LATEST TRICKS: The Heart of Wisconsin

Southern Wisconsin
Friday, September 17, 2010

Today we spent the day driving through the beautiful farmland and small towns of southwestern Wisconsin. What gorgeous scenery and the most heartwarming people!

We meandered through the lush and colorful countryside, arriving in Mineral Point just in time for a delicious visit to the Red Rooster Cafe, famous for their Cornish Pasties.

Mineral Point grew up around the Cornish lead-mining town of Pendarvis, and pasties were the miner's lunch of choice.  A pastry pocket filled with meat, potatoes and vegetables, it was easily stored in the pocket of your overalls until lunchtime and required no utensils or plates to eat it.  Owner Helena Lawinger has been making these yummy pockets of goodness the traditional way (with lard) for more than 30 years and we'd say she's got it perfected!

Our luck couldn't have been better; Helena and her granddaughter Mandy, were there and welcomed us with open arms.  We felt like long-lost family!  (That's Mandy behind the camera.  Nice shot, Mandy!)  

If ever you find yourself anywhere near Mineral Point, be sure to pay a visit to the Red Rooster Cafe and try some of Helena's Cornish Pasties.  (Be sure to save room for Figgyhobbin, too.  We'll let Helena explain that one.  Let's just say it's heaven on earth!)

We found Mineral Point to be a charming community with beautifully maintained 19th century architecture. It has established itself as quite an arts center, so a stroll through its various shops and galleries is a great way to spend a day.  There are also some lovely accommodations available if you decide to make Mineral Point your home base for exploring Southwestern Wisconsin.

After walking around Mineral Point, we drove down the street to the historic lead-mining town of Pendarvis.  Several restored buildings and historical markers give a nice impression of what life was like in this early 19th-century Cornish community.

For example, Shake Rag Street (the main thoroughfare) was so named because the miners' wives would call the men home for lunch by shaking a white rag which could be seen from the mine hill above the village.

As we strolled down Shake Rag Street, we made the acquaintance of a lovely gray kitty with white paws.  She was enjoying the late afternoon sun from a picnic table beneath a great shade tree.  She trotted right over to greet us and we soon discovered that a nearby fence and street lamp were her favorite scratching posts.

We played with her for awhile and shared some of our kitty treats.  It felt so good to feel and hear a cat purring again!  We are forever grateful for the time we spent with "Pendarvis" and have thought of her often since that day.

We left Pendarvis and Mineral Point and headed back toward Mount Horeb.  Along the way we enjoyed the beautiful sunset over the rolling hills and corn fields.

As we came into town, a charming, old fashioned bakery and restaurant caught our eye.

We stopped in for a peek and discovered three of the most delightful women!  

It turns out that Audrey, Julie, and Mary are sisters and all are working for Steve (Mary's significant other) who is the new owner of Schubert's Downtown Diner and Bakery.  

They were a joyous crew and their good humor was immediately contagious. Soon we were talking all about our adventure, sticking pins into maps, taking group pictures (that's Mary's granddaughter) and swapping life stories.  

We had a grand time and vowed to return the next day for breakfast.

After such a happy encounter it seemed strange to go to a place named the Grumpy Troll, but we had heard that it was one of the best brew pubs in the area.

Indeed it was!  In fact, it was some of the best beer I had ever tasted.  Their limited-edition Menage A Quade--an American, British, Russian and Belgian-style cask ale aged in bourbon barrels for 6 months--is a knock-out.  Seriously, you owe it to yourself to get there and try one of their 12-beer flights.  You'll thank us.

And while your there, why not order a Hamburg Brat?  Don't ask--just try it.

As for me, I drank the beer, ate the food, and got the t-shirt.  What more can I say?
--Ted