BOOK LAUNCH: Theo’s American Bistro Cookbook: The Dishes that Defined Us in Door County

Join us in celebrating the flavors and stories behind Theo’s American Bistro Cookbook: The Dishes that Defined Us in Door County!

This collection honors the legacy of retired Austrian chef Theo Engassner, whose Juddville bistro left a lasting impression on locals and visitors alike. The cookbook is a way to keep the food we loved at the bistro alive. It’s full of the dishes people asked for again and again — simple, honest meals with deep roots in European tradition. These are the recipes Theo cooked with his wife Ella by his side, shaped by years of hard work, long nights, and a lot of heart.

The event includes:

• Live cooking demonstration by Theo, including a sample of one of the featured entrees
• Light appetizers  
• A behind-the-scenes peek at “Thursdays with Theo,” with stories and light banter from Ella and Peggy Reineck, cookbook editors
• Refreshments
• Cookbooks available for purchase and signing

Did you know? Before settling in Door County, Theo was a member of the Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, an international gastronomic society honoring culinary excellence. Most people didn’t realize how deep his expertise ran, until Peggy started “casually” showing up at his door asking for cooking lessons. The rest, as they say, is delicious history.