Supper Clubs, Food Challenges, & Distillery Adventures With Ray

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Supper Clubs, Food Challenges, & Distillery Adventures With Ray My name is Ray Swanson and I live in Princeton IL. I love my family, awesome friends, great food,& awesome bourbon! Don’t blink or you might miss it! Cheers

Life is an opportunity and an adventure everyday!

A few months ago we were in the Wisconsin Dells for a day. We had passed by the House Of Embers Supper Clubs in past tri...
10/02/2026

A few months ago we were in the Wisconsin Dells for a day. We had passed by the House Of Embers Supper Clubs in past trips and taken notice knowing we needed to dine here one day. Well this time we had no prior plans and reservations so we risked that we could get in. And we did! Great Supper Club vibe from the outside to the inside! A menu with something for everyone and friendly staff team members making our dining experience great! We all were pleased with our dinner choices! I didn’t get pics of all our dinner selections…as I was so preoccupied with the going back in time Supper Club feel & all the guests, whom I felt many were regulars here! So when you are on a Dells trip and want a go back in time feel Supper Club atmosphere, this stop is for you! This family business has been here since 1959…so clearly they have done many things right!👍👍
Cheers

We recently had dinner at Corner 612 in Peru IL. This has been one of our local dining choices for an always delightful ...
09/18/2026

We recently had dinner at Corner 612 in Peru IL. This has been one of our local dining choices for an always delightful and deliciously wonderful experience!! We started with a cocktail, which my wife went with an Espresso Martini and myself a vodka martini with blue cheese olives. Cheri ordered her absolute favorite the Four Cheese Ravioli! I started out with a house salad with balsamic dressing before going with the special of the night, which was the Red & White Chicken Parmesan, which was a nice twist and very delicious! Our service was great as always and we look forward to our next visit! If you haven’t tried this gem out it should be on your dining list!! Cheers

On our recent trip to Louisville we were told a dish we absolutely had to try. When in Louisville you have to try a Hot ...
09/06/2026

On our recent trip to Louisville we were told a dish we absolutely had to try. When in Louisville you have to try a Hot Brown! Where do you go for this…you gotta have it at no other, than where it originated the Historic Brown Hotel! We chose to sit in the bar lounge area, but they have a very nice dining room as well. Where you eat it is a novel decision, as long as you are at the Brown Hotel having it then you are in for a real treat!!!
This dish is absolutely a Louisville home comfort dish consisting of an open faced turkey sandwich, with bacon, tomatoes, and a tasty mornay sauce!! This dish is a must have! I will be back one day and will do it again!!! 👍👍
Cheers

We had the opportunity last week to do a Barrel Select Warehouse tour at Buffalo Trace in Kentucky. As a member of the S...
09/04/2026

We had the opportunity last week to do a Barrel Select Warehouse tour at Buffalo Trace in Kentucky. As a member of the Sazerac Barrel Select I had enough points to allow us this opportunity. We got to tour three warehouses tasting Buffalo Trace Bourbon from three different barrels directly. We then chose our favorite which we each got a bottle to take home. The bottle we received to take home was not barrel cask strength but proofed down to 90 proof. My wife not being a bourbon connoisseur actually sampled at all three warehouses and was having fun volunteering to use a Wh***ey Thief to draw straight from her choice barrel which was 127% straight out of the barrel at warehouse P. 🥃 My choice was from warehouse D and was around 132% out of the barrel. 🥃 Are tour guide was really informative and did a great job! The tour was small with 14 of us which, definitely made it more personalized and allowed for lots of questions & conversation between us. So if you enjoy bourbon check out the Buffalo Trace website and join the Sazerac Barrel Select for a free membership where you can earn this opportunity and others with points accumulated. We had a great time and were able to visit 6 other distilleries along with the Churchill Downs home of the Kentucky Derby! Cheers 🥃

State Street Brats in Madison WI. This gem has been here since 1989. Before these guys beats have been served here since...
08/18/2026

State Street Brats in Madison WI.
This gem has been here since 1989. Before these guys beats have been served here since 1953. So this is the brat spot!!! My wife and I hit this up about 20 years ago & with her great memory we had to stop common no our way through Madison. Cheri, Augustus, & Allister went with burgers and they were huge!!!! I went with the Red Brat which is a beef and pork blend which was my first time and it was great! I really loved the condiment bar which I loaded it up with saurkraut, onions, and mustard! Hint.. hint… the pickles are awesome as well!!
So if in Madison WI don’t miss this stop… or your loss!
Cheers

Several weeks ago while in Sheboygan WI for a Fishing Charter trip we had the opportunity to dine at The Schwarz’s Suppe...
08/14/2026

