wis-CON-sin, YOU BET!

Oh my goodness, and we thought our boozing was over for the trip. (More wine…yeah!!!) Malcom and Mary Kay were our fabulous hosts for our two nights in Wisconsin. As soon as we walked into their door after about 6 hours of driving through Minnesota monsoons, they greeted me with beer and Mom with a glass of wine (They make their own wine!!!). Their energy completely recharged us for our final leg of the journey (and the copious amount of wine, beer, and cheese had something to do with it too!!!) We soon experienced the reality of “a bar on every corner in Wausau.”

That night we went to our first Fish Fry at a bar, which is apparently tradition in Wausau parts. Totally not a bad tradition to have. The fried fish of Wisconsin is definitely in competition with the fried fish we had in Mendocino, California. Jersey really has to step it up in the fish arena. Also we had our first FRIED CHEESE CURDS!!! These things are AMAZING. (A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.!!!) I know what you people from Jersey are thinking – those just sound like mozzarella sticks. BUT THEY ARE NOT. SO. SO. NOT. (I am drooling on the keyboard right now just thinking about them.) Wausau is the dairy capital of all of Wisconsin and they do it right.

There we met Mary Kay and Malcom’s sweet group of friends! They were so kind and we are so happy we got to meet them and party with them!! (All of you have a place in New Jersey to stay if you ever want to visit NYC!!! And Tommy and Chuck…when are we going to Alaska?)

Then we went to the Bull Falls Brewery after stuffing ourselves with alcohol and fried fish. Round 2! The Bull Falls Brewery had GREAT beer, (places like this I wish I liked beer) and everyone met up together for laughs filled with snorts and silly debauchery. The Wisconsin accents came out on full blast with long “oos” and “betchas.”

Mom and Mary Kay in no way had too much to drink. (Never!!!!)

The next morning Malcom and Mary Kay made us their famous thick oatmeal pancakes with their OWN tree-sap maple syrup to fill up our tummies to have something to soak up the wine we were about to taste. We then hit the road (thank you Malcom for driving!! We needed the break!!) We first stopped by this little gorgeous Boutique for some fun shopping. Even the boutique handed out wine slushies. (Wine and shopping are a deadly combination for me!!!)

In order to drive to the wine tasting, we had to drive through a lot of rural Wisconsin – which is gorgeous. Wausau itself as a place seems like it has so much to do, and Wisconsin definitely has a more spread-out feel us on the east coast aren’t used to. Wisconsin – at least all the parts we saw – really is beautiful! We pulled into DaySpring and spotted an Amish horse and carriage trudging along the roads to their fields. There was also a small lake! Too bad it was nippy out. (Or “nipply” as Mary Kay likes to say…lol) But the scenery was set perfectly. Inside we tasted their fruit infused wines and olive oil and balsamic vats. We loved their blackberry wine so much we split a bottle right then and there and bought a mixed case between the four of us! (Did I mention how much I LOVE wine tasting?!!!)

Then we decided to drive over to a more picturesque part of Wisconsin. Mary Kay’s niece was at their family’s little log cabin cottage right by a lake in the middle of a reservation. It was SO BEAUTIFUL! We went there with the intent of kayaking or boating, but the wind whipped us out of that decision.

On our way back from the log cabin we stopped at one more brewery before we made the long drive back home for the night. The sun dappled on the lake behind us. Then we got to the house we ended off the night with bourbon and some amazing cheddar (their 5 year aged cheddar…amazing!!!) and mozzarella whips. In the morning we left with lots of hugs and thanked our wonderful hosts for their hospitality. They were so good to us – we definitely have to come back! Thank you Malcom and Mary Kay! (Can’t wait to visit again!!!! Thank you thank you thank you!!!!)

On our way to Chicago we bought our Wisconsin cheese for the road, and we were back on our way to Chicago!! (soooo tempting to eat it in the car…but we did not…we did not!)

Stay tuned for our small adventure in Chicago!!

Keep It Curly,

Curly J