The Cooks’ House

(Community Matters) Steven and I had dinner at The Cooks’ House tonight – five stars.  First, a very modest, clean, quaint location.  Warm & friendly, met immediately upon arriving – at which time I didn’t realize Theresa Patterson, who greeted us & waited on us, was Eric Patterson’s wife. Eric is the chef/proprietor (along with his partner Jennifer Blakeslee – who wasn’t there tonight).  Food was to die for.  I started w/ a smoked white fish salad, Steven w/ heirloom tomatoes. Steven then chicken with sweetbreads in a wine sauce, me grilled quail breast and quail leg confit in a mirepoix sauce with steeped cherries and shallots. Over the top – sauces exploded in our mouths.  I’m on a diet but couldn’t resist a tiny portion of brown butter cake with a cherry & port wine sauce plus a dollop of a famous local ice cream.

Eric apprenticed under Chef Andre Rochat in Las Vegas, left & returned as a grill chef, and left & returned, the final time as a full chef.  They earned a Michelin star then. He sources his product locally – even 75- 80% in the dead of winter. He loves the farmers in & around Traverse City, describing them as one does artists.

We’ve had good food while on this trip – Traverse City has some very good restaurants.  And, the Cook’s House is beyond good; it’s an extraordinary find.  I’ve already written to friends at Amoul’s in London.  I have to obtain another copy of Amoul’s cookbook for Eric.  For some reason I left (with a copy of his cookbook in hand) thinking of Amoul’s and her reverence for ingredients, and her magical cooking.  I’m coming back to Traverse City and won’t eat anywhere else for dinner if I can get into Cook’s every night.