The Underground Cheesecake Company

No matter the season, this place is pleasin'!

PLEASE NOTE that the Cheesecake factory has moved into Building 50 at the Village at Grand Traverse Commons and has vastly expanded their options! Check them out! The building in the above photo is now inhabited by Spanglish.

Brace yourselves, this one is pure indulgence! Welcome to the Underground Cheesecake Company in Traverse City!

This little joint sits behind the old state hospital (otherwise known as the Grand Traverse Commons). If I'm not mistaken, the building that this dessert lover's heaven occupies is the former laundry facility for the hospital. As you may have noticed, this is not the first eatery that I have featured from the grounds of the Grand Traverse Commons, nor will it be the last. If you are coming to Traverse City, you need to spend a few hours exploring (and eating) here!



The selection of sweets can be overwhelming at first. No worries, you'll recover.

Anyway, now that we have that tid-bit out of the way, let's get to the food!

I'll begin by saying that this is an excellent little lunch stop, of that there is no doubt. They do some excellent sandwiches, ranging in price from $7-$9 (try the vegetarian roasted butternut squash and balsamic onion grilled cheese. Whoa!), a couple of very nice salads, and a small choice of yummy soups whipped up daily. So, yes, lunch can be had here, along with some refreshing drinks and lunch sides (chips, etc.).

But, who are we kidding here? We all know why you're about to wander through these doors. Let's talk cheesecake, shall we?

A small dining area offers you the option to eat in at the Underground Cheesecake Company.

As stated, the Underground Cheesecake Company is a sweet lover's delight. Single serving desserts are priced as follows: brownies - $3.50; cookies - .90-$2.25; cheesecake - $4.25; scones - $3.50. They also have many miscellaneous items available daily, be sure to check that out!

If you're in the market for some gourmet brownies, you're in luck! The always featured flavors are Decadent Double Fudge, Turtle, Creme de Menthe, Peanut Butter and German Chocolate. More flavors may be featured on a day by day basis. If you're looking for a 1/4 sheet of brownies, that'll cost you $35.

Specialty cakes and desserts is the next section that may be of interest to the sugar starved diner. These selections may or may not be available for single serving purchase, one never knows what specific items will be up for single serving grabs. Whole cake/specialty dessert prices range from $20-$37. Favorites of this rather large section include the Black Bottom Cake, Strawberry Torte, Chocolate Raspberry Torte, Fresh Fruit Tart, Pumpkin Cake Roll and the Red Velvet Cake Roll. If you're feeling like a "regular" cake, that can be had as well, just let them know what you're looking for.

Crystalized Ginger. Wowza.

Now, to the cheesey meat of this blog. Cheesecakes are the stars of the show here. If you're throwing a beach party, a boat gathering, a park suare, or a porch gathering, one of these cakes will certainly liven up your event and leave your guests in awe!

Cheesecakes are priced as follows: 9" - $32 (12-16 servings); 6" - $21 (4-6 servings); 12" - $65 (30-35 servings).

Highlights of the HUGE cheesecake menu include the Amaretto Cream, the Caramelized Bourbon Snap, the Chocolate Hazelnut Truffle, the Chocolate Malt, the Cookies and Cream, the Dutch Apple Crumb, the English Toffee Crunch, the Lemon Drop, the Madagascar Vanilla Bean, the Orange Sherbert, the Pomegranate Splash, the Pralines and Cream, the Real Key Lime, the Red Velvet, the Strawberries and Cream, the Vanilla Cappuccino and the White Chocolate Raspberry Swirl.

And that's only a few of the many selections available!

Something for the hiking trail (located just outside of the Underground Cheesecake Company's door)?

How would the Underground Cheesecake Company fit into a lovely Traverse City afternoon? Quite easily. For me, I'll snag a late lunch downtown, hit these folks up for some amazing dessert, then stroll next door and sup the wine at Left Foot Charley! Sounds like a perfect afternoon to me!

(All photos by Brooks Vanderbush)

Lake Street Cafe

Lake Street Cafe within Oryana Natural Foods Market on 10th Street in Traverse City.

When you’re talking local food, the kind that comes straight from the farm to your plate, most Traverse City-ites know just the place to fill up their grocery carts with organic, locally sourced fare - Oryana.

