Across the Upper Peninsula, Michigan pasties have become a staple for generations. The hearty meat and vegetable pie is conveniently portable and incredibly delicious, and the tradition has spread to other parts of the state as former UP mining families have moved elsewhere, including northern Michigan. Pasties have a long and storied history, but the tradition didn’t start in Michigan.
Pasties are rich, savory hand pies usually filled with meat and veggies. They are flaky but thick, allowing them to hold a hearty helping of beef, potato, onion, and rutabaga. Today, many stores also sell chicken pot pie, bacon, and even veggie pasties, with dozens of other options available.
Pasties were the original portable food of miners in Cornwall, England. They were easy to make with leftover meat and vegetables, baked into dough, and stayed tidy in satchels in the mines until lunchtime. They were often eaten hundreds of feet below ground, often reheated by the candles miners used to light the tight, cramped tunnels in which they worked.
In the late 1800s, Cornish mining declined, with operations across the region essentially drained of resources. This contributed to a migration overseas, with many experienced Cornish miners heading to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where rich copper deposits were needed to drive America’s booming economy. The Cornish miners brought their mining experience and their favorite meal—the pasty.
Today, dozens of specialty pasty shops claim to make the best pasties in Michigan. You’ll find dedicated pasty shops in Marquette, Mackinaw City, Iron Mountain, St. Ignace, and dozens of other cities.
Of course, the best pasty in Traverse City is Cousin Jenny’s, just down the block from our Downtown TC showroom. Cousin Jenny’s has offered traditional Cornish pasties for decades and now ships them nationwide! For a taste of Michigan’s mining history and Cornish culinary elegance, give them a shout.
Max’s Service might not be as old as pasties, but we’ve been a staple of northern Michigan for over five decades. We offer expert appliance repair and sales, backed by excellent customer service you can always count on. For all your home appliance needs, trust Max’s; get in touch today.
Share on Twitter Share on Facebook
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2017
Comments
There are currently no comments
New Comment