Alex Tank | Author

Plotting a Championship Course

April 24, 2021

By the sweat and determined efforts of a small but dedicated crew, a world-class golf course is rising up in the woods near Interlochen. And though it won’t be open for competition until its inaugural Green Lake Open tournament May 15–16, this one-of-a-kind course is already d... Read More >>

The Oakwood Proper Burger

Feb. 20, 2021

The aptly named Oakwood Proper Burgers seems to do it all right. This newly opened hot spot at the corner of Traverse City’s Eighth Street and Garfield serves up smash burgers, hand-cut fries, and classic milkshakes, with a sizeable splash of midcentury style on the side. <... Read More >>

Samosa & Aloo Gobi

March 7, 2020

An inviting aroma drifts from an unassuming kiosk in the Grand Traverse Mall food court. Behind the counter, Golam Rabbani and his staff urge passersby to sample a Taste of India. They’ll happily describe the colorful dishes on offer: dal, chana masala, basmati rice, naan, biryani &... Read More >>

It Takes Two to Brew

March 7, 2020

The only thing better than drinking a cold beer is brewing one with your favorite person. In northern Michigan, four couples are not only committed to one another, they are committed to making quality craft beer together, with all the accompanying challenges and triumphs brewed into every... Read More >>

Gold Baby Biscuits

Feb. 15, 2020

Where was your last great biscuit moment? Somewhere south of here would be a reasonable guess. Now you can simply head to Suttons Bay to have a memorable, potentially addictive biscuit experience close to home. Next door to Mundo’s coffee shop, Alicia Manson & Lyndsey Egli of Go... Read More >>

Bier’s Inwood Brewery Updraft

Feb. 15, 2020

A few miles south of Charlevoix on US-31, Bier Art Gallery’s red schoolhouse entices travelers with the promise of northern Michigan art. Those who are more beverage-attuned, however, might glimpse a simple painted sign pointing the way to Bier’s Inwood Brewery. Tyler and Anna... Read More >>

Ethanology's Fresh Frost

Feb. 8, 2020

Just off Elk Lake, Ethanology is embracing the art of shaking off winter’s chill with warming spirits.  

All products of the three-year-old business are distilled on site, using hyper-local ingredients sourced within a 33-mile radius. Co-owners and spouses Geri and N... Read More >>

Bee Well’s Beaver Island Cider

Jan. 25, 2020

If you can’t escape the depths of winter, try time travelling back a few months with a pint of Bee Well’s Beaver Island Cider. Tart and tannic, it’s the taste of bright fall sunshine and harvest-time winds off Lake Michigan. This year’s batch of Beaver Island cider... Read More >>

Osorio’s Salsas

Jan. 18, 2020

“We don’t have a freezer.  No canned or processed ingredients. Everything is fresh and homemade,” says Miguel Osorio, co-owner with wife, Karla, of Osorio Tacos Y Salsas in Williamsburg.  Proof of the couple’s commitment to traditional cooking with fresh ... Read More >>

Dos Serranos India Pale Ale

Jan. 4, 2020

Traverse City’s Earthen Ales celebrated three years of craft brewing on Dec. 7.  Alongside several specialty beers tied to the party was the third annual release of the brewery’s beloved Dos Serranos, an India Pale Ale brewed with locally grown chiles and centennial hops.... Read More >>