Hive & Seek

Pearl’s New Orleans Kitchen

A Rainy Day Trip to Elk Rapids, MI

It’s a rainy day, and since I can’t go to the beach, I decided the day was best spent taking a short trip to Elk Rapids, MI. Elk Rapids is a charming village located on the shores of Grand Traverse Bay. It has a cute downtown area where a girl could spend plenty of time exploring on a rainy day.

Dining at Pearl’s New Orleans Kitchen

One of my favorite spots to eat in Elk Rapids is Pearl’s New Orleans Kitchen. Earlier in my teaching career, I taught a combined culinary and marketing course. As a tradition, I would take my graduating seniors to Pearl’s as a sort of “going-away” culinary experience.

It gave students the chance to have a meal in a sit-down restaurant (you’d be surprised how many hadn’t had the opportunity) and to try a cuisine very different from what they normally ate. One of the highlights of those trips was tasting the Bayou Alligator Bites. Twenty-plus years later, I still enjoy eating Bayou Alligator at Pearl’s.

The Atmosphere

As the name suggests, the vibe at Pearl’s is very New Orleans-inspired. Hot sauce bottles and Mardi Gras decorations are everywhere. My favorite detail, though, is the zydeco music playing through the speakers. It sets the tone perfectly.

The staff is always friendly and seems genuinely happy—probably because they get to listen to that great music all day!

What We Ate

The food was, as always, delicious. Here’s what we ordered:

Starters

• Bayou Alligator (of course!)
  
• Red Bean Cakes
  

Entrées

• Shrimp & Grits – the most creamy and flavorful grits I’ve ever tried!
  
• Louisiana Jambalaya – deliciously spicy!

Dessert

• Beignet Hot Fudge Sundae (not needed, but absolutely irresistible….just look at it! could you turn it down?)
  

Laissez le Bon Temps Roulèr

It’s important to note that these were lunch portions, but I still felt like I needed to be rolled out of there afterward. I didn’t eat the rest of the day!

The next time you’re in the Elk Rapids area, be sure to stop at Pearl’s New Orleans Kitchen. It is absolutely worth the visit!