Tastemakers: Green Cuisine/A toast to Alpenfest

July 13, 2008

Green Cuisine

Timothy and Kathy Young of Food For Thought launched Green Cuisine two years ago as a way to share their company’s philosophy with other businesses in Northern Michigan. They invited other businesses who share that same philosophy to participate. That first year 350 people attended and last year that number rose to almost 900.
So exactly what is that philosophy? To put it simply, it is about living simply. The buzzword is “sustainability,” and here is Timothy’s take on it: “There will always be more to do. Sustainability, after all, is a journey, not a destination. We’re always looking to find ways to decrease our energy consumption, farm beyond organic, create fair trade with our next door neighbors, create more meaningful lives for our dedicated staff and all whose lives our company touches. We stumble, debate, work hard, learn from our experiences and accept our limitations. It’s a lot to put into a jar.”
On Wednesday, July 16, Food For Thought will host Green Cuisine from 5 to 8 p.m. Joining them will be dozens of local food and beverage artisans offering quality locally-grown and made products. Green Cuisine will be a “zero-waste” event showing businesses and event organizers how to operate virtually waste-free. At last year’s event with, over 800 in attendance, less than one ounce of waste was produced.
There is no cost to attend. For additional details and to preregister call 231-326-5444 or foodforthought.net



A Toast To
Alpenfest

Community festivals are an endangered species. From challenges with sponsors to elected officials to residents, just ask the National Cherry Festival. But I would like to offer a toast to Alpenfest. This is their 44th year and somehow they have found the magic to keep making it happen. It might be the “Burning Of The Boogg” that keeps it going. It is an event on opening night (Tuesday) where people gather and put their troubles on slips of paper and put them into the “Boogg” and watch them go up in smoke.
Another secret to their success is all the free stuff. I go to 20 plus festivals a year and the amount of free food you get at Alpenfest for the $3 pin is unbelievable. One of my favorites is the Pontresina Suppen Mahlzeit served for free at lunch on Wednesday. While not everything is free, they offer so many discounted dinners like the chicken BBQ with all the fixin’s for $3.00. I have yet to try the goldfish eating contest but the free banana splits Thursday night and the sauerkraut and sausage supper also free are always well attended.
I am raising a stein of fresh hand-crafted Northern Michigan micro-brewed beer to the Gaylord Alpenfest for a job well done. They have kept their festival community oriented and family friendly. The Alpenfest is Tuesday July 15 – Saturday July 19. A complete schedule is available at gaylordchamber.com. As for the cool design for the Alpenfest pin that was done by Ellen Seidell a sixth grader from Gaylord St. Mary’s a school that has turned out several artists, I know, I married one.