Swiss - French Recipe Ideas for Personal Chefs by Ruth Paget

Swiss – French Recipe Ideas for Personal Chefs by Ruth Paget 

After visiting the Swiss – German towns of New Glarus and Monroe, Wisconsin during my 2026 summer vacation to the Dairyland State, I wanted to learn more about Swiss food and read The Classic Swiss Family Kitchen Cookbook: 150 Traditional Recipes from Switzerland’s Home Kitchens by Clayton Daniels (Available on Amazon Kindle). 

Daniels features recipes from the 4 official language areas of Switzerland. The official language follow on the list below: 

-German 

-French 

-Italian 

-Romansh 

Romansh is a Romance language from Switzerland’s largest canton (Swiss state) located in the country’s southeastern corn. This canton in named Graubünden. 

The recipes I singled out for discussion here are Swiss – French. I have made similar French recipes at home and/or eaten these dishes in restaurants. 

The following recipes give a flavor of Swiss – French food and are not too difficult to prepare: 

*Geneva Cardoon Soup 

Prickly leaved cardoons are prepared with shallots, potatoes, and cream in this rich starter soup. 

*Vaud Potato – Leek Soup 

This soup makes use of premium ingredients with the addition of cream for another rich starter soup recipe. 

*Vaud Harvest Loaf 

This bread is made with white and whole wheat flour and the addition of chopped walnuts. 

*Wild Mushroom Fondue 

Adding sliced and sautéed wild mushrooms to melted cheese in fondue is a very sophisticated French touch to this delectable meal. 

*Valais Raclette 

This recipe features melted raclette cheese that is spread on boiled potatoes. Sour cornichon pickles are the typical accompaniments to this dish. 

I have seen raclette served in Parisian restaurants where a raclette cheese half was suspended above a flame that made the melted cheese drip onto trays that were delivered to diners to go with their potatoes. (Table top raclette trays and raclette suspenders are sold on Amazon.) 

People who would like to visit Dairyland Switzerland, learn about their ancestors’ cooking, or add to their personal chef portfolio might enjoy the Classic Swiss Family Kitchen Cookbook by Clayton Daniels. 

Bon appétit! 

Note:  The following blog recounts a trip to Basel, Switzerland that my husband Laurent too when we lived in Germany;

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2015/08/basel-switzerland-lunch-spot-above-rhine.html?m=1

Note: The following blog describes our trip to Lake Constance whose shores touch Germany, Switzerland, and Austria:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2013/04/konstanz-germany-alpine-lake-resort-town.html?m=1

Note: The following blog describes a Swiss meal I ate with my daughter Florence Paget at Lugano, a Swiss restaurant in Carmel, California;

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/02/sampling-swiss-cuisine-with-juilliard.html?m=1

Note: A suggestion for an easy Family Fondue Night follows:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/01/family-fondue-night-for-sustainable.html?m=1

By Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Gsmes

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Sausage and Lentils by Nigella Lawson video reposted by Ruth Paget

This is an easy recipe by Nigella Lawson that uses primo ingredients.  In California, find some Aidells  sausage you like and use it in this recipe.

This recipe with Italian sausages and lentils looks so good:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iMsfI6sQmfI&ra=m

Happy cooking!

By Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

12 oz Jimmy Dean bacon is $4.99 for Nob Hill - Raley’s members today 8-28-2026 reposted by Ruth Paget

I received a very good e-mail digital coupon from Nob Hill - Raley’s this morning:

A 12-ounce package of Jimmy Dean bacon for $4.99 as part of the Nob Hill - Raley’s member program.

That is a good price.

I make bacon, lettuce, tomato sandwiches with mustard-mayonnaise with cooked bacon. Watermelon is a good dessert with BLT sandwiches.  (Watermelon harvest is in.  Watermelon has also been on sale to Nob Hill - Raley’s members.)

Bon Appetit!

By Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France,and Europe’s lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

The Last Word on Lutefisk reviewed by Ruth Paget

The Last Word on Lutefisk reviewed by Ruth Paget 

The Last Word on Lutefisk: True Tales of Cod and Tradition by Gary Legwold records a Norwegian-American food tradition that is of interest to anthropologists, younger Norwegian-Americans, and fundraisers from many types of organizations. 

