Tag: Events
How a lost pup united a community of givers at Zingerman’s SafeHouse fundraiser
When we lose a loved one, we grieve not only the loss of their presence but a loss of meaning and identity. We may wonder who we are without them. What matters most might not be as clear as it was before. As we search for answers, we can lean on the communities we belong to and find new ways to make meaning — and even joy — within them.
Jelly Bean Jump Up, Zingerman’s annual charity fundraiser, grew out of this quest. In addition to honoring the beloved canine companion of Zingerman’s co-founder Ari Weinzweig, this event supports Ann Arbor’s SafeHouse Center, which protects and empowers survivors of sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. The 10th rendition of the campaign, which raised more than $21,000, included a March 25 dinner at Zingerman’s Roadhouse, donation drives, sales of pet-themed calendars and corgi cookies, and more.
Dinner attendees enjoyed a family-style meal designed by renowned chef and award-winning cookbook author Molly Stevens and cooked by Roadhouse chef Bob Bennett. Many took part in a silent auction featuring donated goodies such as a CSA share from Tantré Farm, line-caught fish from Shoreline Wild Salmon, and a pizza kit from Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Meats. Everyone celebrated the power of friendship and community by breaking bread – or biscuits, in this case – with new acquaintances.
Breaking bread, building community
Ari introduced Jelly Bean Jump Up by reminiscing about the event’s namesake, a sweet and curious corgi who was a minor celebrity on Ann Arbor’s Clark Road. That’s where she and Ari would often go for a jog, passing SafeHouse on their route. Over the years, the perspicacious pup earned nicknames such as Jelly Bean the Jogger Dog and Zinger-man’s Best Friend. Ari organized the first Jelly Bean Jump Up in 2016, a few months after she passed away.
Ari also highlighted his friendship with Molly, which began at an American Cheese Society in the late 1980s. Over the years, she has appeared at five Roadhouse dinners and Camp Bacon, a bacon-themed festival with special classes, speakers, meals, and more.
“Molly is a great cook and a great cookbook writer, which are different things. But I don’t think of her for her cookbooks, like a lot of people do. I think of her as my friend,” Ari said.
Molly’s cookbooks include All About Braising, All About Roasting, and All About Dinner. She also hosts the Everything Cookbooks podcast with Andrea Nguyen, Kate Leahy, and Kristin Donnelly.
The menu Molly devised reflected several special moments from her life as a chef. For instance, a vegetable course dubbed a “mess of bitter greens” was a nod to Zingerman’s other co-founder, Paul Saginaw, who she cooked with during a trip to Greece.
“I would relive that trip if I could, especially the experience of cooking with other people. I find the idea of this dish so comforting,” Molly said.
The menu also featured several dishes that incorporated cultured butter from one of the event’s sponsors, Vermont Creamery. These included butter-poached shrimp with tomatoes and garlic, butter pecan gelato topped with brown butter hazelnut shortbread, and a warm dip made with artisanal olive oil, garlic, and Fishwife anchovies. The centerpiece of the meal was braciole, a pasture-raised flank steak stuffed with SarVecchio parmesan, Newsom’s country ham, pinenuts, and raisins, all of which were braised in a savory tomato sauce.
During the meal, Molly shared some of her family’s Thanksgiving traditions and quirks with her tablemates, who shared details about their own holiday meals in return. Micki Maynard, a food writer at the table, said she was excited to see Molly Stevens’ name attached to this year’s Jelly Bean Jump Up.
“I’m a huge fan of Molly Stevens. I have come to her special dinners in the past, and Molly was super helpful to me when I was writing Satisfaction Guaranteed, my book about Zingerman’s,” Micki explained, adding that the dinner’s menu was “delicious from top to bottom.”
Micki also noted the positive energy the event’s crowd brought to the Roadhouse.
“It’s a treat to see everybody come here because they’re so fired up for SafeHouse and so generous. There are such interesting people to talk to, and there’s a real feeling of community,” she said.
