Last of the Favorite Haunts

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We've been home from our vacation for a week now, but I still have one vacation post to make.

I've been saving the best for last, and truth be told, by so doing I've been able to hang on just a little longer to the "feel" of being in our beloved northwoods.

The star of this post is Karibalis, home of our favorite northwoods cuisine.


Karbs, as it is known to folks around Hayward, is a long time main street attraction. Fisherhubby and I have been enjoying it's fine food for all the years we've been vacationing up north. How many years that is, is up for discussion and calculation - - - we simply aren't sure. I figure it has been about 18 years.


This is Kate who has been our waitress at Karbs for all the years we've been going there. To us, Kate IS the face of Karbs. She is a perfect choice for this honor, because besides the fact that she is about the best waitress ON THE PLANET - - - she is KATE KARIBALIS.

Kate's grandparents imigrated to the US from Greece. Her grandfather, Gus, started Karibalis on mainstreet in Hayward when Hayward was nothing more than a lumberjack town. Karbs was the place where Paul Bunyan went in the evening to shoot some pool, grab a burger, and drink a few beers.


Over the years, Karbs developed into what it is today, which is a fine dining establishment. Kate's father followed her grandfather into the business, and today Kate's sister and her husband own and operate Karibalis.

Now for the mouth watering part of this post:


This is my NUMBER ONE ABSOLUTE FAVORITE dish from Karbs. It is no loner on the menu, but both last year and again this year, Kate sweet talked the chef into making it just for me. I can't begin to tell you of the gratitude and joy in my heart when I eat this dish.

It is Shrimp Scampi Viennese: large shrimp, wrapped in chicken tenderloin, placed on a bed of white and wild rice with a rich brown sauce poured over the entire dish. It is heaven on a plate. I could kiss the chef's feet for his kindness in making this specially for me, because I don't think I'll ever find it anywhere else on Earth!


Hubby's Karb's dish of choice is Cajun Blackened Rib Eye. Unfortunately, I forgot to get a picture of that. This is also up there on his list of favorites - - - ribs with really brown, freshly made hashbrowns. He said (remember - - - I don't do ribs so I can't give you any first hand information) these ribs were tender, juicy, and fell off the bones.


In Wisconsin, it is tradition to have all you can eat Friday night Fish Fries. This was ONE plate of fish I had at Karbs on one of the two Fridays we were there. This was broiled cod, I had the fried too - - - and both were yummy beyond belief.


Last but certainly not least - - - a Karb's Reuben.

Now it's a sad day for me. No more Wisconsin Vacation posts until next year. No more potential black bear sightings until next year. No more favorite vacation haunts until next year.


And probably no more jig-saw puzzles until next year as I SAVE those for vacation because:

That's just the way we roll around here.

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