Tastemakers: City Park Grilled Salmon/Mackinaw Trail Winery

April 26, 2009

City Park Grill Salmon 4/27/09

Legend has it Ernest Hemingway frequented the City Park Grill during his youth, where he was seen scribbling what would eventually become his “Nick Adams” stories. Since opening in 1875, the Park Garden Café (which became City Park Grill in 1997) has been at the center of Petoskey’s social scene. It continues to have a vibrant live music scene featuring the best musicians the region has to offer along with the occasional traveling band.
But the secret to its success and longevity is the fact that it has a staff that cares. You can teach people how to make a drink or cook a steak, but you can’t teach people to care -- you have to hire those that do. City Park Grill is one of a handful of places I’ve dined at more than 50 times and never once had poor service.
Oh, and yes, the food is fantastic. Try the grilled salmon with the horseradish beurre blanc. The culinary team has done an excellent job not overpowering the salmon’s natural flavors with this hearty sauce. This dish pairs well with several wines and the City Park has an extensive wine list. Try this entree with a bottle of Grgisch Hills Fume Blanc, or keep things local with a bottle of L. Mawby Crement or Shady Lane’s Semi-Dry Riesling.
For some -- in addition to great service -- a good bread to start the meal and a great cup of coffee to end it are two keys to a successful dining experience. City Park delivers on both counts. They have the tastiest biscuits that are made fresh (it seems like they see you walking down the street and throw a pan in the oven for you) and brought to your table in the pan they were baked in.
Whether you live in Petoskey or plan to visit soon, make sure a stop at City Park Grill is part of that itinerary. For a complete menu and lineup of upcoming entertainment: cityparkgrill.com.---Rick Coates


Mackinaw Trail Winery
Now the Upper Peninsula might be a bit too far north of the 45th Parallel to grow winemaking grapes, but that didn’t stop Raffael Stabile from opening Mackinaw Trail Winery in Manistique. While they don’t grow their own grapes, they buy them from the Michigan Lake Shore region (southwest Michigan) and make a wide variety of table wines and a couple of fruit wines. Last year they opened a tasting room in Mackinaw City and that success had Petoskey calling. Here is what they have posted on their winery website:
“Ok, Ok- We have heard enough requests from all of you wonderful patrons that we are opening another tasting room on 204 Howard St. Petoskey, (Gaslight District). We will have our sign up and our doors open by Memorial Day!”
Since opening nearly five years ago, Mackinaw Trail Winery has taken home a collection of medals at wine competitions. Of note is the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, while not the typical big bold California red, Stabile has embraced the softer characteristics that make Michigan reds very food friendly.
Equally impressive are their whites, in particular the North Shore White, made with Vignoles. This wine is excellent with BBQ foods. For dessert try their Blackberrie wine paired with any fruit cobbler.
So the Petoskey area now has two winery tasting rooms (Pleasantview Vineyards). For additional details mackinawtrailwinery.com.---Rick Coates