Legwold’s book contains information on lutefisk production and church lutefisk dinner fundraisers in the United States in the form of memoirs. 

Legwold begins his discussion of lutefisk in the Lofotens Islands off the coast of Norway where he goes fishing for cod that will eventually be made into lutefisk in the US. 

Once the cod is caught, it is air-dried on the Lofotens into stockfish. The cod in the stockfish reduces to 1/3 of its original size and becomes as dry and hard as 2x4 plank of wood. It is similar to salt cod for being dried and hard, but stockfish is not salted like salt cod. 

Stockfish with the bones in is sold throughout the European market. Cod that has its backbone and all other bones removed and trimmed and air-dried is called ling. Ling is sold to the American market to be made into lutefisk. 

To rehydrate ling, it is soaked in lye and rinsed to soften it. Once rehydrated, the ling is soaked in hydrogen peroxide to whiten it and rinsed. At the end of this process, you have uncooked lutefisk. 

Lutefisk can be baked or boiled. It is tender and flaky when cooked correctly. If it is overcooked, it becomes a gummy mess.  

The beauty of lutefisk is that in its dry ling form, it can be stored for decades. During years with crop failures, it was a welcome source of food. 

Church lutefisk dinners provide a yearly occasion to teach the importance of lutefisk to Norwegian-American survival in the United States. The smallest lutefisk summer usually serves 600 people served in ticketed shifts for sit-down meals. 

Lutefisk suppers help Lutheran churches raise money for an upcoming church season. Legwold has an important shopping list on page 64 for a 600-person lutefisk supper. This list provides for 600 pounds of lutefisk – 1 pound per person – and the ingredients for Swedish meatballs and gravy for 600 people. 

Legwold also provides numbers for the amount of potatoes, corn, and rutabagas to purchase for a 600-person dinner. This list is useful for event planners, who might not eat lutefisk. You can substitute fresh fish for lutefisk in the ingredient list or just serve Swedish meatballs as a fundraiser dinner. 

People who like food and travel writing will also find many interesting trips and travel ideas in the US and Norway in Gary Legwold’s anthropological memoirs entitled The Last Word on Lutefisk: The Tales of Cod and Tradition. 

Note: My family attended a lutefisk dinner in Wisconsin.  The following blog describes our fun outing:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2012/03/norwegian-lutefisk-dinners-in-wisconsin.html?m=1

My husband Laurent and I ate a great lunch at the Norske Nook on our recent trip to DeForest, Wisconsin.  We bought Legwold’s book in the souvenir shop at the Norske Nook.  Our lunch is described below:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/08/norwegian-noshing-at-norske-nook-in.html?m=1

I wrote about Scandinavian culture in general in my blog post about a family visit to Door County Wisconsin where we ate a  liking Fish Boil meal.  The blog follows:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2012/03/fish-boils-and-egg-wars-in-door-county.html?m=1

I learned a few things about about Norwegian culture from a Norwegian-American author on a trip I took to Minnesota in the following blog:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2012/03/sweet-minnesota-travel-next-state-over.html?m=1

Bon Appétit! 

By Ruth Paget 

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books 

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games -creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center 

-creator of French travel and culture games 

-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs  

-family genealogist 

-developer of 9 music theory games

Ranch Dressing Video Filmed by Florence Paget reposted by Ruth Paget

My daughter Florence Paget made a video of herself making ranch dressing on TikTok.

The video follows:

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTDswhVCD/

This dressing tastes great on broccoli slaw.

Ranch dressing costs around $2.79 for an 8-bounce bottle.  If you eat a lot of ranch dressing, you might want to calculate savings on making it yourself versus buying it.

Reposted by Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Vslley History Museum

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Ratatouille Video Filmed by Florence Paget reposted by Ruth Paget

Ratatouille (pronounced rah-tah-two-ee) is a French vegetable stew from southeastern France along the Riviera where Italian influence is strong.

My daughter Florence Paget cooked the ratatouille and filmed herself doing it using a stationery tripod with a camera.  I did a video of her serving it up at the end that Florence edited in at the end of the main video.

