Behind the Scenes - Mia & Grace
Good food takes time, and likewise the opening of Mia & Grace was two years in the making.. But it’s always worth the wait. Jeremy and Jamie Paquin have updated a long ago Muskegon hangout, Big Bob’s (1133 Third St), into a third place for today’s hipsters with bold colors, historic character, local art, a living room feel, and above all great local food. Main Street caught up with Jamie to get all the details on this new, must hit, Muskegon destination.
MS: Obviously you and Jeremy have a passion for great food. Where did that love come from and how have both of you developed your skills to this degree? 
JP: We both have culinary degrees but in the chef world, that is really just a formality. Jeremy started cooking at his grandmother's restaurant when he was 13 and has been a cook ever since. I grew up in a traditional Italian family where the little girls helped out in the kitchen. I guess we just inherited our passion. Since we've been together our cooking styles have melded into this cohesive effort that just works. We love working together to get just the right flavor combination or to tweak a recipe until we're both satisfied. Everything in cooking, just like life, is a learning experience.
MS: What is your vision for the bakery and restaurant items you serve here at Mia & Grace? 
JP: It's simple. We want to use the best ingredients available to create the best food we know how. Buying produce and meat from local farmers is the only way to ensure the quality meets our standard. In a time where it's pretty easy to place an internet order for food to be delivered to the back door, we still choose to go out to the farms and meet the people that are growing the produce and raising the animals. We've made some really great friends and can take comfort in knowing that your grass-fed burger is actually grass-fed only 30 minutes up the highway.
MS: What is the inspiration for the name Mia & Grace? 
JP: Mia is our 2-year-old daughter. She's our inspiration for everything so it seemed very fitting to name our business for her. Grace has multiple meanings. Jeremy's sister is Grace. Jeremy is one of 7 kids, but she and Jeremy have always had a special relationship. Grace was named for her paternal grandmother. So it's nice that Grandma Grace can be remembered too. Our lives revolve around our family, as does our business.
MS: This building, with its 5 second floor apartments, needed some love when you crossed paths two years ago.I must say you did a masterful job transforming the ghost of Big Bob’s into a trendy third place. What were some of the major renovation items you hit?
JP: Let's see...each apartment (there are 4 now) was a top to bottom renovation. We salvaged as much as we could along the way including 100-year-old doors, trim, and hardwood floors. Unfortunately some things just had to be replaced. From there we moved outside to the façade. We replaced the roof and boiler. Inside Mia & Grace, we removed everything down to the studs and sub floor and build it right back up. We have had some very talented people help us out along the way.
MS: In addition to tasteful rehabilitation, you really nailed the finishing touches that make the place sing. Describe those.
JP: The hand-nailed wood floors were a ton of work but they immediately made the space feel comfortable. We have great local art displayed throughout that ranges from serene landscapes to wild abstracts - all original, just like our food. The menu is written on butcher paper clipped on a line at the back of the shop. This makes it easy for us to change with product availability. Our breakfast pastries and sweet treats are displayed in the case and on the counter so that while you're eating, you can be deciding what you want for dessert! Crisp, white linens under the butcher paper creates a casual, yet refined, look -- again a reflection of us and our food.
MS: Tell us a little more about how the local art scheme works. 
JP: All of the art on our walls is for sale. We call it the Artists Share. Mia & Grace does not take a commission from the sale, instead, we donate a portion of the profit to a local charity. All of the artists have agreed to donate a minimum of 10%, some have asked to give more. We sold the first piece on opening day!!
MS: Well having been here twice for lunch already, I can say “Two Thumbs Up”. All the dishes I have tried have been exquisite, and I can’t wait to try them all. You’ve created a special place here. Thanks so much for taking time to share.
JP: Anytime! We're glad to do it.
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Check it out on the web
Mia & Grace Website
Local Food Movement on Wikipedia
posted by Dan & Sarah @ 9:49 AM
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