Category: Michigan

Lehto’s Pasties – St. Ignace, MI

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

Pink Pony Bar – Mackinac Island, MI

Mackinac Island, Michigan is a really special place. It is located in Lake Huron between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsula. What makes this place so special? There are no cars on this island. You can only get there via ferry or seaplane. To get around the island you can walk, ride a bike, or take a horse drawn carriage. It really takes you back to a simpler time.

There are many things to do around the island. This includes eating and drinking. That is exactly what I decided to so when I visited the Pink Pony Bar. It is located inside the Chippewa Hotel. This pink themed restaurant has been around since 1948.

There are pink pony painted murals around the bar. There are pink lights and accents everywhere as well. Since pink is my favorite color I loved it all.

I started at the bar for a snack and a beer. They had a nice selection of craft beers to choose from. I went for the Pink Pony Ale, the namesake of the bar.

For my snack I got the soft pretzel sticks. They were served with a side of homemade cheese sauce for dipping. And they had whole grain mustard. The pretzels were nice and soft. The dough was sweet and it was accented by the salt coating the outside. The cheese sauce was fantastic. It was so creamy. It tasted perfect with the pretzel.

After a little while I met up with the group I was with and we grabbed a table for dinner. Out table had a great view out the large windows overlooking the water.

We got a few appetizers to share. The onion rings came out in a pretty cool basket. They were stacked on top of each other, creating a tower. The outside coating was super crunchy. The onion on the inside was soft and sweet. These were perfect for sharing.

The fried calamari was good to share as well. Each piece was also really crispy. They put a generous amount of parmesan cheese on top which was a nice addition.

The flatbread was the perfect size for an appetizer. The dough was slightly sweet with a little smoky taste. The fresh mozzarella was slightly melted and still in large chunks. They had great roasted tomatoes spread around which added a slight acidic taste to the creamy cheese.

Because of all the appetizers I filled up on, I ended up only ordering the French onion soup for dinner. The crock came out with a huge slice of provolone cheese melted on top of two slices of bread. The bread had soaked up the broth so well that it easily broke apart with my spoon.

The caramelized onions in the soup were so sweet. I loved how many onions they used too. The broth itself was sweet and savory. Sometimes the broth of onion soup can be really salty, this was perfect.

The food was great at the Pink Pony Bar. It was a great place to grab a drink or stay for a meal. Add this place to the must visit list if you are in Mackinac Island.

Check them out at www.pinkponybar.com or www.pinkponymackinac.com

Enjoy!

T

Murdick’s Fudge – Mackinac Island, MI

When I told people I was going to visit Mackinac Island in Michigan, they all said I had to make sure to get some fudge. That is what they are famous for. There are a few places to go but visiting Murdick’s is a must.

Murdick’s Fudge is the original fudge shop. They have been making the creamy treat for over 125 years.

Before I even opened the door, I could smell the chocolate fudge being made. When I opened the door, the sweet aroma just hit me. I was in heaven.

As I walked around the shop I was able to watch them make the fudge from start to finish. It all started with the copper pots. All the ingredients were mixed in these huge pots over an open flame.

Once the liquid chocolate mixture was ready, they poured it onto a marble table that had a wooden frame around the edges. This prevented the liquid chocolate from spilling onto the floor.

Then they worked the fudge with an oversized spatula like item. They pushed it and turned it across the table.

As I watched them do this I could see that the chocolate mixture was starting to cool. As it cooled it started to become firmer. They continued to push and turn the chocolate.

Eventually they removed the wooden frame. They then started folding the chocolate and I could see it starting to form the texture of fudge.

They continued to fold it until they created a really long log.

After it cooled, they came through and started cutting the fudge into small slices. Some went into the cases to be sold and others were packed into boxes.

They had so many varieties of fudge to choose from.

I had to at least try the chocolate since I watched them make it. It was creamy and smooth. It melted in my mouth. It had such a rich taste and it was extremely sweet. It is exactly what fudge should be.

I also got some peanut butter fudge to go. I figured I could enjoy it on my trip back home. It too was smooth and creamy. The flavor and aroma of the peanut butter was amazing. It was as if I opened a jar of it and took a deep breath.

You must go see them make fudge at Murdick’s. They do it the traditional way and they put so much care and love into it. You will definitely want to buy some, you will not be able to stop yourself.

Check out their rich history as well as all their flavors at www.originalmurdicksfudge.com. Plus, you can order online and have it shipped throughout the US and Canada.

Enjoy!

T

The Pasta House – Kinde, MI

During my trip to Michigan I drove through the small town of Kinde. It was around lunch time, so I decided to check out a local restaurant called The Pasta House.

It is located on the main street of Kinde. It is right across the street from some grain silos.

They have been serving the folks f this town for over 20 years.

It was a cute restaurant inside with a fun retro feel, complete with a juke box.

They also had old pictures of the town on the wall. It was really cool to see what the main street looked like in the early 1900s.

The friendly waitress too our lunch order. I went for the potato pierogies. They fried them up so that the outside was crispy. The potato inside was hot and creamy. They sprinkled caramelized onions on top of all the pierogies. This added extra flavor with a hint of sweetness.

They served a side of sour cream. I normally do not eat pierogies with this. I did dip a few bites in to see what it tasted like. It really only added a tart taste to the potato.

The table also ordered a pizza to share. We got a supreme pizza. It was loaded with sausage, pepperoni, olives (both black and green), onions, ham and bacon. I loved all the combination of ingredients. The savory, salty, sweet flavors all worked perfectly together. The crust was a nice light dough. There was a hint of sweetness, but nothing that took away from the toppings.

