Wisconsin
This week we are talking about the mid-western state of Wisconsin. While there are many theories about the origin of the state’s name, the general thought is that the meaning of Wisconsin is “river running through a red place” or “red stone river”.
The red place is in reference to the glacial formations of red rock in the Wisconsin Dells area. The river referred to is the Wisconsin River which runs for 430 miles through the center of the state.
Wisconsin was originally called Meskonsing, which was the English spelling of a French version of a Miami Indian name for the Wisconsin River. A look at Algonquin, Ojibwa, and Sauk language glossaries shows that these syllables had the same meaning 300 years ago as they do today.
“The Dairy State” has a population of approximately 5.896 million, and its capital is Madison. Other well-known cities/areas in Wisconsin are Green Bay: home of the Green Bay Packers; Milwaukee: home of the Milwaukee Brewers, the birthplace of Harley Davidson motorcycles and headquarters of the Milwaukee Brewing Company; Wisconsin Dells: the “Waterpark Capital of the World” and Door County: the “Cape Cod of the Midwest”.
While Wisconsin was initially settled by the Winnebago, Menominee, and Dakota Indians, the cultural population is now overwhelmingly German, with those of Scandinavian, Polish, and Irish heritage following close behind.
Some well-known people who were born or raised in Wisconsin are Gene Wilder, Oprah Winfrey, Chris Farley, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, Tony Shalhoub, Liberace, Les Paul, Bobby Hatfield, Colin Kaepernick, Orson Welles, and Spencer Tracy.
Now let’s talk about Wisconsin food! There are many foods that the state is known for. Among them are fried cheese curds, frozen custard, danish kringle, bratwurst, butter burgers, booyah soup, and beer cheese soup. But a trip to Wisconsin is not truly complete without a traditional Friday Night Fish Fry!
One of the best places to get a Friday Night Fish Fry is the Wisconsin Supper Club. Supper Clubs are traditionally independently-owned restaurants that only serve an evening meal. They are located in rural areas, and the menu is primarily surf & turf and homemade food. This is destination dining which is well-known in the Midwest. The experience starts with patrons enjoying pre-dinner cocktails, then moving on to dinner and ending with alcoholic ice-cream drinks. Supper Club dining is a full evening adventure that is sure to include lots of socializing and laughter! (stay tuned for some Wisconsin Supper Club reviews during the winter of 2023/2024)
Lastly, it wouldn’t be Exotic Ninja if we didn’t talk about drinks. Beverages that Wisconsin is known for include Tom & Jerry’s, Brandy Slush, Miller Beer, Sprecher Root Beer, and, of course, milk. Both of the cocktails we have chosen to share with you are well known in Supper Clubs- an Old-Fashioned and a Bloody Mary!
Wisconsin Fish Fry
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 box McCormick's Cajun Fish Batter This is our favorite because we like some kick!
- peanut oil for fryer
- 3 lbs fish fillets Cod, Haddock, Perch.. whatever your favorite is
- 6 eggs for eggs wash
- 3 cups flour seasoned with salt & pepper
Instructions
- Set up your fryer, add the peanut oil and get it heated.
- Create your prep line with three bowls. Bowl #1 should be your seasoned flour. Bowl #2 should be your egg wash. Bowl #3 should be your McCormick's dry breading.
- Make sure to use one hand for dry and one hand for wet ingredients.
- Use your prep line to move the fish from the flour bowl to the egg wash bowl and finally to fully coat in the breading mix.
- Finally, add your fish to the fryer. Wait for it to float and appear golden brown.
- Remove the fish from the fryer to a paper towel coated tray to cool.
- Enjoy with lemon wedges, tartar sauce, rye bread and french fries!
Video
Wisconsin Bloody Mary
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 - 3/4 cup ice
- 1 cup Clamato or Tomato Juice Whatever your preference is
- 1 1/2 oz Vodka We like Titos
- 1 shake Celery Salt
- 2 shakes Johnny Velvet Bloody Mary Seasoning
- 2 dashes Hot Sauce
- 1 Juice of lemon wedge
- 2 dashes Worcestershire Sauce
Video
Wisconsin Old-Fashioned Cocktail
Equipment
- 1 Muddler
Ingredients
Muddle Ingredients
- 1 cube sugar cube
- 1 maraschino cherry
- 1 wedge orange
- 1 TB Cherry Juice
- 5 splashes Bitters
Drink Ingredients
- 1 1/2 shots Brandy or Whiskey
- Mixer For Sweet - 7 up, For Sour - 50/50. For Press - 1/2 sour & 1/2 Club Soda
Instructions
- Muddle all Muddling ingredients together in glass
- When everything is muddled add ice so your glass is 3/4 full
- Add your Mixer to fill your glass
- Garnish with whatever you like; cherries or olives are the most common
Video
