Thanks to EVERYONE – and there are a LOT of you – who have sent us a pair of features from Mario Batali in Bon Appetit that are lighting up the internet.
Mario Batali by Daniella Zalcman
How Mario Batali Gets His Drink On In and Around Traverse City, Michigan features 5 of Mario’s favorite Leelanau wines & ciders. There’s Black Star Farms Arcturos Cabernet Franc which Batali names “the best Michigan wine ever”, Gill’s Pier Semi-Dry Riesling (recommended with pork with roast grapes), 45 North Winery Icebox Gewurztraminer (a succulent dessert wine with classic notes of apricot, honey, and ginger spice), Tandem Ciders Smackintosh “It’s become my new drink, I drink cider as an aperitivo now. Even back in New York. Where they’re all from France and they’re not as awesome.” and L. Mawby Cremant Classic NV, named “arguably the Leelanau Peninsula’s signature wine”.
There’s also a more narrative & lengthy feature about how the rock-star chef spends his summers. Mario says:
The food scene has really exploded in the region. There are farmers’ markets and hip-looking people farming and butchering. It’s very cool. Even in Northport, our town of less than 1,000 people, there’s a great weekly farmers’ market in the summer. The chefs involved in the scene celebrate what’s here; they’re not trying to be anything they’re not. Now people are coming for gastronomic tourism.
There’s a whole lot more to read and these are really great features that tout what many folks have known for years – the wine and the food of the Leelanau Peninsula and the surrounding area have arrived.
The table is set, come on up and check it out!
We will be visiting the Suttons Bay area and agree that this area of Michigan offers the best in dining and outstanding vineyards. We appreciate Mario’s recommendations for wines to taste while there, and we enjoy seeing him at the Farmer’s Market in Suttons Bay. One of our favorite restaurants in Las Vegas is Carne Vino at the Palazzo. Thank you, Mario!