Trattoria Stella Celebrates 5 Years with Father's Day Picnic to Benefit the Michigan Land Use Institute

To celebrate its 5th Anniversary, Trattoria Stella of Traverse City will hold a picnic from 12-4pm on Father’s Day – Sunday, June 21 on the Great Lawn at Building 50 at the Grand Traverse Commons. All the food offered at this “Stellar Picnic” will be from local farms. Pork, buffalo, potatoes, strawberries, cream, and more will be served. There will be music and children's games to make this a family event for Father's Day. Tickets can be purchased through Stella and are $10/person or $25/family. In keeping with their commitment to the area, proceeds will benefit the Michigan Land Use Institute.

Paul and Amanda Danielson, owners of Trattoria Stella, had a vision for a restaurant that would "Find the best sources for food, seek out the finest wines in the world, . . . and put quality ahead of the bottom line."

“Nearly five years ago, we opened up fueled by vigor, positive attitude and a whole lot of hope,” proprietor Paul Danielson reflects. “Since then, we have successfully surrounded ourselves with a staff that understands our goal and wants to be a part of it. We have found that much of the best food we can find is grown within twenty miles of our kitchen door. We happily learned that while we can put together a wine list to compare with the best in the country, much of ours comes from our own region.”

Stella has had a strong impact on the local community, with almost 60 employees and strong relationships with area farms and businesses. Chef Myles Anton works directly with over 45 area farms, many of whom have increased their plantings to supply the 165-seat restaurant, saying he doesn't mind the extra effort required to procure local produce.

“Our guests are provided with a fresher, more nutritious product while the dollars generated stay within the community,” Chef Myles Anton proudly states. “Our area farmers have willingly worked harder to increase their planted acreage; it is a symbiotic relationship where we feed each other.”

Stella’s commitment to high quality products from the area extends to their extensive wine list which boasts 25 local wines by the glass.

“We are very proud to offer the most comprehensive local wine list in the state of Michigan,” Amanda Danielson, proprietor and sommelier says. “We extend our sincerest appreciation to the winemakers for producing these truly world-class wines.”

Five years is worth celebrating in the restaurant industry where, according to Cornell Hotel & Restaurant Administration Quarterly (August, 2005), 25% of restaurants close or change ownership within year one, and that number jumps to 60% within the first three years.

Contact: Paul and Amanda Danielson, proprietors
Tel: 231.929.8989
email: amanda@stellatc.com | paul@stellatc.com

Additional contacts:
· Chef Myles Anton, Trattoria Stella, 231-632-0712, 231-929-8989
· Michigan Land Use Institute, 231-941-6584, www.mlui.org

Farmers who may be contacted about Trattoria Stella's impact on their farms:
· Jennifer Bramer, Agrivine, 231-883-8337
· Dick and Gaye Zenner, Zenner Farms, 231-263-5339
· Craig Schaaf, Golden Rule Farm, 231-510-7273
· Dave and Jo Edmundson, Edmundson Farms & The Cherry Connection, 231-223-7130
· Buchans Blueberry Hill, 231-223-4846

Wineries that may be contacted about Trattoria Stella's impact on their wineries:
· Bryan Ulbrich, Left Foot Charley, 231-995-0500, 231-645-1644
· Spencer Stegenga, Bowers Harbor Vineyards, 231-223-7615

Trattoria Stella
1200 West 11th Street
Traverse City, MI 49686
231-929-8989
www.StellaTC.com