Where in the world is Kirstie Kimball?

A paid subscribers only behind the scenes of where I'm writing about next.

I’ve spent a week in my favorite place in the country: Pinecrest Northwoods in Republic, Michigan. The Upper Peninsula has an outsized piece of my heart. It’s full of rushing water, untouched forest, seemingly dozens of ice cream shops, and stretches of barren road.

I spent the week cooking for my friends, making things like quiche with the last of the ramps and gnocchi with first of the season local greenhouse tomatoes. We grilled burgers and we made chili on a cooler day. We baked strawberry scones and ate pie from Polka Dotted Pie, a shop about halfway between home and here. When I came in to pick up pre-ordered French Silk Pie, they made the whipped cream while I waited at the counter. It was a touching detail, where the baker said to me, “I just wanted it to be as good as possible, since you’re driving and all.”

After this trip, I was supposed to head out to a city for final looks at two restaurants I’ve been writing about for over a year. One of those restaurants is closed temporarily and unexpectedly. The other one is hosting not just a no-restrictions pop up for that restaurant but for another new concept. This means that I can’t go to either of these restaurants the number of times I want to in order to write about them (two more times) and I had to adjust my travel. It’s just not worth it for me to venture to that city and go to one restaurant one time when I have a purpose for being there that’s beyond that scope. I’ll be back—later.

The place I wanted to go to next? It’s graduation weekend, which means there are literally no hotel rooms available. I was hoping to sneak in to a restaurant concept that feels right up my alley, but alas, that, too, will have to wait.

So, last minute, I adjusted my travel to go somewhere I didn’t intend to go back to for a few more months. I leave tomorrow morning, finalizing at least two pieces (and picking up some small town meat on my way down).

Want to know where I was supposed to go and where I’m headed? That’s for paid subscribers only babe, on this edition of Where in the world is Kirstie Kimball?

Thanks to my friend Chef Jun De for the logo. Hehe.