Chelsea
Milling Company produces Jiffy Mix, just down the street from
the Common Grill in Chelsea. |
Chelsea
Foodways: Fast Facts
The Chelsea
District Library, anchored in the town's hip and trendy business district,
serves as Michigan's first host site to Key Ingredients Michigan
Foodways. It's an energizing place to kickoff the statewide tour,
considering its 200-year history of milling flour, its entertainment
offerings, and its picturesque downtown.
The
Home of Jiffy
Jiffy
Mix, an international leader in pre-prepared baking mixes, was started
in Chelsea in 1930 by Mabel Holmes. She founded Chelsea Milling Company,
and the family business now produces 1.6 million boxes of mix each day.
Food
and Theatre
In
recent years, the combination of chef Craig Common and actor Jeff Daniels
has created a significant cultural imprint on Chelsea. The idea was
to open a restaurant in town where people could go to enjoy a great
meal before or after taking in a play at the Purple
Rose Theater, started by Jeff Daniels. On July 26, 1991, The
Common Grill opened its doors and has been hailed ever since.
Sauerkraut
Dinners?
Our
Savior Lutheran Church hosts Sauerkraut Dinners consisting of roast
pork, sauerkraut cooked with pork, bratwurst, spätzle, mashed potatoes
and gravy, applesauce, and pies. The dinners reach beyond the congregation
to the greater community, without advertising. The church's men's club
cooks the dinners, while the women cook the pies.
Community
Flavors
Zou
Zou's Cafe was started as a relaxing coffee shop, but has turned
into a cultural destination. The establishment offers homemade items
for more than 90% of the goods including specialty soups, lemon bars,
and scones. The Dexter
Cider Mill has been around for 120 years, and as such has become
a family tradition from people all over the world who come back to the
mill annually. All of the apples are local -- brought to the mill from
within 20 miles, and all the baked goods (pies, breads, donuts) are
homemade. Slow Food Huron Valley
has found a solid foundation in the area by preserving food tradtions
and advocating local and sustainable food practices for businesses and
the public alike.
References:
Chelsea
Area Chamber of Commerce. (2005). 2005 Community profile & membership
directory. Harbor House Publishers: Boyne City.
The Common
Grill. (2006). The
story of the Common Grill [online resource].
Hoffman,
G. B. (2005). Looking for the right mix: Changing food habits challenge
Chelsea Milling. Ann Arbor News. January 4, 2005.
Lockwood,
W. G. (1999). Michigan food and foodways. 1999 Michigan Folklife
Annual. Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich.
Personal
interview. (2006. November 14, 2006). Fody, M.A. (Zou Zou's), Steinhauer,
N. (Dexter Cider Mill), Stephens, K. (Slow Food Huron Valley), Price,
H. & Balansag, H. (Sandhill Crane Wineries).
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