Several weeks ago while in Sheboygan WI for a Fishing Charter trip we had the opportunity to dine at The Schwarz’s Supper Club in New Holstein WI established in 1957. When we arrived we were startled how many cars were parked everywhere for this establishment! From our entrance we were absolutely stunned how many people were inside waiting for a table at 5:30pm!!! There are no reservations. You get a menu and when you have decided what you are going to order you place the menu standing up on a bar table and a waitress coming around will take your order giving you a approximate time you will be seated at a table with your number given on it with a relish tray, & your salad waiting for you. While waiting we were lucky to have a bar table and were able to order cheese curds as an Appetizer while waiting. The boys had some root beers, Cheri had a Dirty Shirley, & I had my first Sour Old Fashioned which was very good! When we we were finally Called for our table we checked in and given our table number. Shortly after seated our server checked in with us for drinks, other requests, & confirming our dinner would be arriving shortly. They have their system figured out!! Allister went with the prime rib, Augustus had the salmon, Cheri had a filet, and I had the ribeye. Everything was amazing! Total time which was totally well worth it, was a 2-1/2 hour experience!!!👍👍🥩🍣🥗
Definitely put this on your dining venture if you are ever in Sheboygan or nearby!
Cheers

This hidden gem is truly a hidden gem! The Half Shell took me to Lincoln Park IL. I have had this on my list for several...
08/10/2026

This hidden gem is truly a hidden gem! The Half Shell took me to Lincoln Park IL. I have had this on my list for several years since I found it. Still family owned and been going strong since birth in 1968. This great find is located in the basement level of the building with limited seating and reservations are not accepted. The service was great and the food was just as great! We hit an early dinner around 4:30pm hoping to beat the rush which we were successful. My wife went with the King Crab/ Snow Crab plate. 🦀Which absolutely she should do here! I went with 6 oysters 🦪on the half shell and the blackened shrimp plate 🍤 (not sure we needed the plate order as neither of us barely touched our fries!) I have been craving good shrimp and I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed! Everything was so fresh and prepared just right and we will definitely be back!! I coaxed my wife to order the Key Lime pie (took us both to eat the slice) which was unbelievably spot on and a nice compliment to follow dinner even though we were both stuffed! I absolutely love when I find these awesome places that are hidden & even appreciate more the history of family passing their business down through the family! For great seafood in a casual setting when in Chicago, put this place on your agenda! In closing, of course I had an Old Fashioned here! Cheers

One of my All Time favorite staples to have dinner at is (local to us)Rips located in Ladd IL. To most of my local follo...
07/30/2026

One of my All Time favorite staples to have dinner at is (local to us)Rips located in Ladd IL. To most of my local followers this is the World Famous Fried Chicken we have grown up on in the Illinios Valley which has been serving this absolute famous fried chicken since 1936! 🐔 My wife and I made a trip over for a Wednesday night dinner. I was in the mood for their naked buffalo wings which I haven’t had in about a year( but are very good) as I typically can’t pass on either the fried chicken or chicken strips which both come with hand cut fries! My wife went with the quarter light chicken and was excited that it was also fried onion ring night for an appetizer and of course we can never pass on the pickles and crispies! We always enjoy seeing the great employees , locals, & first timers who visit this historic gem! You want to put this on your list if you have never experienced Rips! Rips is open Wed - Sunday with cash/ check being the payment options.
Cheers

Cheers to all of you who got my last post over 112,000 views and 123 shares!!! 🥃Lots more adventures ahead!!!
07/25/2026

Cheers to all of you who got my last post over 112,000 views and 123 shares!!! 🥃
Lots more adventures ahead!!!

My beautiful wife and I took a date night trip over to Hanks Farm in Ottawa IL. This  place has been on our list to try ...
07/24/2026

My beautiful wife and I took a date night trip over to Hanks Farm in Ottawa IL. This place has been on our list to try and it did not disappoint! With it being a week night we figured we would have luck getting in without reservations which we did. From what I understand. It started out as a tavern in 1941 and has been a restaurant since 1975. I really did not know what to expect on the inside but it definetly gave me a supper club feel and was nice! We both started out with a drink and a trip to the salad bar which had a nice spread of salad topping for the salads and several salads such as a potato, pea salad, and kidney bean salad to name a few which were all great! The had a nice selection of breads and a massive block of cheese which my wife fell in love with!😍 For the main entrees Cheri went with a filet and vegetable medley, I went with the country fried chicken and a side of spaghetti both recommended as solid choices. 🍗 🍝 🥩 It was all very good and the menu has something for everyone. We also couldn’t pass on trying the Cheesecake which we shared a slice but couldn’t finish. 😋 We both look forward to a future trip back! If you haven’t tried Hanks Farm yet it’s worth putting on your list! Cheers

Address

5246 E County Road X
Beloit, WI
53511

Telephone

+18158721525

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