Showing up for vulnerable neighbors
Christine Watson, SafeHouse’s executive director, gave a short speech during the dinner. In addition to acknowledging the generosity of Zingerman’s and several community partners — Plum Market, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Dollar Bill Printing, Old National Bank, and Probility Physical Therapy — she thanked the audience for showing up for abuse survivors.
“You remind me we have a community around us who genuinely care. SafeHouse exists because of people like you,” she said. “There need to be places for survivors of abuse and assault to tell their stories, because we don’t always get to hear them. You help make that happen.”
In the United States, families and communities lose more than 1,300 of these survivors to violence each year. Pets also get caught in the cycle of abuse. Sometimes people stay in dangerous living situations because they can’t find shelter for an animal companion. In addition to increasing survivors’ access to counseling, legal advocacy, and temporary shelter, Jelly Bean Jump Up has helped SafeHouse expand its capacity to house pets fleeing violence.
Jelly Bean Jump Up reflects the hard work of Melaina Bukowski, Zingerman’s community giving coordinator. She’s proud that this event has benefited SafeHouse for a decade, becoming one of the center’s main sources of financial support.
“Our pets give us a sense of security and safety, and SafeHouse serves this need to feel safe in such a deep and fundamental way,” she said. “It’s such a crucial space within our community, and the people there do lifesaving work advocating for so many people.”
This relationship with SafeHouse inspired Melaina to create Nonprofit Spotlight, a blog that introduces readers to charitable organizations the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses supports. So far, more than 50 groups have been highlighted.
Jelly Bean Jump Up continues to be one of Melaina’s favorite events because it shows how pain can spark generosity and transform lives.
“It’s a remarkable thing to take the grief of loss and turn it into a big, loving act to take care of other people,” she says. “I’m always honored to be a part of it.”
Tag: Events
Let Zingerman’s Do the Work, a Flavorful Fête Awaits
Hoping to host a holiday gathering? Thinking about a tailgate? Wondering about a wedding? Contemplating a corporate event? Talking about team building? Planning a picnic? Brainstorming a blowout birthday?
Whatever you’re celebrating, we’re ready to help you plan a memorable private event! From showers to graduation parties, bar and bat mitzvahs to business functions, retirement celebrations to reunions, anniversaries to laid-back get-togethers with friends, and everything in between. Whatever the special occasion, whatever the size of your group, we have you covered.
Gather up your group and get ready for an experience full of good fun, great flavor, and stellar service with Zingerman’s.
Zingerman’s Deli & Catering
Paul Saginaw and Ari Weinzweig opened the Deli in March of 1982, in a historic building near the Ann Arbor Farmers Market. The Deli got its start with a small selection of great-tasting specialty foods, a host of traditional Jewish dishes, and a relatively short sandwich menu. Today, Zingerman’s is an Ann Arbor institution. It’s a source of great food and great experiences for thousands of visitors every year. Managing partners Grace Singleton, Rick Strutz, Rodger Bowser, and the whole Deli crew serve up thousands of made-to-order sandwiches. The Deli also stocks an exceptional array of farmhouse cheeses, estate-bottled olive oils, varietal vinegars, smoked fish, salami, coffee, tea, and much, much more.
From its inception, Zingerman’s has been committed to delivering the most flavorful, traditionally made foods to its customers, presented in an entertaining, educational, and service-oriented setting. The Deli has consistently worked to improve the quality of its food, find more authentic ingredients, and improve techniques in an ongoing effort to offer up ever-more flavorful food. They’ve always believed that their customers can tell the difference between mediocre and marvelous.
Zingerman’s Catering and Events puts together the simply sensational for both small parties and large events, serving everything from corned beef to caviar, charcuterie to champagne, party platters to wedding cakes from Zingerman’s Bakehouse. Their event planners will help you work out every detail, whether you’re putting together an intimate gathering or a party for thousands. In addition to the dozens of off-site events they plan every year, Zingerman’s Catering hosts full-flavored festivities at their new location, the Greyline, in the historic bus depot space on Ashley St at the intersection of Huron St.
