When Eloise Ring ran the kitchen invariably she was asked "What's for dinner?" Her answer to all, big or small, was always the same, "Vittles and Drink." Now many from the city had never heard such a term and their response was "What's that?" Eloise, with a smile would respond, "Go look it up." and send guests on their way hungrily awaiting the next meal.

Well, her son Harry is in charge now and while he has maintained the same high quality of the "vittles and drink" he is a little more forthcoming with the menu.

The food which is served family style is delicious, plentiful, and served to your satisfaction.

Vegetarian meals are available upon request.

Breakfast

Breakfasts are a simple pattern - two eggs and a syrup. Now, that shouldn't sound as confusing as "vittles and drink". Two consecutive days of egg dishes (scrambled, sunnyside-up w/bacon, boiled, or "square eggs" a.k.a. cheese omelette) followed by a "syrup" (pancakes, or french toast). Egg breakfasts are accompanied by coffee cake, muffins, or donuts. All breakfasts include juice, hot coffee and tea and your choice of hot cereal (try our Lake Shore Farm Special) and cold cereal.

Lunch

Guests can't seem to figure out why after such a big breakfast that they are so hungry again for lunch. While there are many who attribute it to the food, we just like to think if you are relaxed, you are hungry.

Monday through Saturday our family-style lunches include: spaghetti (sauce and meatballs on the side), chicken a la king with homemade biscuits, Shepard's Pie, Minnesota Hot Dish, American Chop Suey, Vegetarian Lasagna, tuna salad and more.

As always vegetarian versions or separate dishes are available as are grilled cheese and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Water, ice tea, coffee (regular and de-caf), tea (regular and herbal), lettuce for salad and desert are served every lunch.

Dinner

In case you're not sure what "family style dining" is think about what it is like when you sit down for dinner in your home...except you are not doing the cooking and you are not doing the set-up and you are not doing the clean up, you are just doing the enjoying.

Your family will sit in one of our dining rooms,depending upon the size of your family, most likely with another family. At dinner you will find a main course, a vegetable, and/or a potato dish. There will be a lettuce and tomato salad, water, ice tea and coffee, and, of course, dessert.

Don't be afraid to ask for more, that's why we're here.

Dietary needs and fussy eaters are satisfied as well. If you are a vegetarian or have a particular allergy, Harry will do his best to satisfy your needs.

And yes, grilled cheese and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are always available.

Fridays

Every Friday we have a traditional cookout. Harry is working that grill serving hot dogs, burgers (and veggie burgers), baked beans (and vegetarian beans), along with salad and potato chips. For dessert there are slices of watermelon and two very delicious chocolate chip cookies.

After the cookout if you're lucky, if Ellis is around, he'll call a very kid-friendly square dance. Get ready to Hokey-Pokey!

Sundays

Sunday lunch is the main meal of the day with roast chicken and stuffing, mashed potatoes, vegetables, salad, and ice cream for desert.

So, if Sunday's big meal is lunch, so what's for dinner?

This is a huge favorite. Sunday dinner consists of platters of Swiss cheese and salami for sandwiches to be made with Harry's freshly baked bread. There is homemade potato salad and freshly baked cinammon sticky-buns and chocolate brownies.

Now you see why it's a favorite?

Desserts

Well, you're not exactly going to lose weight at lake Shore Farm unless your name is Will Power.

Every meal, yes every meal, has a dessert.

Breakfasts come with muffins or donuts or canned fruit.

Lunch and dinner will have you trying to save room for such highlights as wild blueberry cobbler, chocolate cake, fresh fruit, strawberry rhubarb pie, ice cream, pumpkin pie, tapioca pudding and list goes on.

Snacks

You won't find that Lake Shore Farm is a late night spot but that doesn't mean you don't get the munchies. One of the most popular spots in the kitchen are the tins filled with the remaining desserts of the day. These are available to guests anytime during the day although there is something special about a brownie or a piece of coffee cake before bed.

In addition to the tins there is a refrigerator dedicated to guests usage. You are welcome to keep fruit or vegetables or anything you desire in the refrigerator. It is particularly appreciated by parents of infants who keep formula refrigerated and by fishermen who keep their night crawlers (well covered, of course) fresh for the next morning's fishing.