The 1910 Sausage Company in the heart of Appleton (204 East College Avenue) offers a unique causal dining experience with a few novel touches that you really should experience. They offer high quality sausages, brats, hot dogs, soups, chili, and Kettle Korn. I tried the Chicago Dog and found it to be delicious and nicely flavored, using authentic Vienna Beef, of course. I also tried their tomato basil soup - thick and tasty. Many varieties of hot dogs, brats, and sausages. One of the interesting touches is the 1910 Gourmet Mustard Bar. They have 10 different mustards brought in from the amazing Mustard Museum of Mount Horeb, Wisconsin. These mustard come from all over the world and include exotic concoctions like maple-mustard mixture, jalapeño mustard, etc. The decor is also a treat, with plenty of touches taking you back to the year 1910 in Appleton. The old brick walls and wooden beams, coupled with other relics of a colorful past make it a fun place to visit even if hunger isn't your top priority.

One of the most interesting things to me is their hassle-free book loaning program, based on a partnership with Conkey's Bookstore. Conkey's gets plenty of book samples they can't use, and instead of simply trashing them, they are recycled by being put on the shelves of the back dining area inside the long expanse of the 1910 Sausage Company, where patrons can read them or take them home on loan, if they wish. The idea is to bring the book back (or another replacement), but it's entirely on the honor system. Sweet. I borrowed a book about the aftermath of Nagasaki. Well, not the best way to maintain a hearty appetite, but I love the business model of collaborating with a bookstore.

I spoke with owner Robert Kottke and expressed my appreciation for what he is doing there. He's a dedicated entrepreneur with some exciting concepts, and I wish him luck. So get down and try out some of their fine casual fare today. And did I mention their famous Kettle Korn made on location near the front of the store?

Open 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday.