Thursday, 1/2

I like the way it turned out. But I think it may have been better with just the written word.

First of all, Happy New Year! Hope your transition into '25 wasn't too painful, and that you're now ready to face the abyss of the upcoming year head on. I've already hit the ground running, thanks to my TV piece Monday--

My ode to Trenary Toast.

It was inspired by a Christmas gift of said Yooper delicacy from Loraine, and was one of those things that just popped into my head. I unwrapped the gift last Tuesday night, and by Christmas morning I had it (almost) fully formed in my head. It became fully formed when I told the person who gave me the gift what I was writing about, and she threw a one liner in for good effect.

Loraine. She's the gift that keeps on giving.

8-)

Anyway, like I said, when I did it Monday night I think it went over quite well. But everything went by quick. It was densely packed two minutes. And while this may just be me, reading this particular piece may unpack a gag or a reference or a thought—maybe even Loraine's joke—that may have whizzed by if you just watched it.

Decide for yourself. Here's the video version or it, followed by the script I wrote. See if you agree with me, or if you think I'm insane. The cool thing about it? No matter which one of those options you choose, you're probably correct.

And that's not something that often happens.

The video--

And the script--

So…how was everyone’s Christmas?  Mine was quiet and peaceful, and I was lucky enough to be the recipient of some great but pleasingly random gifts–a cow calendar, a Spanish soccer ball, and a Funko Pop of…Martina McBride??

But another gift I received reminded me that for many people living in the UP there’s more to our diet than just  the four basic Yooper foods of pasties, cudhigi, fudge, and beer. There are also such specialties as pizza from the Congress, pizza from the Amassabor, the Yooper fondue of squeaky cheese dipped in coffee, or, in the case of that other Christmas gift I mentioned, Trenary Toast.

That’s right–I got Trenary Toast for Christmas.  Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Trenary Toast.  Is this a great world or what?

For almost 100 years now Trenary Toast has been woven into the fabric of UP life, even if it doesn’t have the universal fame of a food like pasties.  But I think Trenary Toast deserves to be on that very same level.  Think of the two foods–pasties & Trenary Toast–like you do the past two Green Bay Packers quarterbacks. Pasties are like Aaron Rodgers–they get all the attention.  But Trenary Toast is like Jordan Love, getting the job done without all the hype.

And which one of those two is going to the playoffs this year…huh?

Admittedly, Trenary Toast can be an acquired taste.  But it IS quintessentially Yooper–down to earth and built to last, but with a sweet side to it, as well.  And you know that once people try it they’re hooked.

Just ask the tourists who keep coming back to buy Trenary Toast year after year after year.

So in a holiday season that sees soccer balls and calendars and, uhm, Martina McBride sitting under my Christmas tree, just know the one gift that I’ve already opened and sampled–quite a bit–is the one that deserves a UP food group of its very own.

I’m Jim  Koski, and that’s another slice of Trenary Toast…I mean, another slice of  “Life in the 906”

Like I said, the choice as to which one (if either) might be better is yours.

(jim@wmqt.com)