Tastemakers: Honor Market Salsa Brats/Dortmunder Actien Brauere Bitburger Pils

Aug. 29, 2007

Honor Market
Salsa Brats

A couple of trips each summer to Benzie County are a must for my family. The Cherry Bowl Drive In and hanging out at the beaches of Elberta and Frankfort have become family traditions. Benzie is blessed with so much to do for the outdoor enthusiast, and the county has plenty to offer the sophisticated palate as well from restaurants to specialty shops.
We do the cabin thing and I buy all of our provisions from the Honor Family Market. Besides well-stocked beverage coolers and a great collection of both local and wines of the world, they have a fantastic meat counter. They are always roasting ribs and chicken in case you are in a hurry. A few years ago they started making bratwursts with salsa and not just any salsa, but salsa from the Roadhouse Mexican Bar & Grill just down the road in Benzonia. These are so good that they won Best Brats at the 2007 Michigan Beer and Brat Festival.
The day I was in the Honor Family Market they had fresh taco bread, so I lightly toasted it and used that in place of buns. These salsa brats are perfect grilled or steamed in beer, serve on a bun or toast toped with Roadhouse Salsa and grated cheese. Consider adding grilled onions and peppers as well. Pair with the cerveza of your liking; Mexican and German beers work nicely. The next morning use leftover bratwursts in omelets by dicing up the brats (grill them all the night before the microwave nicely for a quick lunch), add grilled multi-color bell peppers, onions, and your favorite grated cheese and don’t forget the Roadhouse Salsa. Serve with their famous smoked bacon and Shetler’s fruit smoothies.
The Honor Family Market is loaded with organic, specialty and locally grown foods. They have two locations, Copemish and Honor. Check them out as it will enhance your Benzie experience. Oh yeah, dinner at the Roadhouse isn’t a bad idea either. Have a great Labor Day Weekend.



Dortmunder Actien Brauerei
Bitburger Pils

As Bottoms Up continues its “beer run,” a trip to Germany is a must. Germany considers itself the home of beer. With 1,350 breweries producing over 5,000 beers it is hard to argue this claim. Sure, we have 1,422 breweries here in the United States, but we also have 200 million more people living here. In Germany, brewmasters under law are required to follow the Reinheitsgebot, the purity law of 1516 that allows only water, hops, barley malt and yeast to be used in making beer. This tradition has put German beers on the map for quality brews over the years.
In the United States the most notable German imports are Beck’s, Warsteiner and Lowenbrau. I came across two great German beers that the Honor Family Market sells both in a bottle and in a mini-keg can: Dortmunder Actien Brauerei (DAB) and Bitburger Pils. Both breweries have long traditions of brewing excellence. If there is an area that German brewmasters excel in that is the mastering of bitterness.
Both beers go great with German style sausages. Pair with fresh corn on the cob, grilled salmon and apple crisp (all are in season right now).
For those that like to cook with beer, German beers are excellent for that. Make beer bread, German beer coffee cake, sausage and kraut sautéed in beer and warm potato salad with beer dressing (search the web for these and other recipes).
If you are looking for a fun excursion this Labor Day Weekend or the coming color tour season explore Benzie County a be sure to check out the Honor Family Market for their great German and other beer selections, a fantastic meat counter (see Tastemakers) great wines and plenty of offerings for those who don’t consume alcohol (they have a cooler stocked full of gourmet juices and sodas). For directions, give them a call at 231-325-3360.