About Us

Karl's Cuisine opened its kitchen as a family-run business in 2003, named after family head and chef, Karl Nelson. Karl and his wife Paula long dreamed of making his delicious food available for local businesses and families for special events. The catering business grew out of that desire and the wish to bring their family together in the endeavor. The business has experienced tremendous growth. It has developed from a catering and home delivery service, to establishing itself in Sault Ste. Marie as a café and catering business in 2004.

A winery was added in 2010.

Now operating as Karl's Cuisine Café and Winery, Karl's Cuisine has added Superior Coast wines onto their menu and into their dishes. Karl suggests wine parings with each meal and incorporates the wine in his cooking. Paula works alongside Karl in all aspects of the business. Their three children, Elliot, Lillian and Charlie help their parents run the business as well, with their daughter Lillian is now working as manager of the new winery.

Karl apprenticed under a five-star chef and has experience cooking for restaurants, country clubs and conference centers for over 33 years. He uses regional ingredients from local farmers and in-season food to provide their customers with food that is "simple to spectacular." Ingredients not made in-house are prepared how Karl would make them; made with only the essential ingredients necessary to create healthy and fantastic food. Karl's Cuisine is unique in the Eastern U.P. and northern-lower Michigan.

The Nelsons reside in Pickford, Moving to the U.P. in 1995, from suburban Detroit. They run Wildwood Farm, 40 acres of land where they enjoy working with horses, gardening and the simple pleasures of country life. Since becoming a café and winery, Karl has since tilled the soil on their land in anticipation of their own vineyard to be planted in Spring of 2011.