This was a nice place to check out. I was glad I got to experience a little of the town Kinde. Visit their website at www.kindepastahouse.com

Enjoy!

T

Dizzy Daisy Winery – Bad Axe, MI

While I was visiting Bad Axe, Michigan I came across a little winery called Dizzy Daisy Winery. It is a retired dairy farm that got converted to grow grapes for wine and hard ciders. I wanted to make sure to check them out.

They are located off the beaten path of the main road. But nestled back in the fields is the cute winery. When I walked into their tasting room I was amazed by all their options to choose from. I counted at least 70 options.

They have something for everyone. There are dry, sweets, semi-sweets, and semi-dry. They even have a port to try.

Their tastings allow you to try 5 of their wines. That made it hard to narrow down. Since I like sweet wines I asked the knowledgeable staff what they suggest I try.

I started with a Riesling. That is usually my go to sweet wine. It was good and not overly sweet.

Now that I got started I was ready to try their more specialty sweet wines. I tried the Caseville Paradise second. It had a nice orange taste. I cold also smell the orange aroma.

My third selection was the Dizzy Diva. This was essentially a peach chardonnay. I could smell a hint of peach. It was just a subtle taste too. I really enjoyed this for a chardonnay, which can sometime be dry.

For my forth choice, they recommended that I try a semi-sweet. This was the Dizzy Spell. It was a Rose wine. It had a nice, soft sweet taste. This was one of my favorites, so ended up buying a bottle to enjoy later in the day.

My last tasting was of the Polka Party. It was another sweet variety. I did not taste any hint of fruit, just very sweet and full of grape flavor. I also bought a bottle of this wine to take with me on my trip.

This was a great place. The tastings were wonderful. They have a few tables outside, so you can buy a bottle and enjoy it in the fresh air.

Check out their full list of wines and where you might be able to purchase them at www.dizzydaisywinery.com

Enjoy!

T

Rachel’s – Bad Axe, MI

I was invited to a wedding in a small Michigan town called Bad Axe. There were a few local places that were recommended to check out. For dinner I visited Rachel’s which was extremely busy for this small town. It was one of the most popular restaurants.

Since I was visiting in July they had a Christmas themed cocktail menu for “Christmas in July”. It was a cute theme. I went for the Merry Mule. It was cranberry liqueur, orange vodka, fresh lime juice, a homemade simple syrup, and ginger beer. It tasted like Christmas to me. It was sweet but had a slight hint of spice. It reminded me of cranberry sauce that I enjoy with turkey.

They brought out fresh, homemade bread. It was right out of the oven so it was nice and warm. They served it with a side of marinara sauce for dipping.

I got a few appetizers for the table. The calamari were a hit. It was cut into ling strips and then fried. The calamari were very tender.

I also tried the Broasted Mushrooms, which were their version of fried mushrooms.  They used whole, fresh mushrooms, and lightly breaded them. They served a homemade Cajun ranch dipping sauce on the side. The mushrooms were very tender. The sauce gave it a nice little kick.

For my dinner I got the Blackened Mango Salmon. They used a bunch of Cajun spices to create the perfect blackening. It was spicy and crispy. The salmon itself was cooked perfectly, still being flakey when I cut a piece.

They topped it with a fresh made mango salsa. The sweetness of the salsa complemented to salty spice of the blackened coating. They also served a generous portion of crispy brussels sprouts and seasoned rice.

I definitely saved room for dessert. The first one I tried was the Key Lime Pie. The filling was firm and had a great tangy, tart taste. They topped it with a citrus whipped cream and sprinkled toasted coconut shavings on top. Both added extra sweet flavor to the pie.

The other dessert was the Sticky Toffee Bundt. This was a mini bundt cake that was served warm. They covered the cake with a warm caramel sauce. This added a rich taste to the cake. The cake itself was very moist. They served a side of vanilla ice cream on the side. The ice cream was very creamy and melted as it touched the warm cake.

This was a great place to grab some dinner in Bad Axe. Check them out if you are in town or passing through.

Visit their website at www.rachelsofbadaxe.com

Enjoy!

T

Brooklyn Street Local – Detroit, MI

I had just landed in Detroit from my early morning flight. I was starving and wanted to find a local restaurant to grab breakfast. When I was checking out what was in the area, Brooklyn Street Local kept popping up with great reviews from past customers. I decided to check them out.

It was a small place on the inside and it was filling up quickly. One of the things I noticed was their chalk board on the wall. It listed out all of the local farms and establishment where they acquire all the ingredients. I knew from this that I was going to get a really fresh breakfast.

While I looked over their menu I got a mimosa. The orange juice was sweet, which is how I enjoy it. Nothing is worse than sour, bitter orange juice.

I decided to get the poutine for breakfast. I know it sounds strange, but I guess by putting an egg on top it makes it breakfast.

I took the egg off and ate it on the side.

The fresh cut French fries were covered in a mushroom gravy. It was savory and had a few pieces of mushroom throughout. The gravy was not salty at all, which was nice. The salty taste came from the chunks of cheese curd that were tossed in with the fries. The curds did not melt from the gravy, they stayed firm which made it easy to eat with a fork.

This was a great, quick stop for breakfast. The food was fantastic, and the service was fast. I would want to check them out for lunch.

Visit their website at www.brooklynstreetlocal.com

Enjoy!

T