Local Foodies Reading List

Madison Chefs: Stories of Food, Farms, and People
by Lindsay Christians

University of Wisconsin Press

Despite its humble size, Madison has all the ingredients to achieve an unlikely culinary excellence: tight-knit chef and farmer relationships, abundant local markets, and a strong appreciation for good food. Lindsay Christians, longtime food and arts writer at The Cap Times, uses this lens to give us a glimpse into the kitchens of nine champions of cuisine in Madison. Beginning with chef Odessa Piper’s lasting impact on “farm-to-table” dining in the area, Christians profiles the diverse and creative chef talent invested in building resiliency and community around Wisconsin’s seasonal ingredients and craft products. It’s a vibrant recent history of Midwestern sensibilities evolving into Wisconsin fine dining, without losing any of its organic charm. Devoted foodies, Madison enthusiasts, and curious diners alike will find joy in this book.

A Perfect Pair: The History of Landjaeger in Green County, Wisconsin
by Jesse Brookstein

Karate Fight Publishing

Wisconsin is certainly a state obsessed with locally crafted food and beverages–and meats are no exception. In A Perfect Pair, Jesse Brookstein explores the Wisconsin connection to landjaeger (lond-yay-gurr), a shelf-stable, hickory-smoked and fermented meat snack that adorns meat shop displays around the state. Brookstein takes us on a tour of Green County, Wisconsin—an area where many Swiss and German immigrants settled—to meet some of the legendary shops and producers that have been perfecting landjaeger for decades. History, science, and good storytelling come together in this book, from the process and logistics of fermenting sausage to the lore behind the meaning of “landjaeger.” Along the journey, Brookstein harnesses our enthusiasm for local meat producers and landmark meat shops, kindly reminding the reader to support the folks that feed us and taste something delicious in the process.

Home Cooking Comeback: Neighborly Advice & 40 Pleasing Recipes from the Farm Kitchen of a Midwestern Food Journalist
by Jennifer Rude Klett

Independently Published

Slow-cooked maple pork chops. Black raspberry buttermilk pancakes. Chocolate butter pecan turtle bars. Creamy chicken and ild rice hot dish. Reading the recipes in Home Cooking Comeback by Jennifer Rude Klett, you can’t help but feel wrapped in the warmth of a handmade quilt next to an open fire while snowflakes fall outside. Klett features simple yet delectable dishes while highlighting the produce and products—and the local farmers and land stewards cultivating them with care—that are abundant in Wisconsin. A little extra “neighborly advice” is offered to inspire seasoned home cooks and beginners alike to reap the benefits of cooking at home, from eating for health to saving money and producing less waste. Klett’s voice serves as a comforting guide (like the comfort food she writes about), inviting the reader into her home kitchen and sharing stories with each recipe that could have come from any Wisconsinite’s own memory. Visit jrudeklett.com for dates and details on upcoming author talks.

Manna Café and Bakery Cookbook: A Memoir of Two Businesses, A Community, and the Food That Connected Them
by Barb Pratzel

Little Creek Press

Manna Café and Bakery Cookbook is a celebration of the places in each community where we find home outside of our own. When Manna Café and Bakery closed in 2020 after 15 years in business on Madison’s north side, the loss of that sort of place was felt deeply. With seasoned backgrounds in hospitality, Barb and Mike Pratzel created Manna Café to reflect their own ethos. This motive brought together an atmosphere of good company, kindness and unforgettable food. Barb Pratzel captures the community created by their two businesses, including the Collins House Bed and Breakfast, and many years of caring for others in her stories. Alongside this memoir, she continues to feed the masses with Manna’s beloved favorites in 150 beginner-friendly recipes including their renowned oatmeal pancakes and many other café classics. In the spirit of Manna, Pratzel says, “the cookbook made many people whole again, myself included, for it brought my own career full circle, and let me keep on giving in a way that need not end.”