Ready to talk to Zingerman’s Catering and Events about an event at one of their venues or one of yours? Call 734.230.2300 or email [email protected].
The Deli can also work with you to create a unique tasting experience with Zingerman’s experts—you pretty much have your pick from anything they sell or make! Take a deep dive into the history and variety of one single topic, like cheese, chocolate, olive oil, or tea. Or learn about some of their favorite pairings (think chocolate and tea or olive oil and pasta) and explore what works well together and why.
Ready to schedule a private tasting event or cooking demo with the Deli? Please fill out their inquiry form.
We had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed the food, beverages, venue, and most importantly, the staff. Thank you for working with us on the vegan menu and for your professionalism throughout the entire process. You and the rest of the staff were all wonderful and we received nothing but positive feedback about Greyline. I’m glad we were able to showcase Zingerman’s vegan options and will definitely recommend the venue for future events. —Noelle G.
BAKE!
Zingerman’s Bakehouse brings traditionally baked breads, pastries, and cakes to food lovers in Ann Arbor and across southern and central Michigan (and across America through partner business Zingerman’s Mail Order!). Run by managing partners Amy Emberling (an original Bakehouse staffer) and Jaison Restrick, the Bakehouse also has a teaching kitchen (BAKE!) for home bakers of all different skill levels.
BAKE! has an extensive list of recipes and courses and offers dozens of different bread, pastry, cooking, and cake classes year-round. Private classes can be chosen from their extensive list of class offerings or customized by mixing and matching your favorite elements of different classes. Whatever you select for your group will be action-filled, fun, and informative; classes are jam-packed with techniques, recipes, and inspiration to make again at home and are available both in-person and virtually. For in-person events, they’ll provide the apron, the ingredients, and the instructions—and do all the measuring and clean up! Virtual events can happen anywhere you have internet and a kitchen! bring your group together in our kitchens or from the comfort of your own home.
Ready to set up your private BAKE! class? Fill out a class request form now.
So cool and so interesting! The cooking classes are so fun to do with friends. Highly recommend for a great time and laughs! —Hockey Mom 7
Miss Kim
Miss Kim is helmed by managing partner and award-winning chef Ji Hye Kim. (She’s a three-time James Beard Award semifinalist, for Outstanding Chef in 2022 and Best Chef in the Great Lakes region in 2020 and 2023!) Her restaurant is set in Ann Arbor’s historic Kerrytown district, off of a cobblestone courtyard. Interior brick walls, rich wood tables, and sleek metal chairs provide a modern and neutral backdrop for your event. You’ll enjoy delicious dishes in a charming locale.
Miss Kim serves fresh, modern interpretations of traditional Korean dishes. They rotate seasonally and are made from scratch from local ingredients whenever possible. It just so happens that traditional Korean cuisine, more often than not, is already free of common allergens. Food allergies and dietary restrictions are met with respect and happily accommodated.
Ready to start planning your private party at Miss Kim? Email [email protected].
Thank you so much for getting us all prepped and ready and getting us kicked off at Miss Kim tonight. It was a great venue, great food, great staff, and just an overall well-done event. Our people loved it all, and didn’t want to leave! — David L.
Cornman Farms
Set on an idyllic 27 acres, Zingerman’s Cornman Farms is a historic, multi-award-winning event space, wedding venue, and working farm. With sprawling fields, lush gardens, and historical buildings restored from their 1834 foundations, managing partners Kieron Hales and Tabitha Mason offer a warm and inspiring atmosphere for meetings and celebrations of all kinds. Host your event here and feel like you’re a world away (even though you’ve barely left Ann Arbor).
In addition to providing a beautiful background for all sorts of events, Cornman Farms also offers unique farmstead experiences. With the Farmhand Program, your group will enjoy an educational tour and farm-fresh snacks, while gaining a new appreciation for farm-to-table food. With Cook for a Cause, your group will make nutritious farm-fresh meals in a hands-on experience with Chef Kieron that will be delivered to local families in need.
Ready to start planning your private event at Cornman Farms? Fill out this inquiry form, call 734.619.8100, or email [email protected].
