Anna Faller | Author

Aug. 5, 2023

The brainchild of chef Ryan Mateling, AIKO Street Food (which means “little loved one” in Japanese) blends local ingredients with Izakaya cuisine, and the flavors are anything but small! Our go-to dish, and a truck menu staple, is a savory Japanese street pancake called Okonomiy… Read More >>

Stormcloud Brewing Company’s The Hat Dept.

July 29, 2023

Ever heard of a Belgian-style Pilsner? We hadn’t either, until we discovered Stormcloud’s seasonal brew, The Hat Dept., and we can’t think of a better sunny day pairing! Belgian-inspired, but with a local twist, this crusher of a summer lager blends Belgian malt with Michi… Read More >>

That French Place’s Blueberry Cream Cheese Croissants

July 22, 2023

Nestled in downtown Charlevoix, That French Place is all about treating our Midwest tastebuds to classic French recipes, and their seasonal Blueberry Cream Cheese Croissants ($4.50) are so authentic, they should come with plane tickets. Each batch begins with imported French butter folded i… Read More >>

The 2023 Summer Camping Forecast

July 15, 2023

For many of us, it just wouldn’t be a Michigan summer without a few days (or weeks) spent sleeping under the stars, even if that comes with dozens of mosquito bites. But, where do we go to get off-grid, and how can we enjoy those places safely?

Northern Express sat do… Read More >>

Trattoria Stella’s Kick Your Knees Up

July 15, 2023

“Treat yourself” takes on all new meaning when your pre-dinner drink gives back to the community. Enter: the Kick Your Knees Up ($15) cocktail at Trattoria Stella in the Village at Grand Traverse Commons. A longtime staple of their curated beverage menu, this summer sipper start… Read More >>

Fried Food Truck’s Roasted Beef Sandwich

July 8, 2023

Good food is the name of the game at Fried Food Truck in Lake Leelanau. While there’s nothing short of delicious on their almost entirely un-fried menu, the star of the show is their Roasted Beef Sandwich ($15). It starts with a tender, Detroit-style hoagie layered with shaved ribeye … Read More >>

Pinning Their Hopes on Pins

July 1, 2023

Now in its 97th year, the National Cherry Festival has drawn local crowds for decades for its celebration of local fruit, time-honored traditions, and the singular opportunity to eat a cherry pie with no hands. But, beneath all the thrill rides and funnel cake, the festival is also a critic… Read More >>

Neu Cellars’ 2022 Crispy

July 1, 2023

In German, “neu” means new, young, or fresh, and northern Michigan winemaker Neu Cellars is more than living up to the name. Established in 2018 by ferment-fanatic John Keller and his father, this “nano-winery” uses regional fruit, sourced from both Old Mission and L… Read More >>

Cheese & Co.’s The Company Bowl

June 24, 2023

As the name suggests, Cheese & Co. in Petoskey is all about melty, cheesy goodness, from crispy mac and cheese bites to six types of gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. Their best-selling menu item, though—lovingly dubbed The Company Bowl ($16.04)—is somehow almost dairy-free… Read More >>

Finding "Beloved Community"

June 17, 2023

It’s been three years since the murder of George Floyd and the ensuing protests and racial reckonings that spread across the country. Traverse City-based nonprofit Title Track was one of the first local organizations to tackle conversations around racial equity, but how have those eff… Read More >>

Bailey’s Farms’ Hummingbird Nectar Kombucha

June 17, 2023

Pop quiz: what’s good for your gut, but still tastes great in a wine glass? If you guessed Bailey’s Farms small-batch kombucha, you’re right! Bailey’s Farms’ light and fizzy ferments are made from Light of Day Organics’ teas and are packed with local bota… Read More >>

The Mill’s Whole Wheat Hand Pie

June 10, 2023

Opened in April in Glen Arbor, The Mill café and bakery is a one-stop shop for all things nostalgia, from the charm of its past as a local grain mill to their wildly-popular Whole Wheat Hand Pies. An elegant take on the classic pasty, each pie is baked in a hot-water crust—that… Read More >>

Fingers Crossed’s Lavender Lemonade

June 3, 2023

There’s something about ice-cold lemonade on a sunny day that just feels right. This summer, find us posted up at Fingers Crossed in Northport, quenching that craving with their newly-released Lavender Lemonade. A kicked-up take on the classic Tom Collins, this drink begins with the c… Read More >>

Straight from the Horse’s Mouth

June 3, 2023

What does a Smithsonian scientist have in common with an enslaved horse groom and a 20th-century art collector? The answer might surprise you.

In her newest book, Horse, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks chronicles the legacy of distinguished thoroughbred Lexin… Read More >>

Market M22’s Reuben

May 27, 2023

As the old saying goes, we eat first with our eyes. This week, we’re inviting you to the visual feast of Market 22’s sandwich bar. Opened in 2013, this corner deli and eatery has all the charm of an Up North retreat and more freshly-sliced meats than we can count! Our current ob… Read More >>

Furnace Street Distillery’s The Trick Dog

May 20, 2023

The newly-released spring cocktail menu at Furnace Street Distillery in Elberta is all about riffing on classic flavors, and The Trick Dog, well, does the trick! Named for the distillery’s past as an art gallery and cafe, this beverage is equal parts familiar and funky. It starts with… Read More >>

Building a Legacy with Patrick Doud’s Irish Pub

May 20, 2023

Fourth-generation Mackinac native Andrew Doud and his wife, Nicole, have always embraced their island heritage. Together, they operate the historic Doud’s Market—aka “America’s Oldest Grocery Store”—which they took over in 2007. They’re also the bra… Read More >>