A Hearty Helping of Wisconsin Supper Club Culture

July 20, 2015 CLEE25 Leave a Comment

Take a fresh look at an Upper Midwest culinary tradition with Wisconsin Public Television’s newest documentary, Supper Clubs 101. The documentary is available online now and makes its television debut 7:30 p.m. this Thursday, July 23.

The documentary takes a behind-the-scenes look at the hometown restaurants that are serving hearty meals and a dose of nostalgia. From the history of the term “supper club” to a look at supper clubs’ symbiotic relationship with state agriculture, you’ll get a tasty tour of Wisconsin’s culinary history.

Dive into the history of Friday fish fries, a tradition that caught on during Prohibition, and explore how supper clubs’ nightly menus have been shaped by deep-rooted traditions.

In addition to a look at the history of supper clubs, Supper Clubs 101 explains how modern research conducted at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is helping today’s supper clubs serve fresher produce, meat and dairy. It also includes a look at local brews with UW-Madison food science professor Jim Steele, who is supplying up-and-coming beer brewers with tools for better beer, thereby helping supper clubs draft pints with local flavor.

Be sure to watch online or tune in this Thursday!

Supper Clubs 101 is a co-production of Wisconsin Public Television and University Communications at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

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