Everything was wonderful! Cook for a Cause was a wonderful client appreciation event for our firm. It’s a wonderful event that is fun and also gives back to a great cause in our community. Everyone walked out of the event feeling inspired, grateful, and of course, FULL! 🙂 The Cornman Farms team was easy to communicate with and went above and beyond to serve our guests! Chef Kieron’s passion for the property was so contagious. Our clients raved about his tour and his storytelling. Thank you to Chef Kieron and Tabitha for everything. We can’t wait for our next event at Cornman Farms! —Rachael D.
Roadhouse
The Roadhouse opened in 2003 with the vision of bringing really good American food to the community by using only the best available ingredients. They’ve worked hard to create their own truly unique food culture, transforming high-quality ingredients into traditional, full-flavored dishes. And the Roadhouse crew is known for their above-and-beyond commitment to service. (They’ve earned two James Beard Award nominations for Outstanding Hospitality!)
Run by managing partner Lisa Schultz, with chef Bob Bennett at the helm of the kitchen, the Roadhouse draws in regulars from all over, whether they’re coming from right down the block or making sure to pop in during their annual visit to Ann Arbor. Guests love the good food, amazing service from staff they know and trust, and the casual and fun atmosphere. The Roadhouse Catering team is ready to help you customize your event and deliver attentive, enthusiastic service to your guests. Host your event in one of their spacious and welcoming private rooms or at your venue of choice!
Ready to start planning your private event at the Roadhouse? Fill out this inquiry form now.
You and your team are amazing…so engaging and welcoming to guests, and not to mention you all have incredible food execution. — Hannah N.
Zingerman’s Creamery
Helmed by owner Arend Elston, Zingerman’s Creamery is dedicated to creating fabulous-tasting hand-crafted cheese and gelato. They only use the highest quality milk from equally dedicated, small-scale regional farmers. Their retail store, the Cream Top Shop, is located on the southside of Ann Arbor. There you’ll find their award-winning cheeses and gelato, a selection of American farmhouse and artisanal cheeses, beer and wine, grilled sandwiches prepared to order, and more.
They offer private hands-on cheesemaking classes—have fun while learning valuable techniques and skills! Participants make mozzarella and burrata cheese in the Creamery just like their Master Cheesemakers. Afterward, you’ll enjoy a cheese-tasting party with an assortment of fresh and aged cheeses and you’ll go home with all the cheese you made to enjoy later! Dairy lovers from all over can take partake in the Creamery’s virtual private events. Each participant receives a tasting kit and a member of the Creamery’s team will guide your group through sampling.
Ready to start planning your private event with the Creamery? Please call 734.929.6450 or email the Creamery at [email protected].
Honestly, it was a really unique event that the group really enjoyed. It was fun to have a more thoughtful wine and cheese night with some unique cheeses. Sam’s positive attitude and knowledge really was the icing on the cake. The cheeses he selected were delicious and interesting and he was well-prepared to teach us about them. Also, the kits really gave everyone a chance to try a lot of food. The portion sizes were great. —Brittany B.
Zingerman’s Mail Order
The online shop for Zingerman’s food, gifts, and more, led by managing partners Mo Frechette, Toni Morell, and Tom Root. Zingerman’s Mail Order sends extraordinary, traditionally-made foods anywhere in America. They specialize in items like hearth-baked breads, handmade cheeses, varietal coffee, estate-bottled olive oils, customized professional presents, and so much more.
Mail Order offers private, custom virtual events for your crew. Enjoy an hour of tasting and learning about Zingerman’s products, like cheeses, tapas, or sweet treats. You’ll choose your foods, they’ll nestle everything in a colorful gift box and ship it to your doorstep. During the event, their expert sets the scene by sharing the history of the food and the folks making it. And then they’ll guide your group through the tasting like a flavor sherpa. By the end, everyone will be happy, knowledgeable, and full.
Ready to start planning your private event with Mail Order? Email [email protected] or call 888.636.8162 to start planning your event.
