Celebrity Chef Mario Batali Brings His Love Of Cooking To Pure Michigan For A "Made In Michigan" Day

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., June 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Summer entertaining is heating up, and with the Fourth of July holiday quickly approaching, who better than world-famous chef Mario Batali to reveal his tasty tips for entertaining this season?

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Part-time Michigander Mario Batali and Pure Michigan have teamed up to introduce recipes and party tips for summer cooking, as well as share the scoop on the best of Michigan's food scene and top must-see destinations in the state this summer.

To kick things off, Batali and Pure Michigan hosted a "Made in Michigan" epicurean experience in Traverse City where Batali prepared three all-new recipes created specifically for the occasion.  The recipes showcased a few of his favorite locally sourced ingredients including fresh Michigan cherries, Lake Superior Walleye fillets from Taylor Fish Company, bologna from Pleva's Meats in Cedar, and Leelanau Cheese Raclette from Suttons Bay.  The event took place at Chateau Chantal, a picturesque winery and bed & breakfast on Old Mission Peninsula, located just a few miles north of Traverse City.

Dishes prepared by Batali included:

Piadina with Local Cherries, Bologna and Raclette

Michigan Walleye in Prosciutto with Pesto Fregola

Beef Braciole "Pinwheel-style"

Mario's Michigan

"I first fell in love with Michigan almost eleven years ago and have been coming back ever since," said Batali.  "My wife and I eventually bought a summer home here, and I really enjoy the respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.  The weather is amazing, the people are fantastic, and of course, the food scene has exploded."

When in Michigan, visitors can enjoy some of the eateries where Batali has been spotted including The Cooks' House, a farm-to-table gem located in downtown Traverse City, and Siren Hall, a fresh seafood spot located on the east side of Grand Traverse Bay.  The Cove of Leland, home to the famed "Chubby Mary," and Martha's Leelanau Table of Sutton's Bay are also frequented by Batali, along with Black Star Farms, producer of some of the state's finest wines and spirits; L. Mawby Vineyards, maker of the Leelanau Peninsula's premium sparkling wines; and Tandem Ciders, producer of Northern Michigan's artisan hard ciders.

When he is not indulging in the Michigan food scene, Batali enjoys visiting some of the region's most popular attractions including Mackinac Island, Fishtown in Leland, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park and numerous spectacular golf courses from Manitou Passage to Arcadia Bluffs.

"Traverse City and the Leelanau regions have such an impressive culinary scene, so who better than Mario Batali himself to showcase all that our great state has to offer?" said George Zimmermann, vice president, Travel Michigan.  "From award-winning wineries and breweries to top-notch restaurants and attractions, people need not look any further than Michigan when planning their perfect summer getaway."

To learn more about the great state of Michigan and plan a summer vacation, please visit www.michigan.org.  To download Mario Batali's "Made in Michigan" recipes and learn more, please visit http://www.michigan.org/Partners/mario-batali-recipes/.

About Pure Michigan

Travel Michigan, part of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, is the State of Michigan's official agency for the promotion of tourism.  Travel Michigan markets the state's tourism industry and provides valuable visitor information services.  The Michigan Economic Development Corporation, a public-private partnership serving as the state's marketing arm and lead agency for business, talent and jobs, focuses on helping grow Michigan's economy.  For more on the MEDC and its initiatives, please visit http://www.michiganadvantage.org.  For Michigan travel news and updates, please visit http://www.michigan.org. 

About Mario Batali

With 20 restaurants, nine cookbooks and a host of television shows, including the ever-popular "Iron Chef America," Mario Batali is one of the most recognized and respected chefs working in America today.  Mario and his business partner, Joe Bastianich, own 17 restaurants across the country including their flagship Manhattan enoteca, Babbo.  In April 2012, the pair opened Lupa in Hong Kong, their first restaurant in China.  Mario is also the author of nine cookbooks to date including the James Beard Award-winning "Molto Italiano: 327 Simple Italian Recipes" (ecco 2005).  Mario's newest book is "Molto Batali: Simple Family Meals From My Home to Yours" (ecco 2011).  Mario stars in "The Chew," a daytime talk show on ABC that celebrates and explores life through food.  To learn more about Mario Batali, visit http://www.mariobatali.com.

SOURCE Pure Michigan