Kilwin’s Coffee Truffle
Kilwin’s Chocolates and Ice Cream are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year. With locations all over the country, few probably remember that the company started in 1947 in Petoskey, when bakers Don and Katy Kilwin opened their small shop and quickly won over residents and resorters with their homemade ice cream and handmade chocolates. They also became known for their Mackinac Island style fudge, which remains among stores’ best sellers.
In 1995, Don and Robin McCarty—former employees and franchise owners—took the remains and are currently the principal owners of Kilwin’s. With several locations throughout Northern Michigan, Kilwin’s remains popular with visitors and residents.
While their ice cream, fudge and caramel apples are among the bestsellers, their assortment of candies and truffles make great appetizers and after-dinner dessert alternatives. Okay, appetizers? Certainly that fits with Kilwin’s motto: “Life’s uncertain—eat dessert first.” They even market an appetizer assortment. Try the coffee truffle and pair during the cocktail hour with a local red wine, or enjoy after dinner with one of the local roasts. With Valentines Day only a month away, it’s not too early to start thinking about a gift for that loved one. Why Wait? After all life is short. www.kilwins.com.
Leelanau Brewing Co. Whaleback White
With 15 wineries on the Leelanau Peninsula and five to 10 more on the way, one wonders if a craft brewery would stand a chance? Charles Psenka thinks so, and as founder of the Leelanau Brewing Company, he has started the process of becoming the Peninsula’s first craft brewer.
If you take a page out of the Oregon tourism industry book, Psenka might be onto something by opening a brewery in the heart of Midwest wine country. Oregon has provided the traveling public with a bed of some of the world’s best breweries and wineries mixed among each other, making it a year-round destination for beverage enthusiasts who pump a billion dollars annually into the economy.
Psenka released his first brew, Whaleback White, a year ago. He had good friend and world-class brewer Ron Jeffries of Jolly Pumpkin Artisian Ales in Dexter, Michigan brew the beer. In November of 2006, Psenka released Good Harbor Golden, also from the Dexter brewery. He hopes to soon be making the beers on the Leelanau Peninsula by capturing the old Belgium farmhouse brewery type operation at a 130-year-old barn located at the Snowbird Inn B&B, just south of Leland. Structure (old beams) issues may delay the project, but Psenka hopes to start brewing on the Leelanau Peninsula within a year.
Whaleback white comes in a wine bottle and is sealed with a cork—maybe Psenka’s way of paying tribute to the area’s successful wine region—after being aged in French-oak wine barrels. Made in the traditional witbier (white) style, look for nice citrus notes with a tangy-peppery-coriander finish. Serve at cellar temperature in a white wine glass and pair with blackened whitefish, grilled salmon, and salads. During summer months, enjoy along the shores of Lake Michigan.
Kilwin’s Chocolates and Ice Cream are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year. With locations all over the country, few probably remember that the company started in 1947 in Petoskey, when bakers Don and Katy Kilwin opened their small shop and quickly won over residents and resorters with their homemade ice cream and handmade chocolates. They also became known for their Mackinac Island style fudge, which remains among stores’ best sellers.
In 1995, Don and Robin McCarty—former employees and franchise owners—took the remains and are currently the principal owners of Kilwin’s. With several locations throughout Northern Michigan, Kilwin’s remains popular with visitors and residents.
While their ice cream, fudge and caramel apples are among the bestsellers, their assortment of candies and truffles make great appetizers and after-dinner dessert alternatives. Okay, appetizers? Certainly that fits with Kilwin’s motto: “Life’s uncertain—eat dessert first.” They even market an appetizer assortment. Try the coffee truffle and pair during the cocktail hour with a local red wine, or enjoy after dinner with one of the local roasts. With Valentines Day only a month away, it’s not too early to start thinking about a gift for that loved one. Why Wait? After all life is short. www.kilwins.com.
Leelanau Brewing Co. Whaleback White
With 15 wineries on the Leelanau Peninsula and five to 10 more on the way, one wonders if a craft brewery would stand a chance? Charles Psenka thinks so, and as founder of the Leelanau Brewing Company, he has started the process of becoming the Peninsula’s first craft brewer.
If you take a page out of the Oregon tourism industry book, Psenka might be onto something by opening a brewery in the heart of Midwest wine country. Oregon has provided the traveling public with a bed of some of the world’s best breweries and wineries mixed among each other, making it a year-round destination for beverage enthusiasts who pump a billion dollars annually into the economy.
Psenka released his first brew, Whaleback White, a year ago. He had good friend and world-class brewer Ron Jeffries of Jolly Pumpkin Artisian Ales in Dexter, Michigan brew the beer. In November of 2006, Psenka released Good Harbor Golden, also from the Dexter brewery. He hopes to soon be making the beers on the Leelanau Peninsula by capturing the old Belgium farmhouse brewery type operation at a 130-year-old barn located at the Snowbird Inn B&B, just south of Leland. Structure (old beams) issues may delay the project, but Psenka hopes to start brewing on the Leelanau Peninsula within a year.
Whaleback white comes in a wine bottle and is sealed with a cork—maybe Psenka’s way of paying tribute to the area’s successful wine region—after being aged in French-oak wine barrels. Made in the traditional witbier (white) style, look for nice citrus notes with a tangy-peppery-coriander finish. Serve at cellar temperature in a white wine glass and pair with blackened whitefish, grilled salmon, and salads. During summer months, enjoy along the shores of Lake Michigan.
