Oatly Grasshoppers and Crème Brûlées in America’s Dairy State

We traveled to Wisconsin to swap dairy with Oatly at the renowned Duck Inn Supper Club. And we made it out alive.

We thought it would be provocative to bring Oatly to Wisconsin - America’s Dairy State - and ask famed restaurant The Duck Inn to use our products in its most popular dishes. 

The pitch to the Oatly execs was, “Dairy people trying non-dairy products. Chaos ensues.” Well, we went … but turns out there was no chaos. Just really kind people telling us how great our products are and asking us which channel our television show would air on. 

Rather than cancel the whole experiment due to an absence of confrontation, we forged ahead. 

The Duck Inn, a charming establishment in Delavan, Wisconsin, is technically considered a supper club. For anyone outside the American Midwest, this descriptor likely means nothing. But for you history buffs out there - and yes, the overlap between “history buffs” and “Oatly enthusiasts” exists - the term “supper club” dates back to Prohibition, when local bars needed to reposition themselves as restaurants. Today these haunts will typically have their own distinct decor, traditional Midwestern cuisine, and patrons who drink brandy old-fashioneds for sport.

This was the scene we walked into on a very special weekend at The Duck Inn, when we swapped dairy with Oatly in five distinct items: a grasshopper (this is a bizarre concoction of ice cream and green liqueur), crème brûlée, clam chowder, vegetable pasta, and salmon with a dill sauce.

As has been the case with all our swaps, this particular experiment was wildly successful. Upwards of 15 people told us the dishes were “very good,” which they delivered in such understated tones that we imagine half of them were lying. But we’re not here to poke holes in the data. We’re here to celebrate a journey deep into America’s dairy capital, where we swapped dairy with Oatly and absolutely no chaos ensued.

Slide 1 of 9
Two guests sitting by a table with a red cloth with a 'Reserved' sign at the Duck Inn Supper Club sharing a "grasshopper" dessert.
Overview shot of a restaurant where a woman in a dirndl dress is standing up underneath a microphone.
A man drinking a glass of Oatly in a restaurant.
A man and a woman in dirndl and lederhosen outfits standing outside the Duck Inn Supper Club, eating a "grasshopper" dessert.
A chef serving food in a restaurant kitchen with Oatly cartons next to him.
The Will It Swap camera crew stands around a round table with seated restaurant guests.
A man standing by a register counter talking on the phone.
People sitting at a bar, one woman is eating a dessert.
The exterior of the Duck Inn Supper Club during night time.

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TO OATLYFANS!