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 [...]
Butchers, Beef, and Three Hours of Smoke
Here in the Great Lakes, a local butcher is a good person to know. Let's say one day you walk in looking for something unique to throw on the smoker. No, not pork belly. We've done that. Beef brisket, done it. Most of the standard fare, we've covered. If you're a regular like Tom and [...]
Summertime Musings – Roast Pork, Sauerkraut, Potato Salad
Saturday morning: Farmers market. Sunny, light breeze. My wife insists on beets. My children get churros from a Mexican bakery stand. Cucumbers, squash, greens, mixed sprouts, red onions, baby potatoes, the early harvest of summer. Oh, and sauerkraut. Jeff Ziebelman called me over and suggested I try a bit of their "Zauerkraut", delicious. Red cabbage [...]
Drifting through Madison, WI – Bavaria Sausage and Holland’s Family Cheese
With some free time in the Madison, WI area you can discover all sorts of lovely surprises, including two new additions to our Purveyors page. On a recent business trip to the area, a walk around Capitol Square brought me to Fromagination, a specialty cheese shop featuring Wisconsin cheeses and other artisan and local products. [...]
Great Lakes Cuisine 