What do a Northern Michigan designer, Food Court Wars and Food Network have in common? The answer was revealed on last night’s episode of the Food Network’s Food Court Wars when viewers were treated to a Dawn Whyte-designed restaurant set. The Petoskey-based kitchen designer and her crew at Designs by Dawn were asked last fall to design the set for the shoot. Working feverishly and under wraps the team worked 24-7 to redo two restaurant facades in the Grand Traverse Mall in Traverse City.
Whyte’s redo was the backdrop for some tasty local drama. The show pit Nick and Autumn McAllister who own the House of Doggs in Traverse City against Matt Hunter the owner of the Dockside Party Store and foodie Matt Fitzsimons. The House of Doggs team ultimately won the chance to open up shop in the Whyte-designed space in Grand Traverse Mall’s food court.
The photo above was taken before Dawn and her team made the magic transformation.
Dawn has long been one of our favorite kitchen designers at Northern Home & Cottage. She’s had at least one kitchen on all six of our Ultimate Up North Kitchen Tours in October. Read more about Dawn’s work here:
Dawn dishes on outdoor kitchens.
Dawn’s 2013 Ultimate Up North Kitchen Tour entry.