Thursday, December 29, 2011

The Old Place Inn

This is our favorite place to eat.  This may be surprising  to you who know how many places we have lived and traveled.  Yet it is.  There are many reasons.  But nothing will convince you until you get in your car and drive to Harrisville, Michigan.  And eat there.  Then you will understand.   
_DAH2324
That sounds ludicrous I know.  This Inn has the best soup that I have ever had, anywhere, ever.  I have been a lot of places.  I have had a lot of soup.  It is better than any of the finest restaurants, bars, kitchens.  Yup, you read this correctly. 

We ate there again on Wednesday.  We were up in Oscoda to finalize the winterization of the cottage, normally this is a sad time.  But we infuse this ending with great eats and visits, always one stop at the Old Place Inn

The soups were insane.  Wild Mushroom soup (yeah, it has sherry).  Chicken and Rice.  Senate Bean.  Black bean and grains. (That doesn't do it justice).    We couldn't decide so we got the soup and salad bar that comes with unlimited soup.  I don't even know why I bother with the salad bar.  Well, I bother because there is homemade carrot salad.  Cauliflower, carrot and banana peppers. This incredible potato salad.  And you can always get lettuce with toppings but that's so boring, comparatively. 

Don came out to greet us, as he does with many of his patrons.  He mentioned that at times he might have other soups, "in the back."  So today I just happened to ask, "whatcha got back there, in the back? " He smiled and disappeared for a few minutes.  When he returned, he had two steaming bowls of yellow heaven.  At first I thought it was cheese.  Then I tasted nutmeg.  And ginger. 

I was totally wrong.  It was Paul who guessed butternut squash.  It was the most heavenly bowl of butternut squash soup that I have ever tasted.  So I asked him how he did it.  He tells me.  I am scribbling furiously on the back of his business card.  I might have missed things. 

Here is what I wrote. 

Peeled butternut squash sprinkled with olive oil, cubed. 
Cook in the oven (350-400 - he uses a convection oven).  I asked how long. He grinned and said, til it's done.  Ha. Stick a fork in it. 

The stock is chicken stock .  There may be other ingredients but I don't remember.  My mouth was reeling.  And yes, it was better than the BLT soup.  And that was one tough act to follow.

Go visit.  He is open on most holidays.  Just call before you head up.  Ask what the soups are and, if you are really hungry, the sandwich of the day. Or the homemade pie, in the summer using berries from the garden.  It's all just amazing.  Thank goodness it's a four hour drive for me. 

Donald Humes Chef and Owner 
The Old Place Inn
309 E Mail Street
Harrisville, MI 48740
(989) 724-7700

Memories

Of warmth. 

 _DAH0662.NEF _DAH0661.NEF

Friday, December 23, 2011

Stunning


From 2011-08-08


Every morning, the sun comes up. Right on time.  Every morning. 

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Monday, December 12, 2011

Monday, December 5, 2011

Watch your step

Sometimes a log just rolls up in the beach. It's beautiful watching the waves roll over.
From 2011-09-07

Thursday, December 1, 2011

A good lasso

Nothing more relaxing that watching rope hang from a post. It helps keep Samson in his place.
From East of the Equator, Summer 2011

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

A good walk

You don't need to travel to Florida or Mexico to see sand like this. Nope, just a few hours driving north.
From East of the Equator, Summer 2011
It's beautiful up here.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Water

There is some notion that the Great Lakes, and Lake Huron in particular, is dirty. We beg to differ.
From East of the Equator, Summer 2011
Yup, that's crystal clear Lake Huron looking at you.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Friday, November 25, 2011

Telephones in churches

A man in Topeka, Kansas decided to write a book about churches around the country. He started by flying to San Francisco and worked east from there.

Going to a very large church, he began taking photographs and making notes. He spotted a golden telephone on the vestibule wall and was intrigued with a sign, which read, Calls: $10,000 a minute.  Seeking out the pastor, he asked about the phone and the sign. The pastor answered that this golden phone was, in fact, a direct line to heaven, and if he paid the price, he could talk directly to God.

The man thanked the pastor and proceeded on his way. As he continued to visit churches in Seattle, Dallas, St. Louis, Chicago, Minneapolis and other cities around the United States, he found more phones, with the same sign, and the same answer from each pastor.

Finally, he arrived in up north Michigan. Upon entering a church in Oscoda - behold - he saw the usual golden telephone. But THIS time, the sign read,  Calls: 35 cents.

Fascinated, he asked to talk to the pastor, "Reverend, I have been in cities all across the country, and in each church I have found this golden telephone, have been told it is a direct line to Heaven, and that I could talk to God. But in the other churches, the cost was $10,000 a minute. Your sign reads only 35 cents a call. Why?"

The pastor, smiling benignly, replied, "Son, you're up north in Michigan  .... You're in God's country. It's a local call."

Thanks Janet.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Miracles

There are two ways to live your life.

From Sunset EOTE August 2011

One is as though nothing is a miracle.

From Sunset EOTE August 2011

The other is as though everything is a miracle.
--Albert Einstein

Monday, September 5, 2011

The Old Place Inn

Best soup on the planet.   And the food is amazing too. 


From 2011-08-20


Harrisville, MI. 

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Friday, July 15, 2011

Harrisville

This weekend, we will be heading up to Harrisville to enjoy the Sunrise Side Wine and Food Festival.  Looking forward to warm weather, delicious food, arts and crafts, and a good beer.

Join us!

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Lighthouse

“Sail on!” it says: “sail on, ye stately ships!”
   And with your floating bridge the ocean span;
Be mine to guard this light from all eclipse.
   Be yours to bring man nearer unto man.
··· Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ···

From Memorial Day 2011