Traverse City Archives : TRAVEL/FOOD

TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE FOR THE OLD MISSION PENINSULA WINE TRAIL MAC & CHEESE BAKE-OFF

Grand Traverse Bay, Michigan Wines, Northern Michigan, Old Mission Peninsula, winery

This November, taste your way through Old Mission Peninsula during the annual Mac & Cheese Bake-Off! Spend the day with family and friends touring the rolling hills and stunning views as the OMP Wine Trail Wineries once again partner with local chefs for a favorite wine and food pairing event that’s perfect for cheese lovers on Saturday, November 30th from 10am-5pm.

The Mac & Cheese Bake-off pairs the exquisite wines of Old Mission Peninsula with deliciously unique macaroni and cheese recipes from local chefs partnered with each of the ten OMP Wine Trail wineries. Each dish will be expertly paired with an Old Mission Peninsula wine from the partner winery along with special wine features, discounts, and more. Event goers are in control of the competition—each given the important task to vote for their favorites: best pairing, cheesiest dish, and best overall. Winners will receive their rightful place in history as winners of the 2024 Mac & Cheese Bake-Off.

Arriving on the heels of Thanksgiving, this annual event lets you break the monotony of leftovers to indulge in a classic, cheesy, comfort food. “Our favorite part is the creativity that the chefs show in their interpretations of macaroni and cheese, and how each pairs with the wine,” comments Caitlin Hammond, Director of Operations at Peninsula Cellars. “We love showcasing Traverse City’s great culinary talent and feel so lucky that local families and friends continue to make our wineries a part of their holiday traditions.” Tickets for the 2024 Great Mac & Cheese Bake-Off are now available. This is a sell-out event with a limited number of tickets available.

Tickets include a souvenir glass in addition to food and wine pairings. New this year, attendees can purchase the Noodle Fanatic Package to receive macaroni merchandise along with their ticket! Designated Driver tickets are also available for purchase. (DD ticket holders do not receive a souvenir glass, but tickets do include food and non-alcoholic beverages.)

Participating wineries include 2 Lads, Black Star Farms on Old Mission Peninsula, Bowers Harbor Vineyards, Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery, Chateau Chantal, Chateau Grand Traverse, Hawthorne Vineyards, Peninsula Cellars, Mari Vineyards, and Tabone Vineyards.

For additional information and to purchase tickets visit ompwinetrail.com/wine-trail-events/

The Old Mission Peninsula Wine Trail, a collection of ten distinct wineries, is an unparalleled experience on the Old Mission Peninsula of Traverse City, Michigan. Stretching 19 miles into Lake Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay, the peninsula is only four miles wide at its broadest point. Old Mission Peninsula’s stunning appellation and proximity to Lake Michigan provide not only an ideal climate for growing varietal wine grapes, but a breathtaking travel destination as well.

For your enjoyment, here’s a winning recipe and wine pairing from the past.

Winner: Best Pairing

Smokehouse Mac Shack Taco Mac & Cheese with Mari Vineyards 2016

Scriptorium Riesling

Ingredients

1/2 lb ground beef
1/4 cup chopped lettuce
1 chopped tomato
1/2 chopped yellow onion
2 cups of your favorite noodles
1 cup cheddar cheese
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons of flour
Salt & pepper to taste
Taco seasoning
Scallions & sour cream for garnish

Instructions

Add chopped onion to oil in a skillet. Cook until translucent.

Add ground beef and taco seasoning and cook through, and drain of oil and set aside.

Cook noodles until al dente. Drain and set aside.

In a new pan, add butter, flour, salt, and pepper to create a roux. Add cheddar cheese. Add heavy cream

until sauce is creamy.

Add noodles to cheese sauce & stir.

On a plate, layer corn chips. Add 1/3 cup of Mac & cheese mixture, and 1/4 cup of ground beef.

Top with chopped lettuce, tomato, and scallions.

Add a dollop of sour cream and enjoy.

NEW WAYS TO EXPERIENCE MARI VINEYARDS

Lake Michigan, Old Mission Peninsula, Uncategorized, winery

Mari Vineyards on beautiful Old Mission Peninsula is dedicated to making exquisite red and white wine from experimental Italian grapes alongside traditionally grown appellation varieties.

Mari Vineyards. Photo courtesy Two Twisted Trees.

Mari Vineyards, known for their estate grown wine and Italian varieties, is now a food destination as well with menu offerings ranging from sizzling small plates to s’more kits, available daily with varying specials.

The small plate menu is designed to sample, share, or have all to yourself. From cool Cucumber Crostini to hot Meatball Skillets, dishes are sure to please everyone with not only savory items, but sweets such as Fire Roasted S’mores and Chocolate Cake made with Mari wine. All of the dishes from the Mari Kitchen are selected to pair perfectly with Mari estate wine, with each dish featuring a wine recommendation hand picked by Mari staff. Current wine selections range from sparkling cider, to Chardonnay, to Italian red blends.

New weekly discounts and events invite a variety of guests to take advantage. Pasta Tuesdays feature unique pasta dishes with wine pairings; Thursday is OMP Local’s Day, offering Old Mission Peninsula residents 25% off small plates with the purchase of a wine flight or glass; Friday Happy Hour from 4-7pm includes half-off small plates and 20% off wine by the glass with live local music from 4-6pm; Saturdays are Educator’s Day, with half off small plates and 20% off wine by the glass and wine flights for teachers of any kind; and Sundays from 11am-3pm the new one-mile Winter Trail at Mari is open—hikers can purchase insulated tumblers full of mulled cherry wine, grilled paninis will be available to order, and hot cocoa is free for kids.

