Years ago when I commuted from Whitewater to Lake Geneva for work, I would occasionally stop in Abell's Bar that is just outside of Elkhorn about half way through that journey. These days it is known as Abell's County Lunch and Tavern. Heide's old neck of the woods being over in Lake Como, I still get over that way quite a bit. But I hadn't been able to get to Abell's for years.
I always liked the place because it has a tavern on one side and a cafe on the other with a swinging door between the two. I managed to fit in a fish fry there last week. I have heard a blurb or two lately that they have a good one.
I planted myself at one of the three tables in the modest bar and ordered the standard all-you-can-eat fish fry. Their version of fish is the Pollock. The lightly breaded fish was a nice departure from the standard Cod. They brought me four big pieces and I had to get a to-go box for a couple of them. The meal came with a slice of dark bread, a corn bread muffin, and some good cold pads of butter. The cole slaw was crisp yet creamy. I opted for their homemade potato pancakes which met the bar for a presentation of that favorite Wisconsin dish.
You will find other fish options on the marker board, like Walleye, Cod, Perch, and Blue Gills. They do not have tap beer, so I got my consummate bottle of Miller Lite. With beer, meal, and tip I got out of there for about 13 Bucks. I noticed there was a lot of carry outs being picked up as well.
The other day in the wake of the Memorial Day aftermath, I was by the place again with wife and mother-in-law and we had lunch in the little cafe. Mother-in-law Chris and I got the crab salad sandwich each with a good size pickle. I ordered mine with a croissant and Chris got regular bread. They did a good job with the crab - it is not as easy to throw together a tasty offering as people may think. Heide ordered a fish sandwich with fries and I got the potato soup. The one thing Abell's can do that overwhelmingly gets them past muster is they actually know how to make a chocolate malt - as in "malt," not a shake. In the era of ubiquitous fast food joints, most people no longer know the difference.
Abell's County Lunch and Tavern is cool with Cool Dadio. Find them at N6427 Highway 12 just north of Elkhorn. They are at the intersection of County ES. They open early for breakfast too. Call (262) 742 - 3100 for more information.
Wisconsin Military Service Person Special Mention of the Week
(each week Cooldadiomedia mentions a Wisconsin service person killed in Iraq or Afghanistan
Marine Lance Corporal Nicholas R. Anderson, 21, of Sauk City, Wisconsin, died March 13, 2006, in a non-hostile vehicle accident in Afghanistan. He was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, out of Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. Lance Corporal Anderson was killed when his Humvee accidentally rolled over in the Torkham District of Nangarhar province, Afghanistan. The 2005 Senate Joint Resolution 78 noted Nicholas died as a result of wounds received while on patrol near Jalalabad, Afghanistan, during Operation Enduring Freedom. Anderson had originally enlisted in the Army National Guard in 2002, a year before graduating from Sauk Prairie High School in 2003. He then joined the Marine Corps in January 2005, serving in Hawaii. The Resolution noted Nicholas was a Fat Boy Harley Davidson rider and enjoyed trips to Devils Lake, Wisconsin Dells, and the Merrimac Ferry. Anderson had worked at McFarlanes’, and also worked for Monona Fire and Sprinkler, and was a member of VFW Post 7694. According to iraq.pigstye.net, a Website dedicated to Iraq war casualties, Lance Corporal Anderson had been riding in the gun turret of the vehicle when it tipped over; Anderson died in a helicopter on the way to the hospital. His home community which is along the Wisconsin River, immediately displayed all the American flags normally reserved for holiday events. At the time of his death, Lance Corporal Anderson was survived by his mother Barb Anderson; father Jim Anderson; stepmother Cindy Anderson, a sister Jessica Yanke; stepsisters Kiersten, Elin, and Kia Carlson; best friend and cousin Aaron Haas; special friend Amanda Kohlman; and friend James Schulenberg. Nicholas Anderson was the 5th Wisconsin military service person killed in Afghanistan since the fall of 2001.
As of this blog entry's posting date:
96,661 Iraqi civilians have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
9,500 Iraqi Security Forces have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
4,402 Americans have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
1087 Americans have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
317 Coalition soldiers have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
689 Coalition soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
31,822 U.S. troops have been wounded in action in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
5,917 U.S. troops have been wounded in action in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
102 Wisconsin soldiers have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
19 Wisconsin soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
142 journalists (several nationalities) have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
21 journalists (various nationalities) have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
Wisconsin military service person special mention of the week, military casualty, and journalist casualty information sources: Committee to Protect Journalists; cnn.com; Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; washingtonpost.com; thehighground.org; Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs; iraqbodycount.org; and, icasualties.org.
