Tastemakers: Cherry Yotta Bar/ Lindemans Kriek

Feb. 28, 2007

Cherry Yotta Bar
Tim and Melissa Ewing live in the heart of the Leelanau Peninsula, and during one of those long Northern Michigan winters they pondered -- as many parents do-- “How do we get our kids to eat more vegetables?” They spoke to doctors, other parents and searched the web. What they found was “hiding vegetables” in other foods was the most popular suggestion. So they began experimenting in their kitchen and a few years ago and created the “Undercover Vegetable Company.”
In the fall of 2005 they introduced their first Yotta Bar and they have never looked back. They now have three flavors cherry, orange and the recently released apple-cinnamon. Kids and adults are gobbling them up. Never thought you could get your 10-year-old to eat tomatoes, asparagus, sweet potatoes, carrots, red bell peppers, beets and corn? Try giving them a Cherry Yotta Bar because all eight of those vegetables are in the bar.
Here is the Ewing philosophy behind their products: “We designed Yotta bars to create a healthier granola bar alternative that is all natural, contains the nutrition of vegetables, includes no refined sugars, meets evolving State nutrition standards for products allowed to be sold in schools, and has ingredients that everyone can pronounce.”
So they are healthy (they meet and exceed the FDA requirements for labeling the product as healthy), low in fat, sodium and cholesterol and they taste great. Send to school as a snack and don’t forget to pack a few for the office as a mid morning or afternoon pick me up. Kudos to the Ewings -- no that’s Yottas to the Ewings (kudos are loaded with fat and refined sugars) -- for developing these tasty, healthy products. For additional information visit www.undercoverveg.com.

Lindemans Kriek (cherry beer)

Belgium style fruit beers have enjoyed popularity throughout the world for generations. The farm breweries of Brussels have a long tradition of the “lambic” method in the brewing process. Lambic, or spontaneously fermented beers, are not typical in the brewing process and are more like methode champenoise champagne than a typical beer and mature in oak for nearly two years prior to release. Most brewers use fresh hops in the brewing process; lambic brewers use aged hops that have preservative qualities to them without leaving bitterness.
Another difference is that no yeast is added to this beer by the brewmaster. Instead, after the boil brewers transfer the wort into a “coolship”—a large, shallow copper vessel that allows cool fresh air and wild yeast to come in contact with the hot wort. In the case of Kriek (cherry beer), straight cherry juice is added from fresh cherries and once bottled you have what beer guru Michael Jackson has labeled as “one of the five best beers in the world. Enjoy chilled and serve in a champagne style glass. The beer pours pinkish-red hues with delightful cherry aromas swirling about. If you are a vegan you will be happy that all of Lindeman’s beers are certified vegan products.
I stumbled across a few bottles recently at Jack’s Party Store in Traverse City—another place with a fantastic selection of beers and wines, along with a great collection of distilled spirits. Lindeman’s Kriek pairs well with an assortment of foods, try it with a goat-cheese salad with cherry vinaigrette or with hearty duck dishes. It also makes a great after-dinner drink with chocolate desserts.