Ross Boissoneau

Dining Ross Boissoneau It‘s all in the family for Rico‘s in Manistee
By Ross Boissoneau
From the outside, with its log exterior and rather low-slung appearance, Rico’s looks rather like an old roadhouse.
But inside, the restaurant on M-55 just northeast of Manistee is surprisingly bright, shiny and roomy. The warm, glowing wood, bright lights, and welcoming smiles make it clear that this is someplace you can relax and enjoy a meal.
That is a direct reflection of the attitude of owners Gary and Mary Diebel. They want to make sure their customers enjoy the area as much as they do.
Like so many others, after years of vacationing in the area, the Diebels longed to move north permanently. They lived in Ada and worked in Grand Rapids, but the lure of Northern Michigan was strong.

Dining Ross Boissoneau The Manor. Sounds kind of stately, which it is. And kind of pretentious,
which it decidedly is not.
Overlooking Glen Lake beyond M-22, The Manor is both a testament to days
gone by and to today’s fine cuisine. A family heirloom, it looks toward
both the past and the future, with white table cloths and class, yes. But
there’s a decidedly welcoming, casual vibe to the place as well.
It starts with the setting among tall trees overlooking Little Glen Lake’s
southern shore. The porch, which runs the length of the restaurant, can
host drinks or dining.

Dining Ross Boissoneau When Mike and Denise Busley announced plans to open a second Grand
Traverse Pie Company store in Traverse City, the reaction from most people
was twofold: That’s a great idea, but won’t it take sales away from their
existing store?
Mike Busley said they had the same thoughts, but thought the two were far
enough apart, with one on each end of downtown Front Street, that it would
work. And a month in, he said they are pleased with both the direction of
the store and the fact the existing location doesn’t seem to be
experiencing any downturn.

Dining Ross Boissoneau Port City Organics:‘Real Food’ and a healthful message in Manistee
By Ross Boissoneau
If you’re looking for a magic potion, a fountain of youth, you’re pretty
much out of luck.
But if you’re looking for the best that man can currently offer in the way
of healthy foods, even massage or meditation, you’re in the right place.
That right place is Port City Organics Real Food Market & Wellness Center,
located at 321 1st Street in Manistee. There you’ll find organic and wild
foods and supplements, familiar names such as Food for Thought, Stone
House Bread, Pleasanton Brick Oven Bakery, Higher Grounds coffee.
“We call it a real food market – there’s no real definition of a natural
food or natural product,” said Joe Dumas, who along with his wife Lori
owns the operation.

Dining Ross Boissoneau On Deck at the Boone Docks
By Ross Boissoneau
People in Glen Arbor know where to go for the action. And for twigs and a brush pile too.
Those are actually two of the items on the woodsy-themed menu at Boone Docks. If the twigs (toasted black bean spring rolls) or brush pile (French fries with bacon, cheese and tomatoes) aren’t for you, then maybe you’d prefer the battered bear toes (mozzarella sticks), or a pile of wood chips (a.k.a. nachos).
That woodsy theme extends to the décor, with knotty pine and stone predominant in the friendly, casual interior. 
And if you’re looking for live music and a lively atmosphere, then the exterior is the place to be. You can join the revelry from the deck nightly in the summer. 
“We’ve got live music every night,” said Boone Docks owner Bob Ewing, between serving drinks and watching out for the little ones scurrying around the deck.
That combination – lively music, festive food, and a family atmosphere – encapsulates Ewing’s philosophy. 
“We’re a fun, family restaurant,” Ewing said. “You look at the deck, and you’ll always have eight or ten kids running around. 
“Some places might not appreciate that, but that’s what we’re all about. In some restaurants, the kids get antsy. We love it.”

Features Ross Boissoneau Summer Stages:What’s shaking ’round the region
By Ross Boissoneau
Theatre enthusiasts will have numerous options this summer, from
professional presentations to community theatre to student performances.

Williamsburg
The Williamsburg Showcase Dinner Theater, located on M-72 just east of
US-31 in Acme, hosts a performing troupe led by Dominic Fortuna. The three
different shows all boast a variety of songs from the ’60s through today.
Catering by Kelly’s provides the three-course meal, with your choice of
four entrees, while the audience is being entertained by the
singers/dancers/instrumentalists.
The shows run most Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. For a complete schedule
of the shows, as well as the menu or to
make reservations, contact the Williamsburg at (231) 938-2181 or go to
cateringbykellys.com.

Dining Ross Boissoneau Desperate times call for desperate measures.
That’s one way of looking at Wishbones, the coffeshop and café located smack dab in the middle of Cedar Creek Interiors furnishings and design store on Union Street.
Or you could look at it as a unique innovation, something that’s in vogue in some of the trend-setting areas of the country.
Kim Hooker says they’re both true.
“It’s something they’re doing in other places,” said Hooker, half the team at Cedar Creek Interiors, prior to the café’s opening. 
She also says that seeing other companies and stores going out of business locally and across the country gave them the impetus to try something different.
Hooker, an accredited designer, said she and her partner, owner Kevin Graves, were seeking a way to lend some new cachet to their store.
At the same time, Mark Fowler, one of the former principals at another local coffee shop, was looking for a new location. 
Opportunity, meet necessity. So Graves and Hooker began brainstorming with Fowler and his partner, Sarah Montgomery. “It’s about two couples who live together and work together – you’ve got to love that,” said Hooker.

