LOCAL DISH

Farm to Brick

Modern Bird - The dynamic baking duo husband and wife team Andy Elliott and Emily Stewart are spending one last summer in their pop-up tent at the Sara Hardy Farmers Market. In the fall, they will be trading it in for a location on West Front Street, next to Mary’s Kitchen Port. “When we started at the market our son Daniel was only 5 weeks old. He was strapped to me in the Babybjorn (a baby carrier),” laughs Emily. The couple met in Chicago and Emily was excited to move back home after starting their family. “We love that food is social. We want our restaurant to be comfortable and nostalgic. We love that we will be restoring the building to its grandeur.” They launched their baked goods to get a feel of the local community, gaining a huge following. “Traverse City has its own culture and community,” adds Andy. “We are planning seating for 36, with a full bar and open kitchen concept. It’ll be a 9 am-9 pm kind of place with breakfast, lunch and dinner. We’ll have craft cocktails using a lot of local distilleries and natural wines.”

Sarah Hardy Market, modernbirdtc.com

Emily Stewart and Andy Elliott with their son Daniel.

Mi Casa Es Su Casa

Taco Tuesdays will be taking on a whole new meaning when the newest hot spot in town, Barrio, opens mid-June.

“We want this to be your neighborhood bar, where you can have a fun interactive dining experience,” says co -owners Jake Hawley and Tony Carano. The duo has moved here from Cleveland, Ohio, where the Barrio chain originated. Jake was the director of operations and Tony was on the culinary side. Nine years and 13 locations later they premiered in Michigan with an East Lansing location, and an ultimate dream to launch in Traverse City. Barrio, Spanish for neighborhood, is a Mexican themed 4,600 sqare foot restaurant and bar. Famous for its build your own tacos and tequilas. The local Barrio boasts a 40-foot bar that will host over 100 top shelf tequilas. The hand painted Day of The Dead walls, by Cleveland artist Eileen Dorsey, instantly reflect the mood of “let’s party.’ “We want to be the heart of the downtown vibe. It’s super affordable and we hope it’s a place you’ll visit a couple of times a week,” says Jake. It is located on the ground level inside a new building that sits across from J & S Hamburgers on West Front Street. Insider tip from Jake: try the Sassy Pineapple – pineapple infused avion silver, house made morita syrup, and fresh citrus juices.

barrio-tacos.com

One meaning of the word legacy is to create, build and pass down generations of success and wealth. With the opening of The Tasting Room by Legacy Distillers situated on a corner at the entrance to Front Street on Union, it will be impossible to pass by without stealing a peek inside. This place has the WOW factor! When we met the owners Derek and Carolyn Weeks, and Christine and David Skibowski, to shoot their photo on location, we were in awe. The ambiance, even under construction, that this awesome foursome has created is pure splendor. Hands down it will be one of the most lavish places in Traverse City to see and to be seen. “We wanted something like nothing else in

Traverse City, very boujie,” laughs Derek. The 5,700 square foot space boasts a stunning lounge concept, Belgian club chairs, fireplaces and a spectacular outdoor space overlooking the Boardman River. “The opportunity happened really fast and before we knew it, we were all in,” laughs Christine. Staffing is a huge issue right now, but they think they have an edge. “We took a culinary training at the Ritz Carlton for a topnotch ultimate experience for all of our guests, and we know that will be the unique difference to have wonderful staff.” The Legacy brand is the only small batch distillery that locally has tequila. As for cuisine, they are planning a culinary delight with unexpected decadent ingredients with small plates, such as crab and oysters on the half shell. Their kitchen also sports an exclusive wood fired oven imported from Italy. “We can’t wait to open.The Awesome Foursome - Owners left to right: David and Christine Skibowski with Carolyn and Derek Weeks. It’s going to be great.” 155 Garland St., thetastingroomtc.com

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