What happens when two Chicago chefs, Andy Elliott and Emily Stewart, learn their chops at Michelin starred restaurants, marry, and hatch a dream of their own? They turn to Traverse City and fall in love with the food-loving community surrounded by the freshest vegetables, fruit, fish, livestock, wines and spirits. They migrate north. Buy a home. Have a pandemic baby. Strap him to his mother and sling everything from scones to hand-pies at the Sara Hardy Traverse City Farmers Market. Two years later, they find an 1890’s building in need of love, just waiting for the Modern Bird restaurant to fly.

ANDY ELLIOTT * Chef Owner
After graduating culinary school, Andy furthered his skills at BOKA, GT Fish & Oyster and Ria in Chicago. Preparing everything from whole roasted pig to truffles. He has a gift for creating delicious food using the humblest to the finest ingredients. Why turn to Traverse City? Elliott liked the energy and openness of the food community, the importance of family, and the great views.

EMILY STEWART * Chef Owner
No stranger to northern Michigan having worked summers from waitress to nanny in the area. Post-culinary school, Stewart furthered her craft in fine dining at BOKA, and Blackbird. Loved and ruled pastry at Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits. When she and Elliott teamed up, their dream was a place of their own. Traverse City called. To begin, her pastries were gobbled up at the local farmers market. She now conjures up crave-able baked goods at Modern Bird, and loves being back in Traverse City where the fruit is fresher and the clientele hungry.