Behind the Mitten

On a recent episode of "Behind the Mitten," Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez of MLive stopped by at Horrock's Farm Market in Lansing, where they met up with Dede Beck of Uncle John's Cider Mill in St. John's, one of the earlier pioneers of hard cider in Michigan.

John and Amy picked the Apple Cherry as their "Cider of the Week."

More on Uncle John's:
https://www.facebook.com/unclejohnscidermill/?fref=ts

More on Behind the Mitten:
https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten?fref=ts

On a recent episode of "Behind the Mitten," Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez of MLive stopped by at Horrock's Farm Market in Lansing, where they met up with Linda Hundt, the owner and creator of the award-winning Sweetie-licious Bakery Cafe in DeWitt.

Linda is known for her incredible pies, which have won national awards and even featured on the Steve Harvey Show.

In 2014, MLive selected Sweetie-licious as Michigan's Best Pie.

Sweetie has additional stores in East Grand Rapids and the Downtown Market in GR.

More on Sweetie-licious:
https://www.facebook.com/Sweetie-licious-Bakery-Cafe-51099874610/?fref=ts

More on Behind the Mitten:
https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten?fref=ts

On a recent episode of "Behind the Mitten," Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez of MLive stopped by Lula's Louisiana Cookhouse in Owosso (between Flint and Lansing off I-69), which they selected as Michigan's Best Fried Chicken.

John and Amy talk to owner John Beilfuss, who they surprised with the award July 6, 2016.

More on Lula's:
https://www.facebook.com/LulasCookhouse/?fref=nf

Best Fried Chicken Top 10:
http://www.mlive.com/dining/index.ssf/2016/07/michigans_best_fried_chicken_o_2.html#0

More on Behind the Mitten:
https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten?fref=ts

On a recent episode of "Behind the Mitten," Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez of MLive stopped by to get the low down on all the beer on tap at Horrock's Farm Market in Lansing.

Check out 20-plus taps, many devoted to Michigan Craft Beer, as well as cider and wine. Here they interview Nate Calery of Horrock's.

More on Horrock's:
https://www.facebook.com/sbghbl/?fref=ts

More on Behind the Mitten:
https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten?fref=ts

American on Tap will feature 200 brews from breweries from Michigan and other parts of the U.S. The festival will also feature Michigan wine and cider, as well as food and entertainment.

Hours are 3-7 p.m. at Calder Plaza in Grand Rapids.
Tickets are $35 in advance and $45 at the door. And includes 15 samples and sounvenir sampling glass.
Townsquare Media is the event sponsor.

The headline entertainment is Traverse City band The Accidentals. They are expected to go on at 5 p.m.

More info:
http://americaontap.com/grand-rapids-mi/

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman recap the 4th of July weekend, and their experience with the Blue Angels, the National Cherry Festival, a date with Chris Cornell and more!

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman of MLive host a weekly radio show called "Behind the Mitten," which airs in several markets across the state.

On this episode they travel to Hotel Indigo in Traverse City to cover the 90th annual National Cherry Festival.

Segment 1:
John and Amy welcome a new market (Saginaw), and they recap their recent search for Michigan's Best Fried Chicken. Also, Trevor Tkach, executive director of the National Cherry Festival, welcomes them to Traverse City.
More on the Cherry Festival: http://cherryfestival.org/

Segment 2 (Listen at 9:43)
Trevor talks more about events and activities at this year's festival, which runs through July 9.

Segment 3 (Listen at 18:49)
Cherry farmer Nita Send, owner of Send Receiving in Suttons Bay, tells us more about this year's crop.
More on Send Receiving: https://www.facebook.com/Send-Receiving-Station-LLC-127369777297328/

Segment 4 (Listen at 28:08))
John and Amy welcome Mary Winowiecki of the Traverse City Tourism Bureau, who talks about the impact these festivals have on the region. John and Amy run down more events, and do BEER of the Week from Rare Bird Brew Pub.
More on TC
https://www.traversecity.com/

More on Rare Bird
https://www.facebook.com/rarebirdbrewpub/?fref=ts

More on Behind the Mitten
https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten/?fref=ts

John Gonzalez of MLive and Behind the Mitten hit the road searching for Michigan's Best Fried Chicken (June 20-26), and on this episode the record segments while on the road.

