12-28-2017 Local vegan fare to delight the senses opens in Arclight Brewery Water & Wheat Caf

Local vegan fare to delight the senses opens in Arclight Brewery

Water & Wheat Cafe & Bakery

By Nancy Albright

A resident looking for vegan and vegetarian options in the Tri-City area, Water & Wheat Café & Bakery in Watervliet is the place to be.

Chef Josh Musinski has combined his vegan lifestyle with his passion for cooking and gardening to create a unique menu offering both vegan and vegetarian specialties that don’t necessarily taste like food made only with fruits and vegetables.

Natives of Chicago, Musinski and his wife Kerry Hagy, Assistant Director of the South Haven Center for the Arts, have partnered with Arclight Brewery at 544 N. Main in Watervliet to offset the brewery with a food option, and by incorporating Arclight’s unique beers into his sweet and savory masterpieces.

“My homemade biscuits with vegetarian sausage gravy would fool any trucker. I once traveled around the country eating biscuits and gravy and I have a very high standard,” commented Musinski.

Chef Musinski has developed his own technique to create rich, meaty flavors using no meat. He blends fresh local produce with salt and organic sugars he smokes himself with woods like cherry or apple; adds spices like dried, fresh herbs grown on his land; and cures the mixture in organic oils to make sausage.

“I prepare food that I know people enjoy. Who doesn’t like sausage? Making vegetarian sausage is the same as making sausage with meat. I take raw ingredients and process them into a presentable format, adding other ingredients along the way to create something that stimulates and satiates the senses like meat does.”

The jackfruit dumplings satisfy like barbeque pork, and the split pea soup has the essence of a ham hock. The empanadas are filled with various combinations of ingredients like pineapple, chipotle peppers, potatoes, nuts, raisins, spinach, tofu, soy proteins, beer and smoked butternut squash to name a few. “I find that smoking spices and other raw ingredients creates richer flavors,” says Musinski.

He also incorporates Arclight beers into pastry dough he uses to bake both sweets and savories. “Beers make doughs better. The yeast in the beer activates the dough and helps infuse the flavor into the mixture.”

W&W’s signature pastry, the Swazy Glazy Do-nuffin, resembles a doughnut but is baked rather than deep-fried. “Arclight’s Swazy Crazy has the essence of coffee and caramel, so I mixed it with espresso to create the dough and glaze. The glazes first satisfy the sense of smell, and the pastry pleases the palette to create a rounded food experience,” explains Musinski.

The couple moved from Chicago to Watervliet because they wanted to grow their own food and further explore the vegan diet. They scouted the U.S., and found that by far this part of Southwest Michigan is the most fruitful. “I believe that what you’re growing expresses the land and the soil it’s grown in. I like pairing Watervliet beers with area produce.” In-season ingredients are locally sourced and Musinski works with whatever he has: He once made gourmet chocolate using locally-brewed hard cider.

Chef Musinski has sought out different forms of training to improve his knowledge of vegan food. The Pierce Cedar Creek Institute for Environmental Education in Hastings Michigan, Kismet Farm Bakery in Douglas, and Full Circle Café and Espresso Bar in Stevensville are just a few of his former training grounds.

“In addition to learning new techniques to incorporate into my own cooking, I learned about how these types of business operate. The systems and processes are different for a bakery than those of a traditional restaurant. Not only is the business aspect as important as the product you serve, but gathering knowledge about local areas and the natural environment to determine what customers might like is critical to success. Business has been good since our Black Friday opening in November and we feel we’re already proving that this area welcomes a vegan bakery. The research has paid off,” declares the Water & Wheat chef.

The selection is eclectic and the prices will make wallets smile. Items are baked daily and the menu changes up weekly so customers should keep in mind that the empanada ordered last week may be stuffed with a different tasty combination the next time it is purchased.

Whether customers choose a Ferro Grain Bowl, breakfast tacos with mango salsa, roasted veggie pizza on homemade focaccia, or pair a steaming mocha with the Frangipane Pear Sweet Tart, they are in for a taste sensation. Take an Italian Cookie Box or holiday assortment to go, and Water & Wheat will even deliver pasties on Christmas morning for those who don’t want to cook. Call (269) 468-9088, Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. to order.

Barista Hannah Beamer said, “We’ve had customers come out from South Haven, Sister Lakes, Kalamazoo and many other area towns. People wonder how things taste so good without eggs, milk, meat and other animal products, and Josh is always happy to answer questions about the ingredients he uses. All our reviews have been positive and customers leave with new knowledge and appreciation for vegan food, whether they eat vegan or not.” Kerry added, “If you like vegan food you don’t have to eat vegan all the time. It tastes wonderful and it’s healthy.”

Regular customer Jill Wolowitz said of Water & Wheat, “I’ve never had baked goods that tasted like this. Josh develops his own techniques to make food you would never know is vegan.” And Arclight co-owner Dave Coyle said, “People around here already know there’s a pop-up in the brewery. And the food, I love it!”

