Palette Bistro’s Acorn Squash

Tastemaker

By Anna Faller | Nov. 20, 2021

Known for its casual-upscale vibe and built on a foundation of Mediterranean flavor, Palette Bistro’s ever-evolving menu of small plates, brick-oven offerings, and locally sourced ingredients has made the place an Up North foodie find since the region’s WineGuys Restaurant Group opened it in 2010.

Our latest favorite: Palette’s autumn acorn squash. Halved, seeded, roasted, and then upturned like a bowl, the squash is filled with a heaping, harvest mix of apple and onion, brown rice, quinoa, and Merguez — a spicy, Algerian sausage that brings a beautifully balanced bite to the sweet apples and earthy grains. From there, the overflowing squash is drizzled in Fustini’s Harissa olive oil, finished with a delicate Gruyere “tuile” (aka French wafer) and served atop a smear of curried apple and carrot puree.

It’s an eclectic, cold-weather dish with all the fixings of fall — but it tastes good enough to be a year-round favorite. $27. Find Palette Bistro at 321 Bay St., Petoskey. (231) 348-3321. www.palettebistropetoskey.com