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Food in Michigan

Food in Michigan is varied, and it comes with a cherry on the top.

Michigan has a rich and diverse food culture, with a variety of different types of cuisine available. From Coney Island hot dogs to Middle Eastern fare to German dishes, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Additionally, many restaurants focus on using local and sustainable ingredients, ensuring that you can enjoy fresh, delicious food while supporting the local economy.

In the late 1800s, John Harvey Kellogg, who managed the Battle Creek Sanitarium, launched a quest for healthier breakfast foods that ended with the invention of wheat flakes. Soon after, C. W. Post invented what became Grape Nuts. Kellogg's brother Will invented corn flakes. These first breakfast cereals were a hit. Kelloggs company is still in Battle Creek.

After the creation of breakfast cereals, one can say food processing is as important as food producing in Michigan. Livestock and dairy products are significant and the farms, primarily the ones on Michigan 's Lower Peninsula, grow a great variety of fruits and vegetables. Michigan is a leader in the production of cucumbers and a top producer of dry beans.

Michigan is also a top producer of tart cherries because of the ideal conditions on the orchards located along Lake Michigan, where the soil and elevation are just right for cherry growing and the lake tempers the weather. Cherries is what you find wherever you go. There are plentiful of cherry desserts, cherry wines, and many of those cherries are used to make cherry pie filling.

Although the brewing industry is nearly gone from Detroit, there are many micro-brewers. There are several types of beer under the brand Great Lakes. The northwest side of the lower peninsula is home to some wineries, especially around Traverse City and Cadillac.

Michigan foods

A coney dog is a hot dog that is topped with chilli, onions, and mustard. The dish is believed to have originated in Michigan in the early 1900s and has since become a staple at many Michigan eateries. Coney dogs can be found at any number of hot dog stands and restaurants throughout the state.

During the 1800s, many settler families came from Cornwall, England, and brought the recipe for Cornish pasties with them. Cornish pasties are made of dough cut into round shapes, filled with meat, vegetables and gravy, folded in half and baked. In Michigan, pasties can also have cream and butter in the filling. As it happened in their original Cornwall, pasties became a portable meal for the miners in Michigan Upper Peninsula, where they would take them for lunch. People still eat pasties in Michigan and May 24 is Pasty Day.

Pizza rolls are bite-sized pieces of pizza that are rolled up into little balls. They are typically made with pepperoni or sausage but can also be made with other toppings such as vegetables or even chocolate chips. They can be found in the frozen food section of most grocery stores

Chicken and waffles is a dish that consists of, you guessed it, chicken and waffles. The dish is believed to have originated in the Pennsylvania Dutch or American South and has since become a popular breakfast food. Michigan is home to several chicken and waffle restaurants. Another southern dish that has become popular in Michigan is pecan pie and it can be found in many bakeries and restaurants. Pecan pie is a dessert that consists of a pastry crust filled with pecans and a sweet syrup or custard filling.

…and food events

Cereal Festival, Battle Creek, June - National Cherry Festival, Traverse City, July.

Recipes from Michigan

Use Michigan cherries to make cherry ketchup or cherries in syrup.

Warm some cherries in syrup or cherry pie filling with almond or vanilla essence, to make a wonderful cherry sauce to pour on top of ice cream, pie, or cake.

Michigan
The Wolverine State
Capital: Lansing
State animal: Painted turtle
State bird: Robin
State tree: White pine
State Flower: Apple blossom

 

Other Michigan facts

The state of Michigan is named for one or the lakes it borders, Lake Michigan. The name Michigan originally came from the Ojibwa - one of the Algonquin groups - word meicigama, meaning "great water."

Michigan is known as the Wolverine State even if there are no wolverines there today. It is believed that Michigan fur traders traded wolverine furs during the 1600s and 1700s.

The Michigan salad is a dish that consists of lettuce, tomatoes, cottage cheese, hard-boiled eggs, bacon bits, and croutons. The salad is named after the state of Michigan and was created by Chef Boyardee himself. The salad can be found on the menu at many Michigan restaurants.

Detroit

James Vernor developed Vernor's ginger ale in Detroit, in 1885, making it the oldest soda drink in the United States.

The African World Festival is held every August. People come to celebrate their African heritage and enjoy music, art, culture and food. There are plenty of other ethnic foods, mainly Hungarian, Polish, Arab - many restaurants in Dearborn - Greek - the downtown area is Greek town - and German.

Try coney dogs, or Coney islands, which are hot dogs covered in chili and served with onions and mustard in a soft bun. Better with potato chips while listening to some jazz - although home to the Mowtown Sound, Detroit is also known for great jazz.

Visit

Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island, one of the oldest resorts in Michigan. Tourists come for the natural beauty and the Mackinac Island fudge, so much that locals refer to tourists as fudgies. Cars are not allowed in the island, but there is a regular ferry service.

Michigan sites

Official Michigan State site