Tastemakers: Bowers Harbor Inn Big Three Dinner/Monavie Acai

Jan. 11, 2009

Bowers Harbor Inn
“Big Three Dinner”

It seems Congress is not the only one willing to help bail out the “Big Three” automakers. Bowers Harbor Inn on the Old Mission Peninsula is currently giving away a free dinner to all who buy or lease a new car made by one of the Big Three automakers. The purchase or lease must take place at a local dealership.
Now, on the surface a free dinner might not seem incentive enough to purchase a new car. But having dinner at Bowers Harbor is not just your average out-to-eat experience. My first fine dining experience (that I recall) as a kid was when I was about 10 and was at Bowers Harbor Inn. The chef came to our table and could tell that I was restless and asked if I wanted to help him out. He said they needed someone to catch frogs from the pond out back so that they might be able to serve fresh frog legs for dinner. So I headed out back. Well, I guess the chef didn’t think I would actually catch any frogs. I ended up catching a dozen and being proud I headed into the kitchen, opened the box, and before I knew it frogs were jumping all over the place -- including into a fry pan and soup pot.
That was a long time ago, and I have dined several times since at the Inn including 20 years ago for my first wedding anniversary. I had my favorite that night and it remains my favorite today: their Fish-in-a-Bag.
Schelde Enterprises bought the Inn (built in the 1880s) back in 1974 and sold the restaurant to Jon Carlson and Greg Lobdell (both Old Mission natives) in 2006. The two are currently adding a brewery to the operation. So buy or lease a new American car and enjoy a free dinner. I am up for a new car myself, and I wonder if those frogs are still in the pond. Bowersharborinn.net


MonaVie Açaí


The açaí palm grows in Brazil, and while it has been a staple in the South American diet for years, the fruit is now the center of attention in North America. The blackish-purple fruit is about the same size as a cherry and in Brazil it is served in granola, used for smoothies, has been made into a liqueur, and is a favorite topping on ice cream. For many Brazilians it is known as the “energizer fruit.”
It is that “energizer” aspect that has moved the fruit to the center of some controversy in the United States. In 2005 the Multi-Level Marketing company MonaVie was launched, boasting many health benefits of their Açaí juice blends. The company claims the juice is “designed for easy absorption in the body and just 2–4 ounces of MonaVie per day provides you with the phytonutrients and antioxidants found in many of the world’s most nutritious fruits—including açai.”
But the company has its critics and some scientists and nutritionists doubt the claims of the product’s health benefits, including the claim it “delivers the antioxidant capacity of approximately 13 servings of fruits and vegetables in just four ounces.” The juice ranges from $20 to $45 a bottle (24 ounces) depending on the quantity purchased and is sold by distributors.
From a taste perspective it is definitely an “acquired taste.” It is definitely better in a smoothie or on top of ice cream versus drinking it straight up. I tried it for six months. I am not sure if it has helped me or not. I feel healthier but that could be psychological. As for more energy, I attribute my ability to living on four hours of sleep a night and being on the go 24/7 to my 10 to 12 cups of coffee a day and two cappuccinos a day habit.