Renowned Chef Pete Peterson Dies at 82

Renowned chef Harlan “Pete” Peterson of Traverse City has died at the age of 82. A celebration of Peterson’s life will be held at Reynolds-Jonkhoff funeral home on Sunday, March 22 at 2pm.

Long before the proliferation of farm-to-table restaurants in northern Michigan, Peterson's restaurant Tapawingo stood out for 25 years as a groundbreaking culinary destination in Ellsworth until its closure in 2009. Peterson’s food was highlighted in newspaper profiles and reviews around the country, with The New York Times calling Tapawingo “the region's epicenter, gastronomically speaking,” and the “best restaurant anywhere in the country that's a four-hour drive from the closest major city.” The cuisine also drew praise from celebrity chefs.

Peterson's career also included teaching stints at the Great Lakes Culinary Institute (GLCI) and helping launch acclaimed Traverse City restaurant Alliance. The Ticker spoke to Peterson in January, when he learned that more than 20 chefs from around the country mentored or influenced by Peterson – representing Trattoria Stella, The Cooks’ House, Wren, Modern Bird, Blu, the Michelin-starred State Bird Provisions in San Francisco, and more – planned to pay tribute to his career with a fundraising dinner at GLCI on March 12. Though he didn't make it to the event, Peterson said he was “flabbergasted” and touched by the lineup of chefs coming to honor his career.

While that dinner has now been postponed, it is still planned to take place at a future date to be announced, according to GLCI's Patricia Cron-Huhta. 

Photo credit: Dave Weidner