Tastemakers: Amical/Northern Michigan beverages

July 27, 2008

Amical

As a journalist I get a lot of interesting calls (see my Madonna article). My body of work for the Northern Express includes interviews with celebrities, so with all of the hype around Madonna coming to town for the Traverse City Film Festival, I expected a few calls or e-mails from other publications, primarily the “rags.”
So imagine my surprise when a call came from a credible national publication wondering “if I might know where Madonna would be hanging out when she was in town?” I responded I didn’t know, but for the first three Traverse City Film Festivals I have caught up with Michael Moore, Christine Lahti, Malcolm McDowell, Jeff Daniels, Matthew Modine, and Gretchen Mol among others at Amical on Front Street, next to the State Theatre. The caller quickly thanked me and hung up.
I don’t know if Madonna will be at Amical or not, so I apologize in advance for insinuating that to the caller who will probably write, “according to a credible source, Madonna will be hanging out at Amical during the Traverse City Film Festival.” But what I do know is that proprietor/chef Dave Dennison helped to create something special downtown 14 years ago.
If you go back in time to the early ‘90s and think about upscale dining options in downtown Traverse City, they were limited to (in my opinion) Mode’s and Poppycock’s. Both are still around today and remain popular. Now there is an explosion of eateries of distinction in downtown Traverse City. Per capita I would put downtown Traverse City against any downtown in the state for great restaurants.
There are only a handful of restaurants in the region at which I have never experienced poor service, and Amical is one of those. Denison and his team have found a way to master the art of great service. As for the menu, I plan to enjoy the lobster tacos and the duck breast with the Right Brain Brewery Ale and local cherries sauce. When a close friend came to visit a few years ago and asked about places to eat, I suggested Amical, his response: “what do they serve?” My response was, “it really doesn’t matter because regardless of what’s on the menu, it will be great.”
So Madonna, if you are looking for a place to hang out and eat, I recommend Amical. Okay, if I have “outed” you and the other stars coming to town try, Red Ginger, Hanna, Poppycock’s, Ciao Bella, Radish, Firefly, Morsels, Cuppa Joe’s Warehouse Lounge or Mode’s. For pub style offerings try Bubba’s, U&I, Union Street, Dillinger’s/Bootlegger’s, Blue Tractor, North Peak/Kilkenny’s, Loading Dock, Mackinaw Brewing Company and Brady’s. For lunch head to Pangea’s, The Dish, Mustard’s, Catch Island Grill, Green House Café, House of Dogg’s and Homegrown Organic Eatery. For breakfast downtown, check out Minerva’s at the Park Place, Patisserie Amie, Cousin Jenny’s, Crema, Good Harbor and Espresso Bay. All of these eateries are just a couple of blocks from each other and are great places for all of us regular folks; I know I have tried them all. Enjoy the film fest and don’t forget to eat... and be sure to tip your servers well.




Northern Michigan
Beverages

If you attend any of the Traverse City Film Festival parties, you will have the opportunity to try many locally-made beverages. Northern Michigan is home to several great wineries that continue to win major awards at international wine competitions. The Old Mission Peninsula has a handful of wineries and is a very scenic drive. On the Leelanau Peninsula (equally scenic) there are now 18 wineries with tasting rooms. If time is tight and you are unable to pull yourself away from the theaters, then head to the Village at the Grand Traverse Commons where Left Charley and Black Star Farms both have tasting rooms.
Locally, fresh-brewed craft beer is very accessible with Right Brain Brewery (Warehouse District), North Peak Brewery and the Mackinaw Brewing Company right in town.
Most local dining establishments serve local wines and brews. If vodka is your thing, then seek out True North Vodka from the Grand Traverse Distillery, made with Northern Michigan rye.
If you are looking for coffee and teas, we have several local roasters and tea makers. Seek out Leelanau Coffee, Higher Grounds and Northern Roasting.
For organic tea ask for By The Light of Day Teas.