Villa Louis to Host Secret Prohibition Dinner on August 19
For Immediate Release (July 26, 2023)
Prairie du Chien, Wis. -- Villa Louis, the resplendent 1871 Dousman-family mansion, located along the Upper Mississippi in Prairie du Chien, will host a Secret Prohibition Dinner on August 19, 2023. As a nostalgic nod to a bygone era, and to mark the 90th year of Prohibition’s repeal, Villa Louis will host a progressive dinner serving four courses, each with a complementary wine in secret spots throughout the estate.
“During the 13 years of Prohibition, alcohol was often consumed in inconspicuous locations in homes across America,” said Susan Caya-Slusser, site director of Villa Louis. “This special evening will allow 24 guests the rare opportunity to step back in time and discover how a Wisconsin family may have entertained from 1920 to 1933.”
The historic journey throughout this National Historic Landmark home will include a special presentation on Prohibition and a visit to the wine cellar and underground basement where bootleg liquor was purchased and sold during Prohibition. Over the course of the evening, five French wines, known favorites of the Dousman family, will be served. These include Chateau d’Yquem, Chateau Chasse-Spleen, Chateau Latour, Close de Vougeot (Chateau) Grand Cru, Guignolet Ecker and Anisette. The evening’s menu, catered by Lemon Door from Fennimore, is inspired by popular dishes served during the Prohibition period.
Secret Prohibition Dinner Menu
August 19, 2023
Appetizers
Full Smoked Trout
Salmon Mousse and Fresh Dill on English Cucumber Slices
Salad
Baby Spinach with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette and Dinner Roll
Entrée
Crispy Cornish Game Hen with Seasoned Cranberry Stuffing, Roasted Root Vegetables featuring Delicata Squash
Dessert
White Chocolate & Cherry Liqueur Infused Cheesecake with Almond Crust and Heavy Cream
The Secret Prohibition Dinner, from 4:30 to 8:00 p.m., is priced at $150 per person. All guests must be 21 and over to attend. For tickets or further information, visit villalouis.org or call 608-326-2721.
About Villa Louis
Villa Louis Historic Site is one the of Wisconsin Historical Society’s 12 historic sites and museums. Located in Prairie du Chien, the historic Villa Louis mansion is the centerpiece of a grand Victorian estate built by the family of Hercules Dousman, a frontier entrepreneur who amassed a fortune in the fur trade and other frontier investments. The mansion has finished a top-to-bottom documentary restoration that has returned the Dousman home to the splendor of its 1890s heyday, using British Arts and Crafts interior designs inspired by famed designer William Morris.