Your source for eating (and drinking!) locally in West Michigan
Kent Harvest Trails is your opportunity to visit West Michigan Farms. See where your food comes from, pick up local fruits, vegetables and baked goods, and enjoy loads of fun farm activities! Kent Harvest Trails 2012 starts September 15 and goes through October 31.
The Michigan Brewers Guild (MBG) is proud to announce that its popular Detroit Fall Beer Festival, held at Eastern Market, is expanding into a 2-day event in 2012. Festivities will take place on Friday, October 26 (5-9pm) and Saturday, October 27 (1-6pm). The event is once again held in conjunction with metrotimes. Some 50 Michigan craft breweries offer samples of more than 300 different beers throughout the weekend.
Friday is expected to be a lighter crowd, giving festival-goers a more relaxed atmosphere in which to sample. Saturday – which traditionally sells out in advance of the event – is expected to be at capacity again this year.
Tickets for each day are $35 in advance ($40 at the gate, if any tickets remain); they are available online at www.MiBeer.com, at select member breweries and at a limited number of retail outlets. For a list of ticket outlets and other festival updates visit www.mbgmash.org. Each ticket includes 15 drink tokens, each redeemable for a 3-ounce sample of beer. Additional tokens are available inside the festival grounds, for 50 cents each.
The festival is held, rain or shine. Festival attendees must be 21 years of age or older and have valid ID to enter. Designated Drivers are encouraged and DD tickets will be available on line and at the gate for $5 each. Designated Drivers are not permitted to drink beer.
The Motor City has a long-standing brewing history, and in recent years it has been revitalized thanks to a growing interest in the craft beer movement. Eastern Market is one of the nation’s oldest farm markets and the area is rife with brewing history. In its heyday, there were more than 40 breweries in the Detroit area and malt silos still stand as a testament to the rich brewing history – making it the perfect backdrop for the Detroit Fall Beer Festival.
The entertainment line-up for this year’s festival will be announced at a later date, on the Guild’s Facebook page.
As one of its perks, MBG Enthusiast Members are admitted to each festival one hour earlier than the general public. This membership is $45 per person, per year and may be purchased in advance online here. (NOTE: Enthusiast Memberships WILL NOT be sold/renewed at the gate). Additional benefits include discounts at participating member breweries, VIP brewery tours scheduled throughout the year, and a free t-shirt proclaiming your enthusiasm for Michigan Beer.
The Michigan Brewers Guild festivals are eco-friendly events, with cups, plates, cutlery and napkins all made of compostable materials. Festival attendees are asked to aid in the proper disposal of all refuse throughout the festival at one of the many recycling stations placed around the grounds, helping to reduce the overall waste sent to landfills to less than 10%. Volunteers will be on hand to assist at the recycling stations, making sure all the recyclables are properly sorted from the food items.
The Leelanau Peninsula has become well known for its Riesling and other crisp, cool-climate whites. What is often overlooked however, is just how good the red wines are!
To help everyone go beneath the surface, Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail is excited to announce a free & fun event to bring attention to the red wines of Michigan’s Wine Coast. The Hunt for the Reds of October will take place the weekend of October 26-28, 2012. For the entire weekend, 12 wineries will be offering free tasting of a diverse selection of red wines: dark & spicy Cabernet Francs, smooth & floral Pinot Noirs and a diverse range of vinifera and hybrid reds that are representative of Leelanau’s vineyards.
“From the vineyard managers to winemakers to cellar masters, I think we’ve all developed methods that are allowing us to make the best reds possible on the Leelanau Peninsula. Our wines are maturing in all aspects due to the patience and understanding that experience brings to every phase of the winemaking process,” says Ryan Sterkenberg, owner of Gills Pier Winery. ”Of course, having three straight outstanding vintages in 2010, 2011 and 2012 doesn’t hurt a bit either.”
