40 Below, Upper Edge Delta County, and Keweenaw Young Professionals @ Straight Line Archery and The Marquette Commons on November 12, 2016
On November 12, Young Professionals group members from across the Upper Peninsula met in Marquette for a fun day of archery and delicious wild game. Free archery lessons were provided by Straight Line Archery in Ishpeming and were a huge hit. Participants then met at the Marquette Commons for wild game and fish dishes prepared by Chef Justin Fairbanks from Steinhaus in Marquette. Venison sauerbraten with spatzle, elk tartare, and butter poached walleye were served alongside local Michigan wines and Ore Dock Brewing Company beer.
Huron Pines AmeriCorps @ United Way of Otsego County on August 19, 2016
On August 19, Huron Pines AmeriCorps members took a break from their training day to enjoy wild game and fly casting courtesy of the Gourmet Gone Wild program. Program Manager, Taylor Renton, discussed the program along with life after AmeriCorps while members enjoyed venison rib meat sliders, curried pheasant croissants, and Mediterranean squirrel rice. Fly casting was taught by the Mason-Griffith Founders Chapter of Trout Unlimited.
MSU CANR Graduate Student Organizations @ the Demmer Center on April 13, 2016
On April 13, the Michigan State University College of Natural Resources Graduate Student Organization gathered at the Demmer Center for an evening of archery and great food. Chef Dan Nelson demonstrated his recipe for steelhead chowder, one of the dishes served that evening. Curried squirrel rice and venison rib meat sliders completed the meal.
40 Below and Upper Edge Delta County Young Professionals @ DNR Pocket Park Escanaba and Upper Hand Brewery on November 7, 2015
On November 7, 40 Below Young Professionals and Upper Edge Delta County Young Professionals came together for an all-day Gourmet Gone Wild event. The day began with pellet gun shooting, fly-casting, and archery instruction at the Department of Natural Resources “Pocket Park” in Escanaba. Afterwards the groups gathered at Upper Hand Brewery, which was not even open to the public yet. Chef Justin Fairbanks from Steinhaus Market in Marquette served smoked trout deviled eggs, venison sausage, venison backstrap terrine with brandied cherries, venison meatballs “German style”, in addition to fresh pretzels and house-made mustard.
Detroit Young Professionals @ Milliken State Park August 19, 2015
On August 19, Detroit Young Professionals gathered at the William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor for some great wild game dishes, including, grilled venison loin, Great Lakes fish cakes, and curried pheasant wontons, as well as peach cobbler for dessert. Our dishes were paired with delicious wines from Chateau Grand Traverse. Guests also enjoyed fishing lessons, provided by Metro-West Steelheaders.
Huron Pines AmeriCorps @ Huron Pines August 14, 2015
On August 14, Huron Pines AmeriCorps members gathered at the Huron Pines office in Gaylord, MI, for lunch and fly casting lesson. The delicious lunch of wild game dishes included walleye po’ boy sandwiches, venison taco salad, and curried pheasant wontons, as well as white chocolate cranberry cookies for desert. Fly casting lessons were provided by Trout Unlimited members from Grayling, MI.
Glassen Scholars @ Demmer Center August 12, 2015
On August 12, the Glassen Scholars enjoyed various activities and wild game dishes at the Demmer Center in East Lansing, MI, hosted and provided by Gourmet Gone Wild. The students were given instruction with firearms, archery, and fly casting, while having the opportunity to their hand at each. The wild game dishes included were walleye po’ boy sandwiches, venison taco salad, and curried pheasant wontons, as well as white chocolate cranberry cookies for desert.
Covenant House Michigan @ Firebird Tavern June 25, 2015
On June 25, young professionals from the Metro‐Detroit area joined Gourmet Gone Wild and Covenant House Michigan for an underground dining experience at the Firebird Tavern in Detroit. Gourmet Gone Wild provided Great Lakes fish cakes, honeycrisp wild turkey and goat cheese canapé, venison pasties, bourbon venison kabobs, as well as sumac panna cotta for dessert. In addition, soup and salad was provided by Mudgie’s Deli. For the beverage pairings, Fieldstone Winery provided the recommended wine pairings for the wild game dishes and dessert, and Brew Detroit provided the beer pairings for the wild game dishes. Guests also enjoyed a demonstration from Chef Dan, Detroit area art, live music, and an introduction to Covenant House Michigan’s work with homeless youth.
