Taste the Local Difference holds summer celebration
Crystal Mountain to host Michigan Land Use Institute’s annual local food and farm gala, Monday June 27
From staff reports
The Michigan Land Use Institute has announced that tickets to the annual Taste the Local Difference Summer Celebration are now on sale. The Celebration, in its third year, is one of the region’s premier local food and farm events.
The event is a toast to the local farmers, food producers, chefs, vintners, and brewers of northwest Michigan and a celebration of the 2011 Taste the Local Difference guide.
Executive Chef Darren Hawley, of Crystal Mountain Resort and Spa, is excited to host the event this year. He invited some of the area’s finest chefs to help him prepare a delicious feast of local food. Those chefs include Guillermo Valencia, of Grand Traverse Resort and Spa; Cammie Buehler and Andy Schudlich, of Epicure Catering; Paul Olson, of Mission Table: Chris Hoffman, of The Riverside Inn; Guillaume Hazael Massieux, of La Becasse: Jen Welty, of Nine Bean Rows; Donna Irvin, of The Glenwood; and Renee DeWindt, of Benzie County Public Schools.
“What makes this event so special is that it’s not just about serving delicious food,” said Janice Benson, Taste the Local Difference project director. “It’s about serving food grown right here in our region and helping people make a connection between our land, our farmers, and our chefs.”
Most chefs will bring a farmer who provided one of their featured items. Nearly 20 specialty food producers and farmers will also attend, providing products for sampling and some will also have specialty products available for sale.
Several local beverage producers will be there, too, including Shorts Brewery, Right Brain Brewery, L. Mawby Vineyards, Black Star Farms, Chateau Chantal, Northern Natural Winery, Higher Grounds Trading Company, and Light of Day Organics Tea.
Tickets are $15, which includes all food stations. There will be a cash bar. Space is limited, so tickets must be purchased in advance at www.mlui.org/tickets.asp or by calling (231) 941-6584.
Crystal Mountain Resort and Spa is proud to be the 2011 Presenting Sponsor for Taste the Local Difference. The full list of 2011 Sponsors includes: Cherry Republic, Cherry Capital Foods, Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, Tom’s Food Market, Friske Orchards Farm Market, Hagerty, Higher Grounds Trading Company, Oryana Natural Foods Market, Smith Haughey Rice and Roegge, Black Star Farms, Fifth Third Bank, Trattoria Stella, and Grain Train Natural Foods Market.
Media sponsors include Edible Grande Traverse, Absolute Michigan, WTCM NewsTalk 580, 9&10/Fox 33 News, Interlochen Public Radio, and the Traverse City Record-Eagle.
For more information about the Taste the Local Difference Summer Celebration, contact Janice Benson at (231) 941-6584, ext. 21 or at janice@mlui.org.
The Michigan Land Use Institute is an independent, nonprofit research, educational, and service organization founded in 1995. More than 3,000 households, businesses, and organizations have joined the Institute in support of its mission to establish an approach to economic development that strengthens communities, enhances opportunity, and protects Michigan’s unmatched natural resources.