But, when it comes to filling up your stomach with those same local, organic choices, Oryana Natural Foods Market, at 260 East Tenth Street in Traverse City, is not the first place that pops into the minds of most. Well, it should be.

Tucked toward the back of Oryana is the Lake Street Café, a vegan’s dream come true! Of course, the café offers a little something for everyone as well.

Lake Street Cafe is a great place to chill with some eccentric folk in the midst of a hectic day.

Nowadays, “healthy” is a word that is tossed around on MANY menus. For the love of God, even McDonalds has so-called healthy options on its menu! Obviously, many of these health claims need to be taken with a grain of salt…..only a grain, mind you, because salt will certainly ruin the health benefits of any meal!

Along with “healthy” comes “organic.” This term is also a bit loose when it comes to various folks’ interpretation. Many establishments claim that their food is organic, wholesome and real. Free of dyes, steroids, hooves, hormones, torture and religion. Many people who make these claims are, shall we say, stretching the truth a bit.

For those of you out there who absolutely adore a local experience, but want that experience to also be truly organic, or perhaps your diet (vegan, vegetarian, etc.) may have ruled your experience in other truly local undertakings out entirely, Lake Street Café is the place for you!

Pre-made selections, soups, chips and ordering from their extensive lunch menu are all available at this Traverse City restaurant.

There is an interesting mix of humanity patronating Oryana and, thus, Lake Street. From Hippies to hairdressers, pot heads to politicians, fanatics to physicians, you will find a little bit of everything within this celebrated co-op’s walls. Each and every person I just described, and all of those which I did not, will find something to love about Lake Street’s menu.

This menu is perfect for a Traverse City summer. The dining in options are great; comfy tables and large windows offer amazing views of the surrounding neighborhood and grand people watching opportunities. From time to time, a spontaneous live music show springs up and the place turns truly Bohemian!

Most folks choose to grab a few items off of Lake Street Cafe's tempting menu.

But, as I just wrote, the hippies and hipsters (and all in between) love utilizing this yummy little café for their outdoor adventures. Nothing rounds out a trip to the beach or to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore quite like a sundried tomato pesto tuna sandwich!

The menu is simple, yet full of fun and fancy! Coffee and espresso drinks share paper space with Light Of Day tea offerings and house made chai.

Juice, made with organic fruits and vegetables, is also a popular takeaway item, as are the smoothies, both options are some of my favorite before-the-hike fare. I suggest trying the Green Lemonade (Apple, lemon, celery, kale and ginger) or the Michigander (Banana, apple juice and Michigan grown blueberries, strawberries and cherries) if you’re about to hit the trail! Great energy food, that! The Superior (Dates, avocado, goji berries, cherries, blueberries, banana and apple juice) and The Flu Shot (a shot of carrot, lemon and ginger) are two other very popular selections. For those of you journeying north for our town’s lovely annual Cherry Festival, make a quick stop off at Lake Street and pick up a Cherry Ginger smoothie (cherries, ginger, banana and apple juice) to sip on whilst walking around downtown and matching wits with carnies.

Lake Street is certainly great for an energy meal in a cup, but that’s not the only draw by any means!

Working their foodie magic behind the counter are some of Oryana's trademark (and awesome) hippie folk.

As I alluded to earlier, this is the place to go when you need to stock up your picnic basket.

Sandwiches, wraps, paninis, soups, crackers, chips and more are readily available at Lake Street, along with some amazing cheeses! Oryana is an outstanding grocery store with a huge variety of choices that will make for an outstanding lunch amongst nature.

Some of the highlights of their menus, at least for me, include:

Sandwiches: Hot To Trot Vegan (dill tofu salad, spicy pickled veggies, red onion, sprouts and tomato on North Country bread) and Lemon Parmesan Chicken (local baked chicken, lettuce, tomato and lemon parmesan sauce on focaccia bread).

Wraps: North End Veggie (avocado, cucumber, tomato, red onion, sprouts and lettuce with sundried tomato hummus or roasted red pepper cream cheese) and Smoked Turkey Apple (local smoked turkey, apple, red onion, Swiss cheese, sunflower seeds, lettuce and cherry honey mustard).

Panini: Reuben with Tempeh (tempeh or local smoked turkey, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Russian dressing on rye bread) and Grilled PB&J or PB&B (peanut butter and jelly or peanut butter, honey and banana on North Country bread).

