The County Next Door

My position within the State of Minnesota requires me to serve two counties at the same time. At least twice per month, I travel with my co-workers to Lake of the Woods County. The county seat there is the town of Baudette. The difference between Baudette and International Falls is as follows: half the population, twice the prairie and three times the love for the sport of hockey. West of Baudette marks the transition from forest to the start of the Red River Valley. Lake of the Woods County is easier to locate on a map than Koochiching County or International Falls.

It is the literal crowning achievement of Minnesota: the Northwest Angle. It is the funny little section at the top of Minnesota that suggests that state or federal legislators at one point had nothing better to accomplish than annexing a liquid portion of Canada that resembles the shape of a battered chimney. The unique thing about the Northwest Angle is that it is 90 percent fresh water and the remaining portion consists of a remote Indian Reservation run by the Red Lake Indian Tribe. In order to get to the Red Lake Reservation on must traverse a brief portion of Ontario by car or ferry across the Lake by boat.

When time permits, my co-workers and I have lunch at a place called Rosalie's. Like most towns north of Bemidji, restaurants in International Falls and Baudette are seldom associated with national name brand chains. We have McDonalds, Subway and Dairy Queen (What MN town is complete without a DQ?). But there is nothing like Applebees, Outback Steakhouse or Buffalo Wild Wings. Instead, dining out is run by small town folks who offer their spin on chicken, burgers, salad and walleye. The appetizers rarely exceed mozzarella sticks, nachos or cheese covered french fries. Dessert is usually dedicated to ice cream with cake or pie. During the summer seasons, rhubarb desserts cannot be avoided. Should you ever swing by Rosalie's on the western edge of Baudette, give the Pub Burger your attention. It has everything on it your mother told you that you should never eat: deep fried pickles, onion rings barbecue sauce and bacon, plus a half pound burger with cheese. For those needing a bolder challenge, try eating this burger without the use of a napkin.