Minnesota State Fair Food Round 2

Round two picked up where round one left off, with the successful acquisition of a corndog. This corndog, however, was actually a beef and wild rice corndog, which was a yummy Minnesotan homage to the classic.

A few hours in, the corndog was no longer satisfying, so I tried a steak kabob from the Minnekabob stand. I don't know what they marinate their steak in but I want to buy a tub of it.

I polished off the night by providing emotional and practical support for Molly's purchase of a deep fried Minneapple pie. Paired with cinnamon ice cream, it was a perfect finale. Nothing exciting about this one, but why does a classic comfort food have to be exciting? Sometimes, just-what-I-expected trumps the renegade recipe. And a warm, flaky apple pie tops a deep fried Snickers any day.

Minnesota State Fair Food

I came, I saw, I ate well. Is there really any other point to the fair besides eating? Are there other things to do and spend money on? Aside from a free show at the Leinie's bandstand, I spent the entirety of my visit test-driving curious, sometimes delicious, food inventions.  Details as follows:

This, my friends, is a hot dish on a stick. That's right. Because the hot dish itself was already a bastion of healthiness so we needed to batter and deep fry it to balance things out. This was my dad's purchase and as I never would have bought one of these myself, this is proof that it's best to go to the fair with at least four people. Four stomachs, four levels of curiosity, four wallets. The hot dish on a stick had a layering of meatball and tater tot and was battered in a pronto pup-esque batter and deep fried.  As if that wasn't enough gluttony, you dip this monstrosity in gravy. Heavens.  But honestly, it was pretty tasty. I'm glad I was only responsible for 1/4 of the damage, but I probably could have eaten the whole thing.

The Australian potatoes are a classic.  They've been around for several years and they're always near the entrance.  One serving was enough for four of us and we still threw a couple slices away.  There is no redeeming health value here, which means the product is absolutely delicious.  Slices of potato deep fried and smothered in cheese and ranch, it will sit heavily in your stomach for a week but we need that extra dose of grease for the winter months ahead, right?


The Pickle Dog was a surprise hit.  When I first heard of this concoction, I pictured a dill pickle battered and fried like a corndog (and I still think that would be an excellent idea).  But this is not battered or fried and probably winds up being one of the healthiest options at the fair. You have a pickle spear smeared with cream cheese and then that heaven is wrapped in pastrami.  That's right, it's just like those little ham-and-pickle appetizers everybody has had at every Super Bowl party North of Missouri. I would definitely get this again (and will probably be making these at home to bring for lunch).



The Risotto Poppers were another new food at the fair and my expectations were pretty high given their French Meadow pedigree.  These were a gluten free option, for those worried about such things, and it was good to know that all those poor people who have to avoid corndogs can have something yummy like this waiting for them.  The poppers were full of a black bean and rice mixture with a hint of spice and we dipped them in a creamy, somewhat tomato-y sauce.  They were a great companion for the wine smoothie (below).





Ah, my sweet favorite.  I had my first sweet corn ice cram last year with the maple bacon sauce.  This year, having already had our share of bacon with the bacon ice cream (maple ice cream with chunks of bacon...interesting...), we opted for the wild blueberry sauce and that introduced me to my new favorite fair food. The ice cream is topped with sugared, quasi-popped kernels of corn and the sweetness of the ice cream and the tartness of the blueberries was just unbeatable. I will always want this when I come to the fair. Always.




Hm. The lamb fries. Hm. We opted for the grilled version because I read a review that said the fried version was low on flavor.  Well. I wish we'd ignored that review.  The grilled version was high on flavor but it wasn't a flavor I was particularly fond of and the texture was difficult to get past.  Lamb "fries" are actually lamb testicles, and I expected to enjoy them because I had testicles a couple times when I lived in Morocco.  But after a handful of bites we tossed the rest and started desperately searching for beer (and thankfully the craft brew exhibit was nearby).

