🐖 A Pig in a Fur Coat to close

🐖 A Pig in a Fur Coat To Close After 13 Years

• The owners of A Pig in a Fur Coat, the Williamson Street restaurant known for small and large plates, announced that they will close the restaurant Sept. 26.
• Award-winning chef Dan Bonanno, who owns the restaurant with Bonnie Arent, said the Willy Street location will become a second location for Alimentari, the Italian sandwich shop and deli. Earlier this year, Alimentari left its Brearly Street location and opened up shop on Monroe Street. "We're coming back to the east side," Bonanno told Madison Magazine. "We're going to step up the game of the deli, too."
• On Wednesday following the announcement, there were no available reservations at A Pig in a Fur Coat’s website. [Madison Magazine]

🔬 Lawmakers Want Lab Animals To Get Adopted

• Researchers at UW-Madison and private labs who use dogs and cats in their research would have to make a serious effort to get those animals adopted, under a bipartisan bill recently introduced in the Wisconsin Legislature.
• The labs would be required to make an active effort over three weeks to either rehome the pets or transfer them to a local humane society, under penalty of a $5,000 fine for non-compliance.
• A UW-Madison spokesperson said the university already adopts out some of the dogs and cats it uses in research. The bill comes a week after an animal rights group found that UW-Madison bought beagles for research from a Blue Mounds breeder who is currently under investigation. [ 🔒 WSJ, News 3]

🧑‍⚕️ Epic Wants You To Consult Its AI Assistant Instead of WebMD

• Verona-based medical records company Epic Systems wants patients to turn to their MyChart account for medical questions rather than Googling their symptoms and searching sites like WebMD.
• Epic announced the update to its virtual assistant, Emmie, at Tuesday’s User Group Meeting attended by over 7,000 health administrators who use Epic’s software. Dressed in a lavender wig and an astronaut suit to match the meeting’s sci-fi theme, founder and CEO Judith Faulkner announced dozens of software updates.
• With the new updates, Emmie could access your health records to give you personalized advice on everything from medication side effects to nutrition. Epic has 160 projects underway that would incorporate artificial intelligence into every aspect of health care. [🔒WSJ]

Blackened mahi-mahi from Jolly Bob’s. A morning bun from Ovens of Brittany. A She-meh-neh late-night burrito from Burrito Drive.

These are just a few of the Madison dishes that now live on only in our memories, the restaurants that once served them now long gone. On the City Cast Madison podcast today, the team commiserated about the restaurants, bars, and cafes that we still miss. It’s a healing process, trust me.

We also asked our readers and listeners to share their favorite defunct restaurants, and dozens of you responded. Here are some of your old favorites you just can’t let go of. Thanks to everybody who wrote in!

“Paco’s on State Street. Besides delicious food, there was a great bar that limited their margaritas to three per person, for good reason!” – Elizabeth B.

“Cafe Continental on King St. Nick Schaivo and his family were so wonderful and kind and the place was magic! Really magic! Nick, his mom Rose Marie, and dad Tony and the amazing bar! Simply magic is what it was and I have not been able to find the magic anywhere.” – Danielle V.

“I really miss Lulu’s. It was my go-to spot for working lunches and their hummus was the only I could get without garlic. Their specials were always great and I loved their falafel sandwiches.“ – Molly C.

“I miss The Black Locust Cafe! I loved eating outside on their roomy, shady patio. Despite being on East Washington Avenue it was a pleasant quiet place to gather with friends, family and even my dog.” – Kate L.

“The original Paisan’s that was located in the basement of Porta Bella during the 70's. There were always lines of people waiting for a table snaking down the staircase. The walls of the stairway were covered in vintage travel posters. The basement restaurant was dark and moody and hung with rewired antique light fixtures. The food was so good. I would always get a Garibaldi and a Schlitz, and the waiting in line was part of the fun.” – Linda M.

“Deb & Lola’s. I worked there as a server, bartender and host…and it was delicious! The best margaritas, queso fundito, pork tenderloin, venison, pecan encrusted halibut, corn soup…I could go on and on!” – Anna T.