The video of Florence Paget making ratatouille from TikTok follows:

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTDgKNn2f/

Ratatouille makes great use of vegetables from the farmers’ market.

By Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Gamed

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Duck and Goose Seller Near Salinas (Gonzales), California by Ruth Paget

Metzer Farms, about 20 miles south of Salinas (California) sells ducks and geese.

Their website follows:

https://www.metzerfarms.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorf7jVfQLDJB4L4iSRhT1yKKxhAhRoVKiwgpxYpiRqpnt7bKUO5

Happy Shopping!

By Ruth Paget

Apple Harvest is in at Nob Hill in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget

Apple Harvest is in for Nob Hill - Raley’s members in Salinas, California.

This week’s Raley’s members e-mail lists Modi apples selling $1.47 per pound today (8-25-2026).

Apples can be sliced up to go on cheese and charcuterie boards, made into apple sauce, and baked with duck or goose to soak up fat to make some delectable bites.  (You can do this with pears, too.)  Roast pork loin with apples is another fall and winter dish that tastes great.

By Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Pear Harvest is in at Nob Hill in Salinas, California

The Members price at Nob Hill - Raley’s for Bartlett, Bosc, and Red pears is $1.47 per pound beginning today (8-25-2026) at Nob Hill in Salinas, California.

You can slice pears for cheese and charcuterie boards, make them into a sauce like apple sauce, or poach them in red wine for a Monterey Wine Country treat.  There is a Spanish dish called oca con peras (goose with pears) that is a roadt goose with quartered pears that is a great fall and winter dish.

By Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks,Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Watermelon Harvest is in at Nob Hill by Ruth Paget

Nob Hill has three large crates of locally grown watermelons on sale for $5.99 each for Nob Hill - Raley’s Members advertised today (8-25-2026) in front of the Salinas, California store.

This deal also went out in the members weekly deals e-mail, so there are many more in stock.

Watermelon lovers know this is great food for making weekend summer meals special.

By Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Sunday Stroll at the Barnyard Shopping Centet in Carmel, California by Ruth Paget

Sunday Stroll at the Barnyard Shopping Center in Carmel, California by Ruth Paget

My husband Laurent and I have expanded our weekend stroll options to include the Barnyard in Carmel, California.

Early on the weekend, there is plenty of parking and two spots open for coffee and pastries.

We like the Lafayette Bakerry for latte and baguettes.  There is also a Bagel Bakery open for business in the nearby Crossroads Shopping Center.

The path through the Barnyard Shopping Center is beautifully landscaped.  Using the Google lens app, you can identify plants and flowers and then write about them in your journal or on your blog.  This is a great place for selfies with foliage photos.

On the way home, you can stop by BevMo for any alcoholic beverage needs for lunch.  On our last visit, we bought two bottles of Ket brand Cosmopolitan martinis.

Enjoy strolling at the Barnyard Shopping Center in Carmel, California!

By Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Ideas from UChicago’s Library-Community Day reposted by Ruth Paget

The University of Chicago Library-Community Day is a little far away from Salinas and Monterey, California, but there might be some ideas in the press release below for Californians like zine making and digital archiving workshops:

https://events.uchicago.edu/event/269154-uchicago-library-community-day-open-house-and

Reposted by Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture blogs

-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Log Cabin Breakfast in Northwoods Baraboo, Wisconsin by Ruth Paget

Log Cabin Breakfast in Northwoods Baraboo, Wisconsin by Ruth Paget 

My husband Laurent and I headed towards the Wisconsin Northwoods on I-94 North Direction Wisconsin Dells. We exited in the direction of Baraboo. 

Baraboo gets its name from the French trader and trapper named Jean-Baptiste Baribault (or Baribeau) who traded with Native Americans in the region in a trading post on what is now called the Baraboo River in the 18th century. 

Baraboo was officially adopted as the name of the Village of Adams that rose on the trading post site in 1852. 

Baraboo is now the county seat of Sauk County. (Sauk is the name of the local Native American tribe.) Baraboo is most famous as the winter home of the Ringling Brothers Circus. 

