I must confess that before I went to The Elegant Farmer for
the first time, I wasn’t quite sure what The Elegant Farmer really was. I just heard about this place located
somewhere on a highway that follows Interstate 43 in southern Wisconsin between
the towns of Mukwonago and East Troy and its reputation for incredibly
delicious locally grown and produced food.
Some called it a bakery.
I heard their apple pies were famous to the point of being
legendary. Others described a deli. Their sandwiches and soups got consistently
excellent reviews on the foodie sites I frequent. Eventually, I decided to stop
for a late lunch on my way home from working on the road to find out who was
right.
Finding The Elegant Farmer isn’t as difficult as you
might think. Just take the Mukwonago exit
on I-43 – about 30 minutes outside of downtown Milwaukee, turn north, find Main
Street, turn east and look for the gigantic barn with a smiley face at the Y
intersection just outside of town.
The barn is just the centerpiece of the whole farm. The
facilities are spacious, and parking is plentiful, especially during the off
season.
Once inside, signs will guide you through a small maze of
store displays until you hit the main section where the majority of the
grocery, along with the bakery and deli are located.
You’ll surely also notice plenty of shelves stocked with proprietary
branded dry noodles, salsas, salad dressings, fruits and nuts. I was fortunate enough to visit in February
when they were devoting an entire display to products made with cherries grown
in Door County, that little peninsula of Wisconsin that looks like a small arm waving
into Lake Michigan.
For the time of year, The Elegant Farmer had a
surprisingly well-stocked fresh produce section as well. And the meat market centered around locally
sourced bacon, brats, ham (cider-baked!), jerky and beef sticks.
If you’re in the mood for a quick lunch like I was, their
deli has a decent variety of soups and sandwiches – both classic and
unconventional – along with brats and side salads to make a meal. Next to the display showcasing the deli meats
and freshly prepared cold salads is another featuring a variety of cheeses from
all around the state –extra temptation if you’re placing a lunch order.
As you pick up your order, you face further temptation
from the ice cream freezer on the left and pie counter on the right. Without a doubt, they take their sweets very seriously
here. After all, their baked goods are
arguably what really gave The Elegant Farmer its fame. They’ve even trademarked Apple Pie Baked in a Paper Bag®.
It’s probably a good thing I’m not a huge dessert guy. But I do love a good sammich, and that’s just
what I got that day – more specifically, The Elegant Farmer’s grilled black
forest roast beef sandwich, served with chips and a pickle spear. It came loaded with sauerkraut, thousand
island dressing and gooey melted Wisconsin cheddar cheese wedged between two
slices of toasted rye bread. I probably
should have just sat at a booth inside rather than devour this thing in the
car, but shockingly I managed to finish it without getting it all over myself.
I also got a couple of take-home items before I left. I simply couldn’t resist the dried cherries
from Door County, and their Vidalia onion tomato salad dressing intrigued
me. Although the makers confess they
bring the onions from Georgia (one of the few Elegant Farmer branded items not
made predominantly with local products), it’s still reportedly house-made. I later discovered the dressing was still outstanding
in quality and a wonderfully zesty topping to a summer salad.
Admittedly, The Elegant Farmer is not the type of place I
would make a habit of visiting every time I’m in the area. But it’s still worth the detour if you’ve
never been before or if you’re craving some down-on-the-farm gourmet
goodies.
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