Earlier this summer we praised the rise of the nano-brewery - the tiny one or two tank brewery, open to the public, making great craft beers such as those from Buckle Down Brewery near Chicago, IL. We enjoy the standard micro-brews as much as the next beer-crazed locavore, from the long standing traditions around Milwaukee, WI [...]
In Praise of Dumplings
My Uncle Lee is not actually my uncle. He is a long-standing family friend, so much a part of our family in my early years, he simply became known as Uncle Lee. He has moved out to Colorado, but he was the latest of many generations in the Milwaukee area where he inherited a love [...]
Pickled Pike
The many smaller lakes in the Great Lakes region provide a variety of species of fresh water fish. Some folks shy away from preparing the Northern Pike due to the additional row of bones ("Y" bones), which can make it a bit trickier to prepare. There is a fairly simple technique to handle the bones, [...]
Mac Attack
My son made this request for his birthday meal - "I want Great Lakes Cuisine worthy Mac & Cheese". Here you go - Mac Attack 6 thick slices bacon ½ cup maple syrup 1 tbl. barbeque seasoning (such as Penzey’s BBQ 3001) 1 lb. cavatappi pasta (corkscrew tubes) or elbow macaroni ¼ cup butter 1 [...]
Welcoming Autumn – Apple-glazed Smoked Turkey
Seasonality is a foundational idea in Great Lakes cuisine. The seasonal cycles in the region are pronounced and the agricultural traditions respond accordingly. The traditions of preservation, so important to Great lakes cuisine, is clearly derived from the seasonality. Some of the traditional meals also fall in line with the turn of the seasons. As summer fades into the [...]
Great Lakes Cuisine 