Circus World Museum now operates where the Ringling Brothers house animals, props, and performers for the winter. Laurent and I went to the Circus World Gift Shop where I bought a book about the history of Wisconsin agriculture. I did not feel like visiting the museum without our daughter Florence along. She will come on the next visit to see grandma. 

We went to the Log Cabin Restaurant for breakfast. This restaurant seems to have been around forever. The Log Cabin makes its own sausage, which is pudgy, porky, perfect. I ordered the 2x4 breakfast along with Laurent that came with: 

-2 over easy eggs 

-2 sausages 

-2 slices thick-cut bacon 

-2 pieces of French toast 

-a pot of freshly brewed coffee with cream 

Wow! That was a great breakfast in a restaurant that just smelled of nice coffee. We went back to Madison well fed. 

We had “light” dinners at Culver’s, the Wisconsin fast food chain, that featured butter cheeseburgers and chocolate egg custard shakes. 

The flights the next day from Madison, Wisconsin to Phoenix, Arizona and Phoenix, Arizona to Monterey, California were on-time and smooth. I was happy to be back at sea level in crisp cool air. 

We had a great time in Wisconsin and promised mom (grandma) to visit next year. 

Wisconsin Dairyland Vacation Days 7 and 8 Complete!! 

By Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books 

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games 

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games -creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center 

-creator of French travel and culture games 

-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs 

-family genealogist 

-developer of 9 music theory games

Norwegian Noshing at Norske Nook in DeForest, Wisconsin by Ruth Paget

Norwegian Noshing at Norske Nook in DeForest, Wisconsin by Ruth Paget 

There is a large population in DeForest, Wisconsin which has Norwegian ancestry that can support two Lutheran churches and a Norske Nook Diner. (The other Norske Nook Diner is located in Osseo for this franchise-ready operation.) 

My husband Laurent brunched on Norwegian pancakes with lingonberries. Lingonberries are similar to cranberries and grow in the Northern US, Canada, and northern Europe. 

The Norwegian pancakes looked like thick crêpes folded over twice into fourths. Laurent said they were eggy good.

I ate a Wisconsin reuben sandwich with bread that was made with cranberries and brown rice from Minnesota or the lower reaches of the Mississippi River. The tart and savory bread tasted very nice with the savory corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing. I liked Norske Nook.

They have a souvenir section where we bought a calendar with scenes of Norway and art entitled Norway: Visions and Verse of Viking Land by Nancy Schmidt. I thought this calendar was great for designing imaginary lands for a fantasy book. 

I bought a book entitled The Last Word on Lutefisk: True Tales of Cod and Tradition by Gary Legwold. Lutefisk is eaten throughout Scandinavia. It is air-dried cod that is rehydrated and boiled or baked.  It is usually served with melted butter and is flaky when well cooked.

Lutefisk is the centerpiece of Norwegian Lutheran Lutefisk Suppers that can serve 600 to 1400 in about four seatings as fundraisers. My family has attended a lutefisk supper at the Vermont Lutheran Church where we all ate lutefisk and Swedish meatballs and gravy to participate in local community life. 

After our pretty delicious brunch at Norske Nook, Laurent and I returned home, did some reading, and got ready for one more day of touring before our return to California. 

Wisconsin Dairyland Vacation Day 6 Complete! 

By Ruth Paget 

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + other Kindle books 

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games 

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games 

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center 

-creator of French travel and culture games 

-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs 

-family genealogist 

-developer of 9 music theory games

Swiss Cheese, Swiss Art Values, and Kino (Cinema) in Monroe, Wisconsin by Ruth Paget

Swiss Cheese, Swiss Art Values, and Kino (Cinema) in Monroe, Wisconsin by Ruth Paget 

After a great morning visit to New Glarus (Wisconsin), my husband Laurent and I drove to Monroe, the county seat of Green County that is also famous for cheese making. 

When you drive into the county seat square, Civil War canons greet you around the imposing stone and brick county offices. 

Laurent went to Baumgartner’s Cheese Store and Tavern to purchase some Swiss cheese for my mom. There is a covered outdoor terrace that can be a café or biergarten depending on your beverage and food. 

