TRAVERSE CITY - Some northern Michigan restaurants are looking for a boost in a typically slower time of the year.
“Restaurant week, I’m sure is good for every restaurant that’s doing It, shares Emily Majerczyk, Poppycock’s General Manager, “we have a full house every night.”
If you are looking to try a new plate, restaurants in Traverse City are serving up new dishes. With the annual Restaurant Week now underway. This week, restaurants around town are serving up special menus for customers to enjoy for a set price.
It’s my favorite part of the year. I mean, it’s stressful, but I think that my excitement helps get everyone else excited about it,” explains Mary Dueweke, Executive Chef at Poppycock’s, “I kind of it’s my chance to just almost do what I want with less criteria than normal. I just have a menu that you sit down and the chefs grading you, your, your dishes. And I get inspiration all year.”
Restaurant Week started 15 years ago in Traverse City. It was created to bring more people into local restaurants during the off-season. Restaurant chefs are able to create their own 2-3 course menus at a set price for customers to try new dishes. Many of these dish’s ingredients are locally sourced. Sara Klebba from the Downtown Development Authority shares how this impacts more communities within the region.
“So beyond just downtown, you are you are using ingredients that are sourced locally. So, if you have, a local food purveyor or, a farm and someone who’s raising meat or honey from, a local bee farm … you’re really putting their talents and, supporting their businesses as well. So, you might feel like, oh, I’m giving amical business during Restaurant Week. While you’re probably helping out half a dozen other businesses as well.”
Mama Lu’s is offering a to-go option that feeds more than five people. General Manager, Austin Burt says Restaurant Week gives them and other restaurants a needed shot in the arm.
“It’s a huge hit. I think we have maybe 50 orders just today for restaurant week. As the week goes on, we have more and more, and we’re feeding lots and lots of people. We want to be just a part of the community and be able to offer something a little bit different to maybe those that maybe can’t sneak away for a date night, can’t find a babysitter, can’t make it for some reason.”
Klebba said Restaurant Week is special for locals to come together and support local eateries.
“During restaurant week, everyone puts on their hat and gloves and their coats, and we all come down together to enjoy time together around the table. Having a nice cocktail, two, three, four-course meal, and really just kind of fellowshipping together.”
For more information on Restaurant Week and to see the restaurants participating, click here.