Michael’s English Muffins is a hard-working team of talented individuals committed to making the most awesome English Muffins every day. Serving them with an unrivaled level of hospitality. What sets Michael’s English Muffins apart? A 12 to 24-hour process where every gram that goes into every batch matters. It is a true labor of love, and you can taste the difference.
Owner Annabelle Comisar’s story starts before her. Dating all the way back to the 1930’s when her father’s parents got their start in the restaurant world. The crown jewel of their hard work and perseverance was the creation of the iconic Cincinnati restaurant, the Maisonette, which was the longest, consecutive running five-star restaurant in the United States. This legacy was left in the hands of her father and his older brother who not only maintained the prestige of the Maisonette, but also added to the “portfolio” opening seven restaurants during Annabelle’s lifetime.
Annabelle cut her teeth in the industry as a busser in one of the family restaurants. She left the restaurant industry for a while after college to work in fashion in New York City, but she returned to the restaurant industry to make ends meet. She eventually made her way back home to Cincinnati and in her late twenties, after resigning as the GM of a restaurant where quality was not practiced, she resolved to immerse herself with people and companies that embrace the same values that were engrained in her at an early age.
Annabelle worked for a small Artisan Bakery where she witnessed the meticulous detail applied to all aspects of their business, where quality of the product and quality of the ingredients were first and foremost. She moved to Raleigh to work with Sour Grapes, a boutique wine distributor, whose mission statement on quality was one she admired and applauded. In the process, Annabelle fell in love with Raleigh, developed a respect for its food scene, and cultivated meaningful relationships with local restaurants and entrepreneurs.
She became resolved to introduce the Oak City to a true English Muffin. Those important relationships fostered by her years in the food and wine industry served as a springboard to help her launch Michael’s English Muffins and to bring this decadent and comforting food to the area. Through it all – Annabelle heard her dad’s voice, “attention to detail, attention to detail, attention to detail” This care for quality and attention to what matters most is Annabelle’s history, and it is her future.
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