White Swiss crosses on a yellow brick building decorated the top of an art gallery featuring local artists’ work. Swiss white crosses signal the following values in modern Swiss art: 

-peace and tranquility 

-craftmanship 

-minimalism 

Local galleries like this one give artists exhibition credentials so they can work their way up to city galleries and international fairs like Art Basel. 

Finally, Monroe, a town of 10,000 people, restored its movie theatre from 1931 and shows first-run movies in it to add to the town’s cultural offerings. Admission is by cash only, which reminds me of how Stuttgart, Germany preferred to do business when I lived there. 

The afternoon visit to Monroe was a success. We drove back to DeForest and ordered pizza and pasta from Pizza Hut and slept like babies as we geared up for more tourism the next day. 

Wisconsin Dairyland Vacation Day 5 Afternoon - Complete!

By Ruth Paget 

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games 

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games 

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center 

-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs 

-family genealogist 

-developer of 9 music theory tests

Watch for the Quail MotoFest 2027 reposted by Ruth Paget

Watch for the Quail MotoFest in 2027 at the site below for event dates, tickets, and motorcycle information:

https://www.peninsula.com/en/signature-events/events/motorcycle

Reposted by Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Centet

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Grilled Swiss Apple-Cheese-Pesto Sandwich at the Fat Cat Coffee Works in New Glarus, Wisconsin by Ruth Paget

Grilled Swiss Apple-Cheese-Pesto Sandwich at the Fat Cat Coffee Works in New Glarus, Wisconsin by Ruth Paget 

On Day 5 of our vacation in Wisconsin, my husband Laurent and I set out for New Glarus in southwestern Wisconsin. 

New Glarus is a slice of Switzerland in the US. Its streets are full of Swiss German chalets, restaurants and taverns where you can eat Swiss specialties like cheese fondue, souvenir shops with Swiss products, and the New Glarus Brewing Company on the edge of town where you can do beer tastings, take tours, and buy merchandise in the gift shop. 

New Glarus was founded in 1845 when the Canton of Glarus in Switzerland suffered a financial crisis that was brought about by several factors: 

-crop failure 

-overpopulation 

-widespread poverty 

The Canton of Glarus helped a group of settlers find fertile land to farm in the US to ease the overpopulation at home. 

For brunch, Laurent and I went to the Fat Cat Coffee Works, which is located in the town’s old train depot. Neighboring shops sell local crafts and art, vintage kitchen items, clothes, and flowers. 

We ordered an iced tea for Laurent and an iced latte for me, which was delivered on an antique hutch. We placed orders for French toast for Laurent and a Swiss grilled apple sandwich for me that was made with melted cheddar and Swiss cheese and freshly made pesto. Both dishes were delicious. 

I liked learning a new dish to make with apples to give some Swiss flair to fall at home in California. I liked the paintings of tractors in the dining area along with the coffee pot that had been repurposed into a light. A framed photograph of a light brown Swiss cow, a tractor, and a red barn was selling for $125 by Brian Schmitt. 

On the way out, we bought two 2-pound bags of locally roasted Ancora coffee beans that were selling for $37 each to drink at home through fall as a souvenir of our trip. 

Wisconsin Dairyland Vacation 2026 Day 5 Morning – Complete! 

By Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks,  Marrying France, and Europe's Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Pheasant Branch Conservancy and Longhorn Restaurant in Middleton, Wisconsin by Ruth Paget

Pheasant Branch Conservancy and Longhorn Restaurant Lunch in Middleton, Wisconsin by Ruth Paget 

On Sunday (Day 4 of our vacation), my mom took Laurent and me to lunch at Longhorn Restaurant in Middleton, Wisconsin outside Madison. The drive to Middleton from DeForest to the West Towne Shopping Center where Longhorn is located was beautiful. 

We drove all along the Pheasant Branch Conservancy. The Conservancy according to various online sources is a 682-acre natural area in Middleton with: 

-restored prairies 

-oak savannas 

-mineral springs 

-a creek corridor that provides fresh water to Lake Mendota around Madison 

The lunch at Longhorn was leisurely, which we started with salads full of freshly, shredded cheddar cheese. I love cheddar cheese and relish-heavy Thousand Island salad dressing. I was happy with the meal already. 

