Congratulations to our friends at Food for Thought! The Food Network is going to feature this special Michigan company on their "Unwrapped" show program on Monday, January 14, 2008 @ 9:00 p.m. (EST)
Lots of people are jumping on the Organic and Sustainable bandwagon, but for Tim Young and his partners at Food for Thought, it is a way of life, and an integral part of their business.
Tim began making delicious organic preserves in his home in 1995, and has always used only the finest organic or wild ingredients. From the foundation of Food For Thought, he has contributed a portion of his revenues to non-profit organizations "that work to preserve and protect our human and natural environment."
According to their website, " With an emphasis on premium quality, low sugar, organic wine and herb infused preserves; the line has grown to include salsas, mustards, dried fruits, and other condiments."
We've tried many of their products, and have worked with Food for Thought in producing pickled wild leeks among other things.
It's great to see them getting some recognition. It is richly deserved
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Detroit Train
Once or twice a year we have a very special night out and visit a couple of very special people in the small but charming little Michgan town of Chelsea.
About an hour from my East Lansing home, Chelsea lies about 40 minutes south and 20 minutes east of here. Last Friday night 8 of us set out for a couple of special treats. First we headed to the Common Grill for what is always a stellar meal.
Chef Craig Common always manages to be creative without being fancy. Fresh seafood is offered as "simple fish" and it IS simple, but it is not plain. He also offers a nice assortment of steaks and pasta dishes. Again, these meals are always a thoughtful mixture of fresh ingredients, but the flavors are combined with the idea of creating a rich melange of complimentary flavors, not in order to show off how exotic the meal can be. I have always been pleased and satisfied with the meals he creates, and look forward to my next time back. If you're ever in Michigan, The Common Grill is a place you must visit.
After dinner we hustled across the street to The Purple Rose Theatre. The Purple Rose was founded in 1991 by Jeff Daniels, a Chelsea native who had acted in New York and Hollywood, and decided to return home to Michigan to establish a regional theater "dedicated to producing the New American Play and creating opportunities for Midwest theatre professionals."
For the last few years Jeff has been performing "live and unplugged" on stage as a fund raiser for the theatre. Over 30 years he has been playing guitar and writing songs. He's written a selection of clever, moving, funny and entertaining songs which he performs accompanying himself on guitar. His songwriting is very good, and his charm and humor in performance are extraordinary. This is the third year we've attended on or around the New Year.
This year we were seated in the 2nd row, stage right, right about in the middle. Jeff has a way of putting poignant pauses in his songs, right before he delivers a punch line. As he waits to deliver the line, he often peers over to the right, a knowing grin on his face, and nods as if to say "you know what I'm talking about."
Now I'm sure I wasn't the only one, but I was sure all night long that he was looking right at me. So when he broke into a song called "Detroit Train", and started saying "Now every train needs a conductor, and I'm playing the guitar," I wasn't surprised when he looked my way and said "You. Come on down here."
Well, it didn't take me long to get up on stage. I fumbled around a little, and then went back and stood by Jeff's chair as he continued his vamp on "Detroit Train."
He pointed to a wooden whistle on a little table to his right, and then had me sit in the chair with the microphone as he stood up. Well, the train started chugging to the rhythm of his guitar, and as he pointed to me, I was to blow the train whistle. After a bit I didn't need him to point. The train went faster, it went slower, it went up a hill and down in the valley. I was having a blast, getting in to the fun and the rhythm of the song. My wife told me afterward that Jeff was smiling too. I know I sure had fun.
In the lobby after the show, a few people asked me whether we had rehearsed, or whether it was all spontaneous, which made me feel pretty good.
I wanted to talk with Jeff some more after the show, but he was surrounded by a throng of people, so we headed back to the Common Grill for dessert (an absolutely wonderful home made vanilla bean ice cream.)
A night I'll remember for a long, long time.
Thanks, Jeff, for letting me play.
About an hour from my East Lansing home, Chelsea lies about 40 minutes south and 20 minutes east of here. Last Friday night 8 of us set out for a couple of special treats. First we headed to the Common Grill for what is always a stellar meal.
Chef Craig Common always manages to be creative without being fancy. Fresh seafood is offered as "simple fish" and it IS simple, but it is not plain. He also offers a nice assortment of steaks and pasta dishes. Again, these meals are always a thoughtful mixture of fresh ingredients, but the flavors are combined with the idea of creating a rich melange of complimentary flavors, not in order to show off how exotic the meal can be. I have always been pleased and satisfied with the meals he creates, and look forward to my next time back. If you're ever in Michigan, The Common Grill is a place you must visit.
After dinner we hustled across the street to The Purple Rose Theatre. The Purple Rose was founded in 1991 by Jeff Daniels, a Chelsea native who had acted in New York and Hollywood, and decided to return home to Michigan to establish a regional theater "dedicated to producing the New American Play and creating opportunities for Midwest theatre professionals."
For the last few years Jeff has been performing "live and unplugged" on stage as a fund raiser for the theatre. Over 30 years he has been playing guitar and writing songs. He's written a selection of clever, moving, funny and entertaining songs which he performs accompanying himself on guitar. His songwriting is very good, and his charm and humor in performance are extraordinary. This is the third year we've attended on or around the New Year.
This year we were seated in the 2nd row, stage right, right about in the middle. Jeff has a way of putting poignant pauses in his songs, right before he delivers a punch line. As he waits to deliver the line, he often peers over to the right, a knowing grin on his face, and nods as if to say "you know what I'm talking about."
