Tastemakers: Morels/Faygo Pop

Morels
Known as the jewels of the forest morel mushrooms are popping up all over Northern Michigan right now. Rookie hunters are wise to seek expert advise before venturing in the woods for these tasty fungi. After a few tips (identification is most important as there are poisonous impostors known as false morels) finding morels is well worth the effort since they often fetch upwards to $50 a pound. Morels have a meaty earthy/woodsy flavor to them. They are best sautéed in butter and served as is allowing for their natural flavors to come out.
Morels should be around the woods for the next few weeks so get hunting. If you are looking for a unique experience try one of Joe Bredeinstein’s Morels & More weekends at Walloon Lake. CNN, NPR and The Food Network, who have covered his morel weekends, have dubbed Breidenstein “The Mushroom Man.”  The weekend includes fabulous mushroom meals and guided hunts through prime morel country. This year Breidenstein commissioned Joe Short of Shorts Brewery in Bellaire to make”Mushroom Ale” and guests to his weekend will get a chance to sample this beer. It is the first known batch of commercial mushroom beer and it is tasty. If beer isn’t your thing, Breidenstein offers wine pairings with his mushroom dishes with an assortment of Leelanau Peninsula wines. To learn more about these weekends or to chat about morels contact Joe Breidenstein (231) 535-2227.

Faygo “Pop”
 
Ben and Perry Feigenson, Russian immigrants, founded Faygo in Detroit 100 years ago. The brothers owned a bakery and began experimenting with soda based on their frosting recipes. The first flavors were Fruit Punch, Strawberry and Grape and sold for three cents a bottle or two for a nickel. The Feigensons called their beverage “pop” because of the sound made when opening the bottle. The term “pop” caught on in the Midwest, while the rest of the country calls it soda.
At first Faygo was only distributed in Michigan because it had a short shelf life. Tests found a non-harmful agent in the water being used that caused Faygo to go “flat” quickly. They began filtering the water and today, Faygo enjoys the same shelf life as other “sodas.”
The company’s success has been based on offering several flavors, most notable Red Pop and Rock & Rye. During the early ‘90s they launched Faygo Cherry Festival in honor of the annual Traverse City Festival. In the ‘50s Faygo became famous for their animated “The Faygo Kid” commercials with the famous line “Which way did he go? Which way did he go? He went for Faaaaaaygo!” In the ‘70s they had another hit commercial with their “Faygo Boat Song” that climbed to number three on the pop charts.
It would be music again that would bring Faygo to another generation of pop drinkers. Detroit’s Insane Clown Posse began drinking Faygo on stage in the early ‘90s and would spray their audience with it. The band refences Faygo in several of their songs. Rapper Eminem, another ‘Faygo Kid,” also sang about Faygo on his debut album.
While Coke and Pepsi dominate the carbonated beverage industry, Faygo has always been on the cutting edge, developing the warehouse distribution system and twist off caps. They even created a whole cookbook (available at their website) of recipes using their “pops” try the Faygotastic Ribs. Happy 100th Birthday Faygo, and kudos to staying here in Michigan to manufacture your 20-plus “pops.” www.faygo.com
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