Antrim the Appetizing

If you read about incredibly perfect ways to spend part of your vacation in Torch Lake Township earlier this week and took it to heart, you’ll be very busy while you’re visiting, or while people are visiting you.  You might be too busy to cook.  Here are some of my favorite places to get food someone else has cooked.  And no, not a one of them has paid for an ad.  I actually pay them to feed me. 

Breakfast. Hands down it’s Sonny’s Torch Lake Market on US-31.  Tammy knows how I like my eggs and hashbrowns, and everyone knows about my affection for the cinnamon rolls.  If I have business in Elk Rapids, there’s no better spot to “take a meeting” than Java Jones on River Street.  Great coffee, special oatmeal with dried cherries and nuts, scones and muffins – and it’s a wifi hot spot. 

Lunch.  Short’s Brewing Company in Bellaire.  Wonderful soups and sandwiches, along with an enormous array of handcrafted brews.  You will be amazed.  (It’s non-smoking and family-friendly, too.  There’s a nice children’t menu, including irresistible sodas.) 

Update 7/29/08 – For those of you who haven’t heard, the Blue Pelican Restaurant burned down this morning.  Fortunately no one was injured.  I understand that the staff plans to continue service from the adjacent Pelican Room facility, which was not damaged.  More to follow, but I’m keeping the recommendation here as a way of extending good wishes to the Corbetts and all the rest of the fine people who make the Blue Pelican a great place.

The Blue Pelican on Old State Road and East Torch Lake Drive, west of Central Lake.  I’m very fond of the crab cakes, the pulled pork sandwiches, the eclectic decor, and the owners, who are the niece and nephew-in-law of Donnie and Dee-Dee, beloved of TLV readers.  

Fine dining. There are two exceptional restaurants in the tiny village of Ellsworth: Tapawingo and the Rowe Inn.  I love them both.  They offer fine, fresh, creative food, superb wines and really, really good service.  I’m particularly fond of the Rowe’s Saturday wine tastings and Sunday brunches, which are incredibly good values.  One of my favorite meals ever was a lunch there with good friends Chikako and Carol.  We sat at the table in the front corner and watched rose-breasted grosbeaks and finches at the feeders outside the windows while we sipped delicate wines and ate food that – well, it simply melted.  Another favorite meal ever was a family dinner at Tap.  Franklin, who has his own restaurant in Birmingham, Alabama, was so taken with the menu that he insisted on ordering – and paying for – wines to go with each course.  The result was simply exquisite – and very expensive.  A person could have lunch on the patio for quite a bit less and still have a wonderful meal. 

Carryout.  The deli at the Eastport Market turns out very good fried chicken, BBQ ribs, prime rib and pizza.  Sonny’s has great pizza, too, and my favorite cold meal: Sonny’s own whitefish pate served with sesame rice crackers and a glass of Grand Traverse Late Harvest Riesling.  Then there is the pizza at Chef Charles on River Street in Elk Rapids.  It is extraordinary.  Whenever I have company I talk them into trying the Chef Charles Supreme – sesame crust, pesto sauce, kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, feta, toasted pinenuts . . . oh my.  I can’t buy one of those pizzas unless I have company, because I will just eat the whole thing myself and that is not a good idea at all. 

Roadhouse fish and chips.  Peterson’s US 31North in Eastport.  I love the walleye.  I just love it.  They have other good things, too, but I really, really love the walleye.

Places I never get tired of.  Pearl’s New Orleans Kitchen in Elk Rapids.  It’s just a great, fun, place with good food, good drinks, good atmosphere, good service – and all at a very reasonable price.  My special favorites are the Plantation Platter, the gumbo, the crawfish and corn chowder, the bread pudding . . . and so much more it gets ridiculous.  I think I’d better go call Louan.  We like to meet there for a little golden margarita every now and then, with a little light supper of chowder and a selection of sides.

Sinfully delicious things I believe we have discussed the pies at Bargy’s and the peach cream cheese bearclaws at New York Cakes. Have I mentioned the jams, jellies and preserves available at fine farm markets all over the place? Right in the Township we have King’s Orchard, Brownwood Farms, Bargy’s and Cherry View. Just a bit north you can find Rocky Top Farm (Essex Road east of US-31), Royal Farms and Friske’s Farm Market (both on US-31). All three have very fine preserves and seasonal fruits and vegetables. Friske’s has a Noah’s Ark playscape and a petting zoo and a cafe and a gift shop and pies oh my. Royal Farms has greenhouses and Moomer’s Ice Cream. Rocky Top has cedar gift boxes and cutting boards. I think you should probably plan to stop at all of them just to be sure that you didn’t miss anything important.