Birmingham Bites

Food and Fun on a Thursday Evening

(View photos on Facebook.)

Birmingham Bites is a food fair at Adams Square every Thursday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. during the summer.  It was started by entrepreneur Gary Andrus as a way to bring our community together.

 

I interviewed and photographed many of the vendors.  You’ll see their descriptions below.  There are treats for everyone in the family, and I hope you’ll come next week and discover them for yourself.

 

Rob Harper, editor of Edible Wow magazine, explained why Birmingham Bites is important.  “This event provides people with a source of locally produced food that is healthy and delicious.  We need to support our farmers, many of whom work very long hours and make a tremendous effort to bring their products to us.”

 

What will you find at Birmingham Bites?  Read on...

 

NED’S TRAVELBURGER

The distinctive silver trailer offers burgers of all types – beef, pork, turkey – plus a BLT made with state champion bacon.  Their hamburger buns are baked daily at Holiday Market in Royal Oak, and all their vegetables are provided by Bird Creek Farm in Port Austin, Michigan.  Beth Steigerwald and Leslie Patron are the co-owners.  “Come see us for the best bite in every bite!”

 

GARY CAMPBELL ENTERPRISE

He can sharpen your knives, scissors, and garden tools.  You can also find him at the Birmingham Farmers Market on Sundays.

 

PURE BLEND GRANOLA

Made with all natural ingredients, Pure Blend is low in sugar and gluten free.  It tastes great.  A dietician on staff makes sure that this product is “Not just good, good for you!”

 

IMERMAN CAKE COMPANY

This is run by a mother and son team who want to provide a tasty treat that is lower in sugar, fat, and calories than many cakes out there.  Their organic coffee cakes come in two flavors: cinnamon and chocolate chip.  Part of the proceeds are donated to Imerman Angels to help fight cancer.  “We’re very happy to be here and make Birmingham Thursday evenings a little more festive.”

 

SLOW JAMS

These delicious jams are made locally with Michigan produce and Michigan sugar.  Flavors include rhubarb ginger, cranberry red onion, blueberry lavender, strawberry balsamic, and sweet pepper.

 

BURDA’S BERRIES

There’s nothing better than fresh, delicious berries grown right here in Michigan: blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries all bursting with flavor.

 

CROSSROADS CREAMERY

This company offers a variety of handmade fresh goat cheese products.  Try their basil & garlic, fig & honey, Green Goatess, Sunny, Détroit, and Rosemary’s Pepper.  They’ve been in business for five years.

 

GREAT HARVEST BREAD COMPANY

You probably know them from their store at Lincoln and Adams.  Owner Tina Yancy is one of the founders of Birmingham Bites.  Their baked goods are handcrafted daily using only the freshest ingredients, fresh-milled flour, and no preservatives.  They offer a wide variety of breads and sweets.

 

EAST RIVER ORGANIC FARM

Located in Snover, in Michigan’s thumb, the farm has certified organic grass-fed beef, free-range chickens, turkeys, eggs, and produce.  What’s the best thing about them?  “We are local, fresh, and organic.”

 

GO FOREVER

These sustaining energy bars are made with nuts, seeds, and fruit.  They come in dark chocolate, cranberry lemon, and currant cinnamon.  Go Forever bars contain omega-3 and nine essential amino acids.  The five seeds are flax, sunflower, chia, sesame, and pumpkin.  The three nuts are almonds, walnuts, and coconuts.  The bars also have oats, dates, glucose and sea salt.

 

TRACINA’S GOURMET SPECIALTIES

Italian food with very little additives or preservatives, Tracina’s gnocchi are delicious dumplings in flavors including ricotta cheese, spinach, and mushroom.  They also sell eggplant parmesan and lasagna slices.

 

BLAKE’S CIDER MILL

Perhaps your family has visited Blake’s during the fall for cider and doughnuts.  This farm in Armada, Michigan, also has a wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetables – all organic and grown locally.

 

CALDER DAIRY & FARM

This family-owned local dairy farm offers everything from bread to ice cream.  It has grass-fed, free-range cows and many organic products including eggs, apple cider, chip dip, and delicious fudge.  “We do it all very well.”

 

RAW FOODIE COMPANY

What do they offer?  Nutritional, wholesome, dehydrated superfoods.  These include leafy kale chips, sprouted seeds, raw granola mixes, nut brittle, and raw bars.

 

GREAT LAKE GROCER

Their goal is to bring back the grocery experience as it used to be, where the products are special and people know you by name.  They want to bring big city foods to Birmingham and the metro Detroit area.  You’ll find galettes (hand pies), homemade cookies, cake truffles, local and regional meats.

 

MYSTIC KETTLE

This spectacular kettle corn is made with all natural, Michigan-grown, non-GMO corn.  It is allergy-friendly and a great snack.

 

TREAT DREAMS

Everyone will love this homemade ice cream, made in their store at 9 Mile and Woodward in Ferndale.  “Who needs 31 flavors when you have salted caramel?”

 

FOREST GRILL

Located at 735 Forest Avenue in Birmingham, the restaurant uses French techniques with local ingredients to create a wide array of flavors.  Lunch is served Tuesday through Friday, and dinner is served Tuesday through Saturday.  Happy Hour is 4:30 to 6:30.  The Forest Grill will host an “After Farmers Market” cocktail party, open to the public at 8:00 p.m. on August 18th.

 

GREEN ZEBRA

This bright green food truck is a popular favorite.  It serves refreshing salads, wholesome sandwiches, and their signature freshly fried chips.  Their motto is “New American Street Food.”  It’s worth getting there early!

 

DJ

Music for Birmingham Bites is provided by Jamey, “The Portable DJ” from Port Huron.  His selections kept the crowd happy and moving.

 

So what’s the final word?

 

Birmingham Bites is a great place to grab something to eat on a Thursday evening.  Come sample the best foods our area has to offer.  As one mom said, “It’s a nice time for the kids, with a tasty variety of treats.”

 

This article and the accompanying pictures were by Birmingham photographer Ed Morykwas.  You can contact him by e-mail:  ed@riveroftime.net