The much anticipated From Michigan With Love Holiday Gift and Food Guide is out and better than ever. This year’s guide features a retrospective of products – the best in products made in our great state of Michigan! This is the 17th and final holiday guide. Here are the companies for 2024:
GREAT LAKES POT PIES, Clawson, 248/266-1160 www.greatlakespotpies.com
Great Lakes Pot Pies offers hand-made pot pies a 9” and 5” size. Flavors include chicken, beef stew, and a new “Thanksgiving in a Pie”. There are hand pies in a variety of flavors, including breakfast and dessert, like chocolate chip and pecan pie, and gluten free and vegan offerings. All pies are hand-made with fresh ingredients locally sourced in Michigan as much as possible, and with no preservatives. Great Lakes Pot Pies makes a snack called “Pie Chips”, which are made from piecrust flavored with seasoning on top, like Cinnamon Sugar Pie Chips. Shipping is available throughout the contiguous United States. Great Lakes Pot Pies are now available in 33 Meijer Supercenter store locations throughout Metro Detroit and all Gordon Food Services stores nationwide. This is in addition to being available at the store and over 150 stores across Michigan and it’s retail location. What was supposed to only be a hobby in 2016 blossomed into a thriving business.
MICHIGAN AWESOME, Holland, 616/990-2591 www.michiganawesome.com
In business since 2009, Michigan Awesome works with dozens of companies across Michigan to find quality products for its gift boxes, which are hugely popular, especially around the holidays. The boxes feature artisan food from across Michigan, packed in beautiful custom gift boxes that always leave an impression. During the holiday gift-giving season, nearly half of the gift boxes purchased are shipped to addresses outside of Michigan. They make great gifts to friends and family who may have moved away and are longing for a taste of home. I really like the assortment of fun T-Shirts Michigan Awesome makes – I have three that I wear often. Other available items include other wearables, drinkware, and home goods. The company also offers its own line of wines and hard ciders made from grapes grown along the shores of Lake Michigan and Michigan apples.
WILSON’S CHEESE SHOPPE, Pinconning, 989/879-2002 www.wilsoncheese.com
Wilson’s Cheese Shoppe celebrated its 85th anniversary in 2024. The shoppe has over 150 varieties of cheeses plus many different flavors of cheese spreads. The most popular, of course, is Squeaky Mild Pinconning and the most exotic is a 16-year-old super sharp Pinconning Cheese. Wilson’s Cheese Shoppe began in 1939 by Inez (Horn)Wilson, daughter of Pinconning Cheese creator Dan Horn who began producing the now famous Pinconning Cheese in 1915. Over the years, the Wilson’s has been marketed as a destination to travelers headed north. The shoppe also offers fudge and other Michigan products, as well as deluxe sausage and cheese baskets and gift boxes.
GILBERT CHOCOLATES, Jackson and Ann Arbor, 517/764-3141 www.gilbertchocolates.com
Gilbert Chocolates, the premier chocolate maker in the Midwest, produces a decadent variety of smooth, silky chocolates, all made by hand, that will please everyone on your list. People can visit Gilbert Chocolates in Jackson Street in Jackson or on the center court at the Briarwood Mall in Ann Arbor to see and taste why these chocolates are the best around. Boxes of chocolates can be shipped anywhere in the contiguous United States. Gilbert Chocolates has been making candy in Jackson, Michigan, for over a century. The key to the company’s success is innovation and maintaining great quality using only the finest ingredients. The 100-year-old recipes for their traditional cream centers remain unchanged, and because the candy is made in small batches, it tastes better than any machine mixed blend. The company also offers the latest – Dubai Chocolates.
HOLLAND BOWL MILL, Holland, 616/396-6513 www.hollandbowlmill.com
The Holland Bowl Mill creates some of the finest heirloom bowls in the country and is one of the last remaining and best-known bowl companies in the United States. Free engraving in store or online comes with each bowl sold. The company was featured on the Discovery Channel’s “How It’s Made” program some years back. The company started out as the Holland Wooden Shoe Factory in 1926 and then began turning hand crafted bowls from exotic woods. The Holland Bowl Mill recently expanded and updated its customer show room and still gives tours to anyone at any hour of the working day. It is still family owned. The Holland Bowl Mill sells its products all over the world. The company also makes kitchen utensils like wooden salad tongs, cutting boards, and home décor, and offers free engraving on the bottom of each piece made.
BETTER MADE SNACK FOODS, Detroit, 313/925-4774 www.bettermade.com
Now in its 94th year, Better Made continues to be Michigan’s favorite potato chip and snack food maker. The company is still family owned, and still supports Detroit and charitable organizations in Michigan. Better Made’s famous chocolate covered chips are back and available in milk or dark chocolate. I’ve had these many times and they are the best! Better Made also offer a handy 18 ct. Variety Pack – great for packing lunches and for after school snack time, a 10 ct. original and BBQ multipack, and one of my favorites – the Better Made Detroit Mix – a delicious bag of caramel and cheese popcorn that I can’t stop eating! Try Better Made’s new Kettle Chips in three delicious flavors. You can buy these items in stores, the Better Made retail store 10148 Gratiot Avenue in Detroit, or on-line at www.bettermade.com. For holiday gift giving, Better Made offers a sampler box of different freshly made snack foods that are sure to please everyone in the family!
MEL’S TOFFEE, Royal Oak, 248/496-0186 www.melstoffee.com
Mel’s Toffee offers a delicious variety of freshly made toffees that can be shipped anywhere in the contiguous United States. The company offers neat mini tins in various flavors that hold 8oz of toffee. The tins can be mixed and matched so your gift will be even more special. You can even have them doubled up in a bigger tin. Just in time for Christmas and the winter season, Mel’s offers a delicious Gingerbread toffee that is made without molasses. Mel’s Toffee is being used by local breweries to make delicious craft beers.
