Tastemakers: Learn Great Foods - Bell‘s Cherry Stout

Learn Great Foods - Culinary Farm Tours
Ann Dougherty is an agri-culinary entrepreneur. Last year she launched Learn Great Foods as a means to educate consumers on where their food comes from and how it is grown or raised. An important component to that process is connecting the consumer to the farmer. Her company offers culinary farm tours, cooking classes and organic culinary retreats. The serene surroundings of Sweeter Song Farm near Cedar on the Leelanau Peninsula and the historic Terrace Inn Dining Room in Petoskey both serve as her base of operations.
Throughout November she is offering a series of culinary farm tours in Northern Michigan. On Saturday, November 11, the series will feature a tour of the Midwest Buffalo Farm in Cheboygan followed up with a cooking demonstration and gourmet organic buffalo dinner with Julie Adams Sheffler of Julienne Tomatoes Restaurant. On Sunday, November 12, it is off to Pond Hill Farms in Harbor Springs for an insider’s look at the workings of an integrated organic farm. The day will include cooking classes and rabbit for dinner. Other highlights during November include a tour of Blackbird Gardens of Petoskey, a small Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) culinary garden, led by chef/market gardener Mike Everts. Dougherty is also offering programs this November on the Leelanau Peninsula that will include trips to local wineries, Carlson’s Fisheries, Higher Grounds Trading Co., Leelanau Naturals (beef farm), along with other gems from the peninsula.
Kudos to Ann Dougherty for this innovative and creative approach in connecting our many agricultural and culinary communities together in not only an educational way but one that is a lot of fun. Participate in one of her tours or retreats and you will never look at food again the same way. For additional information,
go to www.learngreatfoods.com or call Ann at (231) 758-3407.


Bell’s Cherry Stout

November is typically a dreary weather month, but it is full of highlights from deer season to Thanksgiving to the release of Bell’s Cherry Stout. Larry Bell is the godfather of the Michigan craft brew (microbreweries) industry. His beers have built a cult following around the Midwest and now are part of the mainstream as they have made their way to supermarket shelves. One thing that Bell prides himself on is creating delightful, delicious seasonal and specialty brews. His Oberon (wheat beer) rules during the summer season. Each winter season Bell releases his series of specialty stouts - Double Cream, Java, Expedition and Cherry - the delight of “stoutheads” everywhere. His Cherry Stout balances tart cherry flavors with coffee and chocolate notes; hints of sweetness result in creating a chocolate covered cherry sensation. Enjoy at cellar temperature in either a stout glass or red wine glass. Pair with steak salads, venison with cherry chutney sauce, or enjoy with chocolate desserts. Add some to your chocolate sauce and pour over a scoop of Moomers vanilla ice cream. Also try a Bells Cherry Stout Float. In a stout glass add two scoops of Moomers vanilla and pour Cherry Stout over the top. Look for Bells Cherry Stout on shelves this month and available through mid-spring, www.bellsbeer.com. View On Our Website