About Us
There are many special foods and beverages known and loved by Wisconsinites. Learn more about them!
Milk – Wisconsin’s state beverage is, of course, milk! Over a million cows in Wisconsin work hard to produce milk.
Cheese – “Cheeseheads” isn’t just a clever name for Packer fans. Wisconsin has over 1200 cheesemakers, some fourth generation, producing hundreds of cheese varieties. Mozzarella is the most produced cheese in Wisconsin, followed by cheddar.
Fish Fry – Restaurants, churches and fast food chains across Wisconsin usually offer a fish fry on Fridays. Beer battered cod is popular, though local fish like walleye or perch can be used. Classic fish fry sides include fries, coleslaw, buttered bread and plenty of tartar sauce!
Fish Boil – A fish boil involves fish and potatoes, seasoned with salt, boiling in a large kettle over an open fire. Just before serving time, the boilmaster douses the fire with kerosene, causing flames to shoot up and the kettle to boil over. The boil over not only entertains tourists, it causes oil released from the fish to boil out of the pot. A fish boil is a popular activity in Door County and cities along Lake Michigan.
Beer – From Miller, Pabst and Schlitz (The Beer that Made Milwaukee Famous) to small artisan brewers, Wisconsin is known for beer. We don’t just drink it, beer is used in many Wisconsin recipes like beer battered cheese curds or beer cheese soup.
Brats – Bratwurst are Wisconsin’s beloved sausage. Brats are usually grilled and soaked in a beer and onion bath before serving (yet another way to use beer). Each Wisconsin resident has a different way to prepare brats, but with sausage and beer, how can you go wrong?
Cream Puffs – Every August visitors to the Wisconsin State Fair line up for cream puffs. This simple puff pastry filled with whipped cream is arguably the definitive food of the fair; 52 cream puffs are served every minute over the fair’s 11 day run!
Kringles – A Kringle is a Danish pastry shaped into an oval and filled with fruit or nuts. These sweet treats are popular gifts.
Pasty – A popular food “up north,” the traditional Cornish pasty (the “past” part rhymes with “last”) is a lard and flour dough filled with meat, potatoes, onions. The circle of filled dough is folded in half and sealed before baking. Pasties were the lunch of choice for hard-working miners because a pasty can retain heat for a long time. Eating a pasty with catsup is a must.
Soda – When asking for a Coke, Pepsi, Mt. Dew or other carbonated beverage, Wisconsin residents usually say “soda.” “Pop” is common in our surrounding states. If “soda pop” is used we’re not sure where you’re from or what you want to drink! Beer?
