Anna Faller | Author

Neu Cellars’ 2022 Crispy

July 1, 2023

In German, “neu” means new, young, or fresh, and northern Michigan winemaker Neu Cellars is more than living up to the name. Established in 2018 by ferment-fanatic John Keller and his father, this “nano-winery” uses regional fruit, sourced from both Old Mission and... Read More >>

Cheese & Co.’s The Company Bowl

June 24, 2023

As the name suggests, Cheese & Co. in Petoskey is all about melty, cheesy goodness, from crispy mac and cheese bites to six types of gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. Their best-selling menu item, though—lovingly dubbed The Company Bowl ($16.04)—is somehow almost dairy-fr... Read More >>

Finding "Beloved Community"

June 17, 2023

It’s been three years since the murder of George Floyd and the ensuing protests and racial reckonings that spread across the country. Traverse City-based nonprofit Title Track was one of the first local organizations to tackle conversations around racial equity, but how have those e... Read More >>

Bailey’s Farms’ Hummingbird Nectar Kombucha

June 17, 2023

Pop quiz: what’s good for your gut, but still tastes great in a wine glass? If you guessed Bailey’s Farms small-batch kombucha, you’re right! Bailey’s Farms’ light and fizzy ferments are made from Light of Day Organics’ teas and are packed with local bo... Read More >>

The Mill’s Whole Wheat Hand Pie

June 10, 2023

Opened in April in Glen Arbor, The Mill café and bakery is a one-stop shop for all things nostalgia, from the charm of its past as a local grain mill to their wildly-popular Whole Wheat Hand Pies. An elegant take on the classic pasty, each pie is baked in a hot-water crust—th... Read More >>

Straight from the Horse’s Mouth

June 3, 2023

What does a Smithsonian scientist have in common with an enslaved horse groom and a 20th-century art collector? The answer might surprise you.

In her newest book, Horse, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks chronicles the legacy of distinguished thoroughbred Lex... Read More >>

Fingers Crossed’s Lavender Lemonade

June 3, 2023

There’s something about ice-cold lemonade on a sunny day that just feels right. This summer, find us posted up at Fingers Crossed in Northport, quenching that craving with their newly-released Lavender Lemonade. A kicked-up take on the classic Tom Collins, this drink begins with the... Read More >>

Market M22’s Reuben

May 27, 2023

As the old saying goes, we eat first with our eyes. This week, we’re inviting you to the visual feast of Market 22’s sandwich bar. Opened in 2013, this corner deli and eatery has all the charm of an Up North retreat and more freshly-sliced meats than we can count! Our current ... Read More >>

Building a Legacy with Patrick Doud’s Irish Pub

May 20, 2023

Fourth-generation Mackinac native Andrew Doud and his wife, Nicole, have always embraced their island heritage. Together, they operate the historic Doud’s Market—aka “America’s Oldest Grocery Store”—which they took over in 2007. They’re also the b... Read More >>

Furnace Street Distillery’s The Trick Dog

May 20, 2023

The newly-released spring cocktail menu at Furnace Street Distillery in Elberta is all about riffing on classic flavors, and The Trick Dog, well, does the trick! Named for the distillery’s past as an art gallery and cafe, this beverage is equal parts familiar and funky. It starts wi... Read More >>

The New York Restaurant’s Veal Ravioli

May 13, 2023

While we’re all for an extra helping of greens, sometimes they just taste better when they’re doused in sauce and served with some carbs. The team at The New York Restaurant in Harbor Springs get it, which is why their fan-favorite Veal Ravioli is making a seasonal comeback. T... Read More >>

Folklor Wine & Ciders’ Sky Fruit

May 6, 2023

Great cider starts in the orchard at Folklor Wine & Ciders, where fruit-growing team Izabela Babinska and Derrick Vogel use all-organic farming practices to let the flavors in their cold-hardy ferments shine. That’s why there is no shortage of apple goodness in their 2021 Sky Fr... Read More >>

Something More to Tell Us

May 6, 2023

Chasten Glezman Buttigieg grew up in Traverse City in the early aughts, a time still largely defined by conservative societal expectations, especially in the suburban and rural Midwest. The West Senior High School graduate says he came of age thinking he had to embody a certain ideal&mdas... Read More >>

The Manitou’s Walleye

April 29, 2023

Spring has officially sprung, and that means The Manitou is open for business. Established in 1979, this seasonal hot spot in Honor is known for cozy vibes and rustic fine dining, headlined by its popular selection of fresh walleye. Sourced locally from Big Stone Bay Fishery, this regular... Read More >>

Your Spring Cleaning Guide

April 22, 2023

Roughly three in four Americans embark on a daunting quest each year—a challenge known as spring cleaning.

No one wants to spend a sunny Saturday in April trapped in the basement, so Northern Express sat down with three Michigan cleaning experts—Fresh Coast Cl... Read More >>

Kingsley Local Brewing’s Mallet Session IPA

April 22, 2023

While we love a heavy-hitting beer, the return of sunny days and higher temperatures call for something with a little less impact. Enter: Kingsley Local Brewing’s Mallet Session IPA. Clocking in at just 4 percent ABV, this easy-drinking ale is the lightest of the pub’s hammer-... Read More >>

North End Pizzeria's Big Hot Woody

April 15, 2023

North End Pizzeria of Northport is already stoking its fires for another season of slinging pies, and there’s not a soggy bottom in sight! While everything’s coming up to temperature, our go-to is the Big Hot Woody, named affectionately for their bright red ovens. This signatu... Read More >>

Inciting Joy

April 8, 2023

Prize-winning poet and author Ross Gay is about to challenge everything you thought you knew about what it means to “be together.” In his newest collection, Inciting Joy, he reframes everyday situations to remind us that, even in a divided climate, we still know how to care fo... Read More >>

BOS Wine’s All That Is Gold Riesling

April 8, 2023

Though Tolkien’s “all that is gold does not glitter” quote probably wasn’t about viniculture, it did inspire a beautiful bottle of wine at BOS Wine in Elk Rapids. Opened in 2021, BOS uses biodynamic farming to make world-class wine on Michigan soil. This week, our ... Read More >>

Gold Baby Biscuits’ The Delicatessen

March 25, 2023

This week, we’re ready to risk it for the biscuit…or for a breakfast sandwich from Gold Baby Biscuits, that is. Established in 2019 by bakers Alicia Manson and Lyndsey Egli, this pop-up powerhouse features a rotating menu and even a few take-and-bake options of biscuit-y good... Read More >>