Last year, I must say the highlight of my Waukesha Janboree experience was attending and being part of the performance of What Do Ya Know, the long-running public radio show hosted by radio legend Michael Feldman.

I sat in the audience with family and friends. I was elated when Michael chose me
to be part of the What Do Ya Know quiz. (If you listen to the program, you know that Michael picks one audience member and one caller to be part of the quiz and then win “fabulous” prizes.) I was excited to be picked for that because I am kind of a “ham” and have self-diagnosed center of attention issues. I won the quiz by the way. Aren’t you proud?

This year, I decided to take a different approach to my JanBoree celebration. After much deliberation about what aspect of the JanBoree I wanted to cover, I told Waukesha Patch Editor Sarah Millard that I wanted to “eat my way through the Janboree” and then write about it. She laughed, probably because she knows that I do a lot of eating, and then said, “I think that would be a great idea for a column.”

I started my food journey by eating a tremendously good-tasting fish fry at Eric’s Porter-Haus downtown Waukesha. I’ve eaten here once before. I’d summarize it by saying "good fish, good service." I was full!

I have to tell you that I have some really good friends, friends that are willing to get up early, (like 7:30 on a Saturday morning,) to join me for pancakes. When I arrived at the Schuetze building, after traversing the icy sidewalks, I was greeted in side by Waukesha Mayor Jeff Scrima ,who was taking tickets and handing out plates. That way, we don’t have to eat the pancakes out of our hands.

I then went through the line to consume all the pan cakes I cared to eat, which was about six by the time everything was said and done, and two sausages, but who’s counting?

Those who worship at the Waukesha Gospel Hall were handing out complimentary hot chocolate. I like free stuff! They even had marshmallows and whipped cream. One of the volunteers I talked to said that they have been involved with this for several years. A bake sale and people who demonstrate Lego robotics were also a part of this event.

My friend Ben found a very helpful brochure at Sprizzo Gallery Caffe where we stopped on our journey downtown. I believe it was entitled, “Food specials at the Janboree.” This flyer lead us to Allo! Chocolat for some “melted snowman” sipping chocolate, and to the Steaming Cup for "Jam Balaya" soup, and "Jam Ba Juice" fruit smoothy.

Not listed on that flyer, but advertised on Facebook, was Sample Saturday at Katydids on Maple and Main.

After eating all that food, I needed to rest. Since I can’t stay home for more than four hours at a time without getting “cabin fever,” I went downtown again with my friend Ben and we tried to make it to the chili supper advertised on the JanBoree website. I would like to say that we had the best three orvfour bowls of chili ever, however, we got there at a few minutes before 7 p.m. and they were packing
up. They did offer to prepare a to-go container for us. We declined. Instead, we went to People's Park, where the JanBoree special was "jammin' salmon." I ordered the Central Park burger with sour cream and chive fries, which was quite tasty.

Rounding out the food eaten during JanBoree weekend was the Wisconsin patty melt eaten during the Packer playoff party at Bodways Live Music Grill.

Other non-food highlights of Janboree weekend included the aforementioned Janboree Jam, a ride in the famous downtown trawley and feeling an ice sculpture of Vince Lombardi.

Wow, that was a lot of eating I did this weekend! I gained so much weight that I may have to seek the assistance of a personal trainer to help me lose it. Does anyone know of any good ones around town?

Blind man out!