Segment 1:
John and Amy stop at Merl's Tavern in Saginaw, which was one of their favorite stops on the search for Michigan's Best Bloody Mary.
Top 10 Bloody Marys:
http://www.mlive.com/dining/index.ssf/2016/04/michigans_best_bloody_mary_top.html#incart_river_index_topics

Segment 2: (Listen at 10:02)
John and Amy stop at Frankenmuth Brewery to hang out with new brewer Steve Buszka. He talks about all the new beers he is making at the brewery. They also announce BEER of THE WEEK. (Tangerino IPA).
More info:
http://frankenmuthbrewery.com/

Segment 3: (Listen at 19:00)
Also from Frankenmuth Brewery, John and Amy talk about fried chicken with banquet chef Nancy LeClair. She was kind enough to make her "special secret recipe" for us to sample. The fried chicken is not on the main menu, but it's available for banquets.

Segment 4: (Listen at 29:03)
John and Amy stop at Kuhnhenn Brewing Co. in Warren, where they meet up with some friends, including marketing guy Jon Piepenbrok, who talks about some of the great things going on at what we picked as one of Michigan's Best Breweries. Earlier this year Kuhnhenn opened a second location in Clinton Townsnhip.

THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: A 15th Anniversary Party is planned for Aug. 20! It will be a big blow out and the brewery's first ticketed event.
More info: http://www.kbrewery.com/

More info on Behind the Mitten:
https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten?fref=ts

Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez of MLive and "Behind the Mitten" travel the state of Michigan to discover great events, talk to organizers and experience the fun.

This weekend they talk about their search for Michigan's Best Fried Chicken, the cool events taking place at Treetops Resort in Gaylord and next weekend's Traverse City Wine & Art Festival.

Segment 1:
The MLive search for Michigan's Best Fried Chicken.
More info: http://topics.mlive.com/tag/best-fried-chicken/

Segment 2: (Listen at 9:47)
At Treetops Resort in Gaylord, John talks to General Manager Barry Owens and Food and beverage Director Gabe Bober about all the activities going on this summer and fall at Treetops.
More info on Treetops at: http://treetops.com/

Segment 3: (18:25)
John, Bary and Gabe also talk about the 4th of July fireworks at Treetops, which takes place on July 3.
More info: http://treetops.com/general-information/event/4th-july-3rd/?eID=1945

Segment 4: (Listen at 28:50)
John and Amy talk about statewide events, as well as the Traverse City Wine & Art Festival, which is June 25, 2016 at The Commons. They interview Lorri Hathaway, director of the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association.
More info: http://traversecitywinefestival.com/

This show aired June 19, 2016.

More info on Behind the Mitten at:
https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten/?fref=ts

John Gonzalez of MLive and "Behind the Mitten" spent some time at Treetops Resort in Gaylord where he talks to General Manager Barry Owens and Food and beverage Director Gabe Bober about all the activities going on this summer at fall at Treetops.

They talk about Treetoops' Culinary Adventure Series, which begins July 29. These are 4-Course meals that feature local ingredients from area farms. Each themed event is hosted by a local winery or brewery and each is paired with a different beer or wine. A guest presenter from the hosting farm will talk a little bit about their operation and practices.

Dates: July 29, Aug. 26, Sept. 23 and Oct. 21.

They also talk about the 4th of July activities at Treetops.

This show aired June 19, 2016.

More info on Treetops at:
http://treetops.com/

More info on Behind the Mitten at:
https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten/?fref=ts