A DeathbedFood Retrospective
I spent a year in Michigan in the late 90s. While in Metro Detroit, I discovered that Michigan had quite a food scene – certainly enough to keep me in trouble. Today, on July 4th, I thought a DeathbedFood Retrospective on my favorite treats from Michigan might be fun.
I discovered one of my DeathbedFood desserts in Michigan – Frozen Custard!
Frozen Custard & Me in 1998.
I had arrived at the most beautiful time of year – the Fall. One of my first new friends immediately introduced me to Frozen Custard. I was instantly in love. WHY do we not have this in California? As far as I know, Michigan and a few other states in the Midwest and East have it. In Michigan, it’s generally sold at stands on the side of the road.
To me, Frozen Custard is the Chanel Haute Couture of “frozen yogurt” – it looks like frozen yogurt but has the silky, delicate texture of something much more refined. Of course, I’m biased as I think custard is one of the most underrated desserts out there. (Dear Restaurant Owners: Please add more custard desserts to your menus. I would most sincerely appreciate it! Thank you, Diane)
All was well for a few months until my friend called:
- My friend: “You better get your fill of it“
- Me: “Why?“
- My friend: “Because they’ll be closing soon“
- Me: “What?“
- My friend: “They close every year for the Winter beginning in late October“
- Me: “What?!!“
- My friend: “They’re not well insulated so they close“
- Me: “OK – for how long?” (thinking a few months)
- My friend, dropping the bomb: “They usually open in late April or May“
Panic set in … in California, of course, nothing “closes for the winter.” Now I’m being told that my new favorite thing about Michigan will be gone … for 6 months??
So how did I make it through the Winter? Well, luckily, I found what would become my DeathbedFood caramel sauce – Sanders. Sanders over homemade brownies and vanilla ice cream is dreamy … or even out of the jar is (unfortunately for the waistline) yummy too.
To this day, Sanders is still my fav. I’ve ordered vats of it online and have become a caramel snob. No other caramel will do now.
So, for all you Michiganders out there, enjoy your Frozen Custard this Summer. And for all of you – check out Sanders caramel (www.sanderscandy.com) – I promise it won’t disappoint!