Grand Rapids

From our Community: What’s your Favorite Place in Michigan to get Comfort Food?

January 24, 2012

As temperatures drop, it’s the perfect time of year to cozy up with friends and family and enjoy your favorite comfort foods. From the mac and cheese at the Clarkston Union Bar & Kitchen to the chicken at Zehnder’s or Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth, there are plenty of places to indulge in your favorite comfort dishes across the state – including a few hidden gems.

We got some great responses over the weekend when we asked fans on our Facebook page: “What’s your favorite place in Michigan to get comfort food?” Here are some comments we wanted to share. Thanks to everyone who responded!

“xochimilcos in Mexican town in Detroit.” – Alex Gurne

“Chicken Jalapeno soup at Art’s in Glen Arbor!” – Aline Levanen Gauss

“The best breakfast comfort food is at Suomi’s, in Houghton, way up in da UP. Traditional Finnish breakfast and regular breakfast foods. All. SO. GOOD.” – Olivia Zajac

“RUB BBQ across from Comerica park has the best Mac n Cheese hands down.” – Jesse Cahill

“Clarkston Union has awesome (gourmet) mac n cheese.” – Patrick Fetterman

“Mac and cheese from Blue Tractor in Traverse City. ♥ it!!” – Chelsea Lyn

“Grand Rapids: Hopcat – Killer Mac n Cheese. Tip: add bacon and jalapenos, mmmm!” – Kevin Littlepage

“The Hilltop in L’anse. Cinnamon rolls the size of your head.” – Robert Bruce Brevitz

“Central City Tap House in downtown Kalamazoo serves mac & cheese with pork belly. Can’t think of a more perfect combination! Plus vast scotch whisky menu and craft beers.” – Karel Juhl

“Slow’s BBQ in Corktown, and the Mac ‘n Cheese at Zingermans Deli in A2 (Ann Arbor) can’t be beat. It’s divine!” – Colleen Smith Adkins

“Besides my own kitchen, DeLuca’s in Lansing.” – Lucy Dionise Platte

“Fieldstone Grille in Portage…they have the best pot roast sandwhich!” – Jennifer Zindler

“At home; my husbands meatloaf. It must be why God made cows! And Zehnder’s in Frankenmuth for CHICKEN !!! YAY!!!” – Sarahlynn E Kelly

{ 12 comments - Read and add your own }

Connect with your Facebook Account

Getaway from the Holidays

December 21, 2011

in Guest Blogger,Places To Stay

The Terrace Grille at the Bay Pointe Inn

Just 30 minutes from Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, the Bay Pointe Inn on Gun Lake is Dianna Stampfler’s perfect getaway from the frenzy of the holidays.

Trying to cram work, holiday get-togethers and last-minute shopping into the already hectic life of a single mom creates undue stress around what is supposed to be the most wonderful time of year. By the time I settle into a lakeside deluxe suite, I am ready to relax. The soft nautical blues and greens of the room are peaceful and calming, which sets the tone for my night away. Equipped with a stack of magazines, I draw a bath in the oversized whirlpool tub, light the fireplace and settle in for an afternoon of me-time.

Tempura Asparagus at the Terrace Grille

As it turns out, lounging makes you hungry. Luckily, I don’t have to go far—the Terrace Grille is downstairs. A glass of Michigan Riesling kicks off an amazing meal. The sweet baked Brie and crispy tempura asparagus are delicious. The entree, The Original Bay Pointe Beef Wellington, is a tribute to the former landmark restaurant. The property has welcomed travelers as a resort, summer home, campground and restaurant since the 1880s. The beef Wellington is a delicate blend of flakey pastry crust and a filet so tender that I barely need a knife.

Because I’m on a mini vacation, I don’t feel guilty about ordering dessert. I take the ultimate indulgence—chocolate lava cake—to my suite to enjoy. It seems almost a shame to call it a night so early, but the plush king-size bed lures me under the covers. I am thankful for the solitude and banish all thoughts of work, household chores, parental responsibilities and, yes, even sugarplums.

