Michigan trip, best stops?

The GF and I are heading to GR (staying one night) and TC (two nights) next weekend. She's not big into beer. Think we're hitting up Hopcat after dinner (the tapas place near there) in GR. Might try to finagle a trip to Short's once we get to TC. Anyone familiar with TC wineries? Wondering which would be the top ones.

 

Keep in mind Frenchie's is SMALL. Like, 3 tables small. But the food is really, really good. And if you have to wait for a seat, wander over to Bay Bread or Tilly's Party Store. Bay Bread has my favorite bread, and Tilly's has a small but nice bottle selection.

 

I've only been once, and the locals will probably know better, but I did a self-guided tour up Old Mission Peninsula. There's something like 7 wineries, all within short, scenic drives of one another. That whole peninsula is beautiful, and some of the wineries have outdoor patios. I seem to remember Chateau Chantal and Bowers Harbor as my favorites.

 

Lol. All of them.

I have a preference for Bry's, Black Star and Peninsula, but I've never been to a bad winery in the area. And if you go out Leelanau instead of Old Mission, make sure you hit up tandem Ciders.

 

Shorts has really good food. others in the TC area i HIGHLY recommend are Pearls in Elk Rapids and Firefly in TC right on the Boardman river. both places will also have a good craft beer selection.

 

Also cannot vouch for Pearls enough. LOVE that place.

 

The brand spankin' new Arcadia brewpub in Kalamazoo is less than a mile away from Bell's. jmho, if you go to Bell's, I would definitely check out Arcadia.

 

Yeah, I was thinking of the Battle Creek location, I forgot they were in KZoo now too.

 

Don't forget the new Arcadia is closed Sundays and Mondays. Who does that still??

 

you need to come visit the breweries here in Indy. So many of them have insane hours. Like, closing at 6pm. Been here a year, and I still can't wrap my head around that...

 

I think the best food is at Brewery Vivant. It tends to be a notch above pub grub. If you like BBQ then either Arcadia is your place for that.

For breakfast in TC you should look into going to Patisserie Amie. You'll probably need to stand in line to get in on the weekend, but may be okay during the week at this time of the year. You can tell from the name that it has a French or European 'flavor' to it.

 

Depend what you want. In GR, breakfast should be Wolfgangs in East town, which is very close to vivant. Founders is great for lunch, its a deli type menu with very good hot sandwiches and the potato salad is awesome!, if you like a ruben, get the Luis A. Cornelius(or any of the others, but its my fave). Vivant also has great food, a little more upscale/pricey, not really my style but is very good, just not the greatest value IMO, beer is great if you like belgain stlyes though. Perrin also has good food, mostly pub fare, could make lunch or dinner out of it. If you want a nice dinner, check out Bisto Bella Vita, very very good food and reasonable for the quality. If you are vegetarian, Marie Catribs is probably the best food option, even if you aren't they have great made from scratch home cookin.

I dont get to TC area very often, but shorts has good pizza.

 

The beer I had at Workshop brewing in TC was very well made.

7 Monks would be better if it was not so darned loud.

 

Short's has awesome sandwiches and gets my vote for a great lunch stop. As for those who asked about wineries- My wife and I like Peninsula Cellars and Bowers Harbor.

 

The Mitten Brewing has some of the best Pizza in GR...The Heater is the shit...

 

Harmony has some good Pizza too. Next time I am at Mitten it has to be at lunch or dinner. The Pizzas smell and look great, and friends in GR recommend those.

 

Never had pizza at the Mitten, I'll definitely have to stop there for food next time I'm up there.

 

A restaurant just opened (the name escapes me) in downtown TC. Good burgers and a pretty good beer list. The outdoor seating upstairs is nice too.