Visiting a Wisconsin Supper Club should be a goal on every true foodie’s bucket list. Sure, the rest of the country may have steakhouses, meat and threes, red-sauce restaurants, or cocktail lounges—but there’s just no imitating the classic Midwestern Supper Club.
These historic institutions perfectly blend fine dining and casual Midwest sensibilities. It’s the kind of place where you can celebrate a major milestone, or just enjoy a traditional Friday Fish Fry. Supper Clubs have menus filled with hearty favorites, like prime rib, filet mignon, ribeye, lobster, chicken parmesan, walleye, cod, and so much more.
Several institutions have absolutely iconic salad bars, where you can scoop everything from Sauerkraut Salad to Beer Cheese Soup. Pair that with a Wisconsin Old Fashioned (no, it’s not the same as the traditional cocktail) and you’re in for a really good time.
Another thing Supper Clubs have is the relish tray. Filled with delicious finger foods from across the food pyramid, no fancy Midwest dinner is complete without one. Think of it as a Midwestern charcuterie board—all of the deliciousness, none of the pretense.
The Midwestern Holiday Tradition of Serving Relish Trays
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During the holidays, Wisconsinites take this Supper Club tradition into their own home, making relish trays for their friends and family. It’s the perfect way to sate hungry guests while preparing the big feast. Relish trays are the ultimate holiday appetizer—easy to prepare ahead of time, gorgeous on a holiday table, with something for just about every palette.
How To Make a Wisconsin Relish Tray
If you want to channel the Midwest this holiday season, dust off your prettiest platter and grab a bowl of frilled toothpicks and make this iconic dish. Here’s how to do it.
Start With The Basics
First things first, all relish trays start with a cheese spread and some crusty crackers. Cheese spread is usually a Cheddar-forward spreadable dip, sometimes incorporating herbs, bacon, or even wine—like the popular Kaukauna Port Wine Spread. Relish trays don’t have buttery Ritz crackers, but instead something thin like cracker breadsticks or thin wheat crackers.
Add The Pickly Bits
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It’s called a “relish tray” for a reason—there are plenty of delicious pickled treasures to enjoy. Classic black olives (right out of the can) or pimento-stuffed Manzanilla olives are a must. From there, you can use your imagination (and preferences) to guide the way. Pickled veggies like carrots, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts or beets are popular options. Personally, I love to add cream cheese-stuffed Peppadew peppers. If you have any homemade dilly beans or pickled asparagus from the summer, go ahead and open that jar and add them to the tray.
Keep Things Fresh
Fresh veggies should also be available on a relish tray. Celery stalks, fresh radish, or carrot sticks will fit the bill, but feel free to add your favorite crunchy veg to your pretty platter.
Add Some Meat
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Strangely, not every Wisconsin relish tray has meat—shocking, right? If you want to have a more balanced board, try adding some homemade liver pâté, cubed braunschweiger, or even some braunschweiger spread to the platter. It’s not a must, but for the holidays it’s worth going the extra mile! Serve with some crusty, garlicky mini-toasts (aka crostini) and you’re sure to be the hostess with the mostess.
Make it Devilish
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Commonly found on relish trays across the state, deviled eggs make a festive addition to your appetizer spread. Whip out your favorite recipe and add a few to your relish tray, or serve alongside it.
Include Something Special
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Want to add some oomph to your relish tray? Go right ahead! No two relish trays are the same. Add some cold three bean salad, smoked trout dip, some relishes, or whatever tickles your fancy. Your relish tray, your rules. Enjoy!
Dining and Cooking