Anna Faller | Author

A Taste of the Past

March 18, 2023

Mystery is the name of the game at Petoskey’s historic Terrace Inn and 1911 Restaurant. With more than a century of life in its walls, the building’s authenticity, world-class cuisine, and supernatural rumors keep guests coming back year after year.

“It was very ... Read More >>

45 North Vineyard’s Foodie Flight

March 18, 2023

What tops the perfect local wine flight? How about one that comes with snacks? Through March, 45 North Vineyard & Winery is joining forces with The Cheese Lady (Traverse City) to curate the ultimate wine-and-cheese tasting as part of their monthly Foodie Flight, and we can’t thi... Read More >>

Pond Hill Farm’s Pesto Pizza

March 11, 2023

For an early slice (or five) of spring, it doesn’t get better than the Pesto Pizza at Pond Hill Farm in Harbor Springs. Stone-oven baked on yeasted dough, this classic white pie starts with fresh basil leaves and a whopping four different kinds of cheese—parmesan, pecorino rom... Read More >>

The Spice of Life

March 4, 2023

Patrick and Michael Evans are not your typical brothers.

Both graduates of the Great Lakes Culinary Institute (GLCI), the two have been cooking for most of their lives and share a background in haute cuisine. Their Michelin Star-studded resumes include experience in world-class ki... Read More >>

Grand Traverse Distillery's TC Roy

March 4, 2023

According to legend, the classic Rob Roy cocktail is named for Scottish outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor. Though we don’t condone thievery, we do encourage a round or two at Grand Traverse Distillery’s Tasting Room, where the gorgeously-balanced TC Roy has just arrived on the winter m... Read More >>

Hotel Indigo’s Warehouse Wings

Feb. 25, 2023

Who says taking a mid-winter break means actually having to go somewhere? Go the staycation route instead and treat yourself to a night in at Hotel Indigo’s Warehouse KiTChen + Cork, starting with a plate of the restaurant’s signature Warehouse Wings. Released as part of the h... Read More >>

Les Cheneaux Distillers’ Island Hopper IPA

Feb. 18, 2023

When it comes to tasting new beers, we like to keep our options open. At Bridge Street Tap Room in Charlevoix, those options feel almost endless thanks to a whopping 32 taps all featuring Michigan craft beer and hard cider. Our go-to, though, is the Island Hopper IPA via Les Cheneaux Dist... Read More >>

Driving the Green Book

Feb. 11, 2023

An international financial authority and prolific storyteller, Alvin Hall’s renowned broadcast and media career includes five years as the host of the award-winning BBC series Your Money or Your Life, as well as regular contribution to NPR’s Tell Me More... Read More >>

New Bohemian Cafe’s Kev McMurphin

Feb. 11, 2023

For those in need of a little mid-winter respite, Northport’s snowy paths and sledding hills (Nagonaba Trail System is a must) make for the perfect local excursion. While you’re out there, warm up at New Bohemian Café with a latte and a Kev McMurphin. Named for co-owner... Read More >>

Bay Bread’s Thank You Boxes

Feb. 4, 2023

We all know actions speak louder than words. And, what better way to say, well, anything than with a box of homemade treats? Next time you find yourself at a loss for words, consider letting one of Bay Bread Co.’s Thank You Boxes do the talking. Curated via client request, ... Read More >>

Happy Camper Coffee Co.’s Cinnamon Roll Latte

Feb. 4, 2023

Though we know money can’t buy happiness, it can buy a great cup of coffee. And we can’t think of a happier combo than the coffee-meets-breakfast-pastry perfection of Happy Camper Coffee Co.’s newly-added Cinnamon Roll Latte. This one-two-punch of a morning cuppa starts ... Read More >>

No Woman Left Behind

Jan. 28, 2023

For many of us, the onset of the pandemic hit pause on most parts of everyday life. Domestic abuse, however, continued, with instances still on the rise even as lockdown regulations have waned. This is where the Women’s Resource Center (WRC) of Traverse City comes in. As an area exp... Read More >>

Crooked Tree Breadworks’ Pub Nuts

Jan. 28, 2023

Snacking gets the grown-up treatment at Crooked Tree Breadworks in Petoskey, where scratch-made bread and pastry selections (the rye-flecked sourdough is a must-try) are traditionally baked with simple ingredients. Our recent obsession, though, is the Pub Nuts. The newest in the shop&rsqu... Read More >>

The Socialite’s The Gossip

Jan. 21, 2023

We’ve heard that no one likes a gossip, but we could be convinced if it comes over ice with a citrus garnish. The rumors are true, dear readers: Traverse City’s newest temperance bar, The Socialite (established last year), is serving up curated cocktails minus the booze. Their... Read More >>

The Good Bowl’s “Vu-Tang” Chili Crisp

Jan. 14, 2023

On the hunt for that magic ingredient to take your cooking up a notch? The Good Bowl has your next go-to, and it puts the rest of our spice rack to shame. Enter: “Vu-Tang” Chili Crisp. Named for executive chef Tony Vu (and the ’90’s hip-hop Clan), this versatile ch... Read More >>

Terrain’s Skipping Stones

Jan. 7, 2023

The holiday season might be over, but Terrain Restaurant in Bellaire toasts local bounty all year long, and we think the plummy nuance of the Skipping Stones cocktail deserves its own celebration. Named for the local stone fruit it features, the drink begins with Kalkaska’s North Ri... Read More >>

Is Winter Outdoor Dining Here to Stay, or Are We All Headed Back Inside?

Jan. 7, 2023

Outdoor dining—snow, rain, or shine—went through the roof during the first year or two of the pandemic. But now, with most eateries going about business as usual, patrons seem to be fair-weather fans of al fresco dining. So what’s the plan for all those yurts, igloos, an... Read More >>

Edson Farms’ Sugar Cookies

Dec. 24, 2022

Established in the late ’70s, Edson Farms Natural Foods has long been our go-to for local produce and better-for-you deli staples. We just can’t help ourselves, though, when it comes to their house-baked sugar cookies. Inspired by owner Jessica Edson’s own family’s... Read More >>

Paddle Hard’s River Rampage

Dec. 17, 2022

We’d be lying if we said that Paddle Hard Brewing’s house IPA didn’t have us longing for sweltering temps, neon pool floaties, and lots of glorious sunshine. (Remember sunshine? We hardly do…) But, are we still sipping it in December? You bet. The second in a thre... Read More >>

Through Ice and Snow They Go

Dec. 17, 2022

There is nothing quite so unpredictable as a Michigan winter. Though it’s true that a handful of weeks each year can be relied on for snow and sub-arctic temperatures, the rest of the season is anyone’s guess. Wintery weather does have one common feature, though: how it’... Read More >>