This Wis. law requires cheese on apple pie in public restaurants (2024)

FAQs

This Wis. law requires cheese on apple pie in public restaurants? ›

Yes, you read that right: cheese is required on top of any apple pie that is served in a public restaurant in Wisconsin. While the origin of this law is unclear, it is thought to be a nod to Wisconsin's status as a major cheese producer.

Let's begin with one of the most frequently cited state laws, which reportedly requires that “all apple pie in Wisconsin must be served with a slice of cheese on it.” Sadly, despite the law's prevalence among weird-law lists, the law itself is just a myth.

New England, Pennsylvania, and especially the Midwest—[are] largely the regions where cheddar cheese apple pie is popular today.

While New Englanders like myself are most familiar with the thick slice of extra-sharp cheddar draped over a steaming slice of apple pie, Midwestern traditions often call for baking cheddar right into the pastry to form a savory base for the sweet filling.

In Hudson, Wisconsin, no one can sit on another person's parked car without their verbal consent. In LaCrosse, Wisconsin, it is illegal to tie up your horse along Third Street. In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, it is illegal for a car to be parked on the street for over two hours unless a horse is tied to the car.

Of course, the law is rarely enforced, and most restaurants in Wisconsin happily serve apple pie with or without cheese. But for those who take their pie and cheese seriously, the law is a reminder of the state's unique culture and traditions.

Wisconsin is the # 1 cheese-producing state, making 26% of the country's cheese. Wisconsin cheesemakers use about 90% of Wisconsin's milk supply to make more than 2 billion pounds of cheese every year. Wisconsin has 1,290 licensed cheesemakers–more than any other state.

Why Is Cheese Served with Apple Pie? Cheese, specifically sharp cheddar, has been served with apple pie in the U.S. as early as the 1800s. But the combination was likely born in England in the 17^th century; a tradition of using dairy-based sauces in pies evolved into an affinity for topping pie with cheese instead.

The cheese-apple pie connection traces back to England, where both cheddar and apple pie are said to have originated. In the 17th and 18th centuries, a dairy-based sauce often topped English pies, such as custard. Somehow, some folks decided to try out cheddar along the way, and the rest was history.

Apple pie served with a slice of cheese on top is often referred to as "apple pie with cheddar." The combination of the sweet, warm apple pie with the savory and slightly tangy flavor of cheddar cheese is a popular and traditional pairing in some regions.

What is Wisconsin notorious for? ›

Well-known for its dairy products, especially cheese, the state, and its culture are unique in many other ways.

947.01 Disorderly conduct. (1) Whoever, in a public or private place, engages in violent, abusive, indecent, profane, boisterous, unreasonably loud or otherwise disorderly conduct under circ*mstances in which the conduct tends to cause or provoke a disturbance is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.

There are no Romeo & Juliet Laws in the state of Wisconsin.

The cheese-apple pie connection traces back to England, where both cheddar and apple pie are said to have originated. In the 17th and 18th centuries, a dairy-based sauce often topped English pies, such as custard. Somehow, some folks decided to try out cheddar along the way, and the rest was history.

The. The top cheese producing U.S. states are Wisconsin and California. Wisconsin's nickname as “America's Dairyland” punctuates the state's leading position within the U.S. dairy industry.

The pie for this state is a cranberry pie with a cornmeal crust and Bucky Badger fried cheese curds on top! The cranberry was designated the state fruit in 2003. This came about because of a class project by fifth grade students from Trevor Grade School in Kenosha County, WI.