The Badger State holds a special place in my heart for many reasons, but one of the best is the surprising number of tucked-away Italian restaurants serving red sauce that tastes like it has been simmering since dawn.
These are not fancy spots with marble counters or valet parking, but small, family-run places where the walls are covered in framed photos, the tables wobble just a little, and the tomato sauce has enough depth to make you pause mid-bite.
All across Wisconsin, the best red-sauce joints tend to hide in plain sight, quietly proving that you do not need a glossy dining room or a trendy menu to cook food that sticks with people…