A taste of Harbor Springs

Sept. 20, 2009

A Taste of Harbor Springs
Festival brings out foodies this week

By Kristi Kates 9/21/09

Many people enjoy what’s called a “tasting menu” at fine dining restaurants; a selection of dishes that represent the restaurant’s usual menu, but just in smaller portions so that you can try a little of several different things. Well, foodies, would you like three hours’ worth of tasting menus from some of Harbor Springs’ best restaurants? Then Saturday, September 26 is your lucky day.
Mary Ellen Hughes, proprietor of the popular ’50s-themed downtown restaurant and old-fashioned soda fountain Mary Ellen’s Place, founded the Taste of Harbor Springs back in September of 1994, in coordination with the Harbor Springs Chamber of Commerce. It’s both a season-spanning draw to downtown Harbor Springs, and an even bigger benefit to local residents who hope to become restaurant chefs someday.
“I was looking to create an event in the shoulder season,” Hughes explains, “but my other motive was to benefit two scholarships for the culinary arts. All businesses need trained staff, and they want the culinary arts scholarships to continue, the idea being to get people schooled, and hopefully they will return to our area someday. It’s my long-term goal. The participating restaurants are not graded or in competition with each other; it’s a community event for a good cause.”
The event takes place under two large tented areas on the Harbor Springs downtown waterfront from noon to 3 p.m.; it generally falls on a slightly different date each year as the event runs after Labor Day.

NOTHING BUT FOOD
There are no other distracting activities, games, or lectures, besides some great music from the Harbor Springs Community Band; the focus is simply on food and more food. Each restaurant presents some of their most popular dishes, and one flat fee allows each foodie participant to attend the entire event and sample everything that appeals to them.
“We have hors d’oevres to soups, desserts, main courses; each person pays $20 to get in, and then can graze through for three hours,” Hughes says.
The participating restaurants are many of Harbor Springs’ most acclaimed. Hughes is still putting the finishing touches on the final schedule of participants, but she says that Stafford’s Pier, Turkey’s, The New York, Little Traverse Bay Golf Club, Tom’s Mom’s Cookies, Kilwin’s Chocolates, Boyne Highlands, Teddy Griffin’s Road House, American Spoon Foods, and, of course her, own Mary Ellen’s Place have never missed a year.
So you’d better bring your appetite along with that $20 bucks.
“With that many restaurants, a small amount of food is all you could have, and still manage to try everything,” Hughes says.

This year’s Taste of Harbor Springs takes place on September 26 from noon to 3 p.m. on the waterfront in downtown Harbor Springs; for more information, visit www.harborspringschamber.com.