A trip to Door County is not quite complete without a ferry trip to Washington Island and a stop at the Washington Island Hotel is an integral part of a great stay. When my family and I planned a camping trip to the Door, we included a day trip to Washington Island off the northern tip of the County.
After a day sunning at Schoolhouse Beach , climbing the Mountain Park Lookout Tower for a view of Lake Michigan and the nearby islands, and exploring Stavkirke, a replica of an 11th Century Scandinavian church, we stopped at the Washington Hotel for drinks and snacks before catching the ferry back to the mainland.
Ah, the Washington Hotel and Restaurant! What an absolute treasure and foodie find. The chef-owner, Leah Caplan, a transplant from Rockland County, NY, presents an internationally-inspired menu with an American twist, focusing on locally-grown bounty and green sustainable processes. We sampled several appetizers: a trio of cumin-inflected parsley garlic hummus, a sublime slightly sweet walnut pesto and a savory rustic calamata olive and roasted red pepper blend. We spread these delights on brick oven stone ground island wheat bread. The highlight was a fried rosemary olive surrounded by crispy island wheat crust – see above photo.) To wash down the delectable morsels, I drank a surprisingly refreshing ginger limeade, which amazed a palette that usually doesn’t enjoy either separately. Also sampled was the Capital Island Wheat Beer, and a tongue-tingling Canella Prosecco di Conegliano.
Besides running a thriving hotel and restaurant, the staff holds culinary hands-on seminars and lecture series at the site. This Wednesday, August 6th, Neeta Saluja introduces Indian Cuisine, the subject of her recent New York Times critically acclaimed cookbook, Six Spices . The Hotel restaurant will be featuring Saluja’s recipes on Saturday, August 9. More information on both events can be found at the Washington Hotel, Restaurant and Culinary School website . Neeta has taught many Indian cuisine classes in the Madison area and is a well-known and popular teacher. If you love Indian food, this is a treat not to be missed.
— Bo Mackison loves to spend time away from the city indulging in the rural regions of Wisconsin, enjoying quiet spaces, open spaces, and places that specialize in great food, good times, and perfect customer service. She vacations with family, one of whom is also is camera-crazy. Photo courtesy of JPTsai © 2008. All rights reserved.
Wandering Wisconsin with Bo 