Hancock, Michigan:
Kaleva Cafe.
Best m-frickin blueberry pancakes I've ever had in my life:
http://www.mykaleva.com/

Also, in Hancock, we went to that Peterson's fish mkt that Zimmern hit up in his U.P. show. The inlaws tested it first, and raved. There's the tiny market, and right behind it is the restaurant. The restaurant looks like a roadside fish shack out east, and it will not disappoint. The menu doesn't have much, but go with "Parmesan Crusted" anything, and the fish chowder with jalapeno emulsion. The Singapore Chili style fish prep is a red chile sauced piece of fish, and it's really not BAD at all. I wouldn't bother even trying it tho. It's pretty bland. I wouldn't get "fried" anything, either. Get Parmesan Crusted anything. It's throwback real butter, lemon, garlic, and parmesan cheese browned on top of FRESH fish, and it's OUTSTANDING. The Fish Chowder is decent by itself, but the "jalapeno emulsion" adds a warm, acidic, hit. It'll take your tongue three spoonfuls to get used to the vinegarry tang, but once you do, settle in, because you're gonna finish however much is in front of you. My GUESS is that they are using pickled jalapeno for the emulsion.


Don't expect much from the fish market - their selection when I was there was about four diff types of fish fillets, and only two were local (you guessed it - lake trout and whitefish!) They also had a few types of smoked fish, and a freezer with shrimp and scallops.

Don't sleep on either of these places. Kaleva's blueberry pancakes were out of this world. Thin, chewy, very crisp edges, and U.P. blueberries, which, if you have never had, might ruin you for commercial blueberries for the rest of your life. Not sure if the stars lined up for our pancakes, but it would seem to me that anyone that can make pancakes like this, must absolutely LOVE making pancakes. I've been assured that all of their food is way better than most in the area.

Peterson's is a regular stop for us when we're in the UP. Good stuff.

seebee wrote:Hancock, Michigan:
Kaleva Cafe.
http://www.mykaleva.com/

One of our daughters went to engineering school at Michigan Tech, so was in Houghton and the Keeweenau several times. Kaleva and Suomi were my preferred breakfast choices and while my daughter loved them, she was a regular at Vicki's, so we went there a fair amount as well.

Hit Kaleva again, and the blueberry pancakes were exactly the same. I'm ready to call them the best I've ever had. Spent a good 4 weeks in the U.P. this summer, not much else new to report on so far. Much more smoking/grilling at home instead. Quite a few more long wknd trips coming up though.

gleam wrote:UP wild blueberries are unbelievably amazing things. The best cultivated blueberries aren't even 1/10th as good as these wild blueberries.

The haul from a few weeks ago. And no. I won't tell you where. Just like you wouldn't tell me where, either.

I head up there every year for the demolition derby at the Iron County Fair and to visit my parents.


For the 24 hours we are up there I cannot help but binge on Pasty’s. Bring home a cooler full of frozen as well.

After all there are some good pancake places in Chicago (as well as being able to make some awesome ones myself).

Similar to some friends (from Chicago) who recently went to Iowa and only ate at random Italian restaurants. Where is their Breaded Pork Tenderloin respect?

Over the years we have tried several places between Iron River (our home base) and Iron Mountain and enjoy them at...

The Pasty Oven
7279 US-2, Quinnesec, MI


Nothing fancy and not a dozen different flavors but a good, solid representation of the style. Always get it with rutabaga and always with ketchup. A few years ago I discovered that it is also traditional with brown gravy so I eat them now half and half.

I’ve been eating them all my life and never tire of them.

Of course on the way up and home we have a few other mandatory stops...

Mars Cheese Castle
2800 W Frontage Rd, Kenosha, WI


... a term from Boy Scouts.

We also have become fond of the drive through...

The Menominee Reservation
Keshena, WI

Where this year we finally was able to get a reservation only delicacy at a local bar and grill...


War Bonnet Bar and Grill
N926 Wisconsin 47-55, Keshena, WI

... and of course no trip through Wisconsin is complete without a stop at...

Brat Stop
12304 75th St, Kenosha, WI


... where we not only had a meal but brought some fresh home to pay some respect to my dear departed uncle who taught me the secret of Wisconsin Style Beer Brats.

Well, crap, Panther If I had known...
I'll remember to grab a few extra pasties for you on our next run. We do a few runs every year. We get them from a church, and they do pasty/potato sausage fundraisers several times per year. Their pasties have a crunchier crust than most (suet is used.) I'll throw you a few frozen ones since you are a connosieur. I can't go back to eating the soft crusted ones.

seebee wrote:Well, crap, Panther If I had known...
I'll remember to grab a few extra pasties for you on our next run. We do a few runs every year. We get them from a church, and they do pasty/potato sausage fundraisers several times per year. Their pasties have a crunchier crust than most (suet is used.) I'll throw you a few frozen ones since you are a connosieur. I can't go back to eating the soft crusted ones.

Please do, I would live to give them a try!!!

Where is this church as I would love to give them a try...

Hey! Potato sausage, that sounds Lithuanian.

Oh! I almost forgot.

A somewhat guilty pleasure I had when visiting the UP was...

Beef-A-Roo
727 Riverside Plz, Iron River, MI

... and googling the name I see there even some up near Rockford, IL.

This is much closer to what Arby’s should be. Tender, juicy beef with an actual roast beef flavor.


I usually forget and after a pasty meal I end up having a second meal.

LOL -
My better half used to work at Beef A Roo in Negaunee! I actually toook the kids there a few weeks ago. Pretty sure those are beef tallow fries. The rest of the menu is...
We'll just say the fries are damn good.

seebee wrote:LOL -
My better half used to work at Beef A Roo in Negaunee! I actually toook the kids there a few weeks ago. Pretty sure those are beef tallow fries. The rest of the menu is...
We'll just say the fries are damn good.

It is ‘low’ eating for sure and never a destination.

Iron Mt -
New place alert!
I wasn't around during operating hours, but I will DEFINITELY stop and give it a try at some point this summer. Smokler's BBQ. Right on the highway strip:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/smoklers/menu/?p_ref=pa

701 N Stephenson
Iron Mountain, Michigan 49801

Another new joint in Gwinn, Michigan:
Towners Pastry and Chocolates
37 W M-35, Gwinn, MI 49841

I was in a hurry, so I couldn't grab pics or chat anyone up. Got a croissant and a cinnamon roll for the 6 hr ride back to Il.

This place is for real. I don't think anyone would believe it unless they sampled it. This place is for real. I'm guessing they have some very loyal customers, like anyone who has tried anything, is a repeat and loyal customer. The 1st bite of croissant i took had me almost laughing because i was thinking, "This place is way too good to survive up here." I'm going to Towners as often as I possibly can. This place is for real, and you'll know it as soon as you walk in. The case was full of pastry names I've never heard of. Damn, i need to ask them to make my fam some quign aman thingies! I'd bet they would be ELATED that someone appreciated their skills.

That croissnt tho...crisp outside, and just chewy, buttery, butterness, butterocity...closed on Mondays, or i'd be there now. Jerks!

Place is for real.

We hit the Crossroads again last nite for the Friday fush fry. I lured the extended fam as well. They all loved it. Lake trout and whitefish. Get it it without hesitation. I believe they offer perch and cod, and have combo platters with scrimps and such as well, but the menu CLEARLY boasts that the lake trout and whitefish are fresh. The laker was exactly the same as i remembered. Huge portion, light batter, perfectly fried.
Worth every penny.
Crossroads Restaurant
900 Co Rd 480, Marquette, MI 49855
(Really in Sands Township)

Hitting the new bakery in Gwinn today again, too.