Thanks Midwest Living for mentioning us in your Summer 2023 issue’s annual Michigan Road Rally feature. We’re honored to be one of your dining picks when visiting Michigan’s Sunset Coast!

Executive chef Rick Bower first encountered the principles of sustainable fine dining at the age of 15, through a high school program. His passion for acting locally to protect delicate ecosystems globally is directly reflected in his menu at Coast 236 Restaurant and Bar in the Lake Michigan town of Saugatuck.

The Saugatuck restaurant has been recognized for its commitment to sustainable seafood sourcing. Saugatuck’s Coast 236 Restaurant & Bar was recognized by the James Beard Foundation as a Smart Catch Leader.

Smart Catch is an educational program created by chefs, for chefs with the purpose of increasing the sustainability of the seafood offered on menus. It provides chefs with training and support so they can serve seafood that is produced in sustainable ways. By becoming a Smart Catch Leader and earning the Smart Catch seal, chefs give consumers a simple way to identify and support restaurants that are working to protect the world’s oceans.

​In order to be recognized as a Smart Catch Leader, a restaurant’s menu must meet or exceed 80 percent sustainability, and include no more than two Red List items that total 8% volume or less. Red items are seafood that is overfished, or caught or farmed in ways that harm other marine life.

​With more than 90% of the world's fisheries either fully fished or overfished, preserving marine life to assure stable fishing stocks and promoting sustainably farmed options is more important than ever. Chefs are uniquely positioned to create positive change in seafood supply chains and influence consumer behavior. Through the Smart Catch program, they have a chance to use their influence to lead industry efforts to maintain healthy, sustainable food sources today, and for future generations. They will be able to expand not only our palates, but also our views.

​SAUGATUCK, MICHIGAN, Monday, September 20, 2021 — Saugatuck’s Coast 236 announced today the launch of “The Coast 236 Chef Series,” an exclusive, ongoing dinner series featuring delicious food and wine pairings prepared by Executive Chef Rick Bower and a rotating list of renowned visiting chefs.

The first event in the new dinner series will take place Saturday, October 16 at 6:00 p.m. and feature acclaimed Chef Reinhard Barthel, Jr. The evening’s prix fixe menu will include six delectable courses prepared by the two chefs, paired with six wines by Sommelier Mindy Trafman. The intimate event is limited to 40 guests, at $130 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations can be made at Coast236.com.

“I couldn’t be more excited to launch ‘The Coast 236 Chef Series’ with one of my mentors, Chef Reinhard Barthel, Jr.,” said Executive Chef Rick Bower, Coast 236. “This ongoing dinner series is intended to be a walk-through of my culinary experiences with those who’ve made the largest impact on my career. Chef Reinhard is certainly at the top of that list.”

The inaugural event’s menu will include expertly-prepared dishes such as Hudson Valley Foie Gras, seared diver scallop, pan seared Ora King salmon, and sous vide venison loin, in addition to other mouthwatering surprises. “The cuisine will be the forefront of the evening, and we’ll tell a story with every course that explains the dishes we’ve created. I’m looking forward to reinventing my time working with Chef Reinhard, more than a decade later, for our Coast 236 guests.”

Located in Saugatuck, Michigan, Coast 236 features fine food, craft cocktails, and a cozy atmosphere. The upscale restaurant and bar sources meaningful ingredients from water and land, and passionately crafts approachable, coastal-inspired fare that’s infused with unexpected detail. Coast 236 was recently honored by Wine Spectator with a 2021 Restaurant Award of Excellence.

​They love the Saugatuck-Douglas area on eightWest. There are so many different fun places to explore, especially places that serve food! Coast 236 and Isabel’s Market & Eatery are just two of the amazing restaurants located in the Saugatuck-Douglas area. Mary Fechtig, co-owner of both businesses, joins WoodTV eight West to talk about what they offer!

The Midwest’s greatest gaycation spot is also a destination for the arts and star-caliber dining.