Foodies in the know are raving about a culinary destination you probably never thought of. After all, the Mitten State has more of a reputation as a destination for those who love the outdoors, old-school soul music and cars. However, Michigan restaurants are showing that the gourmet eateries of New York and California are not the only places in America where you'll find dishes that will tantalize your taste buds.
The Midwestern state of Michigan lies in the Great Lakes region. Two peninsulas form its surface area and it's the lower one of these that inspired the nickname, the Mitten State, because of its distinctive shape. Lansing is the capital but by far the largest city here is Detroit. Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor are important cities too.
The Mitten State is famous for its industries, especially the car factories in and around Detroit. However, the soils here are fertile and there is plenty of water, so agriculture forms an important part of the economy too. Crops such as cherries, apples, berries, legumes, beets and potatoes and livestock such as dairy cattle, chickens and hogs are farmed here. Moreover, there is a large fishing industry.
Michiganders are a diverse people. People have settled here from all over Europe, including Germany, Poland, Ireland, Britain, Scandinavia, the Netherlands and Italy. African and Hispanic Americans make up a sizable portion of the population too. The factories of Michigan have also attracted many people of Middle Eastern, Hmong and Japanese descent.
The combination of a diverse population and a huge variety of available foodstuffs has done wonders for Michigan's cuisine. A chicken salad here isn't just a chicken salad but usually includes locally grown cherries or apples. The immigrant populations brought brewing and wine-making industries to the state too and ethnic foods are easy to find. One dish that is a popular specialty of the Upper Peninsula is the pasty, brought here by Cornish miners. If you have a sweet tooth, don't miss the creamy fudge made on Mackinac Island.
At different times of the year there are different festivals that celebrate the many agricultural products of Michigan. Keep an eye out for these when you visit. However, if the thought of going to a festival completely dedicated to something like cherries or pickles doesn't really appeal to you, you may prefer the restaurant weeks in cities like Ann Arbor or Detroit.
Currently, foodies are flocking to the delights of Traverse City. However, don't forget about Detroit as a gourmet paradise. Just in downtown Detroit alone there are over 130 restaurants. If ethnic food is your thing, try the Polish Hamtramck neighborhood or explore the eateries of Greektown, among others. Don't forget about local fast food either. Detroit has its own take on the deep-dish pizza and if you're craving a hot dog, you simply have to try the Coney Island.
The one problem with a gourmet paradise is that there is so much choice that you may not know where to start. One way to get introduced to the delights of the Mitten State is to take a food tour. Otherwise, simply check the suggestions on food websites, consult the local listings, ask Michiganders for recommendations or follow the kitchen smells as you stroll along the sidewalks.
The Midwestern state of Michigan lies in the Great Lakes region. Two peninsulas form its surface area and it's the lower one of these that inspired the nickname, the Mitten State, because of its distinctive shape. Lansing is the capital but by far the largest city here is Detroit. Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor are important cities too.
The Mitten State is famous for its industries, especially the car factories in and around Detroit. However, the soils here are fertile and there is plenty of water, so agriculture forms an important part of the economy too. Crops such as cherries, apples, berries, legumes, beets and potatoes and livestock such as dairy cattle, chickens and hogs are farmed here. Moreover, there is a large fishing industry.
Michiganders are a diverse people. People have settled here from all over Europe, including Germany, Poland, Ireland, Britain, Scandinavia, the Netherlands and Italy. African and Hispanic Americans make up a sizable portion of the population too. The factories of Michigan have also attracted many people of Middle Eastern, Hmong and Japanese descent.
The combination of a diverse population and a huge variety of available foodstuffs has done wonders for Michigan's cuisine. A chicken salad here isn't just a chicken salad but usually includes locally grown cherries or apples. The immigrant populations brought brewing and wine-making industries to the state too and ethnic foods are easy to find. One dish that is a popular specialty of the Upper Peninsula is the pasty, brought here by Cornish miners. If you have a sweet tooth, don't miss the creamy fudge made on Mackinac Island.
At different times of the year there are different festivals that celebrate the many agricultural products of Michigan. Keep an eye out for these when you visit. However, if the thought of going to a festival completely dedicated to something like cherries or pickles doesn't really appeal to you, you may prefer the restaurant weeks in cities like Ann Arbor or Detroit.
Currently, foodies are flocking to the delights of Traverse City. However, don't forget about Detroit as a gourmet paradise. Just in downtown Detroit alone there are over 130 restaurants. If ethnic food is your thing, try the Polish Hamtramck neighborhood or explore the eateries of Greektown, among others. Don't forget about local fast food either. Detroit has its own take on the deep-dish pizza and if you're craving a hot dog, you simply have to try the Coney Island.
The one problem with a gourmet paradise is that there is so much choice that you may not know where to start. One way to get introduced to the delights of the Mitten State is to take a food tour. Otherwise, simply check the suggestions on food websites, consult the local listings, ask Michiganders for recommendations or follow the kitchen smells as you stroll along the sidewalks.
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