Dining Ross Boissoneau There’s no pretension at the Bungalow Inn. But if you’re looking for
service with a smile and excellent food – award-winning food, according to
various surveys – then you’re in the right place.
Owner Dave Gunia is justifiably proud of his restaurant. After
consistently winning awards from local publications, including Best Prime
Rib and Best Burgers from the Express, it’s easy to see why.
While the Bungalow Inn has been guarding Manistee’s southern border for 20
years, it didn’t start out as an award-winning restaurant. In fact, it
didn’t start out as a restaurant at all, but as a bar catering to
nightlife, with live music and DJs.

Features Ross Boissoneau Ted is coming to Traverse City.
Make that TEDx. A daylong conference at Milliken Auditorium on Tuesday,
May 17, TEDx will feature speakers from across the spectrum making brief
presentations designed to inspire attendees.
That has been the goal of the entire TED initiative since it began in
1984. Originally focused on bridging Technology, Entertainment, and Design
– hence the name – its scope has become ever broader. Along with annual
conferences held in Long Beach and Palm Springs each spring, and the
TEDGlobal conference in Edinburgh, UK each summer, various TEDx one-day
events have sprung up across the globe.
Now it’s Traverse City’s turn.

Dining Ross Boissoneau One the Rise: Stone House: Café offers two locations and statewide reach
By Ross Boissoneau
There are now two cafés and a host of pastries and beverages available, but making the dough at Stone House Bread is all about, well, making the dough.
And it should be no other way. “It’s all about the bread,” said Toni Spearing, the owner of Stone House Bread.
With a café in Traverse City and one at the original location in Leland, plus the loaves on the shelves of grocery stores throughout the region as well as downstate, those looking for “an honest loaf of bread” have more opportunities than ever to find one.

Dining Ross Boissoneau 22 Vines and Wines: A taste of Asia in Leelanau County
By Ross Boisonneau
The cows probably wouldn’t recognize the milking area anymore.
Nor would Rich Van Steenis’s former clients recognize him.
Van Steenis, a former real estate developer and community planner, has
developed his own property at the Hilltop shops just off
M-22 south of Suttons Bay. Home over the years to various entities, now it
boasts a unique restaurant combining Thai food, pizza and more: 22 Vines
and Wines Cafe and Market.

Dining Ross Boissoneau The Magic of Mana
By Ross Boissoneau
With two n’s, the word manna is the bread from heaven. With one n, mana is the substance of the soul, or by another definition, what magic is made of.
Put it all together, and you get Mana, the new restaurant at the Mercado shops of the Grand Traverse Commons.
Ralph Humes, formerly one of the principals at the Soul Hole, opened his new eatery at Building 50 just a month ago. He’s already settling into a routine, open from 11 to 6 Monday through Saturday.
But don’t think that means the food is routine. His menu, posted on the giant board behind his counter, is in a state of constant refinement, but it includes such fare as pulled pork sandwiches and Drunken Peach Cobbler, along with vegetarian choices.

Dining Ross Boissoneau Fly like a Buffalo… ‘Wild’ new restaurant earns its wings
By Ross Boissoneau
It’s not the wild wild west, but the wings at the newly-opened Buffalo
Wild Wings are indeed as wild as you want them to be.
That’s because you can choose from a bevy of sauces, ranging from mild to
blazing, each with its own special flavor.
Teriyaki? Check. Honey BBQ? Check. Parmesan Garlic, Caribbean Jerk, Mango
Habanero? Check, check and check.

Dining Ross Boissoneau Fine wines and rustic dishes flavor: The Bay Leaf
By Ross Boissoneau
Dan Kelly believes he knows what it takes to make a restaurant successful, particularly at 120 S. Park Street in Traverse City.
After all, he ran two profitable restaurants there before moving his operations east to open the M-72 dinner theater, The Williamsburg, along with his longtime catering business. The restaurants which followed at that location were not as successful, and he finally decided it was time to stop being a landlord and get back in the game.
“I had several tenants that failed, and I was tired of dealing with that situation,” Kelly said, taking a break from woodwork installation.
In addition to his own handiwork, Kelly gutted the kitchen and added booths as well as a wine bar and a new fireplace as he refurbished the interior. He also promises some more surprises to come in the deck area in back of the restaurant.

Dining Ross Boissoneau Gourmet baking on the rise at 9 Bean Rows 1/24/11
By Ross Boissoneau
Man cannot live by bread alone.
But if you throw in a couple different kinds of croissants, some
napoleons, a chocolate mouse or two, you may be on to something.
That’s kind of the premise of 9 Bean Rows, the bakery now inhabiting
the former location of the Cook’s House at 439 E. Front Street. With
some 16 varieties of bread, croissants and the like, there are plenty
of choices for the sourdough-inclined.