Authentic Upper Peninsula Foods: Guide to Traditional UP Michigan Dishes

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Mackinac Bridge — ^{Photo By Alice Daniels}

Classic Upper Peninsula Foods: A Taste of Michigan’s North

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan offers a unique culinary experience that reflects its rich cultural heritage, stunning natural resources, and hardy winters. From fresh-caught fish to sweet local treats, here’s your guide to the essential foods of the UP.

Fish dinner — ^{Photo By Aerokorngal – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=87377886}

Fresh Lake Superior Whitefish

The crown jewel of UP cuisine, Lake Superior whitefish is a local delicacy that’s been sustaining residents for generations. This mild, flaky white fish is typically caught daily and served in various ways:

Traditional pan-fried with a light breading
Smoked and served as an appetizer
Baked with local herbs and butter
Featured in creamy chowders

Restaurants:

Brown’s Fisheries Fish House (Paradise)
Lake Superior Brewing Company (Grand Marais)
The Duck Pond Eatery & Beer Garden
Thunder Bay Inn (Big Bay)

Fresh Catch: UP Fish Markets & Suppliers

Thill’s Fish House (Marquette)
VanLandschoot & Sons Fish Market (Munising)
Massey Fish Company (St. Ignace)
Peterson’s Fish Market (Hancock)
King’s Fish Market & Restaurant
John Cross Fisheries (Charlevoix – technically not UP but famous for whitefish)
Carlson’s Fishery (Leland – also not UP but notable)

Pasties

No discussion of UP food would be complete without mentioning pasties. These handheld meat pies were brought to the region by Cornish miners in the 1800s and have become a UP staple. A traditional pasty contains:

Beef or pork
Potatoes
Onions
Rutabaga
All wrapped in a flaky, golden crust

Best UP Pasty Stops: Local Favorites

Lehto’s Pasties (St. Ignace)
Jean Kays (Marquette)
Muldoons Pasties (Munising)
Roy’s Pasties & Bakery (Houghton)
Krupp’s Mini Mart (St. Ignace)
Suzy’s Pasties (Chassell)
Dobber’s Pasties (Escanaba)
Lawry’s Pasty Shop (Marquette)
Pasquali’s (Negaunee)
Joe’s Pasty Shop (Ironwood)
The Pasty Corner (Iron Mountain)

UP Craft Beer Trail: Breweries & Taprooms

The UP’s craft beer scene has exploded in recent years, with numerous breweries creating unique flavors that capture the essence of the north:

Keweenaw Bre wing Company (Houghton)
Blackrocks Brewery (Marquette)
Ore Dock Brewing Company (Marquette)
Upper Hand Brewery (Escanaba)
The Library Restaurant & Brew Pub/Copper Country Brewing Company (Houghton)
Barrel + Beam (Marquette) – specializes in farmhouse ales
Soo Brewing Company (Sault Ste. Marie)
Les Cheneaux Distillers (Cedarville)
Lake Superior Brewing Co. (Grand Marais)
Alpha Michigan Brewing Company (Alpha)
Brickside Brewery (Copper Harbor)

Pure Maple Syrup

Harvested each spring from the UP’s abundant maple forests, local maple syrup is a testament to the region’s connection to the land. Beyond pancakes, you’ll find it used in:

Candies and confections
Glazes for smoked meats
Local baked goods
Coffee and tea sweetener

Pure UP Maple: Sugarhouses & Shops

Mackinac Bluffs Maple Farms (St. Ignace)
Jasper’s Restaurant (Ishpeming) – famous for maple-based desserts

Blackberry Picking — ^{Photo Alice Daniels}

Wild Berry Products

The UP’s forests and fields produce an abundance of wild berries that are transformed into delicious products:

Thimbleberry jam (a local specialty)
Wild blueberry preserves
Strawberry and raspberry jams
Berry-based desserts and pies

WILD BERRY PRODUCTS & LOCATIONS: Pick-Your-Own Farms:

Rock River Farm (Chatham)
Makinen Farm

Shops & Products:

Jampot (Eagle Harbor) – monk-made preserves
The Jam Lady (Paradise)

Local Specialties

Cudighi

An Italian-influenced spiced sausage sandwich unique to the UP, typically served with mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce.

UP’s Famous Cudighi: Where to Find This Italian Specialty

Congress Pizza (Ishpeming)
Vango’s Pizza (Marquette)
Thunder Bay Inn (Big Bay)
Pasquali’s (Negaunee)

Fish Boils

A traditional community meal featuring freshly caught fish, potatoes, and onions, often served at local events and restaurants.

Traditional UP Fish Boils: Where to Experience

Trenary Toast

A Finnish-inspired dried sweet toast that’s perfect with coffee, made famous by the Trenary Home Bakery.

Trenary Toast: The Original UP Classic

Trenary Home Bakery (Trenary) – The original source and main producer since 1928

Popular Flavors:

Original Cinnamon
Cardamom
Plain
Vanilla
Cinnamon Raisin
Garlic (seasonal)

FUN FACT: Trenary Toast is a Finnish-style dried cinnamon toast that’s particularly good with coffee and has a very long shelf life. The original bakery in Trenary still uses the same recipe and methods from when it started nearly 100 years ago.

Where to Taste Authentic UP Specialties

Markets

Restaurants Featuring Local Foods

The Mariner North (Copper Harbor)
The Vierling (Marquette)
Fitzgerald’s (Eagle River)

Local Food Tips: Make the Most of Your UP Visit

Many small restaurants are seasonal – call ahead
Ask locals for their favorite spots – Upper Peninsula Travel
Don’t miss the small, family-owned establishments

The UP’s cuisine reflects its unique blend of immigrant influences, natural resources, and hardy character. Whether you’re visiting for a weekend or staying longer, sampling these local foods will give you a true taste of what makes the Upper Peninsula special.