Dining Out- Week of July 9th, 2005

A trek towards the center of the state to mountain bike Devil's Lake State Park was an opportunity to meander through Americana and to also find some…well, you know.


She’s a nice lady and Diana’s Confection Connection and Tearoom has everything from deli items to fancy cakes. After some consulting I went with a Walnut Meltaway Muffin whose nuts took on a new character through pan sautéing.



Asking for recommendations in Weber’s Bakery she figured they’re known for their Caramel Donuts and I can see why. Lighter than air ring of spectacular soft dough filled with air pockets giving a mouth pleasing texture and then matched by a delectable caramel icing.



Downtown Grill
Lodi


Pancake

My ninety nine cent gamble to satisfy my quest for the best of pancakes was a worthy investment with this tangy lace disk having an uncommon yet agreeable mild rubbery texture.



Blue Spoon Creamery Café
Prairie du Sac


Walnut Cinnamon French Toast

While there was nothing memorable about this item I really got a kick out of this place…..



Décor and Service: Is why I was impressed. Creative food ordered at the counter, prepared by white uniformed chefs in an open kitchen and delivered by a waiter in shirt and tie. There are two floors of attractive dining rooms and a three level patio outside overlooking the water. This spot is a concept developed by Culver's so maybe we'll see more.

3 ½ out of 5 stars



Imagine these are on an unseen large bakery tray and you can get an idea of the scope Leystra’s Venture Restaurant makes Cinnamon Rolls in Sauk City.



Baraboo’s Gem City Candy Company is packed with lots of goodies but they only make the fudge; the Creamsicle tastes just like that.



Deep grainy, intricately seasoned taste must be why the Weltmeisterbrot brought Baraboo a World Champion Bread award for Salecker's Baker's Dozen Bakery. This German Chocolate Brownie was a hefty, moist, rich gooey brick of enjoyment.



Little Village Cafe
Baraboo


Southwestern Chicken
With black beans, rice, cumin sauce & salsa

Far from being a typical small town corner café they dish up elaborate entrees, pastas, burritos, salads and sandwiches. I went with this since it is their signature dish, but it is just chicken. Juicy- yes, spicy- yes; but nothing to make it impressive.


Décor: Long history of past lives shines under the bistro like setting.
Service: Doing really well until it came time to get the check.

3 ½ out of 5 stars



A lead from the lady at Salecker’s led to Portage and a soft, doughy and having more things I could keep track of Everything But the Kitchen Sink Cookie from Krista’s Kitchen.



With a name like Craig’s Popcorn Corner what must you have? Portage Style Popcorn.



Sticking with my mindset of staying off the interstate to better see Americana I had a hankering for ice cream since Baraboo and German instrumentation was reinforcing this need showing 90 degrees. On highway 16 outside of barely-on-a-map Rio the foodie gods gave me Wayside Village. The nice lady was right that the most refreshing thing would be a Brown Cow.



Peterson’s Hamburger Stand and Ice Cream Parlor
Jefferson


Single Hamburger

This may look diminutive, but it is large in taste! These are grilled in the small shack and I went to find out where they get their distinctive good flavor. The ground beef is only seasoned with salt and pepper; the secret is the grill and grease they are cooked on. I watched as she took a ball of ground beef out of the fridge, put it on the grill, pressed it out with the heel of the spatula and it sizzled away.


Décor and Service: Cherry interior with contemporary revolving artwork, outside patio and well staffed with high schoolers.

4 out of 5 stars