Anna Faller | Author

Two K’s Leelanau Radler Series

Sept. 23, 2023

As cider season quickly descends, Two K Farms in Suttons Bay has three reasons to up your beverage game. Enter: the just-released Leelanau Radler Series. A kicked-up take on the classic Radler—which usually combines lager with juice—this trio replaces the traditional beer with... Read More >>

Providence Organic Farm’s Bacon Burrito

Sept. 16, 2023

We think it’s always the right time for a breakfast burrito, especially when it’s jam-packed with the best in local proteins and produce! Enter: Providence Organic Farm and CSA’s famous Bacon Burrito ($12). This warm and savory bite starts with organic potatoes straight ... Read More >>

Inside The Outsider

Sept. 9, 2023

For wholesale branding and software executive Jon Faber, Manistee had always been the small town he and his family visited while vacationing at their nearby cottage.

Over a series of years, though, he noticed the region’s rapidly growing economy—headlined by a state-fu... Read More >>

Mission Proper’s Caramel Apple Latte

Sept. 9, 2023

As far as fall-themed treats are concerned, it doesn’t get better than the decadent Caramel Apple Latte from Mission Proper on Old Mission Peninsula. Inspired by the nostalgia of autumn baking, this fresh-picked coffee drink starts with house apple butter (layered with local fruit a... Read More >>

Bull and the Bear Kitchen’s Beef Barbacoa

Sept. 2, 2023

When the people want tacos, you give them tacos! At least, that’s how the menu at Bull and the Bear Kitchen in Traverse City was born, and we just can’t get enough of their rich and roasty Beef Barbacoa. Served on a 6-inch corn tortilla, each taco is packed with Michigan beef ... Read More >>

Building Safer Schools: Three ways TCAPS plans to protect students and staff

Aug. 26, 2023

Comprising 11 elementary schools, two middle schools, three high schools, and a smattering of preschool locations, TCAPS serves more than 10,000 students and is northwest Michigan’s largest public-school district.

That’s a lot of ground to cover (300 square miles to be... Read More >>

Dune Bird Winery’s Pinot Noir

Aug. 26, 2023

Like your favorite flannel in early September, we think the summer-to-fall transition deserves a glass of wine to go with it. Enter: Dune Bird Winery’s newly-released Pinot Noir. Featuring single-variety grapes grown on the Leelanau Peninsula, this approachable red is aged in French... Read More >>

Good Harbor Grill’s Veggie Stir Fry

Aug. 19, 2023

Versatility meets old-school tradition at Good Harbor Grill, where flavors from around the world converge to showcase local ingredients, and it doesn’t get better than the Veggie Stir Fry. A longtime dinner menu staple, this gloriously saucy dish combines garlic and herb-steamed sev... Read More >>

The Family Farm with a Purpose

Aug. 12, 2023

For Larry and Caitlin McSweeney-Steffes, owners of Danu Hof Farm and Market, agriculture is all about forging community. The pair got their start in local kitchens—Caitlin in hospitality and Larry as an executive chef—before switching gears to pursue their own farm.

&l... Read More >>

On the Ground with Higher Grounds

Aug. 12, 2023

In early May, the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was hit with flash floods and landslides caused by heavy rain, devastating communities in the Kalehe Territory of the South Kivu province. As a result, more than 400 people were killed—with another 2,500 still missing&mdas... Read More >>

Spanglish’s Slushie

Aug. 12, 2023

There’s something about a frozen drink on a screaming hot day that just feels right. This week, find us beating the heat with slushie from Spanglish in the Grand Traverse Commons! Inspired by Mexico’s “Agua fresca”—which combines seasonal fruit with sugar and... Read More >>

A Smash Hit

Aug. 5, 2023

Master burger-slingers Bray and Brittney McCabe have always been “into food.” Born and raised in Saginaw, the pair grew up among restaurateurs before putting down roots in Traverse City and falling headlong into hospitality by means of their iconic smash burgers (which Tas... Read More >>

AIKO Street Food’s Okonomiyaki

Aug. 5, 2023

The brainchild of chef Ryan Mateling, AIKO Street Food (which means “little loved one” in Japanese) blends local ingredients with Izakaya cuisine, and the flavors are anything but small! Our go-to dish, and a truck menu staple, is a savory Japanese street pancake called Okonom... Read More >>

Stormcloud Brewing Company’s The Hat Dept.

July 29, 2023

Ever heard of a Belgian-style Pilsner? We hadn’t either, until we discovered Stormcloud’s seasonal brew, The Hat Dept., and we can’t think of a better sunny day pairing! Belgian-inspired, but with a local twist, this crusher of a summer lager blends Belgian malt with Mic... Read More >>

That French Place’s Blueberry Cream Cheese Croissants

July 22, 2023

Nestled in downtown Charlevoix, That French Place is all about treating our Midwest tastebuds to classic French recipes, and their seasonal Blueberry Cream Cheese Croissants ($4.50) are so authentic, they should come with plane tickets. Each batch begins with imported French butter folded... Read More >>

The 2023 Summer Camping Forecast

July 15, 2023

For many of us, it just wouldn’t be a Michigan summer without a few days (or weeks) spent sleeping under the stars, even if that comes with dozens of mosquito bites. But, where do we go to get off-grid, and how can we enjoy those places safely?

Northern Express sat ... Read More >>

Trattoria Stella’s Kick Your Knees Up

July 15, 2023

“Treat yourself” takes on all new meaning when your pre-dinner drink gives back to the community. Enter: the Kick Your Knees Up ($15) cocktail at Trattoria Stella in the Village at Grand Traverse Commons. A longtime staple of their curated beverage menu, this summer sipper sta... Read More >>

Fried Food Truck’s Roasted Beef Sandwich

July 8, 2023

Good food is the name of the game at Fried Food Truck in Lake Leelanau. While there’s nothing short of delicious on their almost entirely un-fried menu, the star of the show is their Roasted Beef Sandwich ($15). It starts with a tender, Detroit-style hoagie layered with shaved ribey... Read More >>

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 >>

Pinning Their Hopes on Pins

July 1, 2023

Now in its 97th year, the National Cherry Festival has drawn local crowds for decades for its celebration of local fruit, time-honored traditions, and the singular opportunity to eat a cherry pie with no hands. But, beneath all the thrill rides and funnel cake, the festival is also a crit... Read More >>