Check out Northwestern Michigan College's winter schedule of community classes, where you'll find several of interest to local foodies. NMC offers gift certificates for a class, and you save five bucks if you purchase one ($25 or more) by December 18. That'd be a fun stocking stuffer! Here are just a few of the offerings.
With the bounty of another CSA/farmers market season behind us, and the winter solstice just 5 weeks away, it becomes more of a challenge to buy locally in Northern Michigan. Fortunately, the wines, spirits, jams, cheeses, breads and other delicious local products are available year round (and make a great combo for gift baskets). But even local produce can be found. As Joan D'Argo points out in Oryana's recent "Natural Food News," during November and December Oryana will carry local certified organic apples and onions and local sustainable potatoes and garlic; and depending on weather, kale, collards and chard. Christopher Jacobs has created new signage to identify local produce. Look for green signs for local organic, and red for local produce grown using sustainable methods. Why does this matter? As Joan writes, "If each resident in Grand Traverse County spent just $10 a week on locally grown food, local products and local businesses, $3,000,000 every month would be invested in local people, local farms and independent local businesses." Something to take to heart when planning meals and selecting gifts for the upcoming holiday season!
A number of restaurants in the Leelanau & Traverse City area will be participating in the Toast the Season wine tour by donating 5% of your meal cost to charity when you show them your Toast the Season ticket stub. Get a great meal and support some wonderful charities! The first weekend has sold out, but limited tickets remain for the second weekend - November 17 & 18, 2007. Order yours now. The weekend event features holiday gift basket with each ticket and an ornament, special wine pour and holiday-themed gourmet food at each of the 13 wineries that are members of the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association.
Grapes here in Northern Michigan have a sense of place, according to Nicole Birdsall, winemaker at Leelanau Cellars, who comes to the area from California. Quoted in "Women of Wine," an article by Rick Coates in the November 1 issue of Northern Express, Nicole states: "What impresses me most, and the advantage I see that this region has over California, is the terroir (a special shared sense of geographical/regional characteristics that give added personality to wine). There is a sense of place here for the grapes that are grown, and that was not always the case where I came from. This sense of place is important, and I think this region is growing the right grapes that match climate and soil. It makes a difference."
Marty Heller spoke at last week's Great Lakes Bioneers Conference in Traverse City about Reconnecting a Local Food Culture. A transcript of his keynote address is now available online.
Grand Traverse Distillery recently released its cherry vodka, and man is it good! While walking around the tasting pavillion at last month's Epicurean Classic, I kept overhearing people talking about it and how good it was. So naturally, I had to try it. YUM! And with an infusion of chocolate, how could it be anything but good? It's available locally at many stores, so make sure to look for the distillery's True North Vodka with the red stripe.
Looking for a school fundraiser that's healthy and that parents will actually want to buy? Then pay a visit to the Michigan Land Use Institute's new website Taste the Local Difference Farm To School. There you'll find a list of farmers in northwest Michigan who offer healthy, locally grown food that offers a wonderful option for school cafeterias and fundraisers. In addition, schools and camps can lists what foods and products they're interested in purchasing. The site also lists farmers who offer field trips and class visits.
The local food scene will get a lot of play at this week's Great Lakes Bioneers Conference, scheduled for October 19-21 at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City. From keynotes to workshops, the event is billed as a gathering of people inspired by getting "deep into the local."
Check out this article in the October 3 issue of the Chicago Tribune: Foodie audience keeps growing for Traverse Epicurean Classic.
Rick Coates decides to practice what he preaches in his Tastemakers column in the October 11, 2007, issue of Northern Express. "I have asked readers to step up their support of local products and have called on restaurants and retailers to do the same," he writes. "It occurred to me that I should write what I preach and keep these columns focused on the 'local.'"
Fresh Food Partnership getting healthy fresh food where it's needed.
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