Fancy Feast

Setting the table with help from Petoskey’s artisanal shops

By Geri Dietze | Oct. 15, 2022

There’s something special about autumn, when crisp days and nights lend themselves to cozy get-togethers. Cool-weather meals are substantial and worth lingering over, and changing colors create an enticing palette for decorating.

To help you get in the entertaining-indoors mood—and to get some practice before the holidays kick into gear—we’ve scoured the shops of the Petoskey area to find everything you need to create a memorable fall feast, from apps to main courses, from desserts to fine wines. We’ll even help you set the table. Go ahead and start on that guest list; we’ve got everything else under control.

The Table
For a gorgeous fall table setting, visit Cutler’s in Petoskey’s Gaslight District. Juliska’s Forest Walk dinnerware, made in Portugal, gives a nod to the great outdoors, adorned with delicate ferns, feathers, acorns, and twigs. Spode’s fine English earthenware in the Woodland pattern is another great way to set the fall mood, with its artistic renderings of forest creatures (plus man’s best friend) set against Spode’s British Flowers border from 1831. Or let the food be the star against a setting of pure white china and porcelain. Cutler’s is well known for tasteful, cutting edge, top-tier gifts, home décor, tabletop, and kitchenware. (231) 347-0341, cutlersonline.com

Next, choose a beautiful centerpiece from Sky’s the Limit. The Woodsy Wishes arrangement is a lavish blend of roses, sunflowers, solidago, mums, and lotus pods in autumnal colors. This arrangement will match perfectly with either of the dinnerware patterns mentioned above, and its low 8-inch profile will enhance the setting without getting in the way of table talk. To grace the charcuterie or dessert table, choose the Jordan: red and orange roses with greenery in a low glass cylinder. Sky’s the Limit is a full service, family-owned florist and has served the area for decades. (231) 347-7770, flowersfromskysthelimit.com

The Starter
Charcuterie is a perfect starter for a fall gathering. Head over to Petoskey Cheese, which has been impressing patrons since 2016, for everything you could possibly need. Build upon hand-cut artisanal cheeses, Italian cured meats, and just about every sort of cracker and crisp, including hand-made baked herb tortillas. Think of fresh chevre, rich gouda, salami, and pate, surrounded by cashews and Marcona almonds, plus jellies and homemade dips. There’s an olive bar, too. Choose a locally crafted wooden board and let the staff create your platter or design your own with a sectioned tray to guide your creation. (231)753-2805, petoskeycheese.com

The Main
Your guests will know they are held in high regard when you present an elegant surf and turf, a classic of fine dining and a dish that is generating new appreciation among foodies. In this neck of the woods, the go-to source for land and sea meats is Toski Sands, Petoskey’s specialty emporium serving the area since 1968. For this occasion, choose a USDA Prime tenderloin roast from Washington state’s Double R Ranch and sweet, colossal Alaskan King Crab legs, flown in regularly. But Toski Sands is much more: Shelves are neat as a pin and abundantly stocked with tempting displays of specialty items, staples, and a lot of cool things you didn’t know you needed. Embrace the impulse buy. (231) 347-1571, toskisandsmarket.com

To create your breadbasket, seek out the edible works of art from Crooked Tree Breadworks. Choose a Rustic Sourdough Baguette, heartier than its Parisian cousin with its rich, chewy texture, plus a dozen crispy-topped, aromatic Pepper Parmesan Rolls. These are the perfect accompaniment to dinner, and they make for excellent next-day filet of beef sandwiches…if there are leftovers. Just a few steps away from Toski Sands, Crooked Tree Breadworks was one of the area’s earliest proponents of the whole food/local food/good food movement, and their hand-crafted quality has remained consistent since 1996. (231) 591-8688, breadworks.com

Elevate the bread even more with Fustini’s Herbs de Provence Olive Oil, a nicely balanced blend of thyme, savory, rosemary, marjoram, and lavender. And, for your salad, whisk Fustini’s Champagne or Pinot Grigio Vinegar into a delicate vinaigrette. In the Petoskey store, Fustini’s staff will show you how to pair flavored oils with complementary vinegars for all the dips and dressings you need. Their fine oils and vinegars, sourced internationally from small batch growers and artisanal suppliers, are staples in every well-stocked pantry. (231) 758-3575, fustinis.com

The Wine
Luxe dining requires equally exalted wines. To help choose one or many, visit Symons General Store and Wine Cellar, the 60-year-old landmark in Petoskey’s Gaslight District. Symons’ collection of hundreds of national and international wines, many bearing the Wine Spectator imprimatur, can easily elevate your autumn feast. Since this is a special dinner, go big. (We’re thinking Dom Perignon Brut 2010, for starters.)

And, by this time in your shopping spree, you probably need sustenance, so grab a beautiful deli sandwich for your pre-dinner snack—the Five Dragon, their version of an amped-up Reuben, is a big favorite. (231) 347-2438, symonsgeneralstore.com

The Dessert
Last but not least, for the perfect finish to your feast, order dessert from Simply Sweet by Jessica, busily creating confections since 2011. Simply Sweet has all the fall flavors including pumpkin, hazelnut, and salted caramel, and owner Jessica can spin them into something just for you. Her made-to-order cakes are works of art, and her dessert bars, a themed collection of individual treats, look too pretty to eat. (But don’t let that stop you.) Choose a selection of mini cupcakes, filled pastries, hand-dipped chocolates, and macarons, all in rich fall colors. Get extra to send your guests home with a souvenir of the evening. (231) 622-8322, simplysweetbyjessica.com