One of the destinations on the memory tour list was Northwoods Inn for dinner. My spouse has many happy memories of this place, and especially the cheese butter spread/bread, which we have tried to copycat. Copying a recipe from a place you've never been was challenging, so I was excited to taste the real thing and see how close (or not) we got!
It was a balmy 105 degrees when we walked up to the building with its faux-snow covered roof. The building was charming, and we walked in and the ambiance was warm and full of glowing-hearth feelings. We got there on the early side for dinner (barely 5 pm, but as we had been up since 3 am, and it was 7 pm our time, it didn't feel like the wrong time for dinner).
We were taken back to our table, and greeted with their charming standing wooden menu boards. We decided to order a steak meal (they let you split it for $9.95 extra, which was definitely worth it. We couldn't finish what was on our plates). The first course was the cheese bread and "two salads" which included a purple cabbage slaw and a roquefort covered lettuce "salad". Mixed together they were a good blend of savory/rich and vinegary/fresh. And eaten with the bread, it was a delicious entry point to a delightful meal.
And yes, the bread tasted *exactly* like the recipe we found online and tried (no, I can't take any credit for it, but we will definitely continue to make this at home).
From the peanut shell-strewn floors, to the dark and dimly lit tables, to the old world decor, this place was a treat. The service was impeccable (and hilarious) and the food was delicious. We did order the baked potatoes with the cheese butter topping. An indulgence, for sure, but that would've made a delightful meal just by itself (something to try when we're back home)!
Of course, with that many people in a building without windows and an older a/c unit, it did get very warm inside... and so we eventually headed out to get a breeze from the walkway to our car and a trip back to our hotel.
Thanks for stopping by!
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