FOOD SCENE
f or winter cabbage back in the day. The new owners have maintained everything that makes this place a Benzie County classic, including its status as a much-appreciated live music venue on the weekends. Of course a stop at the Cherry Hut in Beulah f or their world f amous cherry pie and American fare is always a must for locals and visitors.
ARTS Benzie’s shores and hills and rivers and valleys have long attracted artists and inspired them to create, and that legacy of artf ulness continues to be one of the richest aspects of a Benzie County life. The county’s most renowned cultural resource is the Michigan Legacy Art Park, a contemporary sculpture park set in a forest at Crystal Mountain, the works of art connected by an enchanting, winding trail. The park also hosts a popular summer concert series at its amphitheater amid the woods. You’ll f ind the area’s other major anchor arts institution, The Oliver Art Center, in downtown Frankfort, not only hosts nearly a dozen exhibitions a year, it’s also the county’s premier destination for classes in everything from ceramics and painting to poetry and the wellness arts.
PHOTO BY CAROL KRAAK, BENZIE COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Benzie County’s rich and diverse agricultural offerings, such as orchards, vineyards, and farms, finds delicious expression in the county’s rising food scene. Benzie eateries include charming local diners where the offerings are all-American good and comfort-food satisfying, ethnic eateries that bring Asian and south-of-the-border fla ors to our palates and upscale eateries where inventive offerings define the menu. Regardless of where restaurants stand on the culinary spectrum, there’s a good chance that the ingredients are as fresh as possible, and from a farm not far down the road. Among the county’s restaurant highlights: Frankf ort’s Fusion serves up an eclectic menu starring creative takes on Thai and Chinese cuisine juxtaposed with Western classic desserts like crème brûlée and f ried ice cream. The combined f orces of the Thistle Pub & Grille and Wild Tomato Restaurant & Pub, both at Crystal Mountain, offer upscale f are. The f ormer is one of the region’s f ine dining gems, while the latter curates a menu shaped by the inventive street food concept. For a classic diner vibe, settle into Honor’s Platte River Inn, f amous f or its burgers, fried fish and log cabin interior. And in Elberta, the Cabbage Shed offers a hip menu in an old warehouse that really was used as cold storage
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