We invite you to sample some of the fruits of these and other vintages the last weekend of October or another time. The event is free to all who know the secret launch code: “The Hunt is on!” Get details and updates at www.lpwines.com/redwine. (click for high-res poster)
Bel Lago will be pouring their 2010 Tempesta: a perfect storm of a select harvest of robust grapes from an excellent growing season. Cabernet Franc, Regent, Dornfelder, Lemburger, and other carefully selected varieties were aged 18 months in American and French oak barrels to create this richly flavorful, complex red wine.
Black Star Farms offers their Vintner’s Select: a merlot-based blend of select small lots with unique characteristics. This premium dry red is full-bodied with rich dark fruit flavors that are complemented by hints of cocoa and spice. It is reminiscent of a Bordeaux-style blend and pairs well with robust meals including braised meats, stews and rich sauces.
Chateau de Leelanau will pour their 2011 Hawkins Red: Elegant and smooth, this light bodied red has an unbelievable strawberry nose and finishes with a dry peppery kick!
Chateau Fontaine will pour their 2011 Woodland Red: A blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah with aromas of rich, ripe fruit, nuances of blackberry and plum; the taste is luscious raspberry and pepper accented with soft tannins.
Ciccone Winery will offer their Due Rossi, a 2011 NEW Release! Blend of Marechal Foch & DeChaunac. This hearty semi-dry blend exhibits rich ripe flavors of plum and blackberry with a touch of pepper in the finish.
Forty-Five North offers their 45 Red: A blend of 35% Cabernet Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon & 30% Pinot Noir, aged in French oak for 11 months. Notes of blackberry and dark cherry with soft tannins up front and bit of spice.
Gill’s Pier will be pouring their 2010 Estate Cab Franc/Merlot: A French barreled, full-bodied Bordeaux style wine with deep flavors of black currant and raspberry with a hint of mint. Excellent finish. Extended cellaring option of 5-15 years.
Good Harbor will pour their Collaboration: A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Marechal Foch, Leon Millot, Chambourcin, Dechaunac. First the dark fruit aromas will catch your attention only then to be surprised by the cocoa and cedar nuances that follow. If it’s possible to be bold and elegant together, this wine has achieved just that. A rich, dry, complex wine.
Good Neighbor Organic will pour their Black Velvet: smooth, yet light bodied with 12.5% ABV, and just a hint of pepper.
L. Mawby offers a red disguised as a white, our Blanc de Noirs, from Pinot Noir. Enjoy this imposter as your search for red reds continues.
Longview Winery’s 2008 Barrel Reserve Cabernet Franc spent 18 months in French oak barrels and 2 years in the bottle. The reward for patience is clear – a ruby red, mouth filling and full-bodied red wine displaying blackberry, plum and spice with hints of vanilla and cocoa.
Verterra will pour their 2011 Reserve Red, a blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot aged in French and American Oak hybrid barrels.
Nourish is delighted to welcome to our NOURISH KITCHEN Luke Malski of Reformation Growers. Luke farms land in Byron Township as well as his own city property. His passion and talents extend from creating marvelous compost with the help of his crew of worms, to growing gorgeous vegetables, to cooking up marvelous food. Come by Nourish on Friday to meet him and sample some of the great veggies that he’s grown. (and maybe meet some talented worms too!)
On Friday, October 26th from 7:30 to 10 p.m. WGVU and D&W Fresh Market present West Michigan’s premier wine tasting event of the fall at The Grand Rapids Public Museum. Enjoy an evening filled with of over 300 domestic wine and beer selections, gourmet food, and live music by Edye Evans Hyde. The event will also include wine auctions, and the opportunity to order your favorite wine and beer with up to a 40% discount. You must be 21 years of age to attend. No Refunds. ** All tickets ordered after 10/14/12 will be held at Will Call. **
Thank you for stopping by Eat Local, West Michigan! I hope you find lots of inspiration for eating (and drinking) locally, whether that means cooking produce from local farms to feed your family or checking out the latest microbrewery or restaurant. [Read More …]
Button designed by The Frilly Coconut
Let's Connect!