An Edible Afternoon in Stoughton

Sometimes the best adventures and treasures are in your own backyard. This summer, we’re setting off to discover local producers, food business and fun things to do in our foodshed that stretches from Madison to the Mississippi River. Today we’re spending an afternoon in Stoughton, one of the many smaller communities that compose and support the dynamic local food movement here in Southern Wisconsin.

The city of Stoughton is located 20 miles southeast of Madison and straddles the Yarhara River. Originally settled by Norwegian immigrants, the town’s Nordic heritage is definitely felt in the architecture and charm of its downtown.

Each May, Stoughton hosts an annual, city-wide Syttende Mai (Seventeenth of May) Festival celebrating Norwegian Constitution Day, but today we we’re in search of everyday, local businesses and happenings in the community.

Koffee Kup

Our first stop was at the Koffee Kup, a café whose Nordic charm oozed from inside and out. We were in search of a cool drink but were excited to see all the homemade soups and pies also featured on the menu, including slices of seasonal strawberry rhubarb and peach pies.

Fosdal’s Home Bakery

Our next stop on Main Street was Fosdal’s Home Bakery. Famous for their doughnuts and authentic Norwegian baked goods, we were greeted by a sweet yeasty-aroma as well as their friendly staff.

After perusing their sweet rolls, breads and cookies, we decided we were in the mood for doughnuts and ordered our own flight based on the staff’s recommendations. We settled on their best-selling chocolate Bismarck, a blueberry cake doughnut and a classic, glazed cinnamon twist. We’d intended to sample each and bring the leftovers home, but that plan was abandoned halfway through the first doughnut.

Yarhara River Grocery Co-op

One of my favorite things to do while travelling is to explore local grocery stores, so I was excited to discover that Stoughton had its own food cooperative! Located conveniently next door to Fosdal’s, the Yarhara River Grocery has chalkboards on display in their front window listing all the local products they source and sell inside.

To no surprise, the shop sells some of our favorite locally produced foodstuffs, including Madison Sourdough, NessAlla Kombucha , and Potter’s Crackers. The bright and open shop was a great place to plan out our Stoughton Historical Home Walking Tour.

Historical Self-Guided Walking Tours

The Stoughton Landmark Commission details several walking tours on their website. With homes dating back to the mid-1800s, we enjoyed viewing the many Queen Anne-style houses on the Northwest Side tour, which, as a bonus, made room for more eats.

Back to the Bean

Needing a coffee, we went in search of a cup on Main Street and almost walked right by Back to the Bean. We would have never guessed such a historic, open space was located behind the inconspicuous storefront. With so much more than coffee, the café offers homemade ice cream cake slices and frozen treats like mango black pepper sorbet and chai custard. The mango black pepper sorbet had perfectly balanced of flavors and was a great way cool off after the walking tour.

Wendigo

Be sure to save room for dinner at Wendigo. This restaurant located on Main Street makes it a point to source produce and other products locally and has a diverse menu of sharable snacks, gourmet sandwiches and refined main dishes.

In addition to the great food, the space itself is beautiful with Cream City brick, local art, a carved-wood bar and a small stage at the back of the dining room. Wendigo is open for dinner and Sunday brunch. We’ll definitely be back to try their morning offerings.

Stoughton Opera House

Towering over the two-story storefronts on Main Street, the Stoughton Opera House is a grand sight as you enter Stoughton’s historic downtown. Opened in 1901, the theater hosts a wide variety of musical and theatrical performances throughout the season including rock, folk, classical, and comedy shows.

While the opera house is not open for tours during the day, we suggest picking a show on their 2016-2017 schedule and making an evening in Stoughton.

Viking County Park

Before heading home, we went for a short evening hike along the Yahara River in Viking County Park. There are many other trails and natural areas in Stoughton to explore by bike or foot as a nice compliment to exploring the historic downtown.