Thanksgiving is right around the corner and that has us thinking about food! Especially the amazing dining experience we just had, and the one we are longing to try on one of our next visits to Door County.
If we are going to write about food “experiences,” we know what you might be thinking — the famous Door County Fish Boil. And while that IS a unique dining experience, and some of us very much enjoy them, that’s not what we are obsessed with right now.
One has a “farm to table” flair. Another has a Michelin star behind the menu! All of it has been delicious and unique. The spaces are intimate. The pace is slower. These experiences do require some advanced planning and reservations, so put it on your “to do” list before solidifying your Door County vacation!
A Michelin star lands in Ephraim
Word started trickling out earlier this year. Something new was coming to the space that was once Trixie’s. We loved Trixie’s for it’s cozy, intimate vibe with pink glasses, a lovely wine list and delicious small plates. Well, the doors are open again at this darling restaurant in the heart of Ephraim. La Sirena has a menu that you might call Modern Mexican: the flavors of Mexico, but elevated in a way we’ve never experienced. If you want to know the story of how the chef and his wife from a Michelin starred restaurant in California ended up opening a restaurant in Ephraim, The Pulse covered it earlier this year. What we want to focus on, is this incredible meal that was, indeed, an experience!
The menu is a four course set meal. But it turned out to be more like six courses and took three hours. The meal started with what might be the best oyster we’ve ever, or will ever, have. It came with a watermelon jam that takes a week to make. Next was the salad. Here’s the verbatim from around the table: “I can’t think of a better salad I’ve had this year.” “The pear is translucent.” “I scraped my plate.” Then came the bread service. Bread… but make it Mexican. The loaf of sourdough came with salsa, beans, and a huitlacoche butter that was “legit!” Up next was the small whitefish taco, caught locally and smoked in house.
Tip: Reservations become available one week in advance
On to the main course. Here’s the one area of the menu where we got to choose. Lamb or duck. Both come with the handmade, heirloom (blue) corn tortillas that we believe helped lead to the original Michelin Star. You are basically building your own tacos. (Our vegetarian friend was presented with a beautiful fish dish.)
A first for us — we had a wine from Mexico! Our server, Travis, helped steer us and the pick was perfect: the 2023 Casa Jipi Nebbiolo. We almost passed on dessert, but managed to find the room. So glad we did! It was cantaloupe and honeydew over a yogurt mousse with anise syrup. Like a granita, it literally melted in our mouths. The “after dinner mint,” was a bite of marzipan and hazelnut and chocolate with a sprinkle of salt. Delightful! We were with friends of the owners, so did we get some special treatment? Maybe. But you should still go. At the time of this writing, the menu is fixed at $75 a person plus beverages. (If you’re new to Door County, Ephraim only allows wine, beer and low abv cocktails.) We’ll definitely be back to explore possible new menus, or this exact same one!
A literal Farm to Table experience in Sister Bay
This next experience has been on our to-do list for awhile. Once a month, Door County Underground serves up an intimate five course meal at Hidden Acres Farm. A true farm to table adventure. Or in their case, it’s often forest to table. We know that because our dear friends, Rebecca and Isaac, have enjoyed these farm dinners several times. They gave us the lowdown so we could share with you.
“If you’ve ever thought about trying it, do it!” That was the last thing Rebecca said after quizzing her about why she keeps going back to the Underground farm dinners. She says the the atmosphere is rustic and intimate. “Like you’re at a friend’s house. If you had cool friends.”
Excuse me? Guess our dinner table isn’t as “cool!” But here’s why they enjoy the farm dinners so much. A big part of it has to do with the owners, Matt Chambas and Jamie Mead, and their commitment to using locally sourced proteins and produce. Before and during each course, diners learn about where the food comes from. One of Rebecca’s favorite dishes included mushrooms foraged by the chef. It had a mushroom puree, topped with crispy mushrooms and a “delightful” sauce.
The setting is a highlight, too. It’s a farm, in the middle of the woods. You’ll walk through a trail and then come out into an opening with a covered barn and raised beds. They’ll start your experience with an aperítif. From there you can walk around the grounds, hang out on the patio or take your seat. You’ll be at a table of four to eight, sometimes dining next to strangers. It can be a great opportunity to meet new people!
Door County at its fine-dining-est
There are definitely other dining experiences to try. The Fish Boil, of course. We’ve read about Crave Cuisine’s Secret Supper Club dinner that pop up in mystery locations. Check back in 2026 to see what’s on tap for next season. For the holidays, Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant does a very popular two-night Julbord dinner. The Scandinavian smorgasbord features traditional Scandinavian foods and drinks and often sells out quickly.
And we’re always watching some of our favorite restaurants to see what special events they are cooking up. We love Chives in Baileys Harbor, Lure in Sister Bay, Alexander’s in Fish Creek, Osteria Tre Tassi in Ellison Bay and Shoreline in Gills Rock, to name a few.
Before you make your dinner reservations, be sure to reserve one of our vacation rentals for the perfect “foodie” getaway.
Buon appetito!
