Eatdrink #42 July/August 2013

36 www.eatdrink.ca
Chefs from the Willard Hillton
it and they will come,” states Chef Smith.
“I used to come to this old hotel when I
was a kid. Years later I told my realtor that I
wanted a place like the Willard Hillton. He
said, ‘It’s on the market.’”
The 135-year-old former Beaver hotel
and tavern is known to have “two ghosts
for sure,” says Smith, and her staff fully
agree. “We’d hear footsteps, when we first
moved in, and it would drive us nuts. Then
we met families who told us about the
ghosts, and guests who say they can see
them.” The so-called town of Willard (think
intersection) bills itself as Michigan’s last
ghost town. The hotel was jokingly called
the Hilton and then Shari had to add an
extra “l” to the name to avoid lawsuits.
№ 42 | July/August 2013
The dining room features classic
European cuisine. Orange harissa
shrimp, slow roasted strawberry
barbequed pork and goat cheese egg
rolls, and hickory roasted duck breast
are among the menu offerings. The wine
list is extensive. Chef has recently added
cooking classes.
After a great evening at the Willard
you’ll be looking for a place to spend
the night. The immaculate H Hotel in
Midland is an unexpectedly upscale destination
in a quaint town. This five-star
property
is owned
by the
area’s main
employer,
Dow Chemical,
which
maintains
the top floors
for their visiting
executives.
Check
out The Table
Restaurant
with its wine
room and
temperaturecontrolled
wine cellar.
The next
day it’s off
for a fullscale
taste
The dining room of the
five-star H Hotel in Midland
of Bavaria, with more chicken then you
can imagine, in Frankenmuth — located
near a popular outlet shopping centre,
Birch Run. Here you can enjoy some
“Lutheran Lemonade” at Frankenmuth
Brewery, proclaimed the oldest brewery
in Michigan by the enthusiastic manager,
Ryan Buchinger. Try a flight of craft
beers including Hefeweizen ale, Munich
style Dunkel lager, Batch 69 American
style IPA and American blonde ale. If you
have some kids along, or a DD, be sure
to try Frankie’s root bier, microbrewed
in house. You can take home a growler,
which you can get filled on Wednesdays
for only five dollars.
The brewery offers incredibly hearty
meals with fresh Bavarian style pretzel
Try a flight of craft beers, at Frankenmuth Brewery