Owl’s Nest cheese spread was a staple for my parent during cocktail hour. My mom even had a recipe for a make-at-hoe version. You know how frugal that generation was. I guess some things don’t change. I’ll post the recipe if I find it.

Good info from Brad, Gregg.I believe the cheese was a favorite at a place called Owls Nest.Maybe the same place?? if you cant find it, i will ship you some…(still have packages to go out to Rouxdog and Ayersian!!In my car, ready to go…)[:I]

quote:

Originally posted by ChiTownDiner

Ann – Is the Owl’s Nest only available over the border?

There’s a store locator on theOwl’s Nest website; I tried it for zip code 60521 and found a few places in the Chicagoland area that sell it.

Hmmm…I think there’s a bar called "The Owl’s Nest" not too terribly far from me. I wonder if they serve the cheese there.

Brad

I remember going to Pinah’s Bakery when I was younger; I believe it was on Center St., not far from Jake’s Deli.

Ann – Is the Owl’s Nest only available over the border?

In 1913 master baker Christ Pinahs settled in Milwaukee from Germany. It was only after a few years that he opened a family bakery here and later after World War II Christ passed on the family business to his son, George. Continuing the Pinahs family tradition of imagination, George created a special new recipe for traditional Vienna Rye. Soon this "new" but traditional rye bread was being served not only to customers of the neighborhood bakery, but also to customers in the finest restaurants around Milwaukee.

Fortifying the family tradition in 1955 Marge Pinahs, George’s wife, experimented in the family kitchen and created the first Pinahs Crunchy Bread Chip using a variation of George’s Vienna Rye recipe. Marge made Pinahs history with her secret bread formula for the fried chip with a bit of garlic. Soon the Crunchy Bread Chip out-sold all other products in the bakery. Marge’s fried Crunchy Bread Chip laid the foundation for the current Pinahs business.

Just a little fun history about Pinahs…

Jim, I would take it but the vacuum left would pull down more Canadian air (what did we ever do to them?)!

quote:

Originally posted by MilwFoodlovers

I used to do the printing for them before the sale and got as much Gardetto’s as I wanted. I met the owner in my new line of work (well after the sale) and I concur, great fella. They tasted better before the big guys bought but still are great. Pinah’s rye chips were what used to go in the mix. Ann, you know everyone in the area! Gotta have that meet-up but I leave in 6 days for Jamaica (and none too soon!).

Aha, I thought there was a Pinah’s-Gardetto’s relationship.

Ann isn’t alone there. I’ve tipped a few glasses with the new owner of Pinah’s. He’s the same guy who owns Racine Danish Kringle.

MFL – Please take this weather with you when you go on vacation.

Jim

I used to do the printing for them before the sale and got as much Gardetto’s as I wanted. I met the owner in my new line of work (well after the sale) and I concur, great fella. They tasted better before the big guys bought but still are great. Pinah’s rye chips were what used to go in the mix. Ann, you know everyone in the area! Gotta have that meet-up but I leave in 6 days for Jamaica (and none too soon!).

Unfortunately, Gardettos sold out( the kids) I knew the owner, and what a nice man.We used to be able to go to the factory direct and get huge boxes of his bread sticks.He used to supply all the fine restaurants in town.

Count me as anotherGardetto’s fan. The "bold" Chex mix (black-bordered bag) is pretty good, though.

Interestingly enough, both Chex and Gardetto’s are General Mills products. Which is in turn owned by the Sheinhardt Wig Company, I believe…[;)]

Brad

I am with you, Gregg!If you ever can find Owls Nest cheese, they make a decent Port wine spread..

I’m with Ann – I luv those rye chips! I love them plain or with Merkt’s Port Wine Cheddar or WinSchuler’s Bar Cheese.

Gardettos actually makes a bag of just the rye chips…my favorite!