Naeset-Roe Inn

With all the great weather that Madison has been having it was inevitable that it would move south to Stoughton.  Well it did, and it hit us hard.  83 degrees on April 1.  No Foolin’.  Today it is just as nice.  We could use a little rain though.  Only had about 3/4 inch last month.  But we don’t want as much as some of my friends in Rhode Island had.

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2nd Place Winner

Wild Rice Cran-Apple Breakfast Bake, Nancy Bowman.  But I came in Second.  You are asking, what is he talking about?  Just got back from the Wisconsin Bed and Breakfast Association annual conference where we have a cook off.  Yes I came in second out of 9 entries.  My entry was Wonderfully Wild, Wild Rice Quiche.  We had 6 judges this year including,  Mark and Mike Obois, House of Embers Wisconsin Dells,  Justin Draper and Wade Bernander, High Rock Café Wisconsin Dells,  Mary Bergin, Roads Traveled Column,  and Patricia Simms, Wisconsin State Journal. (more…)

In the last few weeks I’ve been called a chef, gourmet chef, gourmet cook, and I suppose some things that you can’t print here.  It got me to wondering about the word CHEF.  (more…)

A Staycation is what a lot of you are doing this year.  Taking a guick overnight or two night trip, not to far away from home, just to get away and do something differant.  Instead of that 10 day trip to the Rocky Mountains.  It isn’t going to break the bank and you’re away from reality for a while. 

Thnik about visiting Stoughton WI and experiance all the historyof this Norwegian founded city.  Architeture to art are all around.  Shop Main Street then grab a pizza and a movie.  Classes are another option. All this is only walking distance from Naeset-Roe Inn.  The Victorian bed and breakfast in StoughtonWI.  A show, dinner, a great bed and a fabulous breakfast.  What could be better?

Looking for something to do after the summer?  Think about an Over Night Staycation to Stoughton WI and Naeset-Roe Inn.  Pair it with a concert at The Stoughton Opera House and dinner at Laz Bistro. 

You’ll be staying in a quite Victorian B&B and you can walk to the theater and bistro.  You don’t have to worry about having a second glass of wine or a night cap before you come back to the inn.

The Stoughton Opera House has released a sneak peek of the up coming season (more…)

I don’t know about you, but I usually get a little nostalgic at the beginning of a new year.
This year is no different.  I had to go to Milwaukee to take care of some family business so decided to go out to dinner with my sister to Karl Ratzsch’s Restaurant.  Some of you may have heard of it.  It’s one of the old established restaurants in downtown Milwaukee.  By old I mean that it has been there for over 100 years.

Now if you have looked at my website and done any reading you’ll know that I worked there.  1973-1980 was when I did my stint at this old establishment.  I can say that there are a lot of great memories associated with those years and the restaurant.  This is the restaurant that I actually learned the most jobs.  I started out in the kitchen as a line cook, and worked all the stations in the kitchen then moved to the front of the house and learned all the jobs out there from bus boy to waiter, bartender and host.  I even did a stint in the basement as storeroom manager after Anne left.

Well enough about that.  Walking into the place Tuesday night was a step back in time.  Three of the people that I worked with, way back when, were working that night.  Maybe a little grayer around the temples but looking good.  The rooms look great with all of the antiques still adorning the walls and all the glass ware behind the bar shining on the glass shelves.  Even the cooper steins looked especially good.  We had a drink at the bar and did some reminiscing and then went to a table for a feast.  Rita was outstanding as our waitress, although she didn’t have to help us decide on to much.

I had been thinking about what to have for dinner all day.  Had to have schnitzel so went with:  Black Forest Veal Breaded Veal Cutlet layered with Smoked Pork, Swiss Cheese, spinach, and Mushroom Sauce, served over Spatzle.  I had to try the potato dumpling instead of spatzle though.  I made enough of them and they were always so good.  Sister Carol had: Wiener Schnitzel a la Holstein Breaded Veal Cutlet topped with fried egg, anchovies and capers served with steamed vegetables and Potato Dumpling.  Both entrees were as outstanding today as they were in the 70′s.  We did start out with some consomme with liver dumplings and a spinach salad with hot bacon dressing.  I’m so glad that the new chef, John, by new I mean other than Chef Ray that I worked under, kept the old recipes.  We even managed to get down what I call a “Trudy Schaum Torte”.  Meringue shell with ice cream and strawberries and hot fudge.  And we were able to walk out after all that.

Did go back at lunch the next day to play catch up with some of the other people that still work there.  Clancy, Tom, Dennis and John were all there and I had a good time talking about what is going on now in our lives and about Stoughton and Naeset-Roe Inn.  Hope they can get some time away and come and visit my Inn.

Karl Ratzsch’s isn’t as busy as it used to be, but the food is just as good and it is worth the time to go and dine in the hallowed halls.  I said dine.  Today to many restaurants are around for you to go out to eat.  They offer the same thing and it is all done in grease and it all looks the same and tastes the same and you eat it and you get out.  Karl Ratzsch’s is meant for dinning.  Sit and relax, enjoy a drink or imported beer or a glass of wine.  Enjoy the people you are with.  Then order your dinner and take your time to enjoy it in courses.  If the waitperson is bringing food out to fast ask them to slow down.

I hope that when you are in Milwaukee, you’ll stop in at Karl Ratzsch’s at 320 E. Mason Street.  Give them a call at 414-276-2720 to make a reservation.  Remember to Dine Out as often as you can, it makes life a lot more enjoyable.  If your looking for a complete get away remember Naeset-Roe Inn in Stoughton is the perfect place for your B&B experiance and dinning is great at Laz Bistro or Vincenzo’s Wine Bar, and you can walk to them.

Have a great year.