| As a foodie living in Green Bay, it should never be | | | | mustard and onion on rye bread (with |
| questioned whether I, a Wisconsinite, am proud of | | | | much-needed mint on the side). But I thought it |
| our most notable masterpiece: Cheese. Our beer | | | | was safer to suggest a cheese appetizer and a |
| is known to brew up a lot of emotion as well. But | | | | few more beers so we'd have room for dinner at |
| to say that brews and cheese and are the only | | | | the amazing Landhaus Chalet. This place serves |
| culinary creations we can muster up would be | | | | up authentic fondue and Swiss cuisine from |
| doing a disservice to other unique food traditions | | | | Swiss-trained Executive Chef Mike Neval. |
| throughout Northeast Wisconsin-and the rest of | | | | By this time on our journey, it was safe to say |
| our fine state. | | | | that I was winning over my skeptical family |
| It is that very argument that brought me | | | | members. |
| here-behind the wheel of my husband's GMC | | | | As we continued to pack on the pounds during |
| Yukon XL-with five of my family members from | | | | our Foodie Fest, we would have yet another day |
| back East in tow. That's right-New Yorkers-and | | | | of stuffing our faces to look forward to. It was |
| snobby ones at that. We set aside a few days to | | | | only about 10 p.m., so we decided to head out on |
| venture out of Green Bay and hit the road in the | | | | the highway in the GMC Yukon for our two-hour |
| Yukon to experience some food-Wisconsin style! | | | | trip to Milwaukee. |
| The first stop on our adventure would be like | | | | After checking into the hotel for the night for a |
| none other experienced by native New Yorkers: | | | | little R&R, I thought about the treat I had in store |
| Door County Cherries & Fish Boils. About an | | | | for the next day: Brats! As we made are way |
| hour's drive from Green Bay you'll find Door | | | | along Milwaukee's historic Third Ward district, |
| County's miles of lovely shoreline. But it's not just | | | | Usinger's Famous Sausage was calling our name. |
| a feast for the eyes, it's also the force behind | | | | These guys have been making authentic German |
| two local traditions: Fish boils and cherries. The | | | | sausage for over a century. Today, you can get |
| fishboil features the freshest whitefish caught by | | | | 70 varieties of Old World sausage, including |
| local fishermen on Lake Michigan. The Master | | | | bratwurst and German-style wursts. |
| Boiler throws chunks of fish, potatoes, onions and | | | | We decided to take a factory tour and, of |
| salt into a huge, boiling cauldron until the fish oils | | | | course, purchase a few links to take home with |
| rise to the surface-then he turns up the juice on | | | | us. But we couldn't wait until we got back to |
| the flames for the infamous "boilover." The oil | | | | Green Bay to try out this stuff. So we took a |
| spills over the side of the pot and leaving the fish | | | | walk next door to Mader's German Restaurant |
| steaming hot and perfectly cooked. The White | | | | for a Bavarian Platter, featuring a selection of |
| Gull dining room then serves it up with lemon, | | | | Usinger's grilled bratwurst and simmered |
| melted butter, garden fresh coleslaw, and | | | | knockwurst in sauerkraut served with a slice of |
| homemade breads. | | | | kassler rippchen and a potato dumpling. After yet |
| Truly a culinary masterpiece unique to Wisconsin. | | | | another amazing meal, I surprised my delighted |
| Even though they tried to hide it, my New Yorker | | | | guests with some tickets to the Milwaukee |
| relatives were impressed. But the best was yet | | | | Brewers game, just up the interstate. |
| to come. Lake Michigan boasts ideal conditions for | | | | The conversion was almost complete! |
| cherry-growing. Both sweet and tart cherries are | | | | It was time, yet again, to switch on the Yukon |
| readily available at local farmer's markets and | | | | XL's OnStar navigation and XM radio for our |
| "pick-your-own" orchards in late summer. That | | | | hour-long drive to Kohler-for the Kohler Food & |
| said, unbelievable cherry pie would, of course be | | | | Wine Experience. This festival lasts all weekend |
| the featured dessert. I could almost see them | | | | and brings in thousands of foodies from around |
| salivating. | | | | Wisconsin. With celebrity chefs, wine tastings, |
| After waddling back to the GMC Yukon XL (thank | | | | seminars, culinary demonstrations, specialty |
| God it's roomy) for an overnight stay at a nearby | | | | shopping, and more, we decided to stay in town |
| hotel, we would hit the road the next day for | | | | the entire weekend. Finally convinced that there |
| some Green County beer and cheese. | | | | MAY JUST BE more to Wisconsin than cheese, |
| It's a three-hour drive, but where else can you | | | | my guests admitted they were having a fabulous |
| sample beers like Spotted Cow, Uff-da Bock, or | | | | time. |
| Fat Squirrel other than at the New Glarus | | | | Unfortunately, it was already time to head back |
| Brewery? It was there we spent the day touring | | | | toward Northeast Wisconsin and Green Bay. The |
| the brewery and where my guests would get to | | | | extra day spent at the festival put a damper on |
| sample some of the greatest brews around. I | | | | my plans to take them to Central Wisconsin's |
| was driving the Yukon so, alas, I couldn't | | | | Cranberry Highway in Wisconsin Rapids, where |
| partake-but the cheese awaited my arrival. | | | | they would have experienced some of the most |
| After a few hours spent at the brewery, we | | | | indulgent cranberry treats known to man. But that |
| drove a couple miles to Monroe for a stop at | | | | would have to be another time, another |
| Baumgartner's Cheese Store & Tavern. The locals | | | | adventure in the GMC Yukon. |
| love the Limburger cheese sandwich, served with | | | | |