5 ways to take a bite out of the Fox Cities in Wisconsin

Nostalgia? Check. Craft Beer? Check? Magic? Check. Are these items on your travel list? If so, put Fox Cities on your list.

The cities of Neenah, Menasha, and Appleton are part of what is collectively known as the Fox Cities in Wisconsin.

Lamer’s Dairy in Fox Cities

When you taste milk from Lamer’s Dairy, you are having milk that was in the cow that morning. The 100+ year old company remains family owned, and supports farms within 30 miles of Fox Cities. Besides hormone free milk, they also sell local wines and cheese (hello, this is Wisconsin!). Sample their fresh milk of course, but don’t leave without sampling some of their made in house ice cream too. We had a lovely Pumpkin Spice.

Houdini’s Escape Gastropub in Fox Cities

 

Did you know that famed magician, Houdini, spent part of his life in Fox cities? As a tribute, several establishments were named after him, including a local gastropub. Here, you’ll find a vast selection of beers on tap. For dishes, you’ll want to have several others to share with. Think Oxtail empanadas, feta watermelon salad, or chimchurri salmon.

Mark’s East Side Supper Club in Fox Cities

 

You can’t go to Wisconsin and not visit a Supper Club, which began popping up after WWII.  The décor is decidedly 70s or 80s kitsch and only open for one meal: Supper. Start your meal with a Brandy Old Fashioned (sweet not sour), the supper club drink of choice. Start at the bar and order some fried cheese curds to go with your drink. For dinner, expect to find items like Prime Rib or fried fish. Tip: Families get here early on weeknights, so avoid the rush and come later in the evening. After dinner it is common to return to the bar and get a dessert type drink like a Grasshopper or a Pink Squirrel, an almond-flavored ice cream drink.

Wilmar Chocolates in Fox Cities

 

 

Want to make your own chocolate bar? For under $10 you can pick four high quality ingredients (think pistachio, toasted coconut, toffee, and more). Go in the back and watch as your fresh chocolate and your ingredients are mixed up and then baked. While you wait, browse the selection of chocolates in the store or watch as caramel apples are coated in chocolate by hand. And you get them shipped to you or surprise a friend with this sweet treat anytime.

Lion’s Tail Brewing in Fox Cities

You’ve been to brewpubs and tasted their myriad of tasty hops. But what if you could make your own beer? Sure you can buy all the fancy equipment and invest countless hours of perfecting the perfect ale. But what if you could just piggy back on what a full on brewery is doing? And add in your own ingredients? That’s what you can do at Lion’s. Don’t want to make your own beer? No problem. They’ve got delicious brews of their own you should try. Here’s some great ones:

• Royale with Bees” – a French-Style Saison with Local Honey.
• Nitro Stout Nitro gas forms much smaller bubbles, giving the beer a rich, creamy mouthfeel.
• Sure you can get Bourbon barrel aged beer but try the King Kula – Rum barrel aged beer if available.

Disclosure: Our trip to Fox Cities was sponsored by the Fox Cities CVB.