EPHRAIM — A TV show about Wisconsin isn’t really a TV show about Wisconsin unless it devotes an episode or two in Door County.
That likely explains why the popular PBS Wisconsin series, “Wisconsin Foodie” has been to Door County many times over the years.
In each episode, host Luke Zahm spends some time learning about the food, history and culture of the week’s featured guest, then often shares his own take on the delicious resipes he’s discovered.
The show’s most recent Door County Stop was the Prince of Pierogi Restaurant in Ephraim, and we decided to visit for ourselves.
Although May typically opens the season in Door County, in 2022, Saturday April 30, saw many businesses open and looking as busy as the middle of summer.
That also was opening day for Prince of Pierogi, featured in season 14 of “Wisconsin Foodie” in a segment on Polish food also featuring the classic pre-Lenten pastry pączki.
Owner Krzysztof Krol, who grew up on Poland, and his mother were hard at work on the cool and drizzly day that we visited, but the pierogi were warm and welcome.
A pierogi is a dough-based dumpling, and on our visit, we ordered the top seller, cheese and potato, along with a classic cabbage roll or golabki. We added bacon and carmelized onions to get the full experience.
The food was delivered to the outdoor eating area hot from the kitchen.
Both dishes were filling and super flavorful.
For dinner, we grabbed a pack of frozen slow-roasted pork. A couple of apparent regulars eating at the next table said the best way to prepare them is to fry them in hot butter.
“Living the dream,” is how Krol greated his customers and his periogi’s were a dream all themselves.
Another one of our favorite stops on the Door County “Foodie” tour takes some commitment to get there.
Located on Washington Island on the tip of Door County, we traveled to the northern tip of the peninsula, down the famous Jens Jensen curvey road to Northport, then a ferry ride to Washington Island where we took our car the final stretch to the Washington Hotel.
In the episode during season 11, host Zahn talked with owner Jeannie Kokes who has made a concerted effort to rejuvenate the island by focusing on the local food.
Our first visit was in mid-summer after the episode aired during season 11 so we chose a table on the expansive lawn below two huge oak trees where we could look across the road to the water.
Others ate on the large porch, or inside in the dining room.
We chose a pizza, but everything on the menu is delicious.
And if you still can’t get enough, here are two other stops made by Wisconsin Foodie in recent years:
Season 7, Episode 4 – Door County Creamery | Door County Brewery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsUyYCVsHB4
Season 9 Episode 6 Henriksen’s Fisheries. Door County Underground Then visit Hidden Acres Farm https://www.pbs.org/video/door-county-underground-hidden-acres-farm-lwpcny/
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