Food
Wine as Folk Art
Inside Folklor Wine & Cider’s unique approach to viticulture
By Craig Manning | Sept. 30, 2023
In culture, “folklore” refers to the legends, myths, and stories that a culture or community passes down through generations. (In music, the word denotes a pitch perfect—and sometimes underrated—Taylor Swift album.) But what about in wine? For Derrick Vogel and Izabela Babinska, the husband-and-wife team that founded Folklor Wine & Cider in Charlevoix, the concept of folklore can and should extend to the world of viticulture. “We really love the communal aspect ... Read More >>
Heart, Soul, and Saltimbocca
Discover authentic Mediterranean and Italian cuisine at The Golden Stag
By Geri Dietze | Sept. 30, 2023
The Golden Stag in Manistee opened its doors July 2023 to glowing reviews and enthusiastic repeat customers. In fact, first timers not only returned to the Mediterranean restaurant, and returned quickly, but they brought their friends along as well. “The response was overwhelming during the summer,” explains owner Jamil Alam. “People were waiting at the door. It was almost immediate.” Jamil and Laura Alam purchased the River Street building in September 2022 ... Read More >>
The Apples Are Calling...and We Must Go Eat Them!
Inside the Ingredients
By Nora Rae Pearl | Sept. 30, 2023
Crisp air, rosy foliage, and hot cider—the hallmarks of apple season in northern Michigan—are luring us out of the house and into the orchards this October. One of my favorite U-pick spots is at Jacob’s Farm on M-72, home to some of the fullest apple trees you have ever seen. Find yourself lost in the orchard (and/or in the farm’s nearby corn maze) as you wander between the rows. If you’re short ... Read More >>
Top of the Wine List
Local restaurants share their most expensive, exclusive bottles
By Alexandra Dailey | Sept. 30, 2023
How much are you willing to spend for that special occasion bottle of wine? You’re out at dinner, celebrating a birthday or anniversary or promotion, and as you scan the wine list, you decide to spring for the bottle with a few extra zeroes. Maybe you opt for the sparkle of Dom Pérignon or find a rare Old World red. But how do you choose, and where do you go if you ... Read More >>
Cupcake Mafia’s The Good Fella
Tastemaker
By Anna Faller | Sept. 30, 2023
Mobile bakeshop Cupcake Mafia & Co. is all about extravagant sweets. Opened last year, this family-owned operation specializes in scratch-made desserts and offers rotating menus from cookies to brownies and even customizable pastries. This month, they’re upping the autumnal ante with the return of their popular fall cupcake lineup and the unequivocal godfather of all that is pumpkin spice, The Good Fella. Inspired by everyone’s favorite flavor, this boss bake features a ... Read More >>
Cherry Republic’s Night Swim Porter
Bottoms Up
By Craig Manning | Sept. 30, 2023
In the words of an unspeakably gorgeous R.E.M. song, “Nightswimming deserves a quiet night.” That song captures the beauty and daring of a late-night dip beneath the start-lit glow of fleeting summer skies, and Cherry Republic’s Night Swim Cherry Porter is a beer brewed in tribute to all the same things. Made with local sweet black cherries and eight different malts, this flavorful brew seems tailor-made for this specific moment of the ... Read More >>
Oaky’s Tavern’s Spicy Chicken & Cheddar Sandwich
Tastemaker
Sept. 23, 2023
Need a little fall warm-up? No, we’re not talking about soup—at least not yet. But the Spicy Chicken & Cheddar sandwich ($13) at Oaky’s Tavern in Grawn will certainly light a little fire in your belly. This handheld starts with juicy and crispy Southern fried chicken alongside a helping of thick-cut bacon. (It’s cooked just right too—no shattering or sad, limp bacon slices here.) The spice comes from the sriracha mayo, but ... Read More >>
Two K’s Leelanau Radler Series
Bottoms Up!
By Anna Faller | 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 an estate-grown blend of fermented apples. Topped with a squeeze of fresh fruit and herbs, the result is a gorgeously-sessionable sip (they’re only 5 percent ABV each), with a ... Read More >>
Your Fall Restaurant Guide: Six Spots to Stop for a Bite in Northern Michigan
Explore Northport, Traverse City, Suttons Bay, and Manistee for these delicious eateries
By Northern Express Staff & Contributors | Sept. 16, 2023
The weather may be cooling down, but the culinary scene in northern Michigan is heating up. This summer, we explored six new restaurants, two of which started life as food trucks and built such a following that they expanded into brick and mortar; two others that offered updated concepts in beloved community dining spaces; and the remaining two that created brand-new establishments with fresh ideas and even fresher flavors. From tacos to ... Read More >>
Prost! Cheers to the Oktoberfest
Five Traverse City brewers share their plans for the season’s No. 1 beer
By Karl Klockars | Sept. 16, 2023
September and October bring some of our favorite things to northern Michigan. Fall colors. Hunting season. Halloween candy. Sweater weather. But we’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about one of the best parts of autumn: the return of Oktoberfest beers. Despite the name, the original Munich Oktoberfest traditionally kicks off in September (having started on the 16th this year), and even though pumpkin beers used to reign supreme, fall has recently ... Read More >>
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