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Ever wonder about Rachael's actual roots? Join us for this very special event featuring the staples from Michigan's Upper Peninsula (where Rachael is from!).

Think aromatic pork sausage (cudighi!), lake superior trout, u.p. maple syrup, pasties, ...

Yoopers’ Table

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has a unique culture and distinctive dishes. You’ll find influence from the Native Americans, Finnish, Italians, French Canadians, Cornish, Swedish and Norwegian people who migrated here and were hearty enough to call it home despite the cold, harsh winters, buggy (and short!) summers, and hard work in the mines. The people from the U.P. (“yoopers”) are tough and rugged and have “SISU” (hardiness, determination, grit and bravery). With vast wooded areas, open space and plenty of gorgeous lakes (including the largest lake in the world, Lake Superior), there is plenty of foraged food, hunted game and fish of the lakes and rivers to round out the table. The growing season is quite short and the winters are quite snowy, long and cold, making canned, smoked and pickled foods common. Think lots of dairy and cheese, cured vegetables, lots of hearty root vegetables that can withstand cold temperatures like potatoes, parsnips and rutabaga, Whitefish, Trout, Venison, Partridge, Rabbit, Wild Rice, Maple Syrup, and lots of berries in the summertime. Say Yah to da U.P., eh?!

To Start:

Le:Pajuustoa Homemade Finnish-style squeaky cheese (Jean and Wayne Carlson’s Famous Recipe!)

Smoked Lake Superior Whitefish from Thill's FishHouse in Marquette

The Lynch's Homemade Tart Cherry Jam

SmokeHouse Glenn's Venison Sausage

Pickled Beets

First Courses:

Stuffed Peppers with Joe’s Legendary Cudighi mini sweet peppers stuffed with Homemade U.P. style Italian Sausage

Grandma Joans’ Pasties Homemade hand pies that got popular when miners would need to keep a filling lunch in their pockets to fuel their hardworking days; stuffed with meat, rutabaga and potatoes and served with homemade ketchup and butter

A “Cudighi” traditional yooper sandwich with homemade sausage, Melty Cheese, grilled peppers and onions and tomato sauce; Served with a Side of Spicy Giardinera

Second Courses:

Lake Michigan Walleye... Find this Freshwater Fish Everywhere you Go in Da Yoop!

Lake Superior Trout... Native Americans are still catching this delightful fatty fish from our gorgeous, crystal clear lake

Venison...Can’t have a U.P dinner without a little deer meat. Hunting is probably the most popular hobby of the area. Family’s boast when getting the first deer of the season and process the meat to last the entire year.

Sides:

Wild Rice... This black rice that grows wild in the area has been a staple for centuries.

Grandma Jean’s Famous Garlic Green Beans

Dessert (Yoopers love their sweets!):

Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream , REAL U.P. Maple Syrup and U.P.’s famous Trenary Toast Bakery Cinnamon Toast crumbled on top! Oh Yah!

Yooper Maple Cookies