5 Unique Wisconsin Foods — and Where To Sample Them
It’s no surprise there’s plenty of cheese to be savored in Wisconsin (aka America’s Dairyland), but the state is also home to other unique culinary traditions, from Wisconsin supper clubs to cocktails you won’t find anywhere else in the country. Keep reading for a primer on unique Wisconsin foods and where to find them.
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Cheese
Cheese is a quintessentially Wisconsin food, and there are endless opportunities for sampling it.
Cut-to-order cheese shop Fromagination is just across the street from the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison — apropos for a spot that stocks all sorts of Wisconsin cheeses and state-centric artisan gift sets. Stop in for samples from knowledgeable cheesemongers or substantial lunch sandwiches best enjoyed on the shop’s patio, including the triple-decker Great Wisconsin ‘wich.
Baumgartner’s Cheese Store & Tavern has been serving cheese sandwiches and chili in Monroe for nearly 95 years; its Braunschweig and Limburger sandwich remains “almost world-famous,” according to its menu.
Customers can wash down their fare with a local beer and purchase cheese by the pound to go.
In Theresa, a village in Dodge County, Widmer’s Cheese Cellars produces everything from fresh brick cheese curds to blocks of cheddar aged an astonishing 12 years. Visit the 102-year-old manufacturer early weekday mornings for the best chance of seeing the cheese makers in action before sampling the goods to determine your favorite variety.
Brats
Yet another spot with over a century of bona fides is Puempel’s Olde Tavern in New Glarus, which has been in operation since 1893. Order an ultra-local brat or hot dog (sourced from New Glarus’ own Hoesly’s Meats) and wash it down with suds from the city’s famed craft brewery, New Glarus Brewing Co.
You’ll be singing the praises of Prost! (as well as shouting its name) each time you raise a glass at this Madison beer hall. It’s also worth a visit for the wurst (aka the best) part of its food menu: delicious sausages ranging from curry to brat to weisswurst, plus modern versions like jalapeño-cheddar and vegan brats.
Old Fashioneds
Old Fashioned lovers new to the Badger State might get a shock when served their cocktail of choice. Wisconsinites love the drink made with brandy and soda in lieu of bourbon. Driftless Glen Distillery in Baraboo makes its version with its own 5 Year Reserve Brandy aged in French oak, yielding an appropriately complex drink.
Pasty
Thanks to Cornish miners who immigrated to Wisconsin, the pasty made its way to the region in the 1830s and ’40s. In Mineral Point, Red Rooster Cafe has been serving the delicious dish for three generations. The eatery offers individual pasties (potato, rutabaga, onions and steak are completely enclosed in a pastry crust for a handheld savory pie) or a pan-style version (baked in a pan with a top and bottom crust only). Don’t end your visit without sampling this uniquely Wisconsin food!
Supper Club Fare
Supper clubs can be found throughout the Midwest and beyond, but they’re a long-running food tradition in Wisconsin.
Be sure to arrive early at Ishnala Supper Club — you’ll beat the crowd (reservations aren’t accepted) and get in a few extra hours of fun at the strikingly scenic spot nestled on the shores of Mirror Lake. The rustic dining room gives summer-camp vibes (if the mess hall served high-end lobster dinners).
Del-Bar Supper Club in Wisconsin Dells is a stylish contrast to Ishnala, with prairie architecture and an upscale atmosphere. The beverage program includes a robust wine list to accompany oysters, aged Prime steaks and an ocean full of seafood.