Culinary adventures take many forms — an actual trip is a bonus
I've learned a culinary adventurer can take on many forms. Embarking on a new recipe containing an ingredient never used before, participating in a cooking class, or exploring another culture through their food can all be part of the journey, but last year I experienced something completely different. My latest culinary adventure allowed me to have a taste of what it is like to run a coffee shop, along with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the behind-the-scenes filming of a television show, complete with a starry-eyed brush with foodie celebrity Katie Lee.
A girl's weekend brought my friends and me to beautiful Mackinac Island, Michigan, (pronounced Mackinaw) last year. It would be my first visit to the “the island” to see our friends Al and Vickie Johnson. The Johnsons live in the Chicago suburbs for most of the year, but from late May through early October they operate Mackinac Island's most charming coffee shop, the JL Beanery, affectionately known as the Beanery.
Mackinac Island is a beautiful spot and located on the Lake Huron side in the Straights of Mackinac, between the Upper and Lower peninsulas of Michigan. There are no motorized vehicles on the island, so as soon as you step off the ferry, you are greeted by the clip-clop of horse's hoofs and the carriages they pull. The island is home to the historic Grand Hotel, along with many other shops, restaurants, and places to stay. The island has a “Disneyesque” quality with its quaint shops and beautiful scenery; I felt like I had stepped back in time as soon as I arrived.
As if a visit to the picturesque island wasn't enough of an adventure, while most on the island were still sleeping, Vickie and I woke up early each day of my visit and began our short walk past the then peaceful harbor, ultimately making our way to the Beanery.
The Beanery itself cantilevers over the water adjacent to the harbor, providing a wonderful view of the sunrise. But we weren't there to enjoy the scenery, we were there to ready the coffee shop for its morning visitors.
We started by donning our blue Beanery aprons and making muffins — carrot, blueberry, chocolate chip — are just a sampling of the list, all baked fresh daily, along with sourdough and cranberry walnut bread that would later serve as the vehicle for lunchtime sandwiches.
Next, we baked scones, multiple flavors as well, including my personal favorite, Michigan Sweet Cherry and Almond. As you can imagine, Vickie did far more than I, but I was still having a ball baking and cooking up a storm.
When it was time to flip the closed sign to open, our first guests were waiting at the door. Thankfully, we were also joined by some of the Beanery staff members by then, who skillfully commanded the barista station, far above my skill level.
By the end of the morning, I had mastered making egg bacon/sausage and cheese breakfast wraps and other substantial breakfast offerings, like their famous waffles. None of this would have been possible without coffee, and I drank my fair share of specialty lattes and that day's special flavor, Michigan Cherry. I also discovered they serve unbelievable cookies, including a sinful peanut butter cookie that contains an entire peanut butter cup candy cut into chunks.
My adventure didn't end here, as, on the third day of my visit, the Beanery was scheduled to host the filming of a segment for a new Cooking Channel television show, Beach Bites with Katie Lee. So exciting! The crew, along with Katie Lee, arrived midafternoon and got everything ready for filming, which began with Katie Lee paddling a canoe up through the harbor right up to the restaurant. However, our preparation started a lot earlier.
Vickie was asked to demo her now famous Beanery Bomber Burger (also known as the BBB, or Triple B). It's a quarter-pound burger made with crushed corn chips and minced jalapeño, covered in melted extra sharp white cheddar, and topped with smoky bacon, tomato and crisp lettuce, all between two toasted brioche buns.
It's also slathered with Beanery Bomber Mayo, a combination of mayonnaise, green chiles, and a little sweet Michigan cherry jam. My mouth is watering just thinking about this perfectly balanced combination of flavors; it was so good.
The production people asked Vickie to be ready to make the BBB three times, once with Katie Lee, once for close-ups of preparation steps, and once for a “beauty shot,” otherwise known as the perfect plate of food styled for the camera. I served in the role of food prep person, gathering ingredients that would become part of the three trays of ingredients Vickie would use in her segment.
Little bowls of premeasured chopped jalapeño, Worcestershire sauce, mayonnaise and jam soon covered bright blue trays holding ingredients for the BBB and the Beanery's colorful burger sides, apple coleslaw and corn chips.
Once out of the canoe, Katie joined Vickie on the pier adjacent to the Beanery, where a very calm and composed Vickie expertly prepared the BBB, while playfully challenging Katie to repeat the potential tongue twister “Beanery Bomber Burger” five times, which she did effortlessly. The two women had the on-screen chemistry of Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. They made it look so easy!
The scene ends with Katie commenting on the burger's great smell and appearance just prior to taking a big bite and saying, “Stop the presses. It is so flavorful, and that little bit of crunch from the corn chips in the meat, with a little bit of spice, and the cherries just give it a little sweetness … mmm …” just prior to taking another bite and declaring it a “winner,” adding “mmm, bombs away!” The episode aired in August of 2015 and turned out great, prompting many BBB requests.
While I may never have another adventure that includes a television production crew, I certainly hope to visit the Beanery again some time soon. I would even be willing to help Vickie again. But until I can get away, I am happy to relive those memories by making the Beanery Bomber Burger at home and reliving my experience by watching Beach Bites via my DVR. Many thanks to Vickie for allowing me to be part of her adventure!
• Penny Kazmier, a wife and mother of four from South Barrington, won the 2011 Daily Herald Cook of the Week Challenge.