Water & Wheat has done pop-ups in Kalamazoo, farmer’s table dinners in Hastings, and donated eats to the area NPR pledge drive. They’ve catered several events at the South Haven Center for the Arts, as well as other area events.

And everyone looking for fun this Valentine’s Day plan on the Valentine’s Day Ball at Oddfellows Hall in Bangor, which will benefit the Al-Van Humane Society. Water & Wheat is partnering with Bangor’s Railroad Café for the event and plans to provide shuttles to nearby lodgings.

Check out Water & Wheat on Facebook and Instagram for event details as the time draws near, and keep an eye out for information on the Fat Tuesday New Orleans Smorgasbord planned for May.

Lutheran Preschool held a food drive for the North Berrien Food Pantry during November and December.  Pictured are the children from the 4-year-old class with Pastor Alex Hoffmeyer and all the food that was collected.  They are very excited to help during the holidays.  Job well done!!

CHRISTMAS BASKETS OF BLESSINGS were handed out to families in need, in the Coloma, Watervliet area on Dec. 21, 2017 by H.O.P.E. Resources (formally North Berrien Food Pantry).  A special thanks to Thrivent Financial, Martin’s Super Market and Coloma Lionesses for financial assistance and Colombian Club of Watervliet for hosting the venue to pass out the blessings. The baskets, 25 in all, were filled with everything that is needed for a traditional Christmas dinner with choice of ham or turkey.

 Members of H.O.P.E. Resources are pictured (from the left) Back row: William (Bill) Ott (Treasurer), Pam Quinn (Chair), Sandy Pritchett, Johnny Martin; Middle row: Susan Cheek (Secretary), Kathy Jackson; Front row: Pastor Dani Veenstra, Carole Sternaman (Site Manager).

Hometown Holiday Happenings… 

Sarett offers winter break outdoors

 Sarett Nature Center, located at 2300 Benton Center Road, is offering a chance for families to get outdoors during the holidays. On December 28, 29, or January 2, stop by the center and participate in their Selfie Challenge scavenger hunt.

Each participant will need to photograph themselves in five mystery spots at the nature center that are posted on Sarett’s Facebook page. Show the selfies to a naturalist and win a prize! Fee to participate is $3/adult, free for children.

If there is snow on the ground, participants can snowshoe to the sites. Otherwise, just wear sneakers or hiking boots. Families are encouraged to attend.

The site also offers trail maps for anyone interested in walking the grounds. See marshes, ponds, the Paw Paw River, and other sights and sounds along the trails.

Contact Sarett for additional information by phoning (269) 927-4832.

New Years Mass schedule at St. Joseph Catholic Church

 Saturday and Sunday Dec. 30 & 31, 2017 – regular schedule: Saturday 5 p.m., Sunday 8:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.

Monday, January 1, 2018 Solemnity of Mary 12:00 p.m. noon Mass.

Welcome in the New Year at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 157 Lucinda Lane in Watervliet.

Watervliet Free Methodist Church New Year’s schedule

 Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, 9:30 a.m. Sunday School for all ages and 10:30 a.m. Worship Service.

The public is invited to all services. Watervliet Free Methodist Church is located at 7734 Paw Paw Ave. in Watervliet. Call 269-463-8280 for more information.

Senior Services

Hartford United Methodist Church

 Senior Services of Van Buren County has announced all activity centers are closed December 30, 2017.

North Berrien Historical Museum children’s winter program “Snow Birds”

 On Saturday, Dec. 30 from 1:00-2:30 p.m., the North Berrien Historical Museum, 300 Coloma Ave. in Coloma will host a free kid’s program about snow birds.

Flock on over to the North Berrien Historical Museum during mid-winter break for a fun afternoon about birds! Learn all about the birds that live in Michigan and what they do for the winter from a Sarett naturalist, meet Cookie the barred owl, and make a pinecone bird feeder to put out for the birds in your backyard.

This free program is designed for children ages 6-12 and their families. For questions, contact the museum at (269) 468-3330 or by email to kristen@northberrienhistory.org.

Run, Frosty, Run scheduled for Jan. 6

 The Southwest Michigan RACERS (Red Arrow Club for Endurance, Running and walking Sports) is holding the annual Run, Frosty, Run 5K & 10K events with proceeds benefiting the Watervliet Athletic Boosters.

Whatever the weather, on Saturday, January 6, 2018 there is a 5K walk, 5K run, and 10K run. Register online at runfrostyrun.com.

The race will start and end at North Elementary School, located at 287 Baldwin, Watervliet, Michigan.

Participants can also register the day of the event at 8:30 a.m. The runs and walk begin at 10:00 a.m. with awards at 11:15 a.m.

The event is a “predict your time” race. Prior to setting off on the course, each racer must predict how long it will take them to complete the run or walk.

No timing devices – including watches or phones – are allowed. The three competitors in each of the three events who finished the race closest to their prediction will win!

Chili, cookies, coffee, and hot cocoa will await all participants at the finish line.

The Watervliet Athletic Boosters uses the proceeds from the runs to provide equipment, training aids, funding assistance, and other needs to the sports programs at Watervliet schools