I spent a week in Michigan earlier this summer and after more than five years was able to return to one of my favorite places in the world: Cherry Republic. A haven for cherry lovers, and I count myself among them, this incredible place was established in 1989 to showcase products made with cherries from Michigan, the largest producer of tart cherries in the U.S.
I love cherries and the Cherry Republic so much, I told my daughters to sprinkle a baggie of my ashes in an inconspicuous place at the flagship location in Glen Arbor once I go to my heavenly reward.
It’s a busy place filled with cherry lovers, and on a pretty day, you’ll find folks eating in the Cherry Public House restaurant and around the grounds at picnic tables scattered about.
There’s one big building teeming with activity — people eating free samples and buying cherry salsas, nut mixes, soaps, lotions, cherry wood bowls and so much more. And there’s a wine-tasting building where you pay $5 for a flight of six wine samples in 1-ounce containers filled with sweet cherry wines as well as dry wines with just a hint of cherry juice in them. The pinot noir with 2% cherry juice is particularly lovely.
But it’s in the restaurant that you’ll find, among other cherry-inspired foods and drinks, the cherry grilled cheese sandwich. Oh my, oh my, oh my. It’s been at least five years since I’d had one, but I hadn’t forgotten about it and was excited to have another one on my recent return.
The sandwich oozes Camembert cheese with a smear of cherry jam served on crispy cherry bread.
Creating this masterpiece at home would require a great deal of work if you were making the cherry bread from scratch, so forgo that step and make it on thick slices of an artisan bread, maybe sourdough. After that, load on the cheese and top it with fresh pitted cherries or a couple tablespoons of cherry jam, butter the bread and grill to gooey.
Long live Cherry Republic, and if you happen to get to Glen Arbor, it’s easy to find. Just follow the crowds.
Cherry Grilled Cheese
4 slices fresh artisan bread, sliced rather thick
5-6 tablespoons Camembert cheese (enough to spread over all the bread)
4 tablespoons cherry sauce, cherry jam or fresh pitted cherries, crushed
3-4 tablespoons butter to spread on the outsides of bread
Heat skillet on medium heat. Spread cheese on two slices of bread, then spread cheese with cherry sauce or jam. Place second slice of bread on tops. Butter outsides of bread, and place in the skillet. Grill, pressing down with a spatula or bacon press, for 2-3 minutes or until bread is toasty. Flip sandwiches, and continue pressing down on them for 2-3 minutes or until good and toasty. Slice sandwiches in half, and serve.
RESTAURANT NEWS
Several of Chattanooga’s favorite chain eateries have added a number of new items and specials to their menus. Take a look:
› Miller’s Ale House (2119 Gunbarrel Road and 574 Northgate Mall Drive) has four new menu items, including two new all-day entrees. The sirloin-and-shrimp is a 6-ounce steak that comes with a dozen fried shrimp and two sides for $15. Add a 16-ounce Miller Lite for just $4 more. The second meal deal is a half rack of baby back ribs and a dozen fried shrimp served with one side dish for $20. There’s also a new over-the-top dessert that’s essentially three desserts in one: a chocolate brownie topped with a slice of Capt. Jack’s Buried Treasure cake and some Pull N’ Pop doughnuts. Oh my! It’s $20, but can be shared and never forgotten.
› Bonefish Grill (2115 Gunbarrel Road) has new foods for its new social hour, which lasts from 3 until 6:30 p.m. seven days a week. Among the shareable plates, priced at $15, are the BLT Nachos and The Big Bang, a supersized serving of the ever-popular Bang-Bang Shrimp. There are also small plates for $7 such as Mussels Josephine, Ahi Poke Tuna and calamari served with sweet Asian sauce. Social hour at Bonefish also features $7 premium cocktails, like the tangy Mango Bourbon Slush and the sweet Coconut Crush made with Bacardi rums.
› Smokey Bones (2225 Gunbarrel Road) is offering a BOGO special on its wings every Monday “while supplies last,” according to a news release. Buy a dozen and get 24, or buy 18 and get 36. Also, the amazing Takis wings, made with habanero sauce and topped with crushed Takis chips, will leave the menu at the end of August. If you haven’t had a chance to try them, get there and do so. They’re amazing. Finally, Smokey Bones’ Krispy Krunchy Chicken Sampler Deal is on the menu through Oct. 10 and then the crispy fried Cajun tender with two wings and a honey biscuit for $6 will be history.
› P.F. Chang’s (2110 Hamilton Place Blvd.) recently launched its Lucky Eight Happy Hour from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, offering $8 signature bites, such as handmade dumplings or tempura calamari, as well as $8 premium cocktails, like its Lychee Cosmo, a mix of vodka, orange Curacao, lime and cranberry juice.
Photo by French’s / The limited-edition French’s Mustard-Flavored Skittles are available in an online sweepstakes to celebrate National Mustard Day on Aug. 5.MUSTARD SKITTLES
If you thought you’d celebrate National Mustard Day on Saturday, Aug. 5, with a hot dog, that idea is so 1904. Unlike the condiment’s introduction at the St. Louis World’s Fair 119 years ago, mustard is not just for hot dogs anymore.
Nope, this year the folks at French’s have teamed up with candy company Mars Inc. for a limited release of mustard-flavored Skittles. The candy, flavored like French’s Classic Yellow mustard, follows such creations as mustard ice cream and mustard doughnuts, a viral sensation last year.
For a chance to be among 700 winners of a fun-size pack of the candies and other prizes, go to Frenchs.com/MustardSkittles through Saturday to enter the online sweepstakes. No purchase is necessary, but there are age and residency requirements.
Contact Anne Braly at abraly@timesfreepress.com or annebraly.com.
Anne Braly