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The Wisconsin supper club is a state institution. More than just a restaurant, it’s a community gathering place where you’ll find friends and family enjoying a cocktail (like a Brandy Old Fashioned) before dinner—with steak, seafood, and Friday fish fries all standard fare. But it’s what comes in between that is one of the most beloved institutions within the institution, and that is the not-so-humble salad bar. In fact, legend has it that a Wisconsin supper club was home to the first salad bar in the country back in the 1950s. What can be so special about a salad bar, you ask? That’s a question only asked by those who’ve never been to a supper club salad bar in Wisconsin! To give you a taste, we’ve rounded up our best supper club salad bar-inspired recipes so that you can see what a Wisconsin salad bar experience is all about.
Easy Chicken Liver Pate
Liver pâté may not be a salad bar staple all over the country, but Wisconsin is a different story. Supper clubs all over the state serve liver pâté either at the salad bar or on their relish tray — a complimentary tray of fresh veggies, dips, and other accoutrements that is served with drinks before the meal. This easy liver pâté is one you might find at a Wisconsin supper club, or you might be offered one made with braunschweiger.
Crostini D’Emily
Emily probably didn’t guess her crostini recipe would end up in a roundup of Wisconsin salad bar recipes, but these mini garlic toasts are just what you’d find on a supper club salad bar as a crunchy addition to your plate — perfect to go with the pâté, but also delicious on their own.
Traditional Three Bean Salad
This sweet and vinegary salad is a must on supper club salad bars across the Badger State.
Pickled Herring and Cucumber Salad
Pickled herring is usually offered on its own on a Wisconsin salad bar, and here, it’s mixed with cucumbers to kick things up a notch. You’d be more likely to find pickled herring in western Wisconsin where Scandinavians settled in large numbers, versus the eastern side of the state that was historically more German.
Broccoli Salad
This crunchy broccoli salad sounds like it shouldn’t work, but it just does. Raw broccoli is mixed with a sweet and salty mix of bacon, raisins, and mayonnaise. It’s not a salad bar “must” in Wisconsin, but you’ll see it on offer at many supper clubs across the state.
Restaurant-Style Coleslaw
Creamy coleslaw is always a welcome addition to any salad bar, and that’s no exception in Wisconsin!
Magnificent Macaroni Salad
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
A creamy mayo-based macaroni salad is a Wisconsin supper club salad bar stalwart. Variations abound, but it would not be uncommon to find chunks of cheese in your Wisco macaroni salad — it is America’s Dairyland, after all.
Sauerkraut Salad
Sauerkraut salad might not be pervasive across all corners of the state, but it’s popular among some supper club crowds, like at Roepke’s Village Inn in Charlesburg, which pays homage to the town’s German heritage by continuing to serve German favorites.
Dad’s Creamy Cucumber Salad
Another favorite is a creamy cucumber salad, and Dad’s version has rave reviews for a reason! “When I saw this recipe I hoped it would be good, thought it sounded good. After making it, I can honestly say it was better than I had hoped,” says reviewer Just Dave.
Potato Salad
Potato salad is another salad bar staple that you’ll find in supper clubs across the state in various incarnations. This all-time favorite American potato salad fits the bill, but you could also try Red Potato Salad or German Potato Salad.
Salad Dressings
Sure, bottled dressings are totally fine, but if you’re thinking of recreating a Wisconsin supper club salad bar at home, you may want to create one of these classic dressings from scratch:
Wisconsin Native’s Beer Cheese Soup
You’ll be hard pressed to find a salad bar at a Wisconsin supper club that doesn’t offer homemade soup as well. It’s one reason why you can often find the “soup and salad bar” available on the menu to order as A Meal In Itself! This Wisconsin beer and cheese soup is a perennial favorite.
Pistachio Fluff Fruit Salad
Simply known as “Fluff,” this salad (of sorts) is an omnipresent sweet treat on salad bars across the state. While “Fluff” may come in a variety of flavors, this pistachio version is always a classic.
Easy Chocolate Pudding
Chocolate pudding and/or Jell-O are the other two sweet dishes you’re likely to find on a Wisconsin supper club salad bar. Because who doesn’t love a little something sweet before the main event?
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