Tastemakers: Sail Inn Bar & grill/Appellationamerica.com

March 21, 2007

Sail Inn Bar & Grill (Traverse City)
Cuisine styles abound and seem to go in and out of popularity. Even specific foods go in and out. For example, during the past few years chicken was taking a backseat to salmon; now chicken is hot again. In recent years the buzz phrase has been comfort food.
Comfort foods are different for all of us and are not necessarily universal, though pizza and hamburgers are as close to universal American comfort food as one might find. For me, comfort food is found at the pub. It is called pub cuisine -- you know, the food that tastes good with your favorite beverage; nachos, burgers, hot wings, deep fried mushrooms and my personal favorite, fried clam strips. To satisfy that occasional comfort food craving, I stop every so often at the Sail Inn in TC. The clam strip basket is always prepared to perfection and the prices are very reasonable. Last week a friend joined me and we each had a Bells beer on tap. He had the boneless buffalo wings and I took in the clam strips, a tossed salad and soup. With a generous tip, the total for both of us was 22 bucks. I always opt for the tossed salad versus fries (the salad allows me to justify enjoying the deep fried clams) and the salad is a meal in itself. The Sail Inn also has great homemade soups and the Chicken Jalapeño is a particular favorite. Servers Beth and Cassie at the Sail Inn are among the best in the business.
So, the next time you have that comfort food craving, seek out the Sail Inn Bar & Grill. They are located at the corner of Barlow and Carver in Traverse City. (231) 946-4195.

AppellationAmerica.Com

“April Wines Bring Economic Good Times.” After all, April is Michigan Wine Month, and many wineries offer their new releases at this time. While the state continues to receive negative press for its economy and auto industry woes, the opposite is coming from Michigan’s wine industry. A recent study showed Michigan wineries attracted 800,000 visitors last year, and the wine industry has a $750 million annual economic impact in the state.
BottomsUp will take a closer look at Michigan wines in the coming weeks (new releases) and the industry’s impact on the Northern Michigan economy.
Wine is now the number one consumed alcoholic beverage in America. With the growing popularity of wine has come a return to the consumer’s pursuit of seeking wines of regional distinction. During the 1980s and ‘90s a movement of mass production found its way in the industry, resulting in a loss of some varietal character; essentially all chardonnays started to taste the same. Now the trend is turning back and the consumers are searching for wines of distinction.
Locally. we have two federally designated viticultural or appellation regions – the Leelanau Peninsula and Old Mission Peninsula. Wine drinkers are now seeking these wines out, calling for Rieslings, Pinot Gris and other wines made from this region, when they are dining out or shopping for wine. Both Leelanau and Old Mission are known and recognized internationally for making wines of distinction. In North America there are over 300 appellations and more than 4,500 wineries. While California is best known and has more than half of those wineries, other regions like Washington, Oregon, Virginia, New York, Texas and Michigan are attracting attention as serious wine regions. But it doesn’t end there; now all 50 states and all provinces of Canada have wineries.
A fantastic resource to better understand the wines, wineries and wine regions of North America is Appellation America. Their website is loaded with information that has been assembled by some of the top wine writers and critics in the country. Founded by Roger and his son Adam Dial www.appellationamerica.com has several articles addressing the importance of regional distinctiveness in wines. The site has several features on Michigan wines as Adam Dial, visited Northern Michigan wineries a year ago. Appellation America is for both the serious and not-so-serious wine drinkers and everyone in between. Check it out today: wines taste better when you know something about where they come from. www.appellationamerica.com

Rick Coates is a marketing professional for the Leelanau wine industry.