The first year we attended Interlochen, John and I headed into nearby Traverse City for the Cherry Festival. It's a huge event with tons of activities and vendors. While there, John decided to order a buffalo burger from one of the tents. Yes, a burger made from buffalo meat. Not surprisingly, there is a local ranch, Oleson's, that raises a very large herd of buffalo. In fact, in route to Traverse City on Highway 31, drivers can see the herd off to the right.
We returned the next year to the festival, hoping to find the same tent. Unfortunately, Oleson's didn't return, nor did the separate tent which sold freshly-fried cherry donuts :-( I felt that I had missed out on something great because I hadn't chosen to try the burger that first year.
Fast forward to this summer. I was sitting in the infirmary with one of our health assistants, Shannon, who is a native of Traverse City. I was telling her about the burgers and how I wished they would return to the Cherry Festival. Without missing a beat, she told me where I could buy the meat...in one of several grocery stores. This floored my mind. Buffalo meat in a grocery store? Not having the capability to cook a burger here at Interlochen, I felt disappointed. Then, as a quiet post script, she told me that I could also get one at Sleder's.
Sleder's is a tavern that originally opened in 1882. Much of what is in the tavern is original including the "pews" that make up the booths. The bar is heavy and solid, and the doors have carvings on them that resemble our antique German furniture doors.
I could hardly resist heading there. Shannon did warn me though--the walls are covered in taxidermy, and she wasn't exaggerating. In fact, it reminded me a restaurant, Etta's, where we used to eat in Germany. I'm sure there's some kind of sweet revenge the animals are exacting on the patrons as they sit there, staring at us through their soulless glass eyes while we try and swallow the meat from their animal friends :-)
Another bonus to Sleder's? People are encouraged to "smooch the moose". Yes, a giant moose head hangs in the back of the tavern. A step ladder is required to reach Randolph's nose, and for every smooch that happens, the bartender rings a big brass bell. It's quite an experience.
Let me just say that the burger was divine. In case you didn't know, buffalo meat is extremely lean, and my digestive system will support that assertion. Normally, after a burger, I feel stuffed and heavy, but not after one of those burgers. They are light, lean and definitely leave all of us wanting more. In fact, Glo isn't any kind of a burger eater, but after the first week of finishing off a 1/3 pound buffalo burger (and wanting more), she ordered a half pound burger the next week!
Needless to say, I was disappointed today when Glo had the choice of where we went out to eat after her audition and she didn't choose Sleder's, especially since she could hardly wait to return last week. Granted, she didn't want to drive all the way into town because she was starving (and in all honesty she just wanted an order of wings), but next week there won't be an option. I need to get me all the buffalo burgers I can before we leave!
We returned the next year to the festival, hoping to find the same tent. Unfortunately, Oleson's didn't return, nor did the separate tent which sold freshly-fried cherry donuts :-( I felt that I had missed out on something great because I hadn't chosen to try the burger that first year.
Fast forward to this summer. I was sitting in the infirmary with one of our health assistants, Shannon, who is a native of Traverse City. I was telling her about the burgers and how I wished they would return to the Cherry Festival. Without missing a beat, she told me where I could buy the meat...in one of several grocery stores. This floored my mind. Buffalo meat in a grocery store? Not having the capability to cook a burger here at Interlochen, I felt disappointed. Then, as a quiet post script, she told me that I could also get one at Sleder's.
Sleder's is a tavern that originally opened in 1882. Much of what is in the tavern is original including the "pews" that make up the booths. The bar is heavy and solid, and the doors have carvings on them that resemble our antique German furniture doors.
I could hardly resist heading there. Shannon did warn me though--the walls are covered in taxidermy, and she wasn't exaggerating. In fact, it reminded me a restaurant, Etta's, where we used to eat in Germany. I'm sure there's some kind of sweet revenge the animals are exacting on the patrons as they sit there, staring at us through their soulless glass eyes while we try and swallow the meat from their animal friends :-)
Another bonus to Sleder's? People are encouraged to "smooch the moose". Yes, a giant moose head hangs in the back of the tavern. A step ladder is required to reach Randolph's nose, and for every smooch that happens, the bartender rings a big brass bell. It's quite an experience.
 |
Comments
Post a Comment