These are a few of our favorite things this week:

The Naked Burger Salad at Mason Street Grill -- It was the first time I'd eaten a Naked Burger. Recently undergoing a name change on the lunch menu at Mason Street Grill, 435 E. Mason St., the Naked Burger Salad delivers exactly what it implies: all the fulfillment of a beef or turkey burger without the bun. Starting with a bowl of chopped lettuce, the Naked Burger adds homemade relish, tomato, onion and Russian dressing. On top, you have your choice of a grilled Angus beef or ground turkey patty smothered with Wisconsin Cheddar. A perfectly-portioned lunch, the Naked Burger Salad satisfied my craving for a savory burger but didn't leave me feeling heavy, stuffed and tired, making it ideal for a business meeting over the work lunch hour. I'm not typically a fan of Russian dressing, but I have to say it paired well with relish and meat to recreate an authentic burger experience. --Maureen Post

"Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit" -- Both Drive-By Truckers and Isbell, the group's underrated former guitarist, have thrived since parting ways. On this disc, Isbell channels the Muscle Shoals sounds of his youth into a swampy, free-flowing and enjoyable batch of songs that sounds great when you open the windows and give the house a scrubbing on a warm spring day. Not that I've done that recently, but it sounds just as good when you're sitting on the couch surfing the Web. Check the horns in "No Choice in the Matter" and some great phrases in "Seven-Mile Island" and "Good." A solid effort. --Drew Olson

Simply saying "MILWAUKEE" on the jersey -- One of my biggest beefs is when local companies don't claim their hometown and promote the fact that they are "Milwaukee-based." Our pro sports teams don't have this problem, but it wasn't until last season that the Bucks once again began using just "Milwaukee" on their new, red jerseys. I loved it. Now comes word that the Brewers may do the same on road uniforms. Our sports teams have plenty of brand equity, so I say it's high time for them to promote their city as much as possible. I recommend more teams embrace this concept. ---Jeff Sherman

Alterra's Cowboy Cookie -- Alterra hooked me years ago with its soy honey lattes and although I've slowly weaned myself off my afternoon caffeine fix, I often find myself in line to purchase the decadent cowboy cookie when the post-lunch sweet tooth kicks in. These suckers could be a meal, which makes them great for sharing with a willing co-worker. Alterra's bakery mixes up oatmeal, chocolate chips, walnuts, sugar, spice and all things nice for this hearty dessert. The edges are often crunchy, but the center is a bit chewier, making it the ultimate in texture satisfaction. Damn it, now I want one... --Julie Lawrence

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