In the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, they create some of the finest foods known to man. Beef pasties and Trenary Toast are two that come to mind. Is it worth driving 400 miles from Detroit to partake in the pleasure of eating these scrumptious foods? You bet! But, there is a better way to enjoy them. They can be ordered on-line from several restaurants in the great north country and shipped direct to your doorstep.
The Michigan pasty (pronounced pass-tee) originated in Cornwall, England. In the mid 1800’s, the copper and iron miners would take these doughy meat and potato filled concoctions down into the mines. They could easily be heated up with a shovel and a candle and eaten right from the hand. They provided a hearty meal for hungry workers. The pasty is part of Upper Peninsula culture and lore. The history of this type of simple food can be traced all the way back to Europe in the 1100’s.
Pasties are similar to pot pies. They are simple, filling and mighty tasty. The typical beef pasty is made up of a flaky dough crust filled with beef, potato, onion, rutabaga, salt and pepper. Baked to perfection, these pies are a meal in themselves. Many restaurants offer vegetable, chicken, breakfast, or pizza style pasties. They can be bought in sizes from large to mini. Made to order, the pasty is an excellent meal that satisfies and is fun to eat. Call them elegant simplicity with a taste that is truly unique.
Trenary Toast comes from the town in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan by the same name. It is a tasty cinnamon-and-sugar covered toast that is similar to the Finnish variety of cinnamon toast called korpu. When kept cool and dry, this bread has a shelf life of six months or longer. The secret is that the toppings are added to Trenary Toast before it is toasted. No preservatives are ever added. It usually comes in a plain brown-paper bag that will keep it fresh for months. No need to refrigerate it, because that causes it to mold.
A fresh, hot pasty and some warm-buttered Trenary Toast is a meal from Heaven. Well, it might take some imagination to envision a meal like that. But apart or together, both are pleasing to the most discriminating taste buds. Several pasty shops in the Upper Peninsula offer Trenary Toast as a side order. Or, it can be ordered by the bag at www.trenarytoast.com.
Pasties can be ordered from several outlets right on-line. They are frozen after baking and packed in insulated packages. They can be shipped anywhere in the United States including Alaska and Hawaii. A few restaurants have customers in all fifty states. Outside of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, the pasty is not widely known or sold. They are still one of Upper Peninsula’s best keep secrets. For a meal that is different, many shops offer recipes for making your own pasties on their web sites. If you care to experiment by making your own, there is no limit to the kinds of fillings you can add.
Check out Pasty Central at www.pasty.com in Calumet, Michigan. They ship almost every day and the price is very reasonable. Dobbers Pasties at www.dobberspasties.com , offers several specialty items like maple syrup and Trenary Toast. Also, Lawry’s Pasty Shop at www.lawryspasties.com sells great pasties and have been in business since 1946. The Pasty Oven at www.exploringthenorth.com is another site worth exploring. And there is Jean Kay’s at www.jeankays.com. They offer a few more items other than just pasties.
All of these shops will ship your order fast and to your specifications. You can order on-line, by phone or even by mail. Look at several sites to get a price comparison for your particular order. If you are looking for a down-to-earth convenient meal, consider the venerable pasty. Throw in a bag or two of delicious Trenary Toast and you will have a meal that is sure to please.