Mari Tasting Room. Photo courtesy of Two Twisted Trees.

Offering new experiences and wine pairing opportunities is important to Mari Vineyards’ Chef, Aric Anagnost. “The enthusiasm from both new guests and returning club members at having increased food options available during their visits has been overwhelmingly positive” he said.
Stop in to enjoy fantastic food, delicious wine, live music, and great discounts by the fire this season before these hot items are off the menu. Summer experiences and menus will begin this May.

To find out more about Mari Vineyards’ winter menu, wine, hours of operation, and experiences please visit www.marivineyards.com or call 231.938.6116. 8175 Center Dr. Traverse City, MI 49686.

—Mari Vineyards, an estate grown and produced winery, is located on Old Mission Peninsula just north of Traverse City, Michigan. Growing over 20 different grape varieties, Mari produces both local favorites such as Riesling and unexpected Italian varieties like Nebbiolo. Old Mission Peninsula’s stunning appellation and proximity to Lake Michigan provide not only an ideal climate for growing varietal wine grapes, but a breathtaking travel destination as well. Visit Mari for tastings, glasses, small plates, and wine cave tours.

Great Lakes Lighthouses and Keepers’ Manitou Windjammer Cruise

Uncategorized

One of the most unique hands-on Pure Michigan experiences is to spend several days sailing the freshwaters aboard a dual-masted tall ship. You’re invited to board one of the largest sailing vessels in the Great Lakes during one of these autumn windjammer cruises aboard the Tall Ship Manitou with the Traverse Tall Ship Company. Coming up September 13-17 is a four-day excursion focused on the hundreds of historic lighthouses throughout the Great Lakes region with best-selling author and freelance travel writer, Dianna Stampfler.

“We introduced this themed cruise last year and it was a sell-out success,” notes Stampfler, who has been researching and writing about Michigan’s nearly 130 lighthouses and their heroic keepers for close to 25 years. “There was something really special about projecting images on a canopy aboard the tall ship after dark and sharing spooky stories from my first book, Michigan’s Haunted Lighthouses. This year, I’m excited to also add tales from my newly released title Death and Lighthouses on the Great Lakes. A third presentation, “Ladies of the Lights” will focus on the many female keepers who served in the state.”

Each passenger will receive an autographed copy of one of Stampfler’s books (with an option to purchase additional copies). The tour also includes a special tour of the 1852 Grand Traverse Lighthouse in Northport, inside Leelanau State Park at the end of the Leelanau Peninsula.

“Last year it was great to just sit around and share stories about Michigan with all the passengers,” says Stampfler. “Today, we all seem so busy running around that we don’t often find the time to relax and just get to know people in a casual and serene environment — the Manitou provides the perfect opportunity. The backdrop of Grand Traverse Bay is also inspiring for would-be writers and I welcome guests to bring their projects with them. If there is interest, I’ll offer guidance on how to get things moving along for those who aspire to become authors or published writers.”

Chuck and Brenda Marshall – creators of the lifestyle blog Life in Michigan – posted a detailed account of their experience (along with dozens of photos) after the 2021 Lighthouse Cruise: https://www.lifeinmichigan.com/tall-ship-manitou-life-in-michigans-sailing-adventure/.

“Each evening, I’ll be presenting for about an hour on the deck of the Manitou, sharing stories from my two books as well as the fascinating tales of our female keepers here in Michigan,” said Stampfler. “The setting really is unparalleled…as the sun sets around 7:45 (and I present around 8pm, so it is twilight). It is something special to be on the tall ship after having sailed all day – from Traverse City up to Suttons Bay and Northport. It’s also a little challenging as when we aren’t docked and hooked up to power, we’re drawing from the battery for an hour to run my laptop and the projector! It definitely is the most unique venue I’ve ever presented in. Not only do we get a chance to tour Grand Traverse Lighthouse, but we get within camera view of Old Mission Point Lighthouse. I think several people were planning to visit that light on their way home, or to travel down the coastline to Point Betsie near Frankfort.”

Guided by the passionate, skilled and entertaining crew, this voyage sets sail out of Grand Traverse Bay aboard a replication of an 1800s “coasting” cargo schooner. A traditional two-masted, gaff rigged, topsail schooner, Manitou measures 114 feet in length with more than 3,000 square feet of sail. Passengers are free to leave the sailing to the experienced crew, but it’s much more fun to lend a hand and learn the arts of the sailor.

“It’s also pretty cool to see people lounging around the boat during the day reading your book while sipping on a cold beverage,” said Stampfler.

The exact course of the trip cannot be determined in advance, as the captain and crew rely on the winds to guide the path of the ship. Yet, no matter what the route, the sights, sounds and stories meld together for a truly one-of-a-kind experience. There is plenty of space for sitting and moving around Manitou’s deck while under sail on the freshwaters of Michigan’s inland seas.

This trip is limited to 22 individuals, with accommodations provided in 11 double-bunk cabins. Fare includes lodging, all meals and sailing activities. Boarding takes place on the first day between 6-8pm, with a return in mid-afternoon on the final day. To make reservations, call 800-678-0383 or order tickets online at www.TallShipSailing. Gift certificates are also available.