US Midwest - Best Food & Wine

1. New Maxwell Street Market, Chicago, Illinois. Although no longer on Maxwell (the original market was closed by the city in 1994), the market still has much of the vitality that made the "old" market a major cultural, culinary, and ethnic center for Chicago's immigrant populations. Discriminating shoppers religiously flock to this Sunday market for the exotic, the rare, and the everyday. Call 312-922-3100.

2. Hoffbrau Cocktail Lounge-Club, Sheboygan, Wisconsin. If it's brats you want—and the obligatory beer that goes with 'em—you have to get yourself to Sheboygan, America's bratwurst capital. The Hoffbrau is known far and wide for its brats, which are first boiled in beer and then char-grilled. To wash them down, Leinenkugal, the local brewery of choice, has cooked up a house-special ale that's a perfect pork accompaniment. Call 920-458-4153.

3. State Fair, Des Moines, Iowa. The state's largest event and tourist attraction, believe it or not the fair draws visitors from around the world, and in the heat and humidity of August, no less. Aside from what officials call an "ag extravaganza," where prize bulls are presented and sheep are auctioned, the highlight is finger-lickin', fresh-off-the-farm summer fare. Call 515-262-3111.

4. Ice Wine, Chateau Grand Traverse, Michigan. It's not every year this winery chooses to gamble and keep a selection of grapes on the vine for an extremely late ice-wine harvest. It's simply too risky. But when it all works out—if conditions are good and the grapes can be picked at just the right moment (the first hard frost)—the payoff is huge. Even if you are a dry wine drinker, the balanced apricot, pineapple, peach, and lime flavors of this award-winning ice wine are a heavenly treat. Who would've thought the nectar of the gods would come from Michigan? Call 231-223-7355.

5. Morel Mushrooms, Minnesota and/or Michigan. This odd-looking fungus has a cultlike following, sweeping the entire northern Midwest in morelmania. Michigan and Minnesota are currently competing to claim the morel for its own. At the moment Minnesota seems to have the upper hand: In 1984 it claimed the fungus as the official state mushroom. On the other hand, Michigan has made the bold move of calling itself the Morel Capital of the World. Contact the Minnesota (612-624-3241) or West Michigan (231-843-4245) chapters of the Mycological Society for their morel meetings. Pick till your heart's content, and then go home and boil the tortellini.