Parkshore Resort:Louisiana Oysters
The oil spill off the coast of Louisiana has shrimpers, oyster farmers and the rest of Louisiana’s $2.4 billion annual seafood industry scrambling to harvest their wares. The oil slick is encroaching on prime oystering and shrimping grounds and fishing has been banned throughout much of the key fishing waters of the Gulf region. The Louisiana seafood industry that produces about 40% of all seafood sold in the United States and employs 27,000 is now in serious jeopardy.
For now, seafood prices are stable and supplies are good. The Parkshore Resort Lounge on East Bay in Traverse City (across from the State Park) has a stellar fresh seafood menu that includes Louisiana oysters. While oyster farmers off the New England coast may challenge this claim, many consider Louisiana oysters the best, and more than one-third of the oysters served in the United States come from the region.
The Parkshore offers raw Louisiana oysters on the half shell over ice with crackers, a side of horseradish, cocktail sauce and Louisiana Hot Sauce. Pair these with ice cold beer.
The secret to enjoying fresh Louisiana oysters is to not overpower them with too much sauce and to slurp them down whole. Enjoy as an appetizer if you are out with a group, or make it your entrée and have a bowl of their homemade lobster bisque.
The Parkshore Resort has been a popular hangout for locals since opening 10 years ago. The lounge is cozy with great service and the menu is loaded with steaks, pastas and sandwiches. On Wednesday nights the Parkshore offers their all you care to eat salad bar with any steak ordered. They also offer live entertainment as well as karaoke. For more information and to see their complete menu go to www.parkshoreresort.com ---Rick Coates
Drank
It was only a matter of time that the onslaught of “energy” drinks on the market would result in the creation of the “anti-energy” drink. Manufacturers of these new drinks that started popping up in convenience store coolers next to the energy drinks a couple of years ago prefer to refer to them as “relaxation beverages.” One of the first was Drank, which markets their product as a way to “slow your roll” after that hectic day.
In all, more than 100 “relaxation beverages” have made their way to the marketplace over the past three years. These beverages like Drank contain plant extracts that purportedly help to relax one’s body. For example, Drank advertises that their beverage contains a “safe dose” of Melatonin that helps to control the human sleep cycle and prevents jet-lag. Drank also contains Valerian root which is supposed “to benefit anyone who may suffer from anxiety; restlessness; insomnia; mental strain; lack of concentration; excitability; stress; chronic headaches or migraines; nervous stomach cramps; bladder control issues; chronic pain, menopause; and the discomfort, and emotional distress which may occur with menstruation. “Toss in the rose hips,“an excellent source of vitamin-C, containing biologically valuable bioflavinoids and is also a great source of anti-oxidants. Rose hips have traditionally been used to treat diarrhea, nervousness, exhaustion, stress, urinary problems.”
Critics of Drank say that the beverage is not healthy and the name comes from the street drug “Purple Drank,” popularized in hip-hop songs and made from a combination of over the counter drugs mixed with 7-UP.
“Drank did not invent the illicit street drug nor does its marketing campaign encourage anyone to try it,” said Peter Bianchi, chief executive officer of Innovative Beverage Group of Houston, “In fact, Drank was created as an alternative to drugs and alcohol, and remains a positive product to consume for relaxation.”
I will leave this one up to the consumers. I prefer a good cup of tea from Light of Day Organics on the Leelanau Peninsula to relax with at the end of the day.--Rick Coates
The oil spill off the coast of Louisiana has shrimpers, oyster farmers and the rest of Louisiana’s $2.4 billion annual seafood industry scrambling to harvest their wares. The oil slick is encroaching on prime oystering and shrimping grounds and fishing has been banned throughout much of the key fishing waters of the Gulf region. The Louisiana seafood industry that produces about 40% of all seafood sold in the United States and employs 27,000 is now in serious jeopardy.
For now, seafood prices are stable and supplies are good. The Parkshore Resort Lounge on East Bay in Traverse City (across from the State Park) has a stellar fresh seafood menu that includes Louisiana oysters. While oyster farmers off the New England coast may challenge this claim, many consider Louisiana oysters the best, and more than one-third of the oysters served in the United States come from the region.
The Parkshore offers raw Louisiana oysters on the half shell over ice with crackers, a side of horseradish, cocktail sauce and Louisiana Hot Sauce. Pair these with ice cold beer.
The secret to enjoying fresh Louisiana oysters is to not overpower them with too much sauce and to slurp them down whole. Enjoy as an appetizer if you are out with a group, or make it your entrée and have a bowl of their homemade lobster bisque.
The Parkshore Resort has been a popular hangout for locals since opening 10 years ago. The lounge is cozy with great service and the menu is loaded with steaks, pastas and sandwiches. On Wednesday nights the Parkshore offers their all you care to eat salad bar with any steak ordered. They also offer live entertainment as well as karaoke. For more information and to see their complete menu go to www.parkshoreresort.com ---Rick Coates
Drank
It was only a matter of time that the onslaught of “energy” drinks on the market would result in the creation of the “anti-energy” drink. Manufacturers of these new drinks that started popping up in convenience store coolers next to the energy drinks a couple of years ago prefer to refer to them as “relaxation beverages.” One of the first was Drank, which markets their product as a way to “slow your roll” after that hectic day.
In all, more than 100 “relaxation beverages” have made their way to the marketplace over the past three years. These beverages like Drank contain plant extracts that purportedly help to relax one’s body. For example, Drank advertises that their beverage contains a “safe dose” of Melatonin that helps to control the human sleep cycle and prevents jet-lag. Drank also contains Valerian root which is supposed “to benefit anyone who may suffer from anxiety; restlessness; insomnia; mental strain; lack of concentration; excitability; stress; chronic headaches or migraines; nervous stomach cramps; bladder control issues; chronic pain, menopause; and the discomfort, and emotional distress which may occur with menstruation. “Toss in the rose hips,“an excellent source of vitamin-C, containing biologically valuable bioflavinoids and is also a great source of anti-oxidants. Rose hips have traditionally been used to treat diarrhea, nervousness, exhaustion, stress, urinary problems.”
Critics of Drank say that the beverage is not healthy and the name comes from the street drug “Purple Drank,” popularized in hip-hop songs and made from a combination of over the counter drugs mixed with 7-UP.
“Drank did not invent the illicit street drug nor does its marketing campaign encourage anyone to try it,” said Peter Bianchi, chief executive officer of Innovative Beverage Group of Houston, “In fact, Drank was created as an alternative to drugs and alcohol, and remains a positive product to consume for relaxation.”
I will leave this one up to the consumers. I prefer a good cup of tea from Light of Day Organics on the Leelanau Peninsula to relax with at the end of the day.--Rick Coates
