So I’ve recently come here for grad school, and I figure that rather than trying to actually think of good gifts to give to the family for Christmas, it would be easier just to go back with my arms full of gift-worthy Wisconsin stuff.
Now, I have perceived the following to be the strongest symbols of this state:
Cheese
Beer
Badgers and Packers paraphernalia
Cheese is probably okay, but I don’t think the other two are going to do the trick.
So, Wisconsinites, got any good ideas for things I should buy, or any specific places to look within a reasonable distance from Madison? BTW, if it is cheese, give me a suggestion of what kind or something, because I wouldn’t know enough about cheese to know whether I’m just buying the same crap that people can get at any old supermarket in New Jersey.
There’s lots of interesting Native American things in WI, and I suppose anything to do with cows would be very WI. Oh Oh Oh, if you can get your hands on some Sheboygan brats, definitely pick some of them up. If you can get the kind they sell at the Brewers games, all the better. WI is also very German, you might find some interesting things in that category in Madison.
As far as cheese, maybe pick up a couple packs of cheese curds, you don’t see them very often outside of WI.
How about something from a local winery? I’m fond of the Wollersheim Winery’s Prairie Fumé. They’re just outside Baraboo, but you can get their wines just about anywhere. I know I’ve seen them at Whole Foods.
There’s also Door County stuff (cherry products, wine, fudge) everywhere. You should be able to find some in Madison.
Wisconsin is also a big cranberry producer.
Do they like screwy music? The Berrymans’ Yah Hey CD is chock full of Wisconsin stuff. (On preview after seeing Qadgop’s post: There’s a great song on here about Monroe and its Limburger cheese that’s historically accurate to boot!)
Aren’t there a couple of Wisconsin-themed gift shops on State Street? I’m thinking of one down near the capitol.
While I don’t think any Wisconsin wines are worth much, Wisconsin beer is definitely worth it. If I recall correctly (it’s been about six years now since I left) but Capital Brewery (in Middleton) makes some excellent brews along with New Glarus and several other speciality micro brewers in and around the Madison area.
I meant like cherry or cranberry wine. There are some nice grape wines, that don’t require a fondness for different wines. The cheese and candy stores that sell home made product are great. I would suggest the Mt. Horeb Trollway or Mineral Point areas for artisan shops. You have potters and painters and antiques.
That’s sort of my problem… I’m pretty much without direction. At this point, anything that says “Wisconsin” better than anything else sounds like a good idea.
Thanks to all for the advice! I’ll definitely keep it in mind.
Packers stuff. Even tho they suck this year, it’s still a timeless representation of Wisconsin.
Harley-Davidson stuff. They’re based in Milwaukee.
A Wisconsin Badgers sweatshirt or other such paraphernalia. Big red W, with a badger on it who looks somewhat irritated, perhaps due to chronic constipation.
A cheese hat will say “Wisconsin, what the hell was I thinking?”, and it’s a great gift for someone if their tastes run that way, or if you’re not that into them.
There’s alot more Wisconsin Oringals out there, but I have to go. I knew there’s some sasauge footballsout there, and an excellent German babery in the Madison vacinity. An example is Hazelnut cream cake. I think they set up the Gingerbread house for the kids to go into.
Ooooh yeah! Kringle! I’d forgotten about that! Yum! Thanks, Harmonious!
String cheese is good too!
Usinger’s makes a lovely variety of sausages. Some very excellent! But IMHO the best brats come out of Sheboygan County, and the best summer sausage is from Kewaskum Frozen Foods. (Don’t tell Fritz Usinger I said that, he’s a neighbor of mine!)
We have the largest production of crannberries in the USA now, and here’s some good products to try.
Bring home some Asti and frozen cranberry concentrate. Put a couple spoons of Consentrate in the bottom of a pilsner glass, and fill to the top with chilled Asti. The cranberry jelly is delicous, but is a specialty item you have to look for. My favorite addition to chex mix is Ocean Spray Cranrasins. A good completement to the saltiness of the mix.
The best place to find Wisconsin brews and liquers is the Eastside Woodman’s liquer store. You might look for some hickoy nut meats online, or by asking around. They’re the best nut in a brownie, only finding them if you don’t pick them yourself can be hard. Now I’m thinking of hicory nut turtles. You might find some hand dipped Door County cherries. There are some excellent candy makers in Madison.
If any of your friends back home are Harley riders, those guys are gaga for Harley t-shirts from faraway places. Milwaukee, of course, is the Mother Church for them.
The UW Student President in the early 80’s did a lot of cazy stuff. Some of the contraversial things are material for photo art in Madison. They built the head and torch arm of the Statue of Liberty on Lake Monona. They covered a hill with Pink Flamingo’s. I think it was Bascom Hill. I think that’s when the Monna Tarace got the mural that is hidden by the Frank Loyd Wright Convention Center.