Your Best Bets for Wisconsin’s Most Authentic Flavors

Four classic culinary experiences

Great food is alive and well in Wisconsin. Throughout the state, restaurants and specialty food purveyors keep Old World traditions alive. Amid this wealth of authentic flavors, four culinary experiences stand out above all the others. Get ready for foods that delight the palate and serve up a hefty dose of Wisconsin heritage.

European Heritage
When European settlers crossed the Atlantic and the wild lands of the American frontier, they brought with them the recipes of their native lands. Clasen’s European Bakery keeps many of these culinary traditions alive in Middleton.

The family-owned bakery specializes in more than 300 different, mouth-watering varieties of baked goods. Everything is made from scratch and the finished products are thought by many to be the finest in the Midwest. Breads and rolls, fifteen varieties of cookies, tarts, tortes and cakes, classic Danishes, flakey croissants, morning buns, kringles, strudels, Swedish braids, cream cheese coffee cakes, petit fours—the list goes on and on.

Next time you’re in Middleton, stop by Clasen’s European Bakery, grab a cup of coffee and start selecting delectable delights. It’ll be an experience you won’t soon forget.

The Ultimate Old-School Shop
Prairie du Chien is the second oldest city in Wisconsin and the oldest community along the Wisconsin Great River Road. With a history that stretches back many centuries, it’s no wonder Prairie du Chien is home to what might be the ultimate old-school shop in Wisconsin.

Valley Fish & Cheese is a one-of-a-kind specialty food shop that sells foods that come from the Mississippi River and the surrounding lands. If you want to get a taste of this region, this has to be your first stop.

The assortment of local delicacies is mesmerizing. You’ll find a large variety of hickory-smoked fish, turtle meat, bison and a slew of outstanding Wisconsin cheeses, plus jams and jellies, wood carvings and other handmade items from local artisans. On top of that, the shop sells all manner of seafood, including fresh and frozen fish. If you pass through Prairie du Chien without stopping here, you’re missing one of the Wisconsin Great River Road’s greatest treasures.

Traditional Fish Fry
Wisconsin is the land of the Friday night fish fry. Supper clubs, diners and taverns in every corner of the state feature their own version of a fish fry. The options are nearly endless.

However, if you want a traditional fish fry, no matter the day of the week, head to Wendt’s On the Lake in Oshkosh. This casual restaurant on the shores of Lake Winnebago is famous for its fried perch. The restaurant’s fish fry is a perennial favorite on area “Best of” lists. And it’s no wonder. The perch is perfectly prepared, the atmosphere is friendly and the view is fantastic. You have to try Wendt’s fish fry in Oshkosh for yourself.

Authentic Meat Market
No list of authentic Wisconsin foods would be complete without Lake Tomahawk Meat Market in Oneida County. The butchers at this shop know their craft, and it comes through in their expertly cut, smoked and seasoned meats.

Sausage reigns supreme at Lake Tomahawk Meat Market. They produce approximately 50,000 pounds of sausage annually. But there’s more than just sausage. The shop’s naturally smoked bacon and perfectly prepared jerky are perhaps the best in the state. If you’re looking to experience the flavors of an authentic Wisconsin butcher shop, be sure to visit Lake Tomahawk Meat Market in Oneida County.