TastemakersFusion Szechuan Shrimp - Founder‘s Breakfast Stout

Aug. 24, 2005

FUSION SZECHUAN SHRIMP
There are a lot of reasons to visit Frankfort, such as the beach or a walk on the pier. Add to that list The Fusion, a relatively new restaurant that specializes in contemporary Asian cuisine. Express readers told us last year how great this restaurant is by voting it Benzie County’s “Best New Restaurant” in our Best Of Readers Choice Awards.
Fusion’s eclectic menu features Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai and Vietnamese cuisine in a very cosmopolitan setting minus the New York prices. Start with the Fusion Appetizer Tray that features egg rolls, crab Rangoon, teriyaki meatballs, nong tong (chicken wings) and chicken satay, all paired with the appropriate sauces. All dinners come with a choice of oriental consommé, and Fusion’s Hot & Sour Soup is definitely the best of its style anywhere.
For dinner try the Szechuan Shrimp made with a tomato & ginger sauce and it is best over fried rice. This dish is loaded with shrimp, red & green peppers, water chestnuts, and mushrooms with the sauce having some Szechuan zip to it. The wine list is excellent, so pair this dish with the Bonny Doone “Pacific Rim” Dry Riesling. A nice touch to the dining experience is the square plates and the friendly wait staff in their “Dirty Martini” shirts.
So, as summer comes to a close and the fall colors come calling, take a drive through scenic Benzie County and make sure Fusion is part of the itinerary, as the “colors” are always at their peak regardless of the season at this trendy eatery.


FOUNDERS BREAKFAST STOUT
For years White Castle had a poster that said “Hamburgers For Breakfast, Why Not?” What better to go with a burger than a beer, and why not a beer for breakfast?
The good folks at Founders Brewery in Grand Rapids think it is an excellent idea and have brewed Breakfast Stout for those who prefer ale to a glass of OJ with their Wheaties. Now, this stout may be enjoyed at any point in the day in case beer at breakfast is not your type of thing. This brew has all the trappings one would expect out of a beer to be served at breakfast. It is brewed with flaked oats (oatmeal), bitter and sweetened imported chocolates (better than the sugar you put over cereal) and Sumatra and Kona beans, creating a fresh, dark roasted coffee aroma.
For breakfast pair with the traditional bacon and eggs, or at dinner try with cherry brats from Pleva’s. At the end of the day this truly is a craft brew connoisseur’s dream beer and is definitely one of the best beers in the world. Proof of its popularity is found at several top beer aficionado websites where Founders Breakfast Stout is on most “Top 10” lists of best beers in the world.
Now, beer enthusiasts are a tough crowd to please, and when the harshest critics of all select a beer as one of the best in the world, then you know it must be good. Prove it to yourself and try it today. Ask your favorite watering hole for Founders Breakfast Stout and remember “Beer For Breakfast, Why Not?”-- Rick Coates