Let’s Go: Discover Culinary Delights in Wisconsin’s Door County

On a trip to Wisconsin’s Door County Peninsula last summer, we quickly fell for the region that’s about a three-hour drive north from Milwaukee. Door County is surrounded by both Lake Michigan and Green Bay – meaning that travelers take in view of the water from just about everywhere – and is home to 11 different towns. Here’s how to explore Door County’s food scene – town by town.

ELLISON BAY

Grandma’s Swedish Bakery

ROWLEY’S BAY RESORT

Housed inside of Rowley’s Bay Resort is Grandma’s Swedish Bakery, which has been in business for more than 50 years. Find the bakery to the left of the historic lobby. This bakery is notable for its decadent, oversized desserts like its half-pound pecan rolls, cardamom coffee cake, Swedish limpa bread and half-pound cinnamon rolls served with a heaping dollop of icing. Enjoy these delectable treats – we quickly devoured our cinnamon roll – outside overlooking Rowley’s Bay blue water that’s mere steps away.

Kick Ash Coffee

KICK ASH COFFEE

You’ve probably never been to a coffee shop quite like Kick Ash (Ash is the owners’ last name) Coffee. This shop is housed in a former church, and the ceilings are U-shaped and high – making for a serene setting where you can enjoy your java. Kick Ash also features artisan products and tables where remote workers are often on their laptops. Coffee beans are roasted in the basement of the building to ensure freshness. The outstanding granola, and the pastries are both made in house.

SAVORY SPOON COOKING SCHOOL

Just a short stroll from Kick Ash Coffee is the Savory Spoon Cooking School. Classes are held inside a quaint, historic building that at one time was the Old Ellison Bay Schoolhouse. The two-story white building features two modern kitchens where students learn cooking techniques. Classes are themed and include topics like New England Classics and French Flavors. During our class, we learned how to make focaccia, crackers and fresh pesto that were all scrumptious.

Washington Island

ISLAND ORCHARD CIDER

Island Orchard Cider pours award-winning cider from a spacious and industrial taproom. You can see the stills where cider is produced inside. A room to the right of the taproom houses many of Island Orchard’s bottles. Some unique cider flavors include brut apple, apple ginger, apple lavender and pear cider. All of the apples are cultivated from the company’s own orchard of 3,000 fruit trees on Washington Island, also in Door County. Each apple is also harvested by hand.

Ephraim

EPHRAIM

Wilson’s Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlor has been open since 1906. Wilson’s is all about the past. This area landmark features a jukebox, hot dogs, burgers and plenty of sundaes served in glass containers piled high with ice cream scoops. If you really want to go all out, try the Wilson’s Banquet – five scoops of ice cream, three toppings, a ton of whipped cream, cherries and pecans. If you’re looking for a great drink, the root beer is home brewed. Sit outside underneath the red and white striped awnings where you can admire lakeside views. Also worth the trip: Although not food-related, we just had to mention this state park. Just a short drive from Ephraim in Fish Creek is scenic, 3,776-acre Peninsula State Park. We enjoyed a stunning (and mostly shaded) bike ride that took us through the forest and right by the shores of Green Bay. We also took in sweeping views of the water from Eagle Tower and also enjoyed watching a play at the park’s Northern Sky Theater in the evening.

Door 44 Winery

STURGEON BAY

Located just off Egg Harbor Road, Door 44 Winery’s contemporary and expansive tasting room features plenty of windows that let the light in and show off the six-acre vineyard that you can you see from the tasting room. The winery is actually named for being located at 44 degrees North latitude, which is an area renowned for wine making. We loved the white wines most of all. A couple highlights include the dry and fruity Bubbler and La Crescent, a semi-sweet wine with hints of peach, apricot and citrus. Pair your wine with a charcuterie board, and take in the scenery all around you if you sip your wine alfresco.

Renard’s Cheese

Renard’s Cheese was established in 1961 and is a family-owned business. Find over 40 types of cheese here. Expect creative flavors like harvarti jalapeno, rosemary and olive oil asiago and balsamic bellavitano. Renard’s is best known for its award-winning bandage-style cheddar, but all the variations are delightful. Before you leave Wisconsin, be sure to try some cheese curds. They’re very tasty and manage to almost squeak when you bite into them. Take some cheese home from the artisan market that also stocks wine or dig into creations from the on-site restaurant Melt Bistro. We loved the decadent Mom’s Mac that contained three different types of cheese.

Mom’s Mac at Renard’s Cheese

Located in Sister Bay, Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant & Butik is a special place. The restaurant is housed in a building that resembles a log cabin and features a boutique stocked with Scandinavian goods. The restaurant’s most outstanding feature? Sod on the roof that actual goats feast on. Yes, you read that right. The goats typically are up there from late May to mid-October. The restaurant takes its name from its founder. Al’s parents were from Sweden, and the food menu reflects his Scandinavian heritage. Breakfast is served all day and is a highlight here. Find a variety of Swedish pancakes – they’re thinner but just as tasty as American pancakes – and topped with choices like lingonberries, fresh strawberries and whipped cream. Ask for them dusted with powdered sugar like a true Swede. The hearty Swedish meatballs are another must-try dish.