Fresh Recipes from Michigan's Grand Traverse Bay

Rich in food and scenery

Thousands of visitors come to Grand Traverse Bay, Michigan, each year to fish, water ski, bike, golf and explore shore towns. But the area's riches run deeper than resorts and golf courses. The lake produces boatloads of whitefish, lake trout and chubs. The lakeshore climate lets hundreds of thousands of cherry trees flourish on the hillsides. Prize mushrooms hide in shady forests. Dairy cows graze in rich pastures.

The recipes featured in the area's restaurants reflect this abundance of food resources. The Chocolate-Dried Cherry Cheesecake (left) -- thick, rich, with a touch of coffee and speckled with dried cherries -- is a favorite dessert at The Cove restaurant in Leland.