The Omaha
Event Report: Brunch at TALUS Spirits & Sustenance
Rhine Cruise: The Bridge at Remagen
Upcoming Events.
Event Report: Brunch at TALUS Spirits & Sustenance
Written by Tom Murnan, Photos by Mike Wilke.
What’s New
I was unable to attend the combined Omaha and Omaha Metro Brunch event at a location new to both branches, TALUS. Located at 109th and Cumberland Drive in Papillion, Talus opened in August 2022. It focuses on what executive chef Aron Mackevicius calls Fusion Comfort Food with Craft Cocktails, and local beer that rotates around different breweries throughout the year. Chef Aron came from Railcar because he had the freedom to do what inspired him. He wanted to do something different than all the other restaurants in the metro area so he came up with a mountain theme in the plains of Nebraska. The name Talus comes from the rock foundation at the base of a mountain. The food is inspired by various mountain ranges, and the smart decor has a mountain lodge feel. The restaurant has monthly gourmet dinners, wine and beer tastings and community gatherings.
NOVEMBER
But this was just brunch, with a generous amount of wine from both clubs’ cellars. We started off with Bloody Mary’s and Mimosa’s and quaffing wines. Three kinds of appetizers you typically don’t eat at breakfast were served, including a Raspberry Caviar Canape. Five more plates were to come. Frittata with Prosciutto, Grilled Chicken Apple Avocado Toast with fried egg, Potato Casserole with Thick Cut Bacon, Spinach and Havarti Cheese, then Steak and Brussels Puff. Finally, a Breakfast Cheesecake with house made Lemon Curd was paired with a Sauternes. The First and Second Plates had a red and white wine to pair with the food, while the Third and Fourth Plates had more substantial red wine pairs. All this had one of the smallest tariffs we have seen for quite awhile: $120. Sounds like the bargain of the year to me. But we only had 24 people sign up from both clubs. Don’t forget to let the event host know if you ARE or ARE NOT coming. I don’t think many non-attenders used this feature on the invite signup page.
Many thanks to Rhonda and Mike Wilke for putting together this, by all accounts, delicious event. Thanks to Chef Aron and the staff, led by Robyn Davis, for great service.
Cheers!
“Bore.” n. A person who talks when you wish him to listen.
- Ambrose Bierce
Best of the Cockle Bur compiled & edited by Harry B. Otis, 3rd President 1973-1974
IWFS Rhine Cruise: The Bridge at Remagen
On March 7, 1945, the US Army was advancing towards Germany. At the time, there were only three intact bridges across the Rhine, the Ludendorff railroad bridge at Remagen being one of them. A large number of IWFS members would be interested in knowing that one of the heroes in the bridge’s capture was Karl H. Timmerman. Born in Germany, his family moved to Cuming, Nebraska. At age 18, he enlisted in the army at Ft. Crook, Nebraska. The bridge had been repeatedly attacked from the air for 30 days, but none of the bombs disabled or destroyed it. On March 7, Karl was in the 9th Armored Division as an advanced guard when he discovered the bridge was intact and being used to evacuate German army remnants. Karl was ordered to take the bridge. Karl led an under-strength squad of men to the bridge. Just when they arrived near the bridge, the Germans tried to blow up a support area, but they used a weak under-strength explosive that did not do the job. Karl’s squad then got on the bridge and began removing other demolition charges on the American side of the bridge. CBS Radio correspondent Everett Holles wrote about Timmerman removing charges in his book Unconditional Surrender. Eventually, the Americans got control of the bridge. The Germans countered attacked with everything they could, even using V2 rockets, but the bridge lasted 10 days, until March 17th, allowing the Americans to send 25,000 troops and many vehicles and supplies into Germany, ultimately shortening the war. Today, all that remains is a stub of a bridge, the west and east bridge gates, and a museum, with the American flag flying.
Castles, Churches, and other views along the Rhine
Ferries ply either side of the Rhine all day long, taking traffic to the opposite side.
Diane Hayes & Patti Hipple view the Rhine scene on deck
Written & Photos by Tom Murnan
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