The sun filters into the room, and I wake eager to start the day. Refreshed and recharged, I want to make the most of the morning. I snag a yogurt and banana from the Continental breakfast buffet and drive about 15 minutes to Yankee Springs State Recreation area for a hike through the forest. One of six hiking trails, the 2-mile Hall Lake trail winds through the woods. I don’t encounter anyone else on the hike—I am alone with my thoughts.

Facing the New Year doesn’t seem all that daunting, having recharged mind, body and spirit without overcharging my budget.

Dianna Stampfler loves Michigan so much that she’s made a career out of it! Her marketing consultant company, Promote Michigan, is just one of the many ways this fourth-generation Michigan resident shows her appreciation for the Great Lakes State.

{ 1 comment - Read and add your own }

Connect with your Facebook Account

Cross-Country Skiing in Pure Michigan

December 15, 2011

in Outdoors,Snowsports

Photo courtesy of Upper Peninsula Travel & Recreation Association

Michigan may not be known for mountainous terrain, but it does offer some of the best cross-country skiing in the country – great for both fun and exercise. More than 3,000 miles of trails stretch across the state, Mackinac Island included. Come winter, the entire east side of the island is reserved solely for cross country fun, with ski rental and instruction available.

For those unwilling to brave the icy Straits, there’s plenty of prime skiing available on the northern Michigan mainland – from the Sand Dunes Ski Trail in St. Ignace, to the Peek-A-Boo Hill Ski Trail in Cedarville. For a more adventurous trek, the 35 mile Petoskey to Mackinaw Trail stretches 35 miles through eight cities.

There’s plenty of fun to be had downstate as well:

Bald Mountain Recreation Area in Lake Orion is known for its eight miles of groomed cross country skiing trails, and is also a great destination for snowmobiling, sledding and ice fishing.

Bernard W. Baker Sanctuary in Bellevue was the first sanctuary of the Michigan Audubon Society. Well-known as a refuge for Greater Sandhill Cranes, cross country skiing is welcomed along its trails in-season.

Blandford Nature Center in Grand Rapids is a 143 acre facility, giving visitors the opportunity to explore a variety of nature areas along its cross country trails. It’s also possible to warm up indoors with special exhibits and Blandford’s popular wildlife care program.

For more information on cross country skiing in the Mackinac Island region, or throughout the state, visit www.michigan.org.

{ 2 comments - Read and add your own }

Connect with your Facebook Account

Fall is a Grape Time for Pure Michigan Wine

October 26, 2011

in Events,Places To Stay,Posts by Region

With the crisp autumn air and rolling landscapes through the scenic countryside, fall is a great time to visit some of the more than 80 Michigan wineries across the state.

Whether it’s touring individual wineries, hitting one of the Michigan wine trails, checking out an upcoming tasting event or staying at one of the winery bed & breakfast inns in the Grand Traverse Region, there are plenty of activities to make every wine lover feel right at home in Pure Michigan.

Taste

Join Heather Dean, sommelier for Andiamo restaurants in the Detroit metropolitan area, as she introduces selections available for sampling at the Michigan Wine Tasting on October 27 at Lorenzo Cultural Center at Macomb Community College in Clinton Township.
Try delicious appetizers and desserts from 13 local restaurants that complement Michigan wines and other international sips to be poured at A Taste for the Holidays, on November 2 at Bordine Nursery in Clarkston.
Sample food, wine, beer, and spirits and enjoy gastronomic workshops, seminars and cooking demos at the 4^th annual Grand Rapids International Wine & Food Festivalat DeVos Place on the Grand River, November 17-18.
Feast on a Fall Harvest Dinner of country ham, scalloped potatoes, applesauce streusel and wines of Wolcott Winery in Mt. Morris on October 29.
Savor the delicacies of two chefs who will create different 5-course menus served with appropriate wines for the November 5 and November 12 Fall Harvest Dinners at Fenn Valley Vineyards in Fennville.

