Every year during Red Hot Best voting, MyNorth’s staff gets the inside story on the race to the finish line. And every year there are several categories where the voting numbers are high, the passions run strong and the races are close. It is quite possible that there are nominees not listed below that could win the title. There are upsets in the final days, and some races are so close there are even ties!

If there are nominees you feel merit the limelight of the Red Hot Best, secure their place on the pages of the June issue of Traverse, Northern Michigan’s Magazine by campaigning on their behalf. Your efforts could make someone a winner!

[Click here to vote!]

Below is a glimpse at the ongoing drama that’s unfolding as Red Hot Best voting continues, open until 5 p.m. on March 15. We’ve listed several popular categories and an alphabetical listing of the top nominees in those categories. That all could change in the coming weeks with your votes!

Are you nominated? Check out these tips to help inspire your fans to support you in the Red Hot Best of Northern Michigan, and take a look at last year’s winners.

French Fries
7 Monks, Traverse City
Biere de Mac, Mackinaw City
Bubba’s, Traverse City
Don’s Drive-In, Traverse City
Rarebird, Traverse City
Slabtown Burger, Traverse City
Sleders, Traverse City
The Soup Cup, Traverse City

Coffee HouseNorthern Michigan coffee shops
Biggby Coffee, Traverse City
BLK MRKT, Traverse City
Brew, Traverse City
Cuppa Joe, Traverse City
Espresso Bay, Traverse City
Good Harbor Coffee, Traverse City
Higher Grounds, Traverse City
Morsels, Traverse City
Roast & Toast, Petoskey

New Restaurant (Opened 2016 or later)
Alliance, Traverse City
Gaijin, Traverse City
Mama Lu’s, Traverse City
McGees 72
Red Spire Brunch House, Traverse City
Taproot Cider House, Traverse City
West End Tavern, Traverse City

Restaurant Server
Aaron, Keyhole Bar, Mackinaw City
Aba, Amical, Traverse City
Brian Kozminski, Cafe Santé, Boyne City
Chad Hall, Green House Cafe, Traverse City
Cindy, Randy’s Diner, Traverse City
Danielle, Moose Jaw Junction
David Bell, Aerie Restaurant
Jen Markey, Pearl’s New Orleans Kitchen, Elk Rapids
Matt, McGee’s 72, Williamsburg
Randy, Red Ginger, Traverse City
Shelby Dusseau, Arcadia Bluffs
Walter, Boathouse Restaurant
Zac, Big Boy, Traverse City

Brewer
northern michigan beerBeard’s Brewery, Ben Slocum, Petoskey
Biere de Mac, Jeremiah Zimmerman
Brewery Terra Firma, John Neidermeier, Traverse City
Hop Lot Brewing Co., Steve Lutke
Lake Ann Brewing Company, Matt Therrien
North Peak Brewing, Dave
Rare Bird, Tina Schuett, Traverse City
Short’s Brewing Company, Joe Short, Bellaire
Stormcloud Brewing Co., Brian Confer,  Frankfort
The Filling Station, Andy Largent
Workshop Brewing Company, Corey Wentworth, Corey, Traverse City

Builder
Bay Area Contracting
Bay Construction, Traverse City
Biggs Construction
Burkholder Construction
Easling Construction
Grand Traverse Construction, Traverse City
Mac Custom Homes
Maple Hill Builders
Pathway Homes
Paul Maurer General Contracting, Paul Maurer
Peninsula Construction and Design, Traverse city
Socks Construction
Wannigan, Elk Rapids
Widing Custom Homes

Hair Salon
Allure, Traverse City
Bayside Salon, Suttons Bay
Bella Amici, Traverse City
Epiphany Salon East & Downtown Traverse City, Williamsburg
Hair Force One, Traverse City
Impres Salon And Spa, Traverse City
M Salon & Spa, Traverse City
Pavlova, Traverse CIty
Polished Hair Studio, Traverse City
Pure Essence, Traverse City
Salon 804, Traverse City
Salon Verve, Traverse City
Studio 415 Salon, Traverse City

Restaurant You Can Boat To
Apache Trout Grill, Traverse City
Barrel Back, Walloon Lake Village
Bluebird, Leland
Boat House, Old Mission Peninsula, Traverse City
Cafe Santé, Boyne City
Dockside, Torch Lake
Hoppies, Burt Lake
Knot Just A Bar, Omena
Riverside Inn, Leland
Riverwalk, Elk Rapids
The Landing, Ironton
West End, Traverse City

Local Cider
Bee Well Meadery, Bellaire, Kings Cherry
Black Star Farms, Hard Apple Cider
Bowers Harbor, Spirit Cider Peach Apple
Jolly Pumpkin, Nomad
Left Foot Charley, Cinnamon Girl
Left Foot Charley, Relic
St. Ambrose Cellars, Xr Cyser
Starcut Ciders, Octorock
Suttons Bay Ciders, Don Cherry Cider
Tandem Ciders, Smackintosh
Taproot Cider House, Taproot

Cherry Productcherry cherry pie
American Spoon Foods, Cherry Peach Salsa, Traverse City
Benjamin Twiggs, Cherries Delight chocolate covered dried cherries
Brownwood Farms, Cherry BBQ Sauce
Cherry Hut, Cherry Pie, Beulah
Cherry Republic, Cherry Salsa, Glen Arbor
Grand Traverse Pie Company, Cherry Pie, Traverse City/Petoskey
Moomers, Cherries Mobilee Ice Cream

Restaurant with the Best Burger
7 Monks Taproom, Abbey Burger, Traverse City
Art’s Tavern, Glen Arbor
Blue Tractor Cook Shop, Traverse City, The Hay Bayler
Boone’s Prime Time Pub, Suttons Bay
Bubba’s, Traverse City
Don’s Drive In, Traverse City
Harrington’s by the Bay, Traverse City
Moose Jaw Junction, Pellston
Slabtown Burgers, Traverse City
Sleder’s Tavern, Traverse City

Photo(s) by Todd Zawistowski