Tastemakers: The Grain Train in Petoskey - Michigan Beer
From: ads2@northernexpress.comSubject: taste
Date: January 8, 2007 10:14:19 AM EST
To: lynn@northernexpress.com
GRAIN TRAIN ORGANICS
The Grain Train Natural Foods Cooperative in Petoskey celebrated their 25th anniversary last year. The popularity of food co-ops began in the late ‘60s.
Unlike some industry fads that have come and gone, cooperatives continue to grow in popularity.
A recent concern over E-coli outbreaks has consumers taking greater interest in where their food comes from. All sensible eating programs encourage more fruits and vegetables and eliminating processed foods from one’s diet. Co-ops such as the Grain Train and Oyrana in TC specialize
in seeking out the best in natural and organic foods.
Certainly, the healthiest and freshest foods come from local growers, but when seeking out produce items outside of the local growing season, try the Grain Train. The co-op is open to both members and non-members and has one of the best bulk food sections in the North.
A recent stop at the Grain Train produced some delightful organic mushrooms and pineapples. Organic Stuffed Pineapple is an easy recipe to prepare: Slice pineapple in half long-ways, remove a portion of the pineapple and set aside. Sauté sliced organic mushrooms with onions, water chestnuts and green onion. In a separate pan, stir-fry organic brown rice, and then blend all ingredients and add grilled free range chicken if you like, along with pineapple chunks, and stuff the two pineapple halves. Bake at 300 degrees for 15 minutes. Pair with a Michigan style brown ale or pale ale and enjoy. For more information on the Grain Train and their store hours (open seven days a week) visit www.graintrain.coop or call them at 231.347.2381
MICHIGAN BEER
This week, brewmasters from Michigan’s 70+ craftbreweries will be gathering in Detroit to sip on the past and taste the future. Since its inception 25 years ago when Kalamazoo homebrewer Larry Bell started work on his commercial brewery (Bell’s/Kalamazoo),the industry has tasted good times and survived the flat years. After the late ‘90s shakeout, in which
several breweries closed, the state’s craftbrew industry is seeing a major resurgence.
Locally the industry remains strong. Short’s Brewery in Bellaire is booming and Michigan beer pioneers of the north, Traverse Brewing
Company, is closing in on their 15th anniversary. Brewpubs North Peak and Mackinaw in Traverse City remain popular, and five brewery projects are in the works in Northern Michigan.
Michigan-made beers are also finding more space on crowded shelves and coolers. The photo shown here is of the Michigan beer section at the Grain Train in Petoskey.
If the industry has been lacking anything, it has been a leader. That has now changed. At its conference, the Michigan Craft Brewers Guild will introduce their first ever executive director, Scott Graham of Harbor Springs. Graham is the perfect person for the job. His résumé includes being the former head brewer at Big Buck Brewery, sales with Bayside Beverage, and regional brand manager with Miller Beer. Look for the Michigan craft beer industry to become “tastier” under Graham’s leadership.
In the meantime, to toast Michigan’s success, try these winners: Traverse Brewing Company Stout, Shorts Brewing Bellaire Brown, North Peak Brewing Cask Ale and Mackinaw Brewing Peninsula Pale Ale.
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