Tour

Sip and tour the winery while sampling food and wine pairings at the Brys Estate Annual Harvest Tour, on October 29 on the Old Mission Peninsula.
Join the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association for the Toast the Season on the weekends of November 5-6 and November 12-13 and visit your choice of 8 of the 18 member wineries each day for a self-guided tour to sample wine and gourmet food pairings geared toward the holidays.

Stay

Extend your visit with an overnight stay at wineries that also offer Bed & Breakfast accommodations. Black Star Farms in Suttons Bay has an inn with 8 guest rooms. Overlooking Grand Traverse Bay is Chateau Grand Traverse with its 6 guest rooms, and the 11-room Chateau Chantal. While not a winery, The Grey Hare Inn Vineyard Bed & Breakfast grows grapes and is conveniently located to the wineries of Old Mission and the Grand Traverse region.

{ 2 comments - Read and add your own }

Connect with your Facebook Account

Sneak Peek at the Pure Michigan 2012 Calendar

October 21, 2011

in Posts by Region

The Pure Michigan 2012 Calendar is now for sale in the Pure Michigan Store. We offer a peek at each month’s photo and some fun facts about the location featured. Note: All photos were taken by Chris Arace unless otherwise noted.

Cover photo:

The cover of the calendar, shot by Ed Wargin, is of Crooked Lake in Petoskey. Crooked Lake is known for the variety of fish in its ranging from trout and bass to perch and walleye.

January:

The snowboarder glides down the slopes at Treetops Resort in Gaylord. Treetops hosted the 2002 World Snowmobile Association Woody’s Regional X Games Qualifier and the 2007 Snowcross Races and offers more than 300 miles of snowmobile trails in a five-county area.

February:

This ice climber is scaling a frozen waterfall in Munising, a city on the southern shore of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula. The city is little more than nine square miles in area and boasts 17 waterfalls with names such as Memorial Falls, Horseshoe Falls and Sable Falls to name a few.

March:

The city of Grand Rapids has everything from art to dining to shopping to golf. It’s also a city of cyclists – The League of American Bicyclists named Grand Rapids a top “Bicycle-Friendly Community” in 2009.

April:

Need a tee time? Check out Tullymore Golf Course in Stanwood. Pictured here is a view from the course’s 15^th hole. Along with St. Ives, the two courses offer some of most challenging holes and beautiful scenery you will find anywhere. Both have earned numerous awards, including holding five-star ratings from Golf Digest.

May:

Arch Rock on Mackinac Island is a geological wonder. It’s a natural limestone arch that stands 146 feet (45 m) above Lake Huron. This kind of formation is rare in the region.

June:

This photo was taken in Ludington, located along the shoreline of Lake Michigan. Midwest Living voted Ludington State Park the #1 state park in the Midwest, with seven miles of Lake Michigan shoreline.

July:

Take a relaxing inner tube ride in Oscoda, the location of July’s photo, and then trek around 35,000 acres of unique trails in the city that range from coastal sand dunes to towering pines and hardwoods.

August:

Our second Munising photo features Pictured Rock National Lakeshore, where you can enjoy 15 miles of shoreline along Lake Superior with sandstone cliffs reaching 200 feet in height.

September:

Saugatuck, located on the west coast of Michigan, is best known for its mix of art galleries, scenery and Oval Beach, which has been rated by Conde Nast’s “Traveler Magazine” as one of the 25 best shorelines in the world.

October:

Fallasburg Bridge in Vergennes Township provides a beautiful lookout to take in fall’s colors. The bridge, built in 1971, stretches 100 feet long and stands 14 feet wide and 12 feet high. It is one of only three covered bridges open to vehicle traffic in Michigan.

November:

This lighthouse can be found at Manitou Beach in the southeast part of Michigan. There are more than 115 lighthouses across Michigan’s coastline. Check out a directory of lighthouses on michigan.org.

December:

Gaylord, Michigan’s Alpine Village, completes our 2012 calendar. In the winter, the North Central State Trail, which stretches from Gaylord to Mackinaw City and is a great hiking and biking trail in the summer, becomes one of Gaylord’s 300 snowmobile trails.