Following our craft beer stop (pretty cool exhibit and nice selection of flights) we wandered in the direction of ice cream and found the wine smoothie on the way, another new invention we'd had high hopes of trying.  This was delicious and I plan on trying to whip something like this up at home.  The smoothie was a mixture of wine, ice, a bit of sorbet, and raspberry puree, and it was the perfect chilled beverage for a warm summer evening.

I'm headed back to the fair this evening and am currently torn between a classic corn dog and a pork chop on a stick.  As this is a problem I face exactly once a year, I always forget how to make this very difficult, very important choice. Coins will be flipped, I imagine.

Follow my food ramblings on Twitter @TheMinneapolite

Mill Valley Kitchen

When Mill Valley opened, honestly, I gave them about a year before folding. I think the location is somewhat crappy, housed in the new Ellipse complex at France and Excelsior. Parking is annoying. And tucked beside a nail salon and a couple other (clearly forgettable) enterprises.

But it speaks to the skill of the chefs and the intelligence of the concept that they've thrived. The food is delicious (my sea bass was the perfect post-gym hit of clean, healthy protein) and the menu makes it easy and exciting to pick nourishing foods. Each dish includes a calorie, protein, carb, and fat count but the display is soft and not centerstage. The menu alone makes the concept clear: healthy is good, and healthy and flavorful should not be mutually exclusive.

They also provide a yummy sampling of miniature desserts for $3 a pop, a great way to finish off all that edible morality with a tiny smidge of sin.

Amoos Artisan Ice Cream

Sometimes unexpectedly awesome edibles walk through my door. This time, they were brought by a decidedly good boyfriend (who served as the hand model for the professional-grade photo accompanying this post) who picked up a flight of Amoos Artisan Ice Cream while at the Northeast Farmers Market.  I'm a lucky girl, right?

As I wasn't at the market, I can't attest to anything about the stand or other flavor offerings other than what Amoos has listed on their facebook page. But I'm totally enthralled by the concept of Rhubarb Rosewater Yogurt and hope to experience that one someday.

The flight idea is genius!  For $9 you get four cups (roughly 1/2 cup each, maybe a little more) to try whatever flavor your heart desires.  We tried Rice Krispie Treat, Pineapple Salsa, Chocolate Hazelnut Gelato, and Chevre with Cherries.  I have to say, I would not get the Pineapple Salsa one again.  I love pineapple.  I love pineapple salsa.  But evidently I do not love it as an ice cream inspiration.  But three outta four ain't bad and I give Amoos a big high five for test driving unique flavor profiles.  Of the remaining three, I'd rank them as follows:

1. Chocolate Hazelnut Gelato: I'm just a sucker for chocolate, really.  And if I was craving a bowl of ice cream (when am I not?), this thick, Nutella-esque miracle would surely satisfy. It would be even better with a heap of fresh strawberries, which I will make a mental note of for future ice cream dreams.

2. Chevre: This was just so different and delicious, I definitely could have eaten a pint of it in one sitting.  Goat cheese is a distinct flavor and Amoos manages to balance that very specific flavor with the perfect amount of cherries and maybe honey (?). You definitely knew that you were eating some super creamy, rich goat cheese, but there was also no doubt that you were eating a softly sweet and decadent dessert.  I honestly go back and forth between the Chevre and the Chocolate as my favorite.  I'm conflicted.  And if I'm conflicted over a battle involving Chocolate, you must know that the non-Chocolate choice is truly wonderful.

3. Rice Krispie: I have nothing bad to say about this one, who can talk smack about ice cream with rice krispie treats and chunks of chocolate? My boyfriend ranked this higher in his preferences than I did, so clearly it will have some vociferous supporters.  To me, while delicious and crave-worthy, it just wasn't magical enough to commit to for future servings.  Meaning, if I returned to Amoos and tried another flight with different flavors, I would REALLY want to order the Chocolate Hazelnut and the Chevre again and forego experiencing other concoctions.  But I could definitely skip the Rice Krispie flavor