For Immediate Release
February 16, 2012

Contact:
Janice Benson, Taste the Local Difference Project Director
Michigan Land Use Institute
Phone: 231-941-6584 ext. 21 • Fax: 231-929-0937
Email: janice@mlui.org • Web sites: www.mlui.org, www.localdifference.org

Traverse City — The Michigan Land Use Institute has announced that tickets to the very first Taste the Local Difference Winter Celebration are on sale now.

For the past three years, the Institute has held it’s popular Summer Celebration in June, which has become one of the region’s premier local food and farm events.

This year, the Institute is hosting its first winter version of the event.

“The event will be a special opportunity to learn about and experience eating local in wintertime,” said Janice Benson, Taste the Local Differenceproject director. “We’ll have delicious soups, winter salads, and hearty entrees to enjoy and learn to make at home.”

“Many people think there’s nothing local to eat in wintertime, so we wanted to give out ideas of what’s available and show people how they really can eat local all year long,” Mrs. Benson said.

Executive Chef Darren Hawley of Crystal Mountain Resort and Spa is excited to host this brand-new event. He’s invited several chefs to join him in preparing a delicious sampling of winter dishes. Each chef will provide a cooking demonstration and share recipes. Featured chefs include: Chef Glenn Noffsinger of Crystal Mountain Resort and Spa, Chef Lynne Brach of Hearthside Meals; Renee DeWindt, Food Service Director of Benzie County Public Schools; Chef Jim Barnes of Crystal Lake Catering Company; Chef Paul Ramey of Roquette Burger Bistro; Brad and Amanda Kik of ISLAND (Institute for Sustainable Living, Art & Natural Design); Don and Mary Lou Coe of TASTES of Black Star Farms; Susan Odom of Hillside Homestead; and more.Several local beverage producers will be there, too.

Tickets are $20, which includes all food stations and a special wine sample. There will also be a cash bar. Space is limited. Tickets are available at www.mlui.org/tickets.aspor by calling 231-941-6584. Your ticket purchase also earns a same-day, $15 discount on Crystal Mountain ski-lift tickets. Call 800-968-7686 for details.

Crystal Mountain Resort and Spa is proud to be the Presenting Sponsor for Taste the Local Difference. The full list of sponsors includes: Cherry Republic, Cherry Capital Foods, Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, Tom’s Food Market, Friske Orchards Farm Market, Hagerty, Higher Grounds Trading Company, Oryana Natural Foods Market, Smith Haughey Rice and Roegge, Black Star Farms, Fifth Third Bank, Trattoria Stella, and Grain Train Natural Foods Market.

Media sponsors include Edible Grande Traverse, Absolute Michigan, WTCM NewsTalk 580, 9&10/Fox 33 News, Interlochen Public Radio, and the Traverse City Record-Eagle.

For more information about theTaste the Local Difference Winter Celebration, contact Janice Benson at 231-941-6584, ext. 21 or at janice@mlui.org.

About the Institute
The Michigan Land Use Institute is an independent, nonprofit research, educational, and service organization founded in 1995. More than 3,000 households, businesses, and organizations have joined the Institute in support of its mission to establish an approach to economic development that strengthens communities, enhances opportunity, and protects Michigan's unmatched natural resources.