Tastemakers: Michigan potatoes/ New Holland Artisan Spirits Knickerbocker Gin

Aug. 30, 2009

Tastemakers
Rick Coates 8/31/09
Michigan Potatoes
In part due to several diet fades in recent years, the potato has received a bad rap. But that has not kept the Michigan potato industry from thriving. In fact, in volume and sales dollars potatoes are Michigan’s leading produce commodity. Michigan leads the nation in potatoes raised for potato chip production.
Despite the negative publicity, potatoes remain popular and are a staple item at all three meals a day. The Michigan Department of Agriculture reports that potatoes are a great source of nutrition too. A medium potato, weighing between 5 and 10 ounces, has 76 calories—no more than an apple. Potatoes are fat-free, rich in potassium and an excellent source of fiber. A potato contains one-half the daily requirement of vitamin C, 15 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin B6, and 10 percent of the niacin requirements.
Worldwide, potatoes are the fourth most important agricultural crop and are grown in 130 countries. The average American eats about 124 pounds of potatoes per year while Germans eat about twice as much. Thomas Jefferson gets the credit for introducing “french fries” to America when he served them at a White House dinner. Mr. Potato Head was the first toy to be advertised on American television and is now 60 years old, (he made a cameo in the Toy Story movies).
One telltale sign that potatoes remain popular in Northern Michigan is the Posen Potato Festival happening next weekend. The community has been celebrating the potato harvest (which starts in June and goes through October) for 58 years. Their weekend-long festival will see more than 40,000 people coming to their community of 402 residents September 11-13. For additional details posenchamber.com and head out to your favorite farmers’ market or grocery today and be sure to select Michigan potatoes. --Rick Coates

New Holland
Artisan Spirits Knickerbocker Gin

In recent years gin, the onetime spirit of choice for martinis, has given way to vodka. Restaurants who offer a martini menu are loaded with vodka-based martinis and those lists often only offer one gin version of this classic cocktail. Even the popular gin and tonic has given way to the vodka tonic. There are indications that gin is making a comeback, though it may never recapture its pre-prohibition popularity nevertheless it is showing signs of resurgence.
That is good news for New Holland Artisan Spirits, the Holland, MI based craft brewer launched their line of micro-distilled products last December. Included among that line of new products is Knickerbocker Gin. Twice-distilled, this is a very aromatic gin that has been infused with more than a dozen herbs and spices and with plenty of juniper-berries, creating a bright citrus and evergreen body. This gin, bursting with flavor, is delightful chilled or if you prefer toss in a couple of cubes of ice for a nice sipping drink or use it in any of your favorite cocktails calling for gin.
New Holland has created a stellar line up distilled products, including a collection of rums, and a whiskey with more products on the way.
“Craft distilling is in a the early stages of a renaissance very similar to what craft brewing experienced over the last 15 to 20 years,” said New Holland’s V.P. of Marketing, Fred Bueltmann. “We’re excited to contribute to the revolution that includes customers celebrating taste, culture and local products.”
Knickerbocker Gin and the other New Holland line of spirits are available at stores that specialize in high end spirits. For additional information check out newhollandbrew.com.
--Rick Coates