Up North Foodies

Musings of a Maple Syrup Hobbyist

We hear the sap is running, it is "Maple Syrup Time" at home. First made by the indigenous people, maple syrup is now a business in the northeastern US, but for my husband, Dennis Lautner, it is a hobby. He makes 15 to 20 gallons each year to share with family and friends. When we left Traverse City in 2003, we stocked the boat larder with numerous pint-sized jugs of "Wild Denny's" - nature's finest sweeter. Our intent was to share the bounty with people along the way who helped us out in various situations. All along the US waterways people were grateful; a little note thanking them for whatever, indicated that it was "homemade." In the Caribbean, Denny always had to explain what it was, how it was made and what one used it for. Most of the locals had not experienced maple syrup before. Now that we are never home in the spring we've relied on friends and family to take over the production of our maple syrup. When they visit in the spring and when we come home for hurricane season our boat supply is restocked.

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Currey Farms named Michigan’s best Maple Syrup

Congratulations to Art and Jan Currey, whose maple syrup was recently awarded top honors by the Michigan Maple Syrup Association.

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Foodies Roundtable

Traverse City Business News publisher Luke Haase recently sat down with owners of four area businesses for the Foodies roundtable. Check out the article about his conversation with Melissa Ewing, Undercover Vegetable Company, Jeff Hughes, Brownwood Farms, Bob Sutherland, Cherry Republic, and Chris Treter, Higher Grounds Trading Company.

New restaurants, new locations in Traverse City

In a bit of musical chair flurry of activity, restaurants in Traverse City are on the move, with a couple newcomers grabbing seats too.

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Edible Grande Traverse

Local foods will soon get another showcase here in northern Michigan. Welcome to Edible Grande Traverse, a quarterly magazine expected to debut this month.

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Michigan Law hampers Farm-to-School Efforts

Michigan limits the amount of money schools can spend on local farm foods, according to an article by Beth Collins, chef and school food service consultant. This obstacle was a hot topic at last week's Farm to School: Healthy Kids, Thriving Farms conference in Traverse City.

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Sap’s Running!

Students from The Children's House in Traverse City watch as maple syrup farmer Tom Casier prepares to tap a sugar maple. What a process! The children paid a visit to Casier's woodlot near Empire last week, where they meandered through the woods identifying sap-giving trees, followed the tap lines to the pump and delighted in the process that gives us maple syrup. Delicious!

Calling All Up North Foodies:  The Locavore Hors d’Oeuvres Challenge

Monday, March 31, King Corn will be showing at the State Theatre in Traverse City. Prior to the film, Great Lakes Bioneers are hosting a Locavore Hors d'Oeuvres Challenge reception with King Corn co-producer, Ian Cheney. And you're invited to step up to the challenge! details

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Michigan Farming on IPR

Check out this podcast of Interlochen Public Radio's Points North program on Michigan Farming. Did you know agriculture consistently ranks in the top three job producers in the state, and that the variety of crops grown in the state is second only to California?

Two local businesses among Michigan 50 Companies to Watch

Kudos to Food For Thought, Inc. and Grand Traverse Pie Company for being recognized as two of the "Michigan 50 Companies To Watch," an awards program sponsored by the Edward Lowe Foundation.

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Longview Announces Rustic White

Longview Winery and Vineyard recently announced that their 2007 Rustic White is bottled and ready for you to drink. You can order online, but might want to act fast. The last vintage of this wine sold out in only 3 months. Visit their tasting room and find out why.

Black Star Farms feature on Appellation America

Be sure to check out Appellation America's feature and interview with Black Star Farms' operating partner Don Coe and winemaker Lee Lutes titled Black Star Farms: Wine Agritourism Grows Up by Eleanor & Ray Heald.