Tastemakers: The Bluebird‘s Ethnic Nights/ Short‘s Uber Goober Oatmeal Stout

The Bluebird’s “Ethnic Nights”

If you asked Skip Telgard, proprietor of The Bluebird Restaurant in Leland, his favorite time of the year, he will tell you right now. Sure, summers in Leland are hard to beat, but this is “Ethnic Night Season.” The Ethnic Night dinners have become a wintertime tradition at The Bluebird and they resume again this week with food from Greece on December 3-4. Next week the focus is on Italy.
Dinners are served on Wednesday and Thursday nights until spring (with a “Greatest Hits” dinner served at the end of April). One exception to the dates is the “Christmas in Santa Fe” menu, which will be served on Sunday and Monday December 21-22.
The “ethnic feasts” focus on authenticity but they are also as much about celebration. What I have always liked about these dinners is that Skip and his team always come up with great wine pairings that work within everyone’s budget. “Anyone can spend a fortune for a great wine, but we relish the challenge of finding great wines that everyone can afford and enjoy with dinner.” As Northern Michigan continues its growth in becoming a major culinary destination in the Midwest with all the new restaurants on the scene, it is important to remember to keep supporting those that have helped to pave the way. Certainly, the “Bird” ranks right up there. They are now starting their 82nd year of serving wonderful whitefish and those cinnamon rolls with dinner (the same great recipe from when they first opened). Most importantly, they are home to many wonderful memories. To see the menus and upcoming Ethnic Nights, check out Leelanau.com/bluebird.




Shorts Brewing
Über Goober Oatmeal Stout

Surely brewmaster Joe Short ate his share of Goober (the all-in-one peanut butter/jelly combination) while he was in college. It probably served as the inspiration for his Über Goober Oatmeal Stout. He describes the concoction this way: “A prominent chocolate nuttiness on the nose with a big, chewy, full flavor on the palate and creamy oatmeal fused with peanut puree compliments rich caramel and roasted malts.”
Joe Short is by no means your typical brewmaster. It almost seems like he is having a “dueling brewer’s” competition with John Neidemeyer of Right Brain Brewery in Traverse City to see who can out “mash” the other guy. Well, there is no organized competition, but both brewers certainly have raised the “hop” level in the region.
In addition to Über Goober Oatmeal Stout, Short is releasing four other stouts for the winter season. Cup A Joe (coffee creme stout); S’more Stout (as in, what you make around the campfire – s’more please!); Mystery Stout (made with cocoa and molasses – back for the first time since it was made in 2005); and Uncle Steve’s Irish Stout (classic irish stout).
Soon, Short will move into a new production facility in Elk Rapids. The expanded facility will allow him to keep up with demand. His pub location will remain open in Bellaire with a solid music series all winter and great pub food that pairs perfectly with the 15-plus brews he carries on tap. Check out shortsbrewing.com for a complete list of brews and entertainment.


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