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Gathering Flavor
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU PAUSED TO APPRECIATE THE MEAL ON YOUR PLATE AND THE HANDS THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE? THESE FOOD ADVENTURES WILL HAVE YOU PUTTING DOWN YOUR PHONE AND EXPERIENCING MICHIGAN FRESHNESS WITH ALL YOUR SENSES.
Food connects us all.
Eating and drinking together bring us closer to our environment—and to one another. Experience where your food comes from and the care involved in its preparation with chef-curated meals, farm visits and tasting sessions. Here are a few ways to sample (and savor) the literal fruits of local purveyors’ labors throughout Michigan.
Pop-up and hosted meals
Any uncertainty guests might have about joining 10 or so strangers for a multicourse meal in a cabin in Marquette evaporates the moment chef-owner Carrie Masters brings out the first course. Suddenly the table is transformed into a gathering of food-lovers recalling favorite childhood dishes and learning how Masters roasts acorns for her luxurious roast acorn coffee ice cream. Maybe that’s why she prefers to describe an evening at Bird & Toad as “a dinner party in my home with friends who just don’t know each other yet.”
Farm tours and tastings
Old MacDonald would be proud of Pond Hill Farm. Yes, you’ll find (farm-raised) pork and poultry, but this year- round agricultural destination in Harbor Springs also produces jams, sauces, wines and ciders from produce grown on the premises. Start with a walk through the vineyards, fields and barns, then head for the tasting room to sip and sample signature beverages and small-batch goodies. Still hungry? Slide into a seat at the farm-to-table cafe, which serves brick-oven pizzas, homemade soups and spicy peanut noodles covered in a salty-sweet sauce that’s also sold by the jar.
Hands-on workshops and specialty markets
Having in-house butchers on her team means chef Sarah Welch can educate diners on the sustainable farming and processing practices that support the protein-focused menu at Marrow in Detroit. Expert-led workshops on butchering, pasta-making, fermentation and even candle-making show the curious how to work with exceptional ingredients to create memorable meals. If you’re looking for an experience a bit less labor intensive, head to the on-site shop for meticulously prepared chops, steaks, sausages and more.
01
Put tech on pause.
Gather phones in a basket before the meal to encourage guests to remain fully present. Agree to one moment for pics (perhaps the arrival of dessert). Snap and then wait until after dinner to share and post.
02
Set the mood.
Slow racing minds with soft music and candles. Have a simple snack already sitting out. (You can’t go wrong with nuts or olives.) Place prompt cards or a short question list on the table to stimulate conversation.
03
Focus on the food.
Food is easy to talk about because we’re all experts on what we like. If you’re curious about an ingredient, ask the chef. Does a dish remind you of something from your childhood? Share it! In a minute or two, the table will be abuzz in the delicious now.
