Behind the Mitten

Amy Sherman of "Behind the Mitten" tells the guys from 95.3 CFX they can learn about regional foods like the "puffy taco" on this weekend's BTM show (Dec. 21-22, 2024), which is all about Saginaw.

She also entertains questions from Rob & Kent, as she does every week. Today they want to know if she had a job from Santa at the North Pole, what would it be?

TUNE IN to hear her answer.

And don't forget to tune in to Behind the Mitten across the state on 95.3 WCFX in Mt. Pleasant, as well as WSGW in Saginaw, and more than 20 other affiliates!

Check our website for more info - amyandgonzo.com.

Each year, we host our friends from Original Murdick's Fudge for the holiday season sharing their love for all things sweet on Mackinac Island, and beyond, with our listeners. As the original fudge shop on the island, Murdick's has been serving up sweetness for well over a hundred years, and yet continue to remain "fresh in" as Murdick's always says. 

We kick off with Original Murdick's owner and operator, Bobby Benser. We always love to hear what it's like on Mackinac Island during the cold winter months, and he always has fun stories to share. Yes, it's cold, but it's also magical. It's a true community here, but it especially shines in the winter and holiday season. Community involvement is very important to Murdick's and to the whole Benser family, with the Mackinac Community Foundation,Toys for Tots, and the Animal Shelter serving as some of their favorite charity partners. 

Mike Grisdale,the Marketing Director for Mackinac Straits Health System, as well as Director of the Foundation, stops by to share about the good work they are doing in the community thanks to partner's like Original Murdick's Fudge. Making fudge during the holiday season, which has been a more recent endeavor for Murdick's, has allowed them to increase their giving to the Straights Health System. According to Grisdale, Murdick's "is always there when we need them."

We were so happy that our good friend Andrew and Nicole Doud could stop by, they are residents on the isalnd and own several very popular businesses, including Doud's Grocery, Doud's Pub and Little Luxuries of Mackinac. With three little boys, this is a very busy season for them, and they are so ready for it. Check out the great gifts that you can have shipped from these very cool places, to send just a little bit of Mackinac Island to your loved ones. 

We close out the show with a little bit more fudge talk, because it's all just too delicious. Original Murdick's has some incredible gift packs, of fudge, taffy or caramel corn, and some that include all the sweets and even gift ornaments. You can send a taste of Mackinac Island literally anywhere, and it is always the most welcome gift. 

You can place your order for Original Murdick's Fudge here.

On this episode of Behind the Mitten, we says thanks to those who work hard to give back and to make Michigan just a little bit better for us all. We meet with four different non-profit organizations from around the state to hear about good things happening in the mitten.

We start off with an organization that does some incredible work in the Traverse City region, The Father Fred Foundation. Candice Hamel, the executive director of the program joins us to tell us about the work they've been doing this past year. "The Father Fred Foundation offers help, hope, and compassion to anyone in our community with essential needs," and has been serving since 1989. The numbers speak for themselves: over 1500 pairs of new school shoes distributed, 15,000 bags of clothing and household goods handed out, close to half a million dollars in financial assistance provided, and almost one million dollars in food aid given. This was just in one year! Founded by Father Edwin “Fred” Frederick, a Catholic. priest who served the residents of the Traverse City State Hospital as its Catholic chaplain for thirty years. When the hospital closed in 1989, Fr. Fred's concern for the residents and their future inspired him to create the foundation, which now helps the entire Traverse City Community. 

Then we head to marvelous Marquette, and learn about the work that the United Way is doing in this part of Michigan. Andrew Rickauer, a Northern Michigan University grad, has been the executive director since 2019. United Way of Marquette County works together with the community on a variety of projects. They manage a county-wide volunteer program with over 2200 participants who have provided over 10,000 hours of work back, they've given away 10,000 pairs of socks, and have helped fund over 25 different community programs. Rickauer shares a few of their current campaigns, as well as why he loves this northern Michigan community. 

The Revive and Thrive Project is a unique organization that has a two-fold mission: to provide nourishing meals to those who are in a health crisis, and to train and empower our next generation of chefs. As soon as I heard this, I knew I had to volunteer. R&T works out of Grace Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids (fun fact, this was President Ford's home parish!) and provides hundreds of incredible, healthy, delicious  and nutritious meals to communith members who are undergoing a health crisis or medical issues. Executive Chef Mandy Thompson runs the show here, and shares why food is so important to healing, and why working with our Michigan teenagers in the kitchen is so vital to their development.

