Since we seem to be continuing our “Adventures in Autumn” series, we just had to write about our recent weekend excursion to the Elkhart Lake/Sheboygan area, since we found this to be a wonderful getaway, with food that went far beyond our expectations. You might consider this area for your next Chicago escape; there is something magical to experience there at any time of the year, with racing, food and wine events, jazz festivals and much more.
Our journey started with a two hour and fifteen minute drive from Chicago to Elkhart Lake, which included one quick stop at Prime Outlets in Gurnee Mills, just past Six Flags’ Great America, and another at a Culver’s drive-through to savor the frozen custard while we drove.
We arrived at our destination, The Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake (101 Osthoff Ave., Elkhart Lake, WI; 800-876-3399 or 920-876-3366; www.osthoff.com). This grandiose resort, on spacious grounds, has been in operation for decades and has been updated with two newer buildings, one built in 1997 and the other in 2005. The grounds are beautiful, with a colorful landscaped reflecting pond. The Lake, with a private beach for the resort, is a very short walk away. The beds are extremely comfortable and the accommodations are well appointed. Most rooms are suites with a full kitchen.Our first meal was a relaxing dinner in Lola’s, The Osthoff’s fine dining restaurant. This elegant and comfortable venue serves American cuisine, with an ample wine selection and courteous service. We enjoyed a pork belly appetizer, roasted beet salad, roasted lamb shank and roasted pork tenderloin, all nicely prepared and unpretentiously presented. The server stopped by with a dessert tray and we shared a marvelous chocolate torte.
Our friends drove to Sheboygan to visit the regionally acclaimed Italian restaurant Trattoria Stefano (522 S. 8th St., Sheboygan, WI; 920-452-8455; www.trattoriastefano.com). The chef/owner is Stefano Viglietti, who has also designed the menu for the excellent Bella Bacinos in LaGrange. The menu is extensive, featuring Stefano’s masterful touch throughout. There is something for everyone who loves quality Italian cuisine, all prepared with top-notch ingredients and TLC.
The next morning we met our friends for breakfast at the resort’s casual spot, Otto’s. The breakfast menu is extensive and everything was made from scratch. The food was exceedingly good, including great coffee, sumptuous blueberry buttermilk pancakes, Johnsonville breakfast sausage (as fresh as can be; Johnsonville is close by) and some hearty omelets.
That evening we enjoyed a beyond-expectations fish fry at Bo Mallies (N7454 Summit Rd, Plymouth, WI; 920-876-2888) a local standout eatery in Plymouth, right next to Elkhart Lake. The restaurant was packed, for good reason. The appetizers and salads were additively delicious and the fried fish, perch coated in tasty bread crumbs, were crunchy on the outside, moist on the inside and had wonderful flavor. The accompanying French fries were also first rate.
Driving around the “downtown” area of Elkhart Lake, we visited Feed Mill Market (44 Gottfried St., Elkhart Lake, WI; 920-876-3354; www.feedmillshops.com), the local gourmet/specialty food store that was packed with fresh, upscale fish, meats and produce, baked goods and a wide range of other delights. If you want to cook at your weekend residence rather than go out to eat, you can’t go wrong here.
We managed to squeeze in two rounds of golf at the Quit Qui Oc Golf Club (500 Quit Qui Oc Lane, Elkhart Lake, WI; 920-876-2833; www.quitquioc.com), which was quite inexpensive and features 27 attractive holes that are very well maintained and offer a definite challenge. There are numerous golf courses in the area, with the flagship being the stellar Whistling Straits in nearby Kohler, site of a recent PGA Championship.
After golf, we lunched outside in The Osthoff’s beautiful patio, where we enjoyed truly excellent sandwiches, burgers and salads. The onion rings are to die for.
Our final dinner was at a relatively new and destined-to-do-well restaurant known as the Paddock Club (61 S. Lake St., Elkhart Lake, WI; 920-876-3288; www.paddockclubelkhartlake.com. Serving contemporary American cuisine with European flair, the restaurant is located in a restored historic building in Elkhart Lake. Executive Chef Lynn Chisholm knows exactly what she is doing, using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. We enjoyed excellently prepared homemade gnocchi, delicious butternut squash soup, fresh salad and a tender, perfectly grilled petit Filet Mignon. Desserts were creative, light and not cloyingly sweet.
Let us repeat ourselves: when you need to take a break from the big city, consider Elkhart Lake. It’s practically a stone’s throw away and it’s one of the most hospitable places we’ve been in a long time. We’d say “Go Packers!” but let’s not get carried away.
Cindy Kurman Barrie and Lee Barrie are the principals of Kurman Communications, Inc., a Chicago-based marketing and public relations agency. Please visit their blog at www.gotbuzzatkurman.com and check out all DineWise articles at www.dinewisechicago.blogspot.com.