TRAVERSE CITY — “We had close to 80 events on the docket. We’ve sold out more than half of those events,” said Traverse City Tourism president Trevor Tkach. “There’s still tickets available for the big Saturday event, the Grand Tasting at the Open Space.
Chefs from all over the country are visiting the region to showcase their talents. They’ll be creating menu pairings to accentuate local wine.
“This whole week is a celebration of what a lot of people don’t realize is inherently Michigan, said chef Omar Anani.
This is the first year for the event, Tkach said more than half of the events are already sold out. But participants have a wide variety of activities to choose from.
“Goat yoga up in the vineyards is one activity, you can match whiskey blends with chocolates too. The Grand Tasting is going to be a very special opportunity, multiple chefs on a main stage,” said Tkach. “Tasting over 100 local wines and pairing that with food is also available. I mean, that’s really the pinnacle event of this whole extravaganza.”
2023 food network chopped champion Omar Anani has stepped away from his restaurant in Detroit, Saffron De Twah, to participate in the Grand Tasting event this Saturday.
Anani said Northern Michigan is a hidden jewel when it comes to local produce.
“A lot of people don’t realize that Michigan has the second largest eco climate in the country behind California, that band sits right in this area. So, the produce that comes out of this part of the state is amazing.”
Sayeh Tavanger travelled here from the D.C Cooking School, which she owns to showcase her skills in Northern Michigan.
She said her goal was to expose people to food they may not have had a chance to try.
“I specialize in Persian cuisine, not a lot of people know about it. So, I really wanted to enhance their palate and give them something different,” said Tavanger.
Tavenger also said the flavor profiles from her homeland of Iran are often overshadowed by the politics of the country. She said Traverse City Food and Wine is an opportunity for people to experience new flavor profiles.
“The country has so many beautiful offerings in terms of our spices; saffron, pistachio, and for example, shiraz wine. A lot of people don’t realize it originated from Iran. So, I was really here to educate people about Persian food. And you can’t really eat Persian food without talking about the culture.”
The Traverse City Food and Wine event runs now through August 24th.