CLUCKING DELICIOUS BARBECUE

by CARLY SIMPSON

Head to Ludington for a winner chicken dinner.

GRAB

Cluck Bucket

Food truck: 88 S. Pere Marquette

Hwy., Ludington // The Port: 222 W. Ludington Ave., Ludington

When life handed Sheri Eaton a big ol’ bucket of lemons, she made pitchers of lemonade. In 2018, her husband, Derek, had emergency openheart surgery to save his life after suffering an aortic dissection. He spent a week afterward in a medically induced coma. On Christmas Eve, the family of nine witnessed a miracle. Derek came home. The road to recovery would be a long one though, and doctors told Derek his career in construction was over.

Cue the lemonade. Sheri rolled up her sleeves and started cooking. The family purchased a food truck and a grill, serving barbecued chicken piled high on sandwiches, nachos and mac ’n’ cheese, along with classic sides like creamy slaw and cornbread. A favorite: The Cluck & Pits. Pit-tatoes (roasted on the grill over charcoal) are layered with pulled chicken, cheese, sour cream and Sheri’s homemade BBQ sauce. And about that lemonade: Try it in a sunburst float with Sprite and a scoop of ice cream. cluckbucketmi.com

Turns out, Ludington had a hankering for juicy barbecued chicken, and the Eatons opened a second location last June at The Port, a destination marketplace home to several local-gem boutiques and eateries.

Ludington State Park

8800 W. M-116, Ludington pureludington.com

Sheri loves heading out toward Ludington State Park and parking along the beach on M-116 for a private picnic party.