The Chef

Chef Michael Johnson
of The Pheasant Restaurant & Lounge

Chef Michael is the grandson of Ronald and Georgiana Olson, who founded The Pheasant in 1966. Michael has a strong connection to his Norwegian heritage and a passion for bringing the authenticity of Norwegian food to Brookings. In his cooking, he also emphasizes the inclusion of the many cultures and cuisines present in our area.

The Pheasant is an institution in South Dakota with an iconic history and tradition of consistently serving excellent food and drinks offered with fresh inspiration and local flair in a setting that feels like home.

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The Menu

FIRST COURSE

SoDak-Style Charcuterie:
German-style icebox pickles, bison-pork rope sausage, marinated local cheeses, fruit, crackers.
Paired with Norwegian gløgg (mulled wine).

SECOND COURSE

Norwegian Hunters Stew:
Root vegetables with bison, lamb, beef, and pork topped with Nordic yogurt, lingonberry, and dill served with seedy Nordic-style bread and Røros butter.
Paired with Remedy Cow Tippah Stout

THIRD COURSE

Salad featuring cold-hardy greens, wild rice, root veggies, and apple served with Coteau des Prairies smoky maple vinaigrette.
Paired with a cold Native-herbs tea.

FOURTH COURSE

Kashmiri paneer chaman (“yellow paneer”).
Paired with Kashimri noon chai tea.

FIFTH COURSE

Salty Sweet Bakery: German Nussecken cookies to go.

The Location

Larson Nature Center at the Dakota Nature Park

The Dakota Nature Park is a 135 acre park on the sorth side of Brookings, SD. It is open year round for activities such as fishing, canoeing, paddle boarding, kayaking, bird-watching, hiking, biking, and picnics as well as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. The park is a perfect place to rest and enjoy the tranquil beauty of nature.

Learn more.