The three different main dishes that were reliably great included: 

-Parmesan chicken for mom with mashed potatoes

-a Flo Fillet 6-ounce steak for Laurent with mashed potatoes

-two juicy, well-cooked pork chops with about 4 cups steamed broccoli for me that I dunked in the delicious pork chop juices 

Wisconsin is prime pork chop country. The pork chops were so good that I ate both and all the broccoli. I did not have any room for dessert after that. 

We drove back home the Pheasant Branch Conservancy and heeded the turtle crossing signs as we laughed at Wisconsin’s dangerous driving conditions in August. 

We nibbled cheese and sausage for dinner and went to bed full of energy for the upcoming week’s touring.  

Wisconsin Dairyland Vacation Day 4 – Complete! 

By Ruth Paget 

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lesson written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books 

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games 

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games 

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center 

-creator of French travel and culture games 

-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs 

-family genealogist 

-developer of 9 music theory games

Athens Restaurant, Sweet Lodi, Amish Country, and Ehlenbach's Cheese Chalet Day Trip from DeForest, Wisconsin by Ruth Paget

Athens Restaurant, Sweet Lodi, Amish Country, and Ehlenbach’s Cheese Chalet Day Trip from DeForest, Wisconsin by Ruth Paget 

On the third day of our trip to Wisconsin, my mom took us out to eat at the Athens Restaurant in Westport, which is located halfway between Madison and Middleton in a strip mall on Madison’s west side. 

You order at the counter and servers bring your food to the table and take away dishes at the end. Laurent and I shared a gyros sandwich platter for two. 

I love spicy lamb and beef gyro meat with thin-cut, white onions and tzatziki made with thin-cut cucumbers, yogurt, garlic, salt, and red wine vinegar. The gyro sandwich bread at Athens is chewy and seemed to be made with some yogurt. I have never had a bad meal at a Greek restaurant. The Athens Restaurant joins Detroit and Chicago Greektowns as a good place to eat. 

After lunch, Laurent and I visited Lodi named after a northern Italian with a long history for battles including one with Napoleon and cheese. Lodi’s dairy contribution to the community in Wisconsin seems to be ice cream at the town’s pizza parlor. 

On the way into town, we saw signs for fresh strawberries and eggs along with billboards for the Lodi Sausage Company. Lodi as a town was very clean. Having a butcher shop seems to promote cleanliness to keep the butchered meat sanitary and cool. 

The day we were in Lodi, there was a small, classic car show going on and a duck show on a small river that meanders through town (the Wisconsin River is nearby and this may be a tributary of that river). 

The town’s tourism magazines advertised wine and whiskey tastings along with shows by blue grass and blues bands. Outside town, there was a large park where people walked with their children. 

The tourism guide said there was an “Amish Country” nearby, so we drove down hilly and crooked roads by very organized and clean farms. People in Amish Country all seemed to have blue Harvestore silos for food to feed cows and farm animals. 

We wound our way back to DeForest and stopped at Ehlenbach’s Cheese Chalet to do some shopping. We bought some garlic and herb sausage and three kinds of cheese: 

-Swiss-style gruyère

-Mesquite wood smoked 7-year cheddar 

-2 year-old aged Swiss 

We ate the sausage, cheese, and toasted bread with my mom for dinner. The Monterey Mice were happy in DeForest on their vacation. 

This was a waddle-to-bed day for me. I had fun all day and conked out sleeping. 

Dairyland Wisconsin Vacation Day 3 - Complete!

By Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books 

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games 

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games 

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center 

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs 

-family genealogist 

-developer of 9 music theory games

Easy Lentil - Pasta Soup Recipe by Giada de Laurent’s reposted by Ruth Paget

This is a great recipe that makes use of the expanding magic of lentils and pasta to 5 times their size it seems.

California, especially Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties, grows and produces all the ingredients in this dish.  

For a vegan version, I have rehydrated dry mushrooms and used their soaking water and chopped mushrooms as a vegetable broth:

Giada de Laurentis’ recipe video follows:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=B9F3e9gx9wk&ra=m

Happy Cooking!

Reposted by Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games