Now I'm sure I wasn't the only one, but I was sure all night long that he was looking right at me. So when he broke into a song called "Detroit Train", and started saying "Now every train needs a conductor, and I'm playing the guitar," I wasn't surprised when he looked my way and said "You. Come on down here."
Well, it didn't take me long to get up on stage. I fumbled around a little, and then went back and stood by Jeff's chair as he continued his vamp on "Detroit Train."
He pointed to a wooden whistle on a little table to his right, and then had me sit in the chair with the microphone as he stood up. Well, the train started chugging to the rhythm of his guitar, and as he pointed to me, I was to blow the train whistle. After a bit I didn't need him to point. The train went faster, it went slower, it went up a hill and down in the valley. I was having a blast, getting in to the fun and the rhythm of the song. My wife told me afterward that Jeff was smiling too. I know I sure had fun.
In the lobby after the show, a few people asked me whether we had rehearsed, or whether it was all spontaneous, which made me feel pretty good.
I wanted to talk with Jeff some more after the show, but he was surrounded by a throng of people, so we headed back to the Common Grill for dessert (an absolutely wonderful home made vanilla bean ice cream.)
A night I'll remember for a long, long time.
Thanks, Jeff, for letting me play.
Friday, January 04, 2008
Eating Locally
In the northwest corner of Michigan is an absolutely beautiful part of the world, known to Michiganders and other mid-westerners, but little known to the rest of the world.
The "big city" is Traverse City, which has exploded in the last 30 years. The winters are cold, but the Lake (Lake Michigan) often keeps this area warmer than the rest of Michigan. Further west is "The County" of Leelanau, with the lovely cities of Glen Arbor, Leelanau, Sutton's Bay, Omena, Northport and lots of cherry orchards. These farmlands, along with the lake, give this area a very special beauty.
As more people (such as Mario Batali)
find this paradise, there are worries that the beautiful farmland which make this part of the world so special, will be developed into condos instead of farmland, as is happening in much of the rest of the country.
This is part of what is driving the "Buy Local" movement in Northern Michigan,
as well as the fact that locally grown food simply tastes better. For several years "Taste the Local Difference" a part of the Michigan Land Use Institute has been promoting the idea of a distribution system to help farmers get their produce in the hands of local chefs.
Funny as it seems, the big distributors had to buy their cherries from Washington.
Along came Eric Hahn, with a background as a chef and experience working with food distribution, all eagerness and energy. Some folks wait for everything to be figured out to the last detail, lots of meetings, spreadsheets, budgets and plans. Not Eric.
He decided that he would just get it done; borrowed a little money, bought a van, and started talking to farmers and chefs. He practically lived in that van last summer -- spending 10, 12, 14 and 16 hour days driving to pick up the produce, then driving to deliver it. NPR ran an excellent story on Eric and Cherry Capital Foods this morning
Cherry Capital Foods now has a warehouse, a second van, and a second driver to spell Eric so he can expand his network of farmers and Chefs. 2008 looks to be a fantastic
year for Cherry Capital Foods and for Northern Michigan
Disclosure: Earthy Delights is getting involved with Cherry Capital Foods as an investor and partner. We hope to expand distribution of Northwest Michigan produce into other areas of Michigan, as well as help CCF supply their chef customers with items such as Aged Balsamic Vinegar, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and other products not grown or produced in Michigan.
The "big city" is Traverse City, which has exploded in the last 30 years. The winters are cold, but the Lake (Lake Michigan) often keeps this area warmer than the rest of Michigan. Further west is "The County" of Leelanau, with the lovely cities of Glen Arbor, Leelanau, Sutton's Bay, Omena, Northport and lots of cherry orchards. These farmlands, along with the lake, give this area a very special beauty.
As more people (such as Mario Batali)
find this paradise, there are worries that the beautiful farmland which make this part of the world so special, will be developed into condos instead of farmland, as is happening in much of the rest of the country.
This is part of what is driving the "Buy Local" movement in Northern Michigan,
as well as the fact that locally grown food simply tastes better. For several years "Taste the Local Difference" a part of the Michigan Land Use Institute has been promoting the idea of a distribution system to help farmers get their produce in the hands of local chefs.
Funny as it seems, the big distributors had to buy their cherries from Washington.
Along came Eric Hahn, with a background as a chef and experience working with food distribution, all eagerness and energy. Some folks wait for everything to be figured out to the last detail, lots of meetings, spreadsheets, budgets and plans. Not Eric.
He decided that he would just get it done; borrowed a little money, bought a van, and started talking to farmers and chefs. He practically lived in that van last summer -- spending 10, 12, 14 and 16 hour days driving to pick up the produce, then driving to deliver it. NPR ran an excellent story on Eric and Cherry Capital Foods this morning
Cherry Capital Foods now has a warehouse, a second van, and a second driver to spell Eric so he can expand his network of farmers and Chefs. 2008 looks to be a fantastic
year for Cherry Capital Foods and for Northern Michigan
Disclosure: Earthy Delights is getting involved with Cherry Capital Foods as an investor and partner. We hope to expand distribution of Northwest Michigan produce into other areas of Michigan, as well as help CCF supply their chef customers with items such as Aged Balsamic Vinegar, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and other products not grown or produced in Michigan.
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