Food
Fire Up the Smoker: Cordwood BBQ Has the Meats
Find this food truck at The Little Fleet or on Eighth Street
By Geri Dietze | July 12, 2025
Walt Lach has a pretty sweet—and savory—deal: After the launch of Cordwood BBQ 10 years ago, the 2007 Great Lakes Culinary Institute grad continues to grow his business, which remains solidly among Traverse City’s favored venues for authentic smoked eats, plus all the fixings. Seven days a week in the summer, you can find Cordwood at The Little Fleet, where it has maintained its position since 2015. Lach says the food truck … Read More >>
Red Mesa's Chicken 'N' Waffle
Tastemaker
July 12, 2025
This spring, Boyne City’s Red Mesa got a new look and a new menu. On the looks side, local artist Kelly Gilbert installed a vibrant, Latin American-inspired mural behind the restaurant’s bar. On the food side, patrons can try a host of new dishes, including the Chicken ‘N’ Waffle ($12.99) from the appetizer section of the menu. A fresh take on the classic, Red Mesa’s version includes roasted chicken and an arepas … Read More >>
Shady Lane Cellars' Golden Hour
Bottoms Up
By Anna Faller | July 12, 2025
What’s better than catching a pastel sunset over the lake? Pairing it with a glass of the 2023 Golden Hour from Shady Lane Cellars in Suttons Bay! Named for the pinky-orange hue of pre-dusk, this gorgeous pinot gris (which, believe it or not, are red-skinned grapes!) features estate-grown fruit “cold-soaked,” aka crushed and allowed to sit in the press, for about 12 hours prior to fermentation. This creates a unique opportunity for … Read More >>
Two Summer Recipes: Our Cherry Amour
Inside the Ingredients
By Nora Rae Pearl | July 5, 2025
Nothing says love quite like northern Michigan’s summer cherries. They’ll soon be available on every corner, but only in the month of July, so we savor this sweet season. To go U-pick, take a drive north of Traverse City into Williamsburg, where Rennie Orchards has options for both sweet and sour. (Their Jubileum Cherries are a special treat you won’t want to miss!) Just up the road is Farmer White’s, with quarts … Read More >>
MorrisMade’s Cherry Chocolate Sourdough
Tastemaker
By Anna Faller | July 5, 2025
Attention, cherry lovers! Allow us to introduce your next stone-fruit obsession: the Cherry Chocolate Sourdough ($12) at MorrisMade Bread and Bakery in Traverse City. Opened in May, this micro-bakery is all about serving up joy in the form of scratch-made bread and baked goods (did someone say sourdough cinnamon rolls?), and this month’s featured loaf has us cherry excited! It begins with an all-organic starter—which has been thriving since 2017—combined with water, … Read More >>
The SkyBridge's Lavender Lemonade
Bottoms Up
July 5, 2025
Take it from this heights scaredy-cat: Boyne Mountain’s SkyBridge is a sight to behold. The world’s longest timber-towered suspension bridge is about 1,200 feet long and soars nearly 120 feet above the ground. Once you cross the bridge, you’ll find the Summit Snacks food truck, where you can get a little liquid courage for the walk back with a refreshing Lavender Lemonade ($16). Lavender simple syrup, lemonade, and tonic water are complemented … Read More >>
Sleeping Bear, Meet Slurping Bear
A new Asian eatery debuts in Frankfort
By Abby McKiernan | June 28, 2025
In the heart of downtown Frankfort, a new culinary experience is taking root. Slurping Bear Asian Bistro, the latest creation of Ed Carrella and his business partner Tim Potter, brings a fresh take on Asian-inspired comfort food while honoring the local culture and the legends that shape this unique area. Carrella’s path to opening Slurping Bear began long before he even considered moving to Frankfort. Raised in a family-owned pizzeria in the … Read More >>
Artisan's Chicken Saltimbocca
Tastemaker
June 28, 2025
You’ve never had Chicken Saltimbocca like this. (In fact, on the menu at Traverse City’s Artisan, “Saltimbocca” is even in quotes.) In place of the traditional prosciutto-wrapped cutlets, the chefs at Artisan have made flavor-packed chicken polpettes, aka tender and petite chicken meatballs. Ribbons of summer squash are mixed in with crispy slices of salty prosciutto, all sitting atop a base of creamy lemon risotto. The resulting dish ($38) feels summery and … Read More >>
Seismoto Coffee's Banana Bread Matcha
Bottoms Up
By Anna Faller | June 28, 2025
It’s officially hot out, and you know what that means: iced coffee! For our next summer beverage obsession, try the Banana Bread Matcha latte at Seismoto Coffee Bar in Traverse City. The latte isn’t technically coffee, but with its base of finely ground green tea leaves—Seismoto uses the ceremonial-grade stuff from Chamberlain Coffee, whisked to order—it packs just enough of a caffeine pop to kick-start even the sleepiest morning. To complement the … Read More >>
Chubby Unicorn's Breakfast Burrito
Tastemaker
By Anna Faller | June 21, 2025
While we already love Chubby Unicorn in Traverse City for their stacked sandwiches and scratch-made soups, we didn’t know that this day dining gem also makes one heckuva breakfast burrito. Originally a featured item made permanent—because it’s just that good!—this flavor-packed wrap is stuffed with fluffy scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, breakfast sausage, classic Pace picante salsa, and a schmear of homemade bacon jam. It’s all rolled up in a cheddar tortilla, sprinkled … Read More >>
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