Local Cheesy Eats That AREN’T Cheese Curds
You can find just about every kind of cheese curd-topped dish in the Valley, but about the other cheesy delights?
Wisconsin is called the Dairy State for a reason, and in the Chippewa Valley, eateries have taken advantage of all things cheesy and cheese curd-loaded. Extra-large fried cheese curds, cheese curds of all flavors, cheese curds on burgers and pizza, cheese curds in burgers ... you dream it, someone will make it. But what about all the other unique cheese-focused dishes in the area? Here are some that are also worth checking out!
1. The Do Gooder Burger
Milwaukee Burger Co. (2620 E. Clairemont Ave., Eau Claire)
You've probably seen Mac ’n Cheese on a burger before, but this is not your average Mac ’n Cheeseburger – it’s the jacked-up version. The Do-Gooder burger’s beef patty is topped with pepper jack cheese, roasted jalapeño, pepper jack mac ’n cheese, regular Mac ’n Cheese, and hot pepper jelly. It’s spicy cheesy goodness hugged by a burger bun. Plus, $1 of every Do Gooder burger sold is donated to Feeding Wisconsin.
2. Choriqueso Dip
Juanita’s Mexican Restaurant (1476 Blazing Star Blvd., Altoona)
The Chippewa Valley is no stranger to Mexican-style restaurants and pretty much everyone here loves queso dip (Cancun Mexican Grill’s queso and chips appetizer being a multi-time winner of the Best Appetizer (Not Cheese Curds) category in our Best of the Chippewa Valley Poll), but this dip takes queso to the next level. Yes, queso is great, but Juanita’s has added chorizo to the mix. The Choriqueso Dip is exactly what it sounds like. ’Nuff said.
3. The Cheesecurd-tastrophe Pizza
The Growler Guys (2832 London Road, Eau Claire)
It felt kind of dumb to not include one of the many area joints that serve a cheese-curd-topped pizza, but for this round-up, it needed to have some extra pizzazz, some umph. The Growler Guys have delivered that extra somethin’-somethin’ by making the base of the Cheesecurd-tastrophe Pizza a spicy cheese sauce and covering it with mozzarella and cheddar cheese, topped with jalapeños, bacon pieces, and cheese curds.
4. The Nacho Burger
Wisco’s (1920 S. Hastings Way, Eau Claire)
Combining arguably some of the most popular mainstream eats – burgers and a plate of nachos – is a no-brainer once you think about it, but we’ve gotta tip our hat to Wisco’s for goin’ for it with their Nacho Burger. With a house beef patty topped with hot queso, tortilla chips for a delectable crunch and salsa for a bright flavor, you can have the best of both worlds.
5. Cheesecake in a Cup
Josef’s Cheesecake (343 E. Park Ave., Chippewa Falls)
We would be remiss to forget about a particularly thick and cheesy delight that errs on the sweet side, and of course, locals know who to go to for a cheesecake delight: Josef’s Cheesecake in Chippewa Falls. An absolute can’t-miss, Josef’s dishes out all sorts of goodies, but its namesake points to the obvious – cheesecake. Josef’s Cheesecake will soon regularly offer Cheesecake in a Cup, with a debut post on Facebook featuring the Strawberry Oreo, Caramel Macchiato, and Pumpkin Pie flavors all layered up and ready to enjoy in a cup.