9/30/12 Sunday
Emmy and I were done our shopping and were just chilling out at home when I happened to pick up Madison's free paper, the Isthmus (meaning a pinched bridge of land between two bodies of water, in this case Lake Mendota to the north and Lake Monona to the south). One of the features articles that week was of Limberger cheese, that stinky one that people always say smells like old gym socks. Through the article we learned that the only place in the whole US that makes Limberger is in Monroe, WI.
"How fortunate that we live here!" I said to Emmy.
"I agree," she said, "let's go!"
So, on a whim and on the trail of good cheese, we threw all our other plans for the weekend out the window and piled into the car for the hour-long south-bound drive to Monroe. Instead of stopping at the creamery shoppe we chose a famous Swiss restaurant in Monroe that served the local Limberger, Baumgartner.
Baumgartner is Wisconsin's oldest cheese store, having opened in 1931! Old cheese-making utensils line the doorway and huge murals adorn the walls, picturing the task of farming and cheese-making. The Limberger itself was, surprisingly, delicious! A washed-rind cow's cheese. Very flavorful, with a bit more of a musky flavor that's usually indicative of sheep or goat's cheese. It had the texture of brie, but not the triple-cream or light brie variety. It was a great deal like the brand Petite Frere combined with a determined, aged brie.
The man who gave us the sample told us not to smell it beforehand, but I'm sorry I didn't, since I liked it so much, although we weren't rich enough to get a slice to take home at the time. Come to find out Fromagination also sells this cheese, good thing, too!
We ate out there, even though we'd just had mac&chz a little while ago at home.
K: Turkey Noodle Soup (small)
$3.95 w/ tip. Hearty and filling, but obviously store-bought thick stock. Lumpy, bland noodles, but turkey wasn't bad.
E: Chili Dog w/ pickle & thick slice of a brick cheese
The dog was good & hot. Chili had a slight jalapeno kick but it wasn't too spicy. Melted cheese worth the 75c extra. Chili also had some kind of beans & meat in. The hot dog was a real chicago frank, flavorful & with a color not unlike pastrami. Overall very good. Filling, too!
Aside from the Limberger, I'm afraid to say Emmy had more luck than I did on the food, again.
Next time!
xoxoxo
Kim
Emmy and I were done our shopping and were just chilling out at home when I happened to pick up Madison's free paper, the Isthmus (meaning a pinched bridge of land between two bodies of water, in this case Lake Mendota to the north and Lake Monona to the south). One of the features articles that week was of Limberger cheese, that stinky one that people always say smells like old gym socks. Through the article we learned that the only place in the whole US that makes Limberger is in Monroe, WI.
"How fortunate that we live here!" I said to Emmy.
"I agree," she said, "let's go!"
So, on a whim and on the trail of good cheese, we threw all our other plans for the weekend out the window and piled into the car for the hour-long south-bound drive to Monroe. Instead of stopping at the creamery shoppe we chose a famous Swiss restaurant in Monroe that served the local Limberger, Baumgartner.
Baumgartner is Wisconsin's oldest cheese store, having opened in 1931! Old cheese-making utensils line the doorway and huge murals adorn the walls, picturing the task of farming and cheese-making. The Limberger itself was, surprisingly, delicious! A washed-rind cow's cheese. Very flavorful, with a bit more of a musky flavor that's usually indicative of sheep or goat's cheese. It had the texture of brie, but not the triple-cream or light brie variety. It was a great deal like the brand Petite Frere combined with a determined, aged brie.
The man who gave us the sample told us not to smell it beforehand, but I'm sorry I didn't, since I liked it so much, although we weren't rich enough to get a slice to take home at the time. Come to find out Fromagination also sells this cheese, good thing, too!
We ate out there, even though we'd just had mac&chz a little while ago at home.
K: Turkey Noodle Soup (small)
$3.95 w/ tip. Hearty and filling, but obviously store-bought thick stock. Lumpy, bland noodles, but turkey wasn't bad.
E: Chili Dog w/ pickle & thick slice of a brick cheese
The dog was good & hot. Chili had a slight jalapeno kick but it wasn't too spicy. Melted cheese worth the 75c extra. Chili also had some kind of beans & meat in. The hot dog was a real chicago frank, flavorful & with a color not unlike pastrami. Overall very good. Filling, too!
Aside from the Limberger, I'm afraid to say Emmy had more luck than I did on the food, again.
Next time!
xoxoxo
Kim
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