Key Ingredients Michigan Foodways

Barbara Bull begins her Fish Boil at the
Cherry Point Farm and Market.

View a slideshow of the Fish Boil (.gif or .mov)

Profiles: Cherry Point Market Fish Boils

In 2005, Cherry Point Market in nearby Shelby started hosting weekly fish boils. In 2006, owner Barbara Bull increased the events to host two per week, back to back on Friday and Saturday nights and by request.

The meal centers around an open fire over which hangs a huge kettle containing two metal baskets. The first basket contains the potatoes and onions. Barbara places it into the water 10-12 minutes prior to the second basket, which contains the fish. She then tells the story of how fish boils originated in Dorr County, WI. After the food stuffs are cooked, a small amount of kerosene is poured on top of the water and allowed to ignite. Oil drawn out of the fish during the boil accumulates on the surface and is flushed over the sides as well. The spectacular flash and roar of the over boil announces that dinner is ready. This meal consists of whole potatoes, whole onions, fish (generally whitefish), homemade herbed butter, homemade garlic toast, cole slaw, lemon aid, coffee, water, and for dessert, homemade cherry pie a la mode.

The Cherry Point Farm has been in operation in Oceana County since the late 1860s, with more than 600 acres of orchards, gardens, vineyards, and woodlands. More than 200 varieties of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and herbs are produced at the farm.

Resources:

Cherry Point Market. (2006). Fish Boils [online resource].

Cherry Point Market. (2006). Information brochure.

Personal interview. (2006. November 28). Carlson, B. (White Lake Library), Goralski, R. (Tartan Hill Winery), Russell, C. (White Swan Inn), Scholl, S. (Scholl Farms), Swanson, J. (Country Dairy), Van Loon, A. (White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce), White, T. (Women's Lifestyle Magazine), Wolfe, K.

Wolfe, K. (2006. November 30). Personal communication.

Key Ingredients Michigan Foodways
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