Geri Dietze | Author
Kingsley Inn Redux
April 15, 2023
Sometimes a name just sticks. Even after the Kingsley Inn was sold in 2020 and was briefly renamed the Judson Market and Restaurant, the place was still known to locals by its old name—or its nickname, KI, for short.
That name is back for good. Today, new owners Brian McAlli...
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Soup, the Universal Comfort Food
Feb. 11, 2023
Call it soup, sop, le potage, zuppa, or juha, among others, but they all mean the same thing: a big bowl of goodness. Northern Express has found seven standout soups from some of the region’s most popular eateries to fill you up and chase the February chills away.
...
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The Beacon Beckons
Jan. 21, 2023
Searching for elevated comfort food? A menu that changes often enough to keep you coming back again and again? Petoskey’s Beacon Bistro fits the bill, thanks to the vision of owners Mark and Tawna Naturkas.
The Naturkas—she, a Mackinaw Island native, and he, a Detroite...
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Resolution Dining: Vegetarian Dishes & Dry January Drinks in TC
Dec. 24, 2022
We all know the benefits of a plant-based diet—it’s good for us and good for the planet. But just how hard is it to make that transition to a new way of eating and experiencing food?
Thankfully, going vegetarian or vegan in Traverse City is getting easier and tastier a...
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Libby’s Downtown
Dec. 10, 2022
Libby Davis is a big part of the Cheboygan scene, and she’s come full circle from where she began; the original Libby’s Café, in operation until 2008, was right across the street from the new Libby’s Downtown. “I’m so excited to be back…for anot...
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The Palette of the Pastry Artist
Nov. 26, 2022
Pastry chefs are wildly talented, serious about their art, and super busy this time of year. Northern Express talked to three baker-designers about craft, creativity, and business—though for the full experience, visiting each one is a must.
Ruthann’s Gourmet ...
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Never a Dull (Senior) Moment
Nov. 5, 2022
All people have one thing in common: We’re getting older day by day. Then again, Mick Jagger is 79 and still tours with that band of his…so clearly, this is not your grandfather’s retirement. While Jagger’s lifestyle may be anathema to the lives of most seniors, i...
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Fancy Feast
Oct. 15, 2022
There’s something special about autumn, when crisp days and nights lend themselves to cozy get-togethers. Cool-weather meals are substantial and worth lingering over, and changing colors create an enticing palette for decorating.
To help you get in the entertaining-indo...
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The Perfect Pairing
Oct. 1, 2022
It all starts with the soil and the crops, and whether the result is a collection of award-winning vineyards or a dedicated cohort of sustainable farms and artisanal purveyors, the Old Mission and Leelanau Peninsula wine trails are a particularly fitting venue for fine dining. This is whe...
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No More Wandering for This NOMAD.
Sept. 3, 2022
The Morrison family is on a winning streak. Their game? Some of the best food in the North, from waffles and omelets to ceviche and filets.
These are the folks who brought you Maple + Batter—the reimagining of the beloved Original Pancake House—just last year. Twins Ph...
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Retro Relaxation
Aug. 20, 2022
In the 1950s, when Americans were urged to “See the USA in your Chevrolet,” the typical roadside motel was a series of connected rooms, sometimes with a café and a swimming pool on-site. Over time, the interstate highway system diverted travelers away, and chains like H...
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In Good Hands
July 16, 2022
Way back when, Good Harbor Grill was founded on the basic idea of what owners and sailors Ann Derrick and Brendan Burrows looked for every time they made port: fresh and healthy food.
When Northern Express last profiled the restaurant in 2006, the couple had owned and ope...
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Torch Lake
July 2, 2022
The secluded spots and quaint towns tucked away in harbors and bays on the Lake Michigan coast have long been desirable destinations for those seeking a weekend respite or relaxing summer season away from the usual harried hubbub. Sandy beaches with hidden Petoskey Stone treasures bec...
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June 11, 2022 For a BBQ joint such as Charlevoix’s Smoke on the Water, there is no higher praise than that from a true aficionado—in this case, a seasoned BBQ judge here on vacation from Kansas City. After finishing his pulled pork omelet, he asked to see owner/chef Julie Mann. “That ...
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May 21, 2022 Mackinac Island blacksmith Robert Benjamin had an eye for prime real estate. In 1900, he built his home near Biddle Point, overlooking Lake Huron and the Straits of Mackinac, on one of the most beautiful waterfront parcels on an island chock full of beautiful waterfront. Benjamin ...
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May 14, 2022 At La Bécasse in Maple City, French country cuisine is the star, the raison d’être that keeps chef Guillaume Hazaël-Massieux in his kitchen and fills the dining room with satisfied patrons. La Bécasse, under different ownership and name, has...
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April 30, 2022 Mexican cuisine was the first to be named a heritage cuisine, in 2010, by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Some of that amazing food has made its way north, and—in honor of Cinco de Mayo—we highlighted a few of the local restaurant...
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March 5, 2022 Charlevoix’s Argonne House, christened in 2020, is the present-day iteration of the Argonne Supper Club, the much-lauded shrimp house and the longest family-owned restaurant in Charlevoix County. Fred and Mary Taylor, who purchased the restaurant in 2018 from previous owners Steve A...
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Feb. 26, 2022 When the Original Pancake House, a Bay Harbor fixture for over 20 years, closed its doors due to the state’s early pandemic orders, a group of like-minded family and friends stepped in to execute their vision of a breakfast and brunch-style eatery. But how did this cre...
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Feb. 19, 2022 Boyne City’s Smeltania Festival, February 25 through 27, revives a storied time in Boyne City’s past, when a little fish came to town and helped it weather the Great Depression. Today, the festival does a bit of the same, giving an economic boost to Boyne busines...
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Smoke on the Water
Take a Ride to the Carriage House
A Little Place in the Country
Tacos, Torta, and Tequila
Shrimp at the Supper Club
Maple + Batter
Smeltania Lives!