THE VILLAGE VOICE

"Grand Hotel is indeed the fitting name for one of Mackinac Island's premier landmarks. The hotel's stately 600-foot veranda is visible fro the mainland seven miles away. Grand Hotel's splendor and gracious hospitality consistently place it among the world's finest. It is also the world's largest summer hotel . Since opening in 1887 too provide a destination hotel for rail and steamship passengers, Grand Hotel has maintained its tradition of fine service and elegance, often setting criteria for excellence in dining." ~ MACKINAC ISLAND MEMORIES --- For the history of this popular summer retreat visit the official Grand Hotel website. STRAWBERRY & WATERMELON SOUP ~ From chef Hans Burtscher (Grand Hotel) _________ 2 cups washed, hulled & diced strawberries 2 cups iced seedless watermelon 1/3 cup Midori or other melon-flavored liqueur 1 whole vanilla bean 1/2 cup plain yogurt 1/2 cup sour cream 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar 3 Tbsp. honey 1 Tb...

"BUTTERFLIES ARE SELF PROPELLED FLOWERS." ~R.H. Heinlein ______________ WINGS of MACKINAC BUTTERFLY CONVERVATORY * V isit WINGS OF MACKINAC Butterfly Conservatory Mackinac Island, Michigan ( http://www.wingsofmackinac.com/ ) _________ "We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. " ~Maya Angelou

" TIMOTHY LEEPER is an Honorary Islander ... Aside from his cooking wizardry, he is the caretaker of the new lilacs that arrive on the Island each year, donated by members of the International Lilac Society ... His early experience on the Island was as executive chef for some of its major hotels. To re-create a romantic Mackinac Island dinner at home, Tim shares one of his special recipes ...." ~ Mackinac Island Memories (Travel Memories Press) ~ June memories of the Island ________________________ FILLETS of DOVER SOLE VERONIQUE 1 cup double cream (instructions below) 8 Dover sole fillets salt & freshly cracked pepper to taste 1/2 cup dry white wine 1/4 cup chopped fresh shallots lemon juice 1 cup seedless white grapes, halved To prepare double cream: Place 2 cups heavy whipping cream in stainless steel pot and heat over low heat. Simmer until cream is reduced by half to 1 cup (approximately 40 minutes to 1 hour for cream to reach a thin sauce consistency). Preheat...

GRAND HOTEL _________________________ GRAND HOTEL PECAN BALL WITH FUDGE SAUCE ~ Courtesy of Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, Michigan The Grand Hotel bills itself as the world's largest summer hotel....The pecan ball with fudge sauce, which made its debut in 1947, is the signature dessert. Each season more than 50,000 Grand Pecan Balls are happily consumed by Grand Hotel diners. 8 six-ounce portions of vanilla ice cream 4 cups roasted pecan pieces, chilled One-quarter pound unsalted butter 2 cups heavy cream 2 cups light corn syrup 1 pound chocolate chips One-half vanilla bean, split 1 tablespoon Creme de Cacao Pecan Balls Scoop eight six-ounce portions of ice cream; shape into eight round balls. Coat each ball with chilled pecan pieces. Place balls in freezer. Fudge Sauce In large pot heat butter, cream and corn syrup to a simmer. Remove from heat and add vanilla pulp, Creme de Cacao and chocolate chips; stir until well incorporated. Allow sauce to cool.To serve: Remove pecan bal...

MACKINAC ISLAND ( Official site: http://www.mackinacisland.org/ ) ~ Lilac festival __________________________ "The lilac is one of the enduring symbols of Mackinac Island. First planted here by French missionaries in the 1600's, the oldest living lilacs on American soil are on Mackinac Island. some of the older lilac shrubs have grown to treelike proportions over the years. Each spring,m the trees fill the Island air with sweet fragrance and dazzle with their rich shades of purple, lavender, and white. Since 1949, Mackinac Island has celebrated the arrival of summer with the annual Lilac Festival in June, when hundreds of lilac trees are in full flower. Stella King, a well-loved citizen of the Island, created quite a stir that year when she rode through town in her carriage decorated with lilacs. Amid this lush atmosphere, is it any surprise that romance is rampant on the Island? Couples get married every day and every place on Mackinac Island ~ in quaint churches,...