. Next time nachos are on the menu, get thee to Alchemy! Note: Like them on Facebook and you can keep track of Alchemy’s specials.

*The Jumpsuit Bloody also comes highly recommended by Nachos and Dreams.

Author: Kara Luedtke

Kara Luedtke was raised to think that nachos consisted of microwaved Velveeta cheese dip and corn tortilla chips. Thankfully she grew to learn that nachos are so much more. She once listed nachos as second in a list of 20 things she is thankful for, above two immediate family members and her partner of nearly 13 years. When she isn’t eating nachos, she is thinking about nachos while cuddling with her cat and two dogs.