Lake Street Café also offers day-trippers a treat for the pocket book!

Drinks range from $2-$6.50 and sandwiches, wraps and paninis range in price from $4.95-$9.

Dine in or take out, Lake Street Cafe in Oryana is tailor made for the Traverse City lifestyle.

Dining in or taking out, this place is quintessentially northern Michigan. It is an awesome stop off after a day of exploring, the perfect locale for filling up the backpack or picnic basket and the ideal place to meet up with friends or just chill by yourself in the midst of errand running.

 Healthy, local, organic and tasty too! Lake Street Café is the place to hit up if you're heading out for sure!

(All photos by Brooks Vanderbush)

Village Cheese Shanty (Cheese Shack)

Nestled within Leland's historic Fishtown is a shack you can't afford to miss!

Award winning Leelanau County wines, over 60 imported and domestic cheeses, a grand selection of local brews, packed lunches for island hikes and fishing trips and more.  Yes, ladies and gents, you have entered the world of Fishtown's own Village Cheese Shanty!

Nautical decor and local food; a day out in Leland, MI does not get any better than this!

Fishtown is a historic fishing village located in the small town of Leland, MI on the Leelanau Peninsula.  Its shanties house some of the most eccentric, wonderful shops and foodie finds.  It oozes history and makes one feel as though they've stumbled off of the Mitten and landed on some northern New England coast in the midst of fishing lore.  The fresh air, the sound of the waves, the historic boats, the sweet little shacks and the ferry heading to Manitou, ferrying campers and hikers, all combine to make for a deliciously surreal experience. 

In the midst of all this wonder rests the Village Cheese Shanty.

Plenty of wine options abound for the avid picnic basket filler within us all.

The Shanty offers a wide array of goods, including wines from such fabled Leelanau vinters as Blackstar Farms, L. Mawby, Gills' Pier and beyond.

The beer selection is wonderful.  From Arcadia Ales to Bell's, Short's to varied other local lovelies, the lover of the hop is certain to be pleased by this selection.  Some are sold by the bottle, nice and cold.  Is it legal to take your single brew and sit at one of the dockside picnic tables and enjoy?  Who knows?  Who cares?  Just do it, blame it on Nike.

Even the chips are local at the Village Cheese Shanty is Leland, MI.

Despite the grand selection of local wonders: chips, cherry products, hot sauces...................

Life is nothing without dessert!

.........homemade desserts..........

A myriad of tasting experiences rests within this little case at the Village Cheese Shanty.

.........massive amounts of varied cheeses..............

For those of you that love a local brew, the Village Cheese Shanty in Leland, MI is the place to be!

........and, again, the beer, there is but one reason that locals and travellers alike flock to this tiny shanty on the dock:  The sandwiches.

The main attraction: sandwiches.

Completely homemade (including the bread, you MUST try the pretzel bread, best ever!), these sandwiches are of a wildly different form than any other sandwich that you have ever tasted.

Do not be afraid to ask the artists what you should try. 

When I asked the purveyor what form of meat and wheat I should partake in, she did not hesitate:

"Leelanau with turkey on pretzel bread."

I was in!  I ordered the selected sandy and was soon in crusty creation heaven!  My sandwich consisted of turkey (instead of roast beef), Leelanau peppercorn fromage blanc, onion, cucumber, lettuce, tomato and dijon mustard.  It was sublime!

El fresco doesn't get much better than it is in Leland, MI!

Now, I'll be the very first to admit that one's surroundings have a huge effect on whether or not one enjoys their meal.

My surroundings consisted of a crystal clear river, the smell and feel of the fresh, wide open out-of-doors (as my grandma once said), the sun, the amazing company and the surrounding Fishtown.  Would I of loved this sandwich as much were I eating it in Fulsom Prison?  Perhaps, who knows?  All I know now is that this was the perfect combination of ambiance and edible brilliance, a tour de force of awesome, if you will.  No restaurant in all the land, no matter how fine, could match what I was surrounded by at that moment.

Be sure to explore the other shacks of Fishtown!

Lastly, please notice that my can in the first sandwich pic is from Arcadia, not Pepsi.  I drank it at the river's edge, in full view and did not get ticketed.  That's proof enough of non-illegality for me!

(All photos by Brooks Vanderbush)