Door County Fish Boil

This past Tuesday, Marc and I drove to Door County for our 4th anniversary. It was also our first solo night without Ellie.

Door County is about 1 – 1 1/2 hours from Green Bay – depending on where in Door County you go – which made it the perfect quick getaway for us.

We ended up staying at the Eagle Harbor Inn in Ephraim, which is toward the further end of the peninsula.

What is a Door County fish boil?

So this is how it works, they take the whitefish, potatoes and onion, and boil them in a large, almost-cauldron-like pot over an open fire. The fish isn’t whole, but it isn’t completely scaled or deboned either.

Once the fish has been boiling – more like simmering – in the salted water for around 20 minutes or so, they light the whole thing on fire. And, when I say they light it on fire, I really mean it.

Door County Fish Bowl | ateaspoonofhappiness.com

They actually take kerosene and throw it on the fire, which basically engulfs the whole thing in 10 foot flames. It’s really a show, but apparently the flames actually serve a purpose, too.

The fire actually causes the whole pot to boil over, taking the potato and fish scum with it. That way, nothing else needs to be done before serving the fish.

After the boil is over, everyone heads inside the restaurant, where the fish is served buffet-style with the potatoes and onions, as well as some coleslaw and freshly baked marble rye bread.

Once you are shown your seats, the waitstaff comes around to see if you need help deboning your fish.

The fish itself was really good, especially with the warm, melted butter they bring you – perfectly cooked and seasoned – and, even though there was barely room for it, everything was finished off with a slice of cherry pie.

The view wasn’t bad either. If you’re ever in Door County, a fish boil is obviously a must-do. We ate at the Old Post Office Restaurant in Ephraim, WI, but there are many other places to experience one.

Just keep in mind, that they usually only do them in the summers, and you should probably make reservations, since they can only seat so many at a time.