Women’s Night with Pistol Shooting Basics @ Kent County Conservation League April 23, 2015
On April 23, a group of 28 women joined Gourmet Gone Wild at the Kent County Conservation League to enjoy honey apple and goat cheese canapé, Great Lakes chowder, venison pasties, and as well as cherry and white chocolate cookies. Participants also had the opportunity to learn how to shoot various handguns on the range.
MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Graduate Students @ Natural Resources Building April 8, 2015
On April 8, MSU CANR’s grad student organization gathered in the Polar Bear Room of MSU’s Natural Resources Building. They enjoyed venison rib sandwiches, wild turkey salad with wild ramps and fiddleheads, coleslaw, russet potato chips, fruit salad, and MSU-themed sugar cookies. Chef Dan provided a demonstration on harvesting wild ramps and fiddleheads.
MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and College of Arts and Letters @ HopCat Detroit March 22, 2015
On March 22, MSU CANR and CAL alumni gathered at the newly opened HopCat Detroit. Guests enjoyed bourbon elk kabobs, curried pheasant wontons, great lakes cakes, a wild game sausage and cheese tray, and mint brownies for dessert. All of which were paired with different local Michigan beers. It was a great event to network and learn a bit about eating local, along with a great demonstration by Chef Dan on how to process a pheasant.
MUCC On-the-Ground @ Gratiot-Saginaw State Game Area March 7, 2015
On March 7, MUCC On-the-Ground (OTG) volunteers spent the morning creating rabbit habitat for the Gratiot-Saginaw State Game Area. After constructing several new rabbit shelters, volunteers enjoyed rabbit sliders, coleslaw, and Michigan-made potato chips. The volunteers, many of whom are members of Midland High School’s Conservation Club, learned the importance of hunting to the conservation of different species.
Natural Resource Commission and Michigan Travel Commission @ the Michigan Historic Center January 14, 2015
On January 14, the Natural Resource and Michigan Travel Commissions took a step back in time to enjoy a wild game reception at the Michigan Historical Museum. The setting was perfect for a GGW event as guests socialized amidst paleolithic artifacts and displays of Michigan flora and fauna. Attendees sampled bourbon venison kabobs, cherry smoked goose and brie, and roasted duck wings paired with some of Michigan’s finest beers and wines. A special thanks to the museum and staff who made the event a success.
AGC of Michigan @ The Outdoor Adventure Center on October 21, 2014
With the help of DNR Adventure Center Staff, event participants had the opportunity to try their hand at archery before sampling Michigan beers and wines paired with Bear Stuffed Mushrooms, Lemon Walleye, and Bourbon Duck Satay appetizers. Many of the participants were hunting and fishing mentors, which gave them the opportunity to learn techniques for introducing others to hunting and fishing.
Muskegon Green Drinks @ Muskegon Yacht Club on October 13, 2014
On October 13, event participants enjoyed gourmet wild fish and game dishes paired with some of Michigan’s best beer and wine selections. Afterwards, guests were invited to learn how to fly fish.
Marquette Harvest Festival October 11, 2014
GGW sponsored a booth at the Marquette Harvest Festival on Oct. 11. The GGW team spoke to well over 300 people about the GGW Program and the benefits associated with hunting, fishing and conservation.
40 Below Marquette County YP @ The Marquette Commons October 10, 2014
On October 10th, the Marquette County Young Professionals gathered at the Marquette Commons to sample wild game recipes and watch a cooking demonstration by Chef Dan. Local Michigan beers and wines were paired with Curried Squirrel in Root Vegetable Soup, Roasted Venison Heart with Wild Mustard Cream Sauce, and Bear Stuffed Mushrooms. The following day, attendees learned to cast a fly rod at the Marquette Harvest Festival and more wild game cuisine was sampled.