Drove 50 miles into the sticks for all-you-can-eat pancakes

[GenDem]

and real maple syrup. This place draws people from all over the world --by the bus loads. It is a Maple Sugaring operation that for the past 40 years has opened to the public, between mid Feb and mid April (sugaring season), for all you can eat buckwheat pancakes and their very own maple syrup that is processed on sight. You can tour their sugaring operation, and see the largest maple sugar evaporator in the United States.

Tomorrow is their last day for the season, so we made our annual pilgrimage today. It was a beautiful drive, and the pancakes were to die for.

http://www.cartwrightsmapletreeinn.com/story.html

[Wapsie B]

1. Mmmmmmmmmm I love buckwheat pancakes!!

:9

[GenDem]

2. Me, too.

I've made them myself, but the Maple Tree Inn's pancakes are the best.

[Wapsie B]

3. I am going to have to make that a destination

one of these springs. Sounds like a great place.

[GenDem]

4. People, literally, come from everywhere

I always read the guest book, and am totally amazed. Of course many could be just passing through, but this place is so obscure, and way off any interstate. Would people actually travel great distances for maple syrup and buckwheat pancakes? One wonders.

[Wapsie B]

5. Yeah they might.

I've seen little steakhouses in Iowa draw a similar clientele, meaning worldwide. There are people who love finding a good thing off the well-beaten path.

[Poiuyt]

6. We drive two hours just to eat Swedish pancakes at Al Johnson's Restaurant

in Door County Wisconsin. Then we roll out the door and drive home. Droool!

[GenDem]

7. LOL

We rolled out the door, rolled the 50 miles back home, and then rolled onto the couch and recliner for naps. :rofl:
It was a carbohydrate festivus. At least it was a whole grain and a natural sugar buzz. No high fructose corn syrup, thank gawd, or I could never justify the sinful pleasure.

[GenDem]

8. What is a Swedish pancake?

:shrug:

[Poiuyt]

9. I guess you should make a pilgrimage to Al Johnson's!

A Swedish pancake is kind of like a cross between a regular pancake and a crepe. They are really flat. Traditionally served with lingonberries. I always just eat them with real maple sugar and Swedish meatballs.

Heaven on earth!

[GenDem]

11. That sounds delicious

What's a lingonberry? :shrug:

[Poiuyt]

15. I guess you should make a pilgrimage to Al Johnson's!

[GenDem]

16. That looks delish!

I will have to make a pilgrimage. I found this and have book marked it.


http://www.onwisconsin.com/dining/dining.asp?id=3161
:hi:

[barb162]

13. I like them with just the lingonberries and sour cream

Oh, they're wonderful

[barb162]

12. That's a great place.

And I love the animals on the roof

[barb162]

10. sounds yummy

[GenDem]

14. Ya know what makes it special?

It is a generational family operation. You feel the love and hard work that they put into this. In the wake of Wal-mart and corporate restaurant chains, this is now a rarity.

[barb162]

22. I agree. Family run and all. And their store is nice too

[QMPMom]

17. Why does this place have to be 3000 miles away?

[GenDem]

18. I'm sorry

If it's any consolation it is April 15th and snowing quite heavily here. With this weather the sap may start running again.

I would love to have everyone experience the pancakes, though. I can have these emotional reactions to certain places and events, and today the pancake trip hit me. I actually teared up.

[QMPMom]

19. No need to be sorry! I am glad you got to enjoy them today.

I get emotional, too, about certain places and things. It's weird. Today I cried all the way home from work. Why? Because I got a raise! Totally absurd... I could not for the life of my figure out why I was crying. Then, I pulled up in front of the house and there on the retaining wall say my husband and daughter waiting onme - which made me cry even harder! I think I am hormonal....

[GenDem]

20. Yeah, me too.

Congratulations on your raise. :toast:

I know the pancakes were actually the tip of the iceberg.

We drove by a school, on route, that my daughter played against in volleyball. She's my youngest, and graduated high school last year. I think that I started experiencing a little empty nest syndrome. My kids are all grown up, and we won't be watching them play sports any more. Then I get home, and before nap time, I come in here, and read southpaw's soccer thread. He's at the beginning, and all of that is now just wonderful memories for me. How can I say that I was extremely contented and happy, while at the same time I was experiencing a kind of melancholy? That's exactly what I was feeling.

I'm thinking that it was hormonal for me today, too.

Thanks for sharing, QMPMom. :hug:

[rec_report]

21. Awesome! n/t

[Redstone]

23. You must live in New England. People here will drive 30 mile for an ice-cream cone.

Redstone

[GenDem]

24. No, Western, NY.

I'm actually nestled between Rochester and Buffalo just off I 90. I have really good ice cream (Mackinac Island) about a mile from my door step. I can actually walk or ride my bike to my ice cream.

The pancakes were in the Southern Tier.

[Elidor]

25. This thread is driving me half insane with pancake munchies

If I wasn't so tired, I'd head down to IHOP to console myself.

[madinmaryland]

26. Mister Fluffy!!1!!

Did he/she enjoy the flapjacks?

[GenDem]

27. Do you mean my little dog?

No, the pets remained at home, much to their dismay.