Brad is a wonderful, thoughtful, insightful, engaging, and knowledgeable host. The team was impressed by the quality and variety Zingerman’s has to offer. Looking forward to booking future events with Zingerman’s! —Kathryn F.
Whether your private event is a small gathering of friends or you’re planning for a crew of a thousand or two, we want you to feel that choosing to host with Zingerman’s was the best decision you made. To make that happen takes food that knocks your socks off and a friendly, knowledgeable staff that truly caters to you. We’ve got that covered. We look forward to making your event a special one, let’s get started!
Tag: Events
Camp Bacon, a true pork lover’s paradise and fundraiser for Southern Foodways Alliance and Washtenaw County 4-H, is almost here! And it’s going to sizzle. Some events have already sold out, but you can still grab your tickets for our Camp Bacon Food Film Fest, Main Event and Bakin’ with Bacon. We’d also have some fun FREE events lined up, too!
Here are all the details:
Camp Bacon Food Film Festival
Wednesday, May 31, 6:00pm – 9:00
The fascinating stories behind beloved Southern women food makers are captured in this collection of short documentaries. Bacon snacks, like bacon popcorn and Cuban Pork Zingers, are included with ticket. Beer, wine, bacon cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks are available for purchase.
$35/person ($10 goes to SFA) Location: Greyline, 100 N. Ashley St, Ann Arbor
Main Event
Saturday, June 3rd, 2017, 8:00am – 4:00pm
13 speakers, two meals, and so much bacon. This all-day event is packed with lots of learning, a whole lot of laughing and, of course, all the bacon you can eat! Bacon lovers from around the globe trek to the Camp Bacon® Main Event each to meet and eat and share their love for really good cured pork in a day filled with presentations by bacon producers, food experts, and a few fun surprise guests. Award-winning journalist Simran Sethi is flying in from Rome, and Cochon 555 Minneapolis winner Brian Merkel will be raffling cuts of pork! And if you missed your chance for the Bacon Ball, don’t worry! We’ll also be tasting Cochon de Lait, a traditional Cajun country pig roast.
You’ll use the power of bacon to flavor three amazing baked goods: peppered bacon farm bread, bacon cheddar scones, and sweet and salty bacon pecan sandy cookies. Our first two classes have sold out, but you can still reserve a spot for Sunday, June 4.
$125/person. Location: BAKE! 3723 Plaza Dr., Ann Arbor
The 8th Annual Bacon Ball: Cochon de Lait, A Dance with Flame
Thursday, June 1, 7:00pm – 9:30pm
The Roadhouse welcomes Clark Rachal from Avoyelles Parish in Louisiana Cajun country for a traditional pig roast that Ann Arbor has never experienced before.
$75/person. Location: Zingerman’s Roadhouse, 2501 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor
Bacon Beautiful Music
Thursday, June 1, Doors 7:30pm, Music 8:00pm – Midnight
FREE EVENT! Musicians, poets and more will take to the stage to make music and entertain all of our campers! Ann Arbor Distilling Company has graciously sponsored this event, and Club Above will have bartenders on hand to craft the best made-in-Ann Arbor drinks! Doors will open at 7:30 and music will be running from 8:00pm until midnight. All performers have connections to the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses, and donations will be accepted for Southern Foodways Alliance.
This event is free. Location: Club Above, 215 N Main St,, Ann Arbor
Fresh Taste of Detroit
Friday, June 2, 12:00pm – 9:30pm
Camp Bacon® hits the road with Zingerman’s Food Tours for a high-energy tasting jaunt through the markets, kitchens, and breweries of Detroit.
$295/person. Location: Zingerman’s Roadhouse, 2501 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor
Camp Bacon Street Fair
Sunday, June 4, 11:00am – 2:00pm
FREE EVENT! Celebrate great pork with this a three-hour, family-friendly street fair with an array of vendors selling, sampling and showcasing all things bacon.
This event is free. Location: Sunday Artisan Market in Kerrytown, 315 Detroit St, Ann Arbor. Just show up! No registration necessary.