There is a specialty food item that visitors must try when they are in Michigan. That food item is called Pasties. These are essentially a meat pie.
These hand held treats date back to the turn of the century. They were created for the workers in the mines. They needed something that they could easily carry with them. Those pasties were filled with different meats. The pie shell trapped in the heat so when the workers were ready to eat them, they were still warm. A side of gravy is also served so that the pies could be dipped. Some stories say that the miners were able to warm the gravy up with their lanterns.
With a rich history like this, trying the pasties before leaving Michigan was a must. I was in St. Ignace, which is across the lake from Mackinac Island. This is where Lehto’s Pasties is located. They have been serving up these pasties since 1947.
It was a small place and their menu was simple. I got one beef and one chicken pasties with a side of gravy.
These pasties just came out of the fryer. They were extremely hot. I could barely hold them. These needed to cool down for a good 15 minutes at least. So I got them to go.
After letting them cool down, I cut them open. Steam still poured out. These pasties were extremely dense. I actually split these with my friends riding in the car with me.
The shell was flakey and helped soak up the gravy when I dipped it in. The gravy added a savory component on top of the meaty filling. The meat was tender.
There were layers and layers of meat. That is why the pastie was so heavy.
This simple meat pie was very filling. It definitely helped fill an empty stomach. It was different from any other meat pie I had before.
If you are visiting Michigan make sure to try pasties. Lehto’s version were delicious. And if you fall in love with them, you can order them and have them shipped to your home.
Visit their website at www.lehtospasties.com
Enjoy!
T
