Celebrating National Pie Day the best way possible: with Michigan’s Grand Traverse Pie, my favorite in the entire world!!
Hope you all savored that last taste of summer this Labor Day weekend—perhaps with a smoked chub fish in your bloody mary? The Cove’s Chubby Mary is a rite of passage for Michiganders and brave vacationers. After it’s flavored your drink, you’re even expected to take the fish out, debone it, and enjoy its fillets on accompanying crackers and chips. It was something this girl had to try at least once. After such a gourmet trip to Northern Michigan, it was nice to enjoy a simple cheeseburger in paradise, a plate heaping full of warm cherry pie a la mode, a spellbinding Midwest sunset, and yes, maybe even that Chubby Mary.
Siren Hall in Elk Rapids, Michigan served us the epitome of a perfect summer meal. Four varieties of oysters (with tasting notes!), an ice-cold blueberry ginger cocktail, Lake Michigan whitefish, barbecue beef brisket atop sour cream whipped potatoes, and a fluffy coconut cream pie topped with pineapple compote. What’s more, the restaurant’s stylish decor (think crystal chandeliers hanging from wooden rafters) matched every delicious bite. Nothing beats a restaurant that is palatable and pretty.
After an incredible four-course dinner at The Cooks’ House, we walked down the street and into exactly what I’ve always pictured heaven to look like: a table piled high with pies upon pies—and someone standing next to it handing me a fork. Grand Traverse Pie Company (my new favorite place on Earth) treated us to every one of their pies, and even let us taste test some new concoctions they’re working on. Two words: APPLE BACON.
The shop’s story is just as sweet as its goods. When approaching their forties, Mike and Denise Busley realized something was missing. On a quest for “inner satisfaction, purpose, and passion,” they quit their jobs, packed up their family, and moved from San Diego to Northern Michigan to follow their dream of opening a pie shop. Sixteen years and as many locations later, the Busleys are living their dream daily, while also giving back to the community in a major way.
If you’re a regular reader, you know I love many (aka, every) desserts. But when I really think about it, pie is my absolute favorite. I especially love Blueberry and Key Lime, and Grand Traverse Pie Company makes the best ones I’ve ever tasted in both categories. Spoiler alert: these pies were the highlight of my entire trip.
I found two new things to chow at the Flea this weekend.
- Lonestar Empire’s mesquite, 15 hour-smoked angus brisket sandwich, complete with homemade barbecue sauce, bread and butter pickles, and Texas-style potato salad. I really know nothing about meat—heck, I haven’t been eating it most of my life—but this year I’ve become quite the carnivore. I can tell you this: sinking my fork into that brisket felt the same as digging into that cream pie. The brisket fell apart at the slightest fork nuzzle. I think that means something very good.
- Rachel’s Pies chocolate cream pie with homemade whipped cream and pretzel crust. Sweet and salty perfection. This was my reward to myself for having to stay inside Saturday afternoon to do work. Best reward ever. I will be spending a lot more time inside doing work this fall if Rachel’s Pies is always my payoff.
Dear summer,
Please never stop.
I’m back from the Land of Good Pies. Strawberry Glaze, Raspberry, Key Lime, and this beaut my dear friend Big Molls made—blueberry, my all time favorite. I’m spoiled, I tell you.
