Tastemakers: Bayside Marhets mixed grill/ Landshark Lager

BAYSIDE MARKET MIXED GRILL

The Bayside Market opened 26 years ago in Traverse City next to the State Park. The market built its name on its wine selection and huge mircrobrew and imported beer offerings. It also became the place to go for seafood. A person on the run could swing in and get steamed seafood in minutes for a trip to the beach, or choose from their wide selection of lake and sea offerings for home preparation.
Owner Dan Hummel kept hearing from his customers that they would love to see him offer fresh meats. So he obliged, and a year ago remodeled and added a meat market. On weekends he often has a guitarist in the store and a grill out front offering fresh slabs of BBQ ribs. I made a recent stop, selecting a collection of beef: Porterhouse, T-bone and Delmonico steaks along with some shrimp for a dinner party. The thick cuts of beef work great on the grill, as did the shrimp.
Regardless of your culinary skills, no one is able to improve upon a poor quality cut of beef or low-grade seafood. So kudos to Hummel and his staff for the work they are doing. Northern Michigan has several unique markets offering high end products, and throughout the summer we will take a look at them in Tastemakers.
Here are a few tips for this BBQ season. First, quality beef is not cheap, so make sure you stay at the grill while preparing; reward yourself with a good glass of local wine or one of the region’s many handcrafted microbrews. I like to cook steaks to rare and then let them set up on a plate for five minutes before serving, to seal in the juices (otherwise, if you cut into a steak right off the grill, the juices drain out, taking the flavor with it). You can always throw it back on the grill for the guest who prefers a medium to well-done steak.
As for seafood, this is a timing issue. I put shrimp on just as I am pulling my steaks off the grill; shrimp and other seafoods grill quickly on high heat. Another tip: soak the wooden skewers for a couple of hours; this helps prevent them from catching fire. Also when purchasing high quality cuts of beef or seafood, don’t be afraid to ask the staff for preparation instructions. Enjoy BBQ season and we will be on the hunt for other great items for the grill. Also, I will be part of the Grilling Competition at this year’s National Cherry Festival; more about that in a future column.

LANDSHARK LAGER

For years Parrotheads (devoted Jimmy Buffett fans) have made Corona with a wedge of lime their beer of preference. The singer-songwriter who is king of the “laid-back-island-living-vibe” is also a successful author and entrepreneur. Buffet is one of seven authors to have reached number one on both the New York Times best-selling fiction and non-fiction lists (joining the likes of Hemingway, Steinbeck and Dr. Seuss). As for his capitalistic ways, Buffet has turned his “Margaritaville” brand into a multi-million dollar venture with merchandise and restaurants. His favorite Margaritaville foods are even available in the frozen food sections of grocery stores.
Now Buffet has partnered with Anheuser-Busch to produce his own brew, LandShark Lager, under the Margaritaville Brewing Co. moniker. This brew has “Parrotheads” written all over it, from Buffett’s famed “fins” and “island-lifestyle” on the label to the brew’s thirst-quenching qualities. With Buffett’s fan base and his proven marketability, this brew is sure to give Corona a run for its clams. As for pairing with food, this is a no-brainer -- just ask any Parrothead and they will tell you LandShark Lager is best with a “Cheeseburger In Paradise” while in “Margaritaville” and “Come Monday.” And after several LandShark Lagers, “Why Don’t We Get Drunk And…”
Since Buffett has snubbed Northern Michigan again this summer, catch his vibe with a LandShark Lager, a lime and your favorite local singer-songwriter.
Fructification of Beer: A few readers have e-mailed about the adding of a wedge of tropical fruit to their beer, and whether or not this okay. This is a personal preference. Some brews have citrus flavors (Oberon by Bell’s), and a lemon or orange helps draw out the flavors. Bartenders and servers don’t assume that everyone wants a fruit wedge with their brew, so ask first or serve on the side. It’s your taste buds so you make the call; To Fruit or Not To Fruit your brew is something only you can answer.


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