Marine Landing b.o.t.m. ... A scenery gem...very hidden away!

Marine Landing b.o.t.m.

This place is all about the experience (great).

I'm not going to talk about food quality, compliance with the food code...just throw all of that out the window and live for the moment.


Marine Landing b.o.t.m. is something that us old folks would remember from childhood....the kind of thing that kids 'nowadays' probably will never experience and treasure.  I still remember places from my childhood...a rented cabin

on Ox Lake, a place along a river somewhere that had the best pancakes I've ever eaten in my life (I

don't even know if it was in MN or WI...I was little), places with no TV, no telephone...maybe some board games and adults who were interested in talking to you.  

Location:  Marine b.o.t.m.

So, you need to do this.  Drive to Marine.  Follow the signs if you can find them to get to Marine Landing b.o.t.m.  (it has an address....good luck with that).

Ambience:  Marine b.o.t.m.

Drive down a narrow road, park in a dirt parking lot and head down to the river (you pass the 'bathroom' along the way) on your way to Marine Landing b.o.t.m. Sit on a plastic chair under a sun umbrella or in the porch...where the windows or screens have been removed so you get the whole view of the St. Croix...and the water is high right now.  Apparently the row of pontoons normally doesn't obstruct the July view...but there's that pesky climate change that's added a few billion gallons of water to the St. Croix.

We chose the porch...and we arrived before noon, so we were the only ones in the 'room'.   Excellent timing...by the time we received our lunch, there wasn't a seat anywhere.   The food isn't quick, so I think the people that arrived after us might have had lunch by the time we drove past Wild Mountain on a short, scenic driving adventure.

The menu says breakfast until 2; lunch starts at 8  (they are only open 8-2 Wednesday thru the weekend, plus Friday night).     The breakfast menu consists of:

Lunch was on our minds.   Hot dogs, hamburgers,

tacos, a pulled pork sandwich, 1 salad choice.   The burgers are made from 'farm fresh meat' and the hot dogs are Nathan's on poppy seed buns.  I used to eat an occasional Nathan's dog....before they, too, became a Chinese company  (when I think of China I certainly think of Nathan's hot dogs and Smithfield 'country ham', don't you?   NOT).  But today is about the experience.

So, the Ruby Dog (aka the "mood swing"--you get whatever they feel like making) for me (I always take a chance) and the pulled pork sandwich for John, with a couple of Cokes.

The server was THE SERVER...she was running her legs off...reminds me of me at Marianne's!

As we watched the river and a couple of families taking out their pontoons, we soaked in the ambiance.   It's the kind of place where lucky people hung out when they were kids...and maybe adults.   Blue or yellow flower patterned 'oilcloth' tablecloths, a rustic deck and 'porch' and water and woods as far as the eye can see.

The Food:  Marine b.o.t.m.

Our lunch arrived on the paper plates we expected

and our table was equipped with napkins and plastic flatware in a tub.  It was a good day for me...the mood swing of the day was a green chili salsa dog with cheese, chips and sour cream, plus more chips on the side.  

John's pulled pork sandwich came with a warning...the top piece of bread is cut in half...the bottom piece...nope.  If you're not in favor of open-faced, deal with it.  They were both perfect sitting outside and soakin' in the day lunches. 

By the time we left, the place was full.  It was a perfect day to enjoy St. Croix river views, think about places like this that 'used to be', and it came with lunch.

Conclusion:  Marine b.o.t.m All in all, a success!

Urban Olive and Vine -- Hudson, WI

Urban Olive and Vine

If I was going to start yet another new business, what would it look like.   I've visualized a few different ideas.

Then I walked into Urban Olive and Vine in Hudson...and I felt right at home!

Beautiful tableware, tasty goodies in jars to take home, plus a tempting menu of interesting options.

I'll always love a place that serves a sandwich with fig jam...if they can pull it off.   Chez Arnaud used to offer one, but you could never find the tiny smear of fig jam...or much of anything else on their sandwiches, except the baguette was good.  Let's take a look at the sandwich at Urban Olive and Vine.

Almost perfect.    Rotisserie chicken, baby greens, delish cheese and more than ample fig jam on a nice focaccia square (you can get white or whole wheat or a choice of flatbread).  One of the more wonderful sandwiches in my recent experience.

Urban Olive and Vine has a great patio in back, some

seating in the 'bar', and seating in the retail area in the front.  The service, provided by a team of local young women, was attentive and informed.   Talking with the owner, Chad, it's clear that he shares our

values around being all about the food and food quality.  He also hires local students and has them rotate through all the positions in the business....they were clearly all busy working and attentively making sure that everything was stocked, in place, and looking great.   Excellent customer service skills, too.

A fun quick dinner at a place that was all about the food.  Gotta love it!