Our final guest has joined us before on the show, and we are always happy to share updates on the important work he is doing around the state, and to talk about his award-winning pizza. Fredi Bello, aka Fredi the Pizzaman, is a man on a mission, who is creating postive change one sensory room at a time. He's been making pizzas since he was a child, and runs a small, very old-school shop in Melvindale right outside of the D. No online ordering, no phone calls, you come in and pull a ticket, place your order and watch the magic unfold. Magical these pizzas are, with bubbly dough that Fredi makes fresh every day, and that earned the unprecedented 8.7 on BarStool Sports. The Fredi the Pizzaman Foundation operates seperately from the pizzeria, and relies on donations to help them place one hundred sensory rooms and countirng around the state, everywhere from schools to large arenas like the Breslin Center at Michigan State Univeristy and Ford Field in Detroit. Fredi started his mission to increase autism awareness and accomadations after his own son was diagnosed. There truly is power in pizza, and you'll find it here.

Amy Sherman of Behind the Mitten gets all the intel on Short’s Brewing “Holiday Battle Plan,” a 12-pack inspired by the classic movie “Home Alone.”

The new variety pack from Short’s Brewing in Bellaire features four brand-new brews and a guide for hosting your own Home Alone watch party.

“I think we’re all children of the ’80s, so when it came out in the '90s it was the perfect time for all of us to feel the right amount of nostalgia for it,” said Short’s sales director Kerry Lynch in a podcast with Amy.

“(The movie) is such a great holiday classic; it’s incredibly quotable. …We’re also hoping it opens up an entirely new audience who aren't as familiar with all the subtle nuances and...the lines you know.”

Lynch said that Short’s has done several different holiday packs over the years, but this year they “decided to switch things up. Since we’re such an experience-driven brewery, we wanted to give folks an experience when they pick up this pack in stores.”

In a news release about the Holiday pack she said: “This twelve-pack features four beers to chug faster than Fuller chugs Peps!”

The styles vary from Sour to Stout, and Short’s has provided the corresponding movie times for each brew. All you’ve got to do is pick up a pack, chill the beers, and kick back with a holiday classic. The Holiday Battle Plan is available for a limited time in stores (and on draft at select locations) now.

THE BEERS:

*Junk and Rubbish: Cool cocoa and marshmallow stout – ABV: 7.7% (Movie Time: 23:36)

*Silver Tuna: Cranberry and orange sour ale – ABV: 4.1% (Movie time 27:31)

*Oh-Kay: India Pale Ale – ABV:5.1% (Movie time 41:48)

*Thirsty For More: New Zealand Lager – ABV: 4.4% (Movie time 1:24:13)

Find more information here: https://www.shortsbrewing.com/beers/holiday-battle-plan/

This weekend's Behind the Mitten is a "sweet" show!

It's all about Original Murdick's Fudge, and how you can ship this special holiday gift to friends all around the country. Maybe you want some fudge or brittle or caramel corn for your holiday gathering. You can order this slice of Pure Michigan from our friends at OMF, who are busy this time of year making fresh fudge from the Straits of Mackinac.

Original Murdick's Fudge says: "Our fudge, brittle and other specialty sweets are crafted by hand with Pure Michigan all natural ingredients. Copper kettles, marble slabs, a Mackinac climate and a passion for tradition ensure delight in every bite. We carefully package each order to ensure freshness for the journey from Mackinac Island to you."

Get Free Shipping on Orders Over $45! Use Code FREESHIP45 at checkout. ORDER HERE

John Gonzalez of Behind the Mitten previews this weekend's show on the Paul Miller Morning Show on WPHM-1380 AM in Port Huron. Filling in for Paul was station program director Caleb Gordon.

Tune in to the Paul Miller Show from 6 a.m.-noon Monday-Friday.

Tune in to Behind the Mitten on 21 affiliates across the state. List of Radio Affiliates CLICK HERE.

Tune in to BTM on News, Talk and Sports - 1380-AM WPHM in Port Huron at Noon Saturdays and 8 a.m. Sundays.

