Lynda Wheatley | Author

LFC's The Cunning Ham

Nov. 9, 2019

Forgive us for our fourth cider profile within a few scant issues, but it tis the season, after all, and northern Michigan’s cider magicians rarely disappoint. We half-hoped The Cunning Ham would; its name and label’s iconic airborne pig initially suggested some salty and pung... Read More >>

Treat Yo’Self

Nov. 9, 2019

 

Let’s be honest. The next six weeks are all about giving — giving gifts to your parents, your kids, your kid’s teacher, a Secret Santa, maybe your mail guy. Somewhere in there, you’re going to give a big dinner. And because you live Up North, you&rsq... Read More >>

Crow & Moss' Chocolate Bars

Nov. 9, 2019

All good things begin with chocolate, but some of the very best chocolate bars, it turns out, are born from heirloom cacao beans sourced from single farms in some of the world’s hardest to reach places. Then, in Petoskey, in wee 100-pound batches, they’re hand-sorted, roasted,... Read More >>

Taproot Cider House's Root Fashion

Oct. 26, 2019

How a cocktail that’s submerged a near-tennis-ball-sized ball of cherry ice can be so deliciously warming is a mystery only the bartenders of Taproot Cider House can solve, but we suspect a clue lies somewhere in the thick ribbon of Makers Mark that floats at the surface and hits th... Read More >>

FYT's Ready-made Meals

Oct. 26, 2019

Imagine, if you will, a life that requires no grocery shopping. No sorting of groceries into cupboards, pantry, fridge, or freezer. No meal prep. No cooking. Just a series of healthy meals that magically appear up to three times a day, six days a week. It certainly seemed like a fantasy w... Read More >>

V.I. Grill’s Veg Breakfast Tacos

Oct. 5, 2019

Traverse City folks in search of an "Easy like Sunday Morning” breakfast will find no easier return on investment than this: schlepping their bedheads to the nearest BATA bus stop with Village Loop Service to Suttons Bay (Route 10) for a hands-free, bayside ride to the town’s ... Read More >>

Higher Grounds’ Pumpkin Pie con Panna

Oct. 5, 2019

Is it dessert? Is it coffee? Is it for morning? Afternoon? Doesn’t matter — Higher Grounds’ Pumpkin Pie con Panna is the taste of autumn Up North we all need in our lives, and exactly what America’s pumpkin-pie-spice-infused everything wishes it could be. Witn... Read More >>

Alden Mill House's Miracle Blend

Sept. 21, 2019

Long before Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel seasoning became the latest craze on soups, salads, sandwiches, and more, Alden’s Eugene Moglovkin — aka Chef Geno — created an all-purpose blend of exceptional quality kosher flake salt and other spices t... Read More >>

Two K Farms’ Cider Sangria

Sept. 14, 2019

For those who like sangria and cider but loathe too much sweetness, one-year-old Two K Farms’ cidery and winery have the answer: a crisp, lightly sweet yet somehow fruit-forward cider sangria of which we can’t get enough. (Literally, we had our first glass last Saturday aftern... Read More >>

Brady’s Deep-fried Oreos

Sept. 7, 2019

The wings, pizza, and cheeseburgers at Brady’s Bar are the stuff after-party eating dreams are made of. But into the classic space — brass fixtures, vinyl seating, pool-felt-green walls dotted with hunting and fishing memorabilia — the no-nonsense Old Town TC neighborhoo... Read More >>

Apple Cider Shake and Sparkling Float

Sept. 7, 2019

Ice cream has never had an easy time suiting up for fall. Its status as a star of summertime is as old as, well … maybe rock salt. The small but always-experimenting Lake Ann Corner Cone, however, is hardly one to shy away from putting on an autumnal twist. (See what we did there?)... Read More >>

123 Speakeasy's Gary's Mac & Cheese

Aug. 31, 2019

123 Speakeasy — Traverse City’s Prohibition-style gem hidden behind the Front Street “tearoom,” Teatottalers — is accessible by password only. But if you want to enter a second state of bliss, whisper this phrase to your server: “Gary’s Mac & ... Read More >>

To-Go Delights at The Dish Cafe

Aug. 24, 2019

Traverse City’s The Dish Cafe — long a go-to spot for quickly prepared eat-in and take-out breakfast, lunch, and snacks — unveiled a new look, expanded menu and hours, and a full bar a few years ago. Most recently, they made life even better for those folks who... Read More >>

King Orchards' Cherry Soda

Aug. 17, 2019

The tart cherries are poppin’ at Central Lake’s King Orchards — and so are the tops off the family-owned orchard’s latest product: its newly released farm-crafted cherry soda with a twist of lime. Bubbly and sweet with just a wee bit of refreshing pucker, the soda ... Read More >>

Beards Brewery’s Luna Persica

Aug. 10, 2019

Legend has it that, in 1873, a newspaper reporter described then-little-known Petoskey as the “Land of the Million Dollar Sunsets.” The city has capitalized — and delivered — on the phrase ever since, but perhaps no one quite so well as Beards Brewery. Two years ag... Read More >>

Black Star Farms' 2017 Sur Lie Chardonnay

July 20, 2019

Maybe you think you don’t like Chardonnay. Understandable. Although it’s a malleable grape that springs well from just about any growing region in the world, its ubiquitousness seems to have branded it a wine that is — and sometimes tastes — all too common. Thankfu... Read More >>

Bud’s Moscow Mule Ice Cream

June 22, 2019

Tastemaker: Bud’s Moscow Mule Ice Cream
A single bite of Bud’s Moscow Mule ice cream is all the buzz you need. Light and lime-y, with a tiny bit of an effervescent bite, it’s alcohol-free and as refreshing as a summer scoop should be. Best of all, sometimes you can ... Read More >>

Up North Pride's Jonny and Elon Cameron

June 17, 2019

The founders of Traverse City-based Up North Pride, Jonny and Elon Cameron, met when they were 25 and 28 years old. Over their past 17 years together, they’ve navigated a move from Chicago to northern Michigan, marriage, and — weeks after leaving a job, building a new home... Read More >>

Dot’s Homestyle Pretzels

May 25, 2019

Doesn’t matter if you’ve got your own boat, a kayak, or a plastic raft. If you’re going for a float, salty snacks are required. And we swear on summer you can do no better than Dot’s Homestyle Pretzels. Some magical blend of butter and tongue-tickling spices that a... Read More >>

Toski Sands’ Six-Packs

May 25, 2019

Go for the whitefish paté — one of Toski Sands Market’s most famous housemade treats — but plan to linger a long, long time (and then some more) over the gourmet market and party store’s beer selection. More than 340 varieties are stacked on the shelves, and... Read More >>