For 15 years, New Scenic Cafe chef/owner Scott Graden has looked to the seasons — and called upon a bevy of local purveyors — for culinary inspiration, with remarkable results. No wonder his knotty pine-lined dining rooms are a must-visit for gastro-tourists. Its location, about 20 minutes up Lake Superior's rocky shore from restaurant-focused Canal Park, is well worth the drive. Don't skip dessert, and buy a jar or two of the kitchen's preserves as a souvenir. For those who can't make it to Gitchi-Gami anytime soon, Graden has just published "New Scenic Cafe: The Cookbook," and it's a keeper. 5461 North Shore Dr., Duluth; 1-218-525-6274; newsceniccafe.com
Runner-up: Northern Waters Smokehaus
