Yummr

(Originally posted on Miss Chef.)

Located on the sixteenth floor of the Grand Traverse Resort, The Aerie is one of the Resort's newest additions. Unlike it's predecessor, The Trillium, this restaurant, for all its beautiful and refined elegance, has no dress code. With a menu designed and written by Ted Cizma, Food and Wine's Best New Chef in 2000, this dining experience is unmatched in the Traverse City area.

Now, let me say bluntly, that restaurant is amazing. The food, atmosphere and service work so well together that were I able to afford it, I would eat there every night of my life. I am seriously considering kidnapping Mr. Cizma and forcing him to create new and exciting recipes for me in my basement, though that might put a damper on my hopes of becoming a culinary master myself.

Anyway, the fact that The Aerie does not have a dress code is one of its best features, I think. It opens the approachability to the public, and introduces people that might not otherwise have come to a whole new world of exciting and delicious dishes. And it really makes special occasions even more fun. It's not any more expensive than spending a night at Poppycock's or really even Outback. Obviously the seafood is going to be more, but the salads are eight to ten dollars, and the chick eighteen to twenty.

Your definitely getting your money worth if you go in, and trust me, I would suggest this spot to anyone who asked me.

Sauteed day boat scallops with creamy lobster basil risotto and micro celery.

(The lighting was a little odd on the scallops dishes, and it's a little on the dark side for the pork belly. But I'm telling you what, all the food was more than excellent.)