Bix Engels: Let's Eat!

Local foods in Michigan in late winter? It was a tall order, but some of Ann Arbor’s best chefs and food producers pulled together to support the former Washtenaw Land Trust at a March 19 dinner at Cobblestone Farm. The 38-year-old land conservation group unveiled their new name, Legacy Land Conservancy, which reflects their expanded territory. While still based in Ann Arbor, the Legacy Land Conservancy now protects lands in Jackson County as well as Washtenaw.

Arbor Brewing Company donated three mixed cases of their brasserie blonde and red snapper amber ales. Sandhill Cranes Vineyards wine was served, including a new chardonnay-vignoles blend bottled for the Legacy Land Conservancy. Zingerman’s Roadhouse and Zingerman’s Deli provided appetizers like whitefish salad on pumpernickel with buckwheat sprouts, blueberry chutney and Great Lakes Cheshire cheese on brewhouse bread, and a surprise hit—deviled eggs from Harnois Farm topped with country ham.

A Knife’s Work chefs Jay Haamen and Brendan McCall donated their labor, and almost miraculously, given the tiny kitchen at Cobblestone Barn, cooked up a splendid buffet for 160 people. The menu started with a shaved beet, goat cheese, and spinach salad, followed by root vegetable pot pie in roasted onion and red pepper broth, garlic and bay braised chicken, coriander-scented red rose potatoes (from Tantre Farms), and another unexpected hit—white beans and cabbage. Bakers Jeff Renner, whose bread is sold at Fresh Seasons Market and the Village Corner, and Miyoko Honma, owner of Café Japon, donated baguettes. The evening ended with Zingerman’s Bakery desserts—apple pie made with local apples and classic Zingerman’s brownies—along with Roos Roast coffee.

Legacy Land Conservancy communications director Suzie Heiney (shown here with Mark Patrick unveiling the new banner) stressed  that it was important for the group to celebrate with local foods, since a big part of their focus is on preserving farm land. The sold-out event raised $19,000.