Learn more about Behind the Mitten at amyandgonzo.com.

Woohoo! It's coming on like a frozen polar express train, you can feel it getting closer and closer by the nip in the air and frost on the brown, dry grass. It's winter, and once again, your friends at Behind the Mitten are here and we are, once again, ready to help you EMBRACE WINTER.

We have truly come to believe in the power of the correct winter equipment, having the right stuff can really make or break your time outside in the cold. Our friend Mark Copeland at Jay's Sporting Goods 
in Gaylord always knows the best gear, and stops by to talk what kind of equipment we should be getting. Quick takeaways? Layer, and not with cotton. Buy the best boots you can. And of course, shop at Jay's!

Our resident ski bunny makes his first to Behind the Mitten of the season. Nick Nerbonne from Pure Michigan joins us once again to share his love of snow and skiing. We discuss favorite ski hills, what Michigan ski culture is like, and generally just gush about how great a Michigan winter can be. We hope Nick will inspire you too.

Here are a few more tips on how to embrace winter from our friends at Pure Michigan.

We meet some new friends during the third segment, and we sure hope that they'll come by again because we had a great time, and learned so much. We are fascinated by sauna culture, and love a good steam ourselves, and have been seeing these charming wooden barrel saunas around the state for a little while and have been intrigued. So, like the good journalists we are, we went right to the source. The Sauna Guys are the men behind the barrels, and we have them on to share the story of this family owned and operated business located in Baraga in the U.P. Randy and Jeff Maki joined us from the road as they were delivering a few of their handmade saunas down to the metro Detroit area. If you've always wondered what goes on in a sauna, tune in.

Finally, we catch up with the Great Lakes Winter Trails Council and member Mariah Frye who works at Cross Country Ski Headquarters in Higgins Lake. Last year's lack of snow has created pent up demand, Frye believes, and this year should be a fun, busy one on our Michigan trails. Where to go, what to do, and where to learn how to cross country ski way better than Amy are all things we touch upon.

This week has made it clear, winter is coming! And instead of fighting it, let's embrace it, the Behind the Mitten way.

It's all about Michigan wine this week on Behind the Mitten, and we are awash in the great grape harvest of 2024. 

Our first guest is in charge of one of the Midwest's biggest, and arguably most exciting, food festival. The 17th Annual Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival kicks off November 21 through the 23rd. It's a full on extravaganza of food and food related events and presenations at DeVos Place throughout the weekend. Dawn Baker from Show Span joins us and shares all the new things that you'll find this year, including The Vineyard where you can sample over 1000 wines. Beer City Station with over twenty different brewies pouring their liquids, and the Barrel Room where you can try liquors and cocktails. There are mulitple food and drink pairing options, and culinary demonstrations throughout. This is really a fun festival, it is really huge, and it really shouldn't be missed. 

Then we catch up with Fenn Valley Vice President Brian Lesperance, who shares a little bit about the excellent grape harvest that Michigan experienced this fall. All that lovely sunny weather that we had put our wines on the road to greatness this year, and Fenn Valley is ready. Look for new releases happening throughout the year, and the next few years as they age to perfection. Sip 'n Shop is happening on December 14 2024, where you can, wander the aisles of artisan crafts while enjoying a glass or two. Right after the holiday season look forward to the chili-cook-off at the vineyard which will feature four cook-off categories: Four Legs (beef and pork), Two Legs (Fowl), Vegetarian (non-meat), and Exotic (Seafood or wild game, including venison). Registration will open for the cook-off on December 1st, 2024.

Then the ladies stop by from Shady Lane Cellars. Maddie McCandless, assistant winemaker and Kasey Wierzba, Executive Winemaker and General Manager also share a harvest report from the vineyard, which is located in Suttons Bay. Kasey has been at the vineyard since 2013, and brings years of experience in California to the vineyard. Maddie graduated from Purdue in 2019, got a degree in enology in 2021 and worked at Ram's Gate Winery before finding her home in Northern Michigan. These women are smart, knowledgeable and super fun.

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This week we head to an iconic Michigan destination, known throughout the Midwest as a place for old-fashioned, one-of-a-kind fun, with an amazing dinner theater experience, and some of the best turkey dinners you'll find anywhere.


It's Cornwell's Turkeyville, and we visited for the very first time—and we can assure you, it won't be the last.


On the show, you'll get to meet owner/operator Patti Cornwell and her daughter and "retirement plan" Elyse Bibbings. Together, these women are running quite the production on their family farm located at the crossroads of 94 & 69 just outside of Marshall, Michigan. From an all-turkey menu, which includes the classic dinner, new favorites like the turkey grilled cheese (get it on the cheese bread please!) to an old-fashioned soda fountain featuring house-made ice cream, you'll be eating well when you visit. Elyse also offers the very cool Simpler Life classes through the winter where you can learn to bake bread, how to can, uncover the mysteries of sourdough, and learn to decorate cookies.


We'll also introduce you to Dexter Bringham, producing artistic director for the dinner theater at Turkeyville, where they host a 47 week season of Broadway quality shows featuring actors from across the country. On November 7 they'll be kicking off their holiday show, the Winter Wonderettes which will run through December 21.


Turkeyville is the type of place to go with family and friends to create new traditions or relive fantastic old memories. Go for dinner, but stay for more. And don't miss out on their gift shop, it is a great place to find a unique gift this holiday season. We also learned that the gift shop is Patti and Elyse's favorite thing at Turkeyville, their passion project so to speak, so you know it's full of lots of good things, including the cutest little stuffed turkey I had to get for Gonzo's newest baby turkey.

Holy smokes! It's a moment in Midland, and we are back at one of our best.

We are back at one of the all time greats Bone Daddy's Barbeque with our buddy and BBQ legend Bill Wall. He’s the master of meat, king of smoke, and just so fun. We know you’ll love him. too.

A few years ago we were looking for great pasties made UNDER the bridge. We found them at shierspasties in Midland, and we have owners George and Kristin on to give us an update on their family run deli.

Our friend Dave Clark, editor of the Midland Daily News shares what makes this community special, as well as beers from a few area breweries. He also shared some news from MiBrew Trail magazine.

We hope you’ll tune in!

Learn more about Behind on the Mitten at amyandgonzo.com.

Follow us on Facebook at @behindthemitten

Behind the Mitten is co-hosted by chef and local food advocate Amy Sherman and digital journalist John Gonzalez. It is Michigan's Premiere Radio Show and Podcast, established in 2015. They have produced more than 650 episodes.

#bbq
#midlandmi
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#btm

This episode of Behind the Mitten has us all over Michigan, with reports from Marshall, Manistee, and Marquette. It's all about the M's on this show!

Our good friend Sue Damron joins us from marvelous Marshall, where she owns and operates the historic Schuler's Restaurant. We love visiting this iconic spot, where you can cozy up next to the fire, and enjoy some classic cuisine, like prime rib, their famous meatballs, and of course, that bar cheese. We were extra lucky during this visit because we got to check out Schuler's new hotel, The Royal. A super charming spot with an ideal location right above the restaurant. It's a lovely place to explore downtown Marshall.

Then it's on to another new place you can stay, the Motel Bear Lake. This classic 1950s-style motel was purchased a few years ago by Marta Turnbull and Kendall McIntyre, who have been undertaking a complete refresh on the property. Located just minutes from Manistee and Arcadia Bluffs, the motel is retro cute, has a seasonal pool, and is both cannabis and LBGTQ-friendly. Amy recently stayed here for a few nights while she explored Manistee, and has awarded the property five million stars. She can't wait to return.

If you've been a long-time listener to BTM, then you've probably heard our next guest. It's Mr.Fancy himself, Jay Clancey of  Kognisjon Bryggeri in Marquette. He catches us up with what's happening at the brewery, which is located on popular Third Street in downtown Marquette. Open seven days a week, you can swing by for a beer or a cider, and are welcome to grab something to eat from one of the local restaurants nearby, or from the adjacent Fish and More. The tap list here is constantly changing, but be sure to try the Sahti if it's on.

Then it's back to Manistee, where we talk with Sammie Lukaskiewicz from the visitors' bureau about the Discover Manistee Fall Festival which is happening on October 26. There will be tons of kids activities, fun fall food, and more, all in downtown Manistee, on the shores of Lake Michigan.