For all of my gingerbread construction needs, I talk to my friends at Clasen’s European Bakery.

a traditional pasty with beef, potatoes and onions

In the last week of October I went “up north” with some friends for an extended weekend; really just an excuse to get out of town and get away for a few days. We rented a cabin in Boulder Junction for the weekend. On Saturday we drove to Hurley and Ironwood for the day. When I was younger I was a frequent visitor to Ironwood because my grandparents lived there – my mom grew up in the area and graduated from Hurley high school.The last time I was there was in 1973, so it was kind of interesting to visit again after so many years. A lot had changed, but a lot has remained the same. St Paul’s Lutheran church is still active in Hurley, my grandparents houses are still standing in Ironwood, and the big statue of Hiawatha is still in Hiawatha Park in Ironwood.

Another one of the things that is still there and apparently thriving is Joe’s Pasty Shop in Ironwood. We stopped there for lunch and it was just as good as I remember. We had the traditional pasties, with the filling of beef, potatoes and onions, although there are several variations on the menu now. I always eat my pasties with ketchup, though I’m told that some prefer gravy. We had a great lunch, and I also bought a few frozen pasties to enjoy when I got home.

So, if you’re in the area, stop in at Joe’s Pasty Shop and try a pasty. They’re located at 116 W Aurora St, Ironwood MI 49938.

At Joe’s Pasty Shop

Joe’s Pasty Shop – a tradition since 1946

Lutefisk dinner in all its glory

On Friday, November 2, I did my annual Norwegian thing and went to the lutefisk dinner at Lakeview Lutheran church in Madison. This is the third year that I’ve attended the dinner, yet I still have the same two questions when I open the door: first, what is that smell? The after I remember that it’s the lutefisk, the second question is: how do they get the smell out of the church in time for the Sunday services? I’m still not sure what the answer to that one is – do they open the windows and use fans to move the air? Do they burn a lot of pine-scented candles?

In the photo above, starting at 12 o’clock and moving clockwise, we have: home made lefse (very good as always), Swedish meatballs and gravy, lutefisk with melted butter and coleslaw. Thankfully the smell of the lutefisk is much worse than the taste. In fact is doesn’t taste like much of anything; it’s like a grayish-white fishy jello. The approved way of eating it is to put on some melted butter and salt and pepper to taste.

Lutefisk is mentioned in the Wisconsin statutes, please see section 101.58(2)(j)2f where we are told that toxic substances do not include lutefisk.