Part Of What Makes A Culinarian Capital

To my way of thinking, Traverse City is a culinary capital because of the people who live here and the way they use food in their home and due to the restaurant density and how those restaurants utilize the local agriculture.

The Record-Eagle has more on how local farms and chefs interact: Area eateries find value of local produce

Traverse City Makes Bon Appetit's Top 5

Boulder won this year, but Traverse City is much smaller than all the other towns on the list and this shows that food-wise, it is a small but mighty town.

Via Y!: Bon Appétit Names America's Foodiest Towns 2010

More at BonAppetit: America's Foodiest Town 2010: Boulder, Colorado

The Cook's House And Artificial Scarcity

In a brilliant move, Chef Eric discusses in further detail why he keeps the Cook's House small: THE plan...(part 2)

We have chosen to do away with the unnecessary expenses that come with bigger restaurants and multiple restaurants. We are only going to open 5 days a week so we may have more time with our families, which is something I have put off for to many years, and more time to just fiddle around in our kitchen coming up with new ideas and new directions. We are choosing to lose all that extra income for the sake of more happiness.

For more on artifical scarcity see Techdirt: The Grand Unified Theory On The Economics Of Free

Short's Is Releasing Noble Chaos A Bit Early

It seems fitting with the October-like weather we're having.

Via Shorts: Noble Chaos Hits Shelves Across the State

Noble Chaos is classified as an “Oktoberfest” or American Style Amber Lager. In the spirit of Oktoberfest, the German Style Marzen is brewed in March (Marzen) and then lagered (cold aged) in caves until released at the end of the summer for “Oktoberfest”. This year’s batch at the plant was brewed with that in mind. We made this beer back in March and had it shipped to a cold storage facility until it was released just recently. The intention was for the release to occur in early September, but we lost our spot in the cooler a month early.

Old Mission Peninsula Is Coming Into Its Own

Long considered a second choice to the wineries of Leelanau, Old Mission is now getting its due.

See DetNews:
New vibe on Old Mission with more wineries, high quality

TV's Carter Oosterhouse is on a mission

Dog Man Wheat

Kalamabrew reports: North Peak Brewing Company's wheat IPA Vicious becomes year-round

North Peak's Archangel Summer Wheat has been a big hit - so much so that I see stores discounting stacks of Oberon, and I predict Vicious will have similar success. Can't wait to try it.

Grow Benzie Is Having A Picnic With Some Special Guests

Via Black Star Farms: Bravo's Top Chef Season 5 Winner Visits Benzonia

The picnic will feature gourmet summer fare prepared by chefs Hosea Rosenberg and Dave Query. Hosea is a chef at Jax Fish House in Boulder, CO as well as the season 5 winner of Top Chef. Dave is the owner of 6 Colorado restaurants under the umbrella name of Big Red F Restaurant Group. Alongside their fabulous creations we will be serving a selection of our wines including, Arcturos Pinot Gris, Arcturos Sur Lie Chardonnay and our Red House Red.

"Your Stock Is Rising Number Two"

A homebrewers journal has made my favorite anytime beer, Bell's Two-Hearted Ale, their number two choice.

See MLive: Zymurgy readers poll: Bell's Two-Hearted Ale is the second best beer in the United States

Short's Has A New IPA Coming To Stores

From Short's: Hangin Frank 6-Packs Coming Soon!

A New Summer Cherry Wheat Beer

I love North Peak's Diabolical. Now they have their Oberon competitor.

Via Kalamabrew: North Peak's Archangel Summer Wheat

Pilsner, Wheat, And Rye

KalamaBrew reports Shorts will have three new bottles available this summer.

See: Expect three more beers from Short's Brewing Co. to debut in bottles in June and July

Paella In The Park

Keep August 6th free - there's going to be some Spanish food in downtown Traverse City.

See WineriesOfOldMission.com: Paella in the Park

"If Disney World had a Foodland, it might look a little like Traverse City"

Thank you Midwest Living, I think. Is that a compliment?

See: Best Midwest Food Towns: #2 Traverse City: an established food reputation

However, the population of Traverse City is around 14,000 - the region has 142,000 people. And Radish closed because no one wants to buy salad by the pound.

The article mentions that Traverse City is missing culinary diversity, and that is true, there are a preponderance of brew pubs, but with eateries such as Zakey and the Soul Hole opening I have hope that there will be a trend to more diverse cuisine.

Shorts Will Release 20 Or More Bottled Varieties

That Shorts is so hot right now.

Kalamabrew reports that there should soon be five new bottles from Short's on store shelves with up to 20(!!!!) more later this year. See: New bottle release dates from Short's Brewing Co. include S'More Stout, an Oktoberfest style lager and even a World Beer Cup medal winner

It Was The Worst Of Times, But The Best Of Beers

I wonder if this is like the hypothesis of the best music is made when the economy is worse - is the best beer made in the hardest hit states? Because the NYT loves itself some Michigan beer.

See: A Delicious Free-for-All

That Cooks' House Is So Hot Right Now

The Cooks' House is getting a lot of well deserved press.

See MyNorth: A Day Inside The Cooks' House, a Remarkable Traverse City Restaurant

and Food & Wine: Michigan: In Defense of B-List Wine Country

The food scene is also dynamic, embracing all things artisanal and farm-to-table. The two-year-old Cooks' House, for instance, is a tiny storefront restaurant that serves seasonal dishes worthy of an A-list wine country, like a slow-cooked pulled pork sandwich dressed in a sweet barbecue sauce and tucked into a crusty artisan roll.

Short's Is Expanding Their Line Just In Time For Christmas

Now this would make a great stocking stuffer!

Via MLive: Short's Brewing Company to release eight beers in bottles starting Thursday

Cup A Joe – Coffee Cream Stout.
Kind Ale – Fresh Wet Hop Beer.
Mystery Stout – Molasses and Cocoa.
Uncle Steve's – High-alcohol Irish stout.
Liberator – Double IPA with Huma-Lupa-Licious (IPA) base and twists of Nicie Spicie (spiced wheat ale), Hangin' Frank (strong ale) and Stellar (hoppy twin brother of Frank).
Uber Goober — Peanut Oatmeal Stout.
PB & J – Blend of Uber Goober and Soft Parade (fruit rye ale).
Good Humans — Double brown using exclusing [sic] malts.

Great Lakes Potato Chip Company

TCBN reports on a new company launching in Spring 2010 from the same people who brought Pangea's downtown.

See: Introducing our newest food export...

Come April or May, you’ll be introduced to the Great Lakes Potato Chip Company, the brainchild of Ed Girrbach and his son Chris, owners of TC’s Pangea’s Pizza.

The duo plans to build the company from scratch, will purchase a building within days, and produce three chip varieties before the summer tourism season begins.

Traverse City's Winter Farmer's Market In The Mercato

Our family has a tradition of walking to the Sara Hardy downtown Farmer's Market every Saturday morning in the summer. This year we may be able to start a new tradition as Traverse City now has an indoor market to extend the season for consumers.

The Mercato at Building 50 over at the Commons is hosting the market.

See the Record-Eagle: GT Commons launches winter farmers market

And featured there are chestnuts from serial entrepreneur Ella Cooper's Croft Chestnuts.

More on these chestnuts at Northern Express' Tastemakers.

MyNorth Lists The IPA's Of Northern Michigan

The original India Pale Ale was created in order to not spoil when beer was shipped from London to the colonists in India. See: History Of India Pale Ale

Now it is regarded as the "beeriest" of beers.

Follow the Hops Trail to Northern Michigan Microbrews