Few chefs take local ingredients to the level of Spire Farm-To-Fork Cuisine's Brad Hinsley.

“It’s kind of crazy. All of this is good.” That’s what one diner remarked during the latest BlueStarHighway.com team dinner at Jimmy’s in New Buffalo, Michigan. Sounds like music to co-owner Jim Frye’s ears.

Traditional Middle Eastern food is hard to find in Southwest Michigan, one exception being Ibrahim Parlak’s stellar Café Gulistan in Harbor Country.

Scott Sullivan believes “Good Beer Wins.” Not just his beer – all good beer. The hands-on, do-it-yourselfer recently opened Greenbush Brewing Co. in Sawyer, Michigan.

As I stepped in the door of the Blue Plate Café in Union Pier, Michigan, a lively kitchen, friendly staff, full tables, and the delicious aroma of fresh-baked goods greeted me. Blue Plate is owned by Linda Beck, a longtime lover of southwest Michigan.

How far would you go for good food? This is the question the Blue Star team was asking itself by the end of our meal at the Wood Fire Italian Trattoria on Friday night. While most of us had come about 30 miles to the restaurant ...