With an executive order from Governor Gretchen Whitmer temporarily limiting restaurants to carryout and delivery only — and social distancing in full effect — several Leelanau County businesses, school districts and nonprofits are pivoting to make sure county residents have safe access to good food.

Residents, in turn, continue to support their neighbors’ businesses during uncertain times. Suttons Bay resident Kim Schneider tells The Ticker she is grateful for special accommodations made by Hansen Foods and several village restaurants while she practices social distancing. This week, staff at Hansen Foods of Suttons Bay took her grocery order over the phone, shopped for her, and took credit card info for payment. “The owner was there curbside, in gloves, to load my bags through my passenger windows,” she says. “It was a little ‘pandemic movie surreal,’ but with a Hallmark twist.”

Martha Ryan of Martha’s Leelanau Table switched up her regular day-and-evening table service hours to offer takeout and delivery from 4pm to 8pm. “My son Matt actually made up a to-go menu last year and I put the kibosh on it. When this happened, we brought it back out. It’s therapy for me to make what I love, and I’m trying to make as small of a footprint as I can, so Matt and I are alternating nights cooking. We have a limited staff to take orders, deliver and run orders to the car. (Martha Ryan is pictured above with her daytime manager, Dylan Schmidt).

Restaurants are following suit county-wide by adjusting hours and adding either curbside service, delivery, or both. The following info is accurate as of press time; if there are additions please contact the Leelanau Ticker.

Newly opened in Lake Leelanau, Hannah's is offering next-day curbside pick-up on cakes, cookies, and pretzels. Fig’s is temporarily closed, with a reopening in new digs planned for mid-April. Dick’s Pour House has a full menu available for takeout during the adjusted hours of 11:30am to 7:30pm.

Cherry Public House in Glen Arbor and Art’s Tavern both offer takeout during regular hours. Meanwhile, Riverfront Pizza & Deli and Blu are on winter break.

The Tribune in Northport is doing pick-up orders through the ice-cream window. Tucker’s is open daily at 11:30am for take-out. The Garage and Fischer’s Happy Hour Tavern are on their regular winter breaks.

In Suttons Bay, 45th Parallel Café offers carryout, curbside pickup and delivery; Mundos is open and will bring pre-paid orders curbside. Streetside Grille offers takeout; Martha’s Leelanau Table is doing curbside and delivery service for dinner only. The V.I. Grill is offering full menu plus family-style menus for four people from 11am to 7 pm Monday through Saturday. All proceeds from takeout go directly to the V.I.'s staff.

Hop Lot Brewing Co. offers curbside growlers and take-out 11am to 2pm and 5pm to 7:30pm every day, with delivery starting today. Gold Baby Biscuits is open regular hours while the owners at North County Grill & Pub, Boone’s Prime Time Pub and Lylah’s, respectively, have decided to close temporarily.

In Maple City, both Market 22 and Pegtown Station remain open for carryout for pizza and breakfast fans. Broomstack Kitchen & Taphouse in Maple City offers curbside service and growlers to go during normal hours. Little Traverse Inn is offering carryout service. La Becasse and Funistrada are on a short break.

Joe’s Friendly Tavern in Empire is closed for the time being, with Empire Village Inn offering their full menu under adjusted hours of 11am to 8pm Sunday through Thursday and 11am to 9pm Friday and Saturday. The Shipwreck Café is open regular hours with sandwiches to go.

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Recipe of the Month

This is a favorite of my chicken chili 🌶 because I love to use tomatillos. Great flavor and visually interesting. Give it a try. I use fresh jalapeños without seeds.

Directions

Step One: Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole dish (Dutch oven) over a medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion, jalapeño, peppers, tomatillos, salt and pepper, stirring frequently, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, spices and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Step Two: Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then add to the pan. Pour in the chicken stock and raise the heat to maintain a gentle simmer (avoid bringing to a boil). Cook until the chicken is cooked through, about 10 minutes. If the chicken pieces are not completely submerged, then turn them over halfway. Remove the chicken and place on a plate or in a shallow bowl. Use a fork and knife to shred the chicken, then add it back along with any liquid and the green chillies. Cook until the chicken is warmed through, about 2 minutes; squeeze in the lime and adjust seasoning as needed. Ladle into bowls and top with coriander, avocado (if using) and sliced jalapeño. Serve with lime wedges.

Recipe notes: You can add white beans when you add the chicken. Then, use the back of a wooden spoon to mash the beans against the side of the pan to thicken it.

I have been fortunate to dine at Martha’s many times. The food and presentation are always good. Treat yourself! Martha is doing everything for you to have a special experience at your private home.

A waiting game 20 years in the making for the derelict Sugar Loaf property could come to a crossroads next month at Leelanau County’s Brownfield Redevelopment Authority meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, April 21 at 10am.

Trudy Galla, the county’s Planning & Community Development Director says representatives from Sherman Oaks, California-based real estate broker and developer J.D. Market Acquisitions sent part one of a brownfield application for assistance on the Sugar Loaf property.

Officials at both the county and township level had been expecting the application, which is key to moving ahead with demolition of the existing resort structure. “It’s a step forward,” says County Administrator Chet Janik. “And assuming we will be open, it will be on the agenda for the next Brownfield Authority meeting.” (At this time, all Leelanau County buildings and non-essential services are closed, with normal operations and office hours expected to resume on Monday, April 6.)

Jeff Katofsky, President of J.D. Market Acquisitions, plans to restore the Sugar Loaf Mountain Resort property — dormant since 2000 — to a year-round luxury resort. Details about the project on J.D. Market Acquisitions’ website indicate amenities will include luxury accommodations, a full-service spa, extensive fitness and wellness center, fine dining restaurants, and event space. Plans also include vineyards with tasting rooms, year-round outdoor activities including equestrian, hiking, golf, cross-country skiing, tennis, team sport facilities and water sports. The most current timeline indicates that renovations would begin in 2021 or 2022, with a reopening sometime in the spring of 2024.

If the Sugar Loaf brownfield plan goes through, the developer can seek reimbursement for eligible activities on the restoration project through Brownfield Tax Increment Financing (TIF). Increased taxes on the development are used to reimburse the developer for eligible activities, which might include items such as demolition, engineering studies, site preparation and environmental studies.

Brownfield properties face economic impediments to reuse and redevelopment, due to being contaminated, blighted, or functionally obsolete. As is the case with the Sugar Loaf property, “this could include structures that have been destroyed from the elements and vandalism,” says Galla.

“We usually see a part two application within about 6 months of the part one being accepted,” adds Galla, who reviews all applications before submitting to the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority. “The timing depends on the size and scope of each project and when they can submit a more detailed plan and request for consideration.”

Katofsky tells The Ticker, “there is full cooperation between us and the county and the local officials,” but the speed the project moves ahead could be subject to fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. “My priority is not whether or not we are taking bulldozer to an old building,” says Katofsky. “This will pass but…this is going to be life-altering for a while.”

For the Sugar Loaf brownfield plan to move forward, the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, the Country Board of Commissioners and the Cleveland Township Board of Trustees all have to sign off on it. The Brownfield Redevelopment Authority will work with a consultant to chart out a conservative and realistic projection of how much the property values will increase, then create a developer reimbursement agreement.

“They have to develop the project so the value and TIF increases, and also pay their taxes in order to be eligible for reimbursement,” says Galla.

Says Janik, “We are all on the same page, that their goal is to submit a plan and start the demolition of the resort. Truly, it is a blighted area and we all want to see the facilities demolished and construction to begin.”

In mid-January, the Cleveland Township Board of Trustees passed a blight elimination ordinance as a first step to taking action against the resort. The ordinance is at the ready, but no action has been taken. As of press time, Cleveland Township Supervisor Tim Stein says the township board agreed “we would wait through April” for the county’s action regarding the brownfield application.

“If the Katofsky group moves ahead with the brownfield application, and moves ahead with demolition, we will stay on the action on our part, relative to enforcing a blight ordinance,” Stein says. “We have had good dialog so far.”

Al Pacino at his best!! It’s about killing Nazis hiding in the USA. Violent but great cinematography, script and acting. I binged on the 10 episodes 4 out of 5 stars

Sarah, daughter of slaves is a washerwoman who dreams of succeeding and making a good life for herself. She meets another woman who helps her with her hair that has fallen out with a special cream. Sarah asks her to allow her to sell the product which she really believes in. The woman turns her down because she is not attractive enough. But Sarah starts her own business and improves upon the original formula. The two woman fight over this product for a long time. Sarah builds her own factory with the endorsements from Booker T. Washington and W.E.B DuBois. She becomes the first female millionaire. Incredible businesswoman who knows how to persevere. 4.5 out of 5 stars