Dittos on a side trip to the Monroe area. Get a bunch of real WI cheese to take home with you. If you stop at the Wisconsin rest area off I90, they should have a little booklet with cheese factories that have retail counters.

Curds will be a tiny bit hard to find in the Monroe area as most of the factories make brick, Swiss, or Italian styles. But excellent brick, Swiss, and limburger should be available at good prices.

We have 3 favorites in the area.
1. The Gun Club Restaurant in Beloit http://www.wtvo.com/market_place/gun_club.asp
2. Sweet Aroma Ristorante on I43&HWY X in Delevan serves excellent Italian food
3. The Wagon Wheel Restaurant in Delevan is a great little Wisconsin supper club

CSD
Born in Chicago
Rasied in Chicago
Moved to Wisconsin
Selling Vienna Beef hot dogs & Polish

If you are going to be near Marengo, there is a great place in just off of 20 in downtown Marengo called The Spot. Great Burgers.

Saps

OOOPS![:I][8)]

Not trying to be contrary here Mr. Mayor, just accurate. The Railroad Museum of which you speak is in "Union", not "Uniontown". Get off I-90 at the Hwy. 20 exit, head west, and follow the signs. I should know because our bottling plant is in Union. Along with its next door neighbor, Marengo, Union makes up one half of the Twin Cities of McHenry County. You are correct however in your assessment; the Railroad Museum is a very cool place to visit.

As for you Lokij, take Hwy. 18 west out of Beloit till you hook up with Hwy. 11. Continue west through beautiful and fragrant(state motto:"Wisconsin-come on up and smell our dairy air")Wisconsin farm land for a total of about 30 miles. You will come to the town of Monroe where you will find a real live, old time town square complete with an actual county courthouse in the middle. Surrounding the courthouse, is a collection of quaint shops and a classic Wisconsin tavern called Baumgartner’s, home of "The World’s Best Cheese Sandwiches!"

Baumgatner’s is supplied by numerous local cheese makers with some of the freshest cheese I have ever tasted. They are famous for their limburger sandwiches; a hefty slab of limburger served on fresh flavorful pumpernickel, topped with a thick slice of raw onion and a slather of spicy brown mustard. Pure heaven! They also serve a great reuben. Perhaps the only reuben where the Swiss cheese is more important than the corned beef. Baumgartner’s is a family friendly tavern with tons of history. It’s worth the trip.

Buddy

While you will be on the very Southern Border of the "Wisconsin Food Belt", I am sure you will have the chance to enjoy some local favorites.

A side dish with sandwiches that is spreading even into this area, but is based up there is the Cheese Curd…battered or breaded and fried. served like french fries in a small pouch or box.

Walleye is the fish of choice in most fried fish sandwiches. Tasty and a bit different from the Catfish I am used to. Dollar sized Perch Filets are another fish dish we found and enjoyed in Wisconsin. Served broiled or grilled in butter. About 6 or so to an order, they make a nice entree.

Lots of German-American style food in that area, reflecting the heritage of many opf the communities around the area.

The Illinois Rail Museum is in Uniontown near Rockford. If you have any interest in Railroading , it is an inexpensive place to spend 1/2 a day.

We have family a bit further north (Baraboo,WI) so we seldom stop in the Rockford area itself. I hope other members will give you the names of some specific food stops.