Travel Eats documents my food adventures outside of Chicago.
Spending a gorgeous Saturday in southwest Michigan does present convincing evidence that the state is as magical as depicted in the “Pure Michigan” commercials, especially when it comes to food. From a picnic by the water in Saugatuck to picking peaches and apples in South Haven and tasting cider in Fennville, we fit in as many delicious summer activities as we could. I was impressed by the quality of everything we tried: excellent bottled cold brew coffee, mellow pear and blueberry fruit wines that would make excellent pairings, five nuanced styles of the Virtue Cider that’s already beloved in Chicago, and a lovely farm-to-table meal at Salt of the Earth, where I also drank the best lemonade I’ve had all summer (white whiskey, grilled lemon, and thyme add up to greatness).
The details: Uncommon Coffee Roasters, 127 Hoffman St., Saugatuck; Boardwalk Deli, 311 Water St., Saugatuck; McIntosh Wine Cellars, 6431 107th Ave., South Haven; Virtue Farms, 2170 62nd St. (122nd Ave.), Fennville; Crane’s Pie Pantry, 6054 124th Ave. (M-89), Fennville; Salt of the Earth, 144 E Main St., Fennville.