I Ate My Way Through Door County, Wisconsin

By Kathy Condon Freelance Writer

Wisconsin is my birth state, so I was thrilled when offered a trip to explore Door County, Wisconsin. Adjacent to Green Bay, there are 12 cities and seven communities on the Peninsula. I smile as I write, for my breakfasts on this trip were far from ordinary.

Café Con Creme is a delightfully large restaurant where one could easily hold breakfast meetings. It has tasteful décor of fun sayings and collectible pottery artfully displayed on shelves scattered through the space.

As recommended by friends, I ordered Con Crema: 3 crepes with sweet cream cheese filling, topped with a delightful array of strawberries, bananas and blueberries. They warned me it was filling. After consuming two of them, I wished I was heading home with a carry out container so I could eat it later.

Walking into Skip Stone Coffee in Sisters Bay, I looked up and saw chandeliers; later I learned they were from France. The bar is made of repurposed wood from an old barn. Above it was one of the most extensive lists of different coffee options I have ever seen.

I ordered a latte with homemade pecan syrup, sausage, egg, and cheddar on a bagel. It was a delight to sit outside on their patio and enjoy the fresh air from the bay. This is one of the few coffee shops on the Peninsula that stays open all year round.

For lunch, we stopped at Scaturos Baking Co and Cafe, a Door County tradition since 1995. With American Italian fare, this business works with local merchants to purchase their produce and meats, to make plentiful sandwiches and soups. I can attest that the salad with dried cherries was delicious, and would easily serve two.

When did you last dine at a restaurant with goats happily eating grass on the roof? Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant in Sister Bay is an authentic family-owned restaurant that could be found in Sweden. We browsed their gigantic gift shop, filled with everything from Swedish sweaters to the famous sponge-like dishcloths.

As I often do, I broke from others and had cherries on my Swedish crepes instead of their famous lingonberry syrup. Hey, I was in Cherry Country, where my favorite fruit is grown. I couldn’t stop smiling; it was all so good!

Macready Bread Co in Egg Harbor is a family-owned bakery specializing in craft bread created daily. If you want an authentic turkey sandwich, you will find it here, because they roast a whole turkey. The Door County Tart Cherry and Dried Cranberry Bread is perfect for a snack anytime. It is good thing I don’t live nearby, or I’d be eating it too often.

We all raved about their Cherry Chicken Salad Sandwich, something different and delicious with just enough crunch. Admittedly, many of us had seconds.

Attending an All-You-Can-Eat Fish Fry was a tradition of many Wisconsin families. Everyone was sure to be stuffed, and the parents’ pockets were not severely impacted, because they were known for being reasonable.

I was happy to learn the tradition continues. My friends took me to the Out-O-Town Supper Club in Kaukauna. The parking lot was full, and we were told there was a 1.5-hour wait. We looked at each other and decided we had nothing better to do, so we waited.

They still have all-you-can-eat on the menu. However, I was assured there would be plenty to eat if we ordered off the menu because a full salad bar was included.

As I remember from my childhood, our dinner had a baked potato still in its foil. On the plate were five pieces of fried perch. Yes, I ate every morsel. There’s nothing like freshly caught perch! To heck with any sense of diet when you go to a Supper Club in Wisconsin.

Walking into Wild Tomato Wood-Fired Pizza in Sister Bay, I felt like I was intruding on some family gatherings. It turned out that was far from the truth. People greeted each other as they came through the door and waved at friends. There was no question that this was a place where the locals gather.

Much to my delight, they had cheese curds. I’m used to eating them raw, but the batter on our deep-curd basket was perfect. Sharing pizzas was great; we didn’t find one we didn’t think was delicious.

No trip to Door County is complete without stopping at Wilson’s Restaurant Ice Cream Parlor in Ephraim. I ordered a patty melt and skipped the French fries. This way, I had room for an ice cream sundae loaded with black cherries. Yes, I added whipped cream.

Hill Street is a laid-back establishment located in the heart of Fish Creek. It is the perfect place to unwind after work and is open year-round.

One of their specialties is The Kurgan Burger, containing a double patty, American cheese and grilled onion. Then it is topped with shredded lettuce, Hwy 42 sauce and dill pickle on a sesame roll. Make sure you have enough napkins handy; ask me why I know. It was more than a meal for me, but the flavors blended perfectly.

Exploring Door County and the surrounding area held many surprises for me. This is especially true because it was only about 175 miles from my childhood home in the middle of Wisconsin. Dining during my stay was a joyful experience due to meeting the owners of the various establishments. These folks take pride in Door County, appreciate neighbors’ support, and enjoy sharing their stories of why they are happy to call this area home.