Memorial Day is May 29, 2023
May we never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
US POSTAGE PAID DECORAH, IA PERMIT #6
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www.driftlessjournal.com | news@driftlessjournal.com | 563-382-4221 | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 | Vol. 5 Issue 21
Beloved Decorah restaurant is on the market Owners assure patrons ‘it’s business as usual’ for now By Roz Weis
Vesterheim celebrates Syttende Mai Decorah’s Nordic Dancers and orchestra members entertained hundreds at the Syttende Mai celebration at Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum in Decorah last week. Senior dancers pictured here are Kylie O’Hara and Jack Knoke.(Driftless Multimedia photo by Roz Weis)
Asparagus Part Two!
By Jessica Woodward
thedriftless
e i d o o F
Are you ready for part two?! Just a short field update- our asparagus patch is currently out of control - but in a good way! We are harvesting about a dozen spears a day. We are in asparagus overload and eating all things asparagus. Since this is our first year with this patch, I contacted the patch’s old owners to see if they knew anything about it. They said, “it’s at least 25 years old.” But for some reason, I feel as if it has to be older than that. Why do you ask? Some of the spears are the size of my son’s wrist! I wish I was kidding, but I am not. At first glance, this made me nervous. Growing up, we used to always be on the hunt for the thinner spears when shopping for this springtime
veggie. I’m not quite sure why, maybe because my mom often found that the thicker ones seem to be stringy or chewy. It is safe to say that she always felt that way because those spears were just cooked improperly. Quite honestly, I find now that if they are cooked correctly, they are tender and tasty. So, the moral of the story is don’t fear the big spear!!! See what I did there?! This recipe comes together with less than five ingredients with asparagus as the star. As it should be! And, it can be used with spears of all sizes. If your patch produces the larger ones I recommend cutting those spears in half so that way they
Decorah is chock full of incredible restaurants, but there is one spot that stands out for its family-friendly, casual atmosphere and dedication to providing “nothing fancy, just good food” to customers seven-days-aweek. The Family Table, under the ownership of Scott and Stacey Gossling of Decorah, has been a beloved social space for throngs of patrons for nearly 30 years. Folks will notice a change at the business this week – a “For Sale” sign is now prominently displayed at 817 Mechanic Street. The Gosslings have put in their time, and they’ve decided to list the business. They want to start the next chapter of their lives. They are quick to put the rumor mills to rest. “We aren’t leaving town, we aren’t sick and we aren’t getting a divorce,” Stacey smiled. “It’s just time.” Scott said it will be “business as usual” until the business is sold, and they are eager to find “just the right buyer.” The couple hopes prospective new owners will appreciate the turn-key restaurant, complete with a capable staff of approximately 30 dedicated souls and upgraded facilities. “We hope they will come in and see where they can take it,” Scott said about prospective new owners. The Gosslings cultivated a classic establishment in their years of ownership. Breakfast food served all day, generous portions and an extensive menu are just a few of the options. The location was once a root beer drive-in stand. The existing building was constructed in 1972. The root beer franchise was dropped in the 1980s, and Family Table was born. Purchased from Ken and Phyllis Jauert back in November of 1993, the Gossling business has undergone extensive remodeling in recent years. “I remember when we bought the
Scott and Stacey Gossling are pictured behind the cash register at The Family Table Restaurant. (Driftless Multimedia photo by Roz Weis)
restaurant, and the owner was 52,” Scott reminisced. “She told us it was time to sell and that it was ‘a young person’s business; and at the time I thought that 52 seemed young.” “Now I get it,” Scott said. Scott and Stacey have a long history in the food service business. Scott is a Festina-area native. After many years of working in the corporate world, they purchased Family Table, establishing it as a true neighborhood establishment. It’s important for them that the restaurant retain its reputation as a place for groups to reconnect over breakfast, lunch or dinner. “It’s not just the food,” Scott said. “It’s the fellowship.” They’ve worked countless hours, employed hundreds of high school students and seasoned servers, and will leave a lasting legacy. Their two children, Nick and Chloe, put in their time at the restaurant in their younger years. They are now both engineers in the Minneapolis area. Many of their former staff members have gone on to other careers as doctors, dentists, school principals, teachers, engineers, plumbers, electricians and more. When they purchased the business back in 1993, they had a crew of seven (including the two of them), and they now have 30 employees on the team. Family Table is a place to gather, as is illustrated by the number of coffee groups gathering there each and every
Lakeside view...
continued on page 8
IN STOCK TODAY! WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!
Food and fellowship Going above and beyond in customer services is an understatement at Family Table. “We have a customer who doesn’t care for beans in his chili, so when we aren’t too busy we will take out the beans for him,” Stacey said. “Another customer isn’t fond of carrots in his chicken noodle soup, so we’ll take them out too,” Scott smiled. Their loyal patrons have become beloved. The “Norma” sandwich on the menu, for example, is named after a loyal diner, the late Norma Casper. Norma would call them when recovering from her dialysis appointments, and the Gosslings would be sure to have her favorite menu item delivered to her at her home just down the alley from the restaurant. The Family Table has become a resource for families who want the security of knowing their loved ones are okay. “We have a list of phone numbers on the wall at the restaurant. Out-of-towners have called to request we call them
Family Table
continued on page 13
Along with many great options all across the Driftless, Elkader has a public campground and the new Deer Run Resort, pictured here. Both camprounds are open for the Memorial Day weekend. See the Elkader Community Page on page 13 for details. (submitted)
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LOTS OF ITEMS
day. Some patrons are known to stop in as often as 4 times a day. With the slogan, “nothing fancy, just good food,” the restaurant has stood the test of time.
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