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buffetbuster
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Re:Weekend in Wisconsin's Winter Wonderland
Fri, 02/27/09 11:09 AM
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Saturday February 21, 2009 cont. Armed with JMS' Eat Your Way Across the USA, my first visit to Sheboygan was during Memorial Day weekend in 2000. I tried to eat at Gosse's Drive-thru, which was located in a shopping center parking lot and was not much bigger than a phone booth. Unfortunately, they were closed for the holiday. That location closed, so I thought I had missed my chance. While I was in City Bakery, earlier that morning, I asked the ladies if Gosse's was still around. They said yes, but it is now no longer a drive-thru, but a full service restaurant. After settling in my hotel room and getting the address out of the phone book, I made the short drive over. This place is today known as Gosse's at the Northwestern House.  I have no idea what that really means, as long as they still serve brats. Once seated, the menu  is on a little stand right on the table. Of course, I had to go for the double brat, which came wrapped in wax paper.  The nice waitress asked what I want on it and I asked what the locals usually get. She told me ketchup, pickle, onion and mustard was standard. Sound familiar? Here is my double brat with the lid off.  I can't say for sure that it was cooked over charcoal, but it gives that appearance. Mildly seasoned, with wonderful porky flavor, it was delicious! The side of cole slaw was a little too creamy and mayoey (is that a word?) for me. To wash it down, a glass of Sprecher root beer,  of course. The dessert of choice in these parts are tortes. Near my table, hanging on the wall, was the long list of available tortes.  Being a lover of all things mint, I went with the grasshopper.  Soft, smooth, creamy without being rich, this was a terrific dessert. What was odd to me was that I seemed to be the only one in the place enjoying brats. Everyone and I mean everyone else, was ordering the chicken. There was a young couple at the table next to me, so I asked if I could take a photo of their chicken.  They didn't even blink an eye and said sure. Are you proud of me cecif? When I was paying, I made the comment to the woman that the chicken must really be good. She told me that it was tradition around these parts that Friday nights were for fish fries and Saturdays were for chicken dinners. Next time I come here, it will be to try the chicken. Gosse's at the Northwestern House 1909 Union Avenue Sheboygan, WI 920-457-8696 I went back to the hotel and caught a nap. Around 9:00, I headed back into Sheboygan and my dinner destination, Rupp's.  I believe it used to be called Rupp's Lodge, but now bills itself as Rupp's Downtown. By the way, I will go ahead and apologize for the photos now. They most definitely are not my best. When I walked in, I was asked if I wanted a table or booth. Since a booth usually offers more privacy for picture taking, I asked for one of those. Unfortunately, they sat me at a booth right next to a table with six people. Six drunk people. Six obnoxious drunk people. There were three couples and the men were all visibly intoxicated. Since they were in the process of getting their food wrapped up and paying, I stayed patient. My dinner came with a visit to the salad bar.  I ate my salad and these people were still here. My broccoli cheese soup  arrived and the people were still not leaving. I am not easily offended or a genteel soul. It takes a lot to rile me up. I could put up with the singing. I could put up with the swearing. I could put up with the stupid funny voices, in an attempt to be funny. But when they started burping loudly, I had had it. Though not necessarily a fancy place, this is still supposed to be a classy downtown supper club and I was paying upwards of $20.00 per entree. Their behavior was not acceptable anywhere, let alone at a place like this. Just as my entree arrived, they were finally physically getting up and walking out the door. I sure feel sorry for anyone who had to be out on the streets with these morons driving. Hopefully, the women drove. If I had it to do over again, I would have walked over to the hostess stand at the first sign of trouble and asked to be moved. So part of this is my fault for trying to be patient. Some might think that I should have confronted the drunks and told them to be quiet, but I learned a long time ago that there is no reasonable way to reason with drunks. My entree was veal schnitzel with spaetzle on the side.  The veal was certainly tender enough, but the brown gravy was way too salty for my taste. Truthfully, I was in no mood to sit down and enjoy a meal. I did get it wrapped up to go and picked out the mushrooms back in my hotel before chucking it. I am not going to totally write this place off. I really liked the look (here is the glass divider between the kitchen and the dining room, where you can watch the chefs working)  and feel of the place. Rupp's 925 N. 8th Street Sheboygan, WI 920-459-8426 http://www.foodspot.com/rupps/ Back to the hotel for the rest of the night. More to come.....
<message edited by buffetbuster on Fri, 02/27/09 1:12 PM>
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