30 Sep 2014

Escanaba, MI: Pasties

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

Pasties (pronounced "pass-teez") are the original 'hot pocket":  the traditional pasty consists of beef, potatoes, rutabaga and onion, which is wrapped in a crust and baked. You will see pasties sold with chicken, pork, vegetables, sour cream and gravy - but these would not be authentic pasties (although they are be good!). 

Pasties were brought to the UP (Michigan's Upper Peninsula) by the miners from Cornwall, England in the 1800's. They were the perfect lunch for the miners, since the  pasties easily fit into their lunch pails and, since they wrapped them in linen or newspapers, they stayed warm. Plus, the miners could eat the pasties by holding the pinched end of the crust, then throwing the crust away, which kept the miners from eating the grim - and arsenic -  on their hands. 

The best pasties in Escanaba, MI can be found at Gram's Pasties, where you can buy them frozen. So, you can bring them back to your hotel room, throw them in the microwave, and have an easy, satisfying meal. Or, you can eat them at Grams, as they have a few tables for their patrons.

Be sure to try these while you are in the UP  - you would be hard pressed to find these any place in the US outside the UP, although they are ubiquitous throughout the UP.

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1 Sep 2014

Fall Traveling Ideas

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

A great article about how to celebrate the new fall season. “Seasonal musts” include ghost hunting, with tips on where the best frights can be found. Locations to observe the fall foliage are highlighted, along with recommendations for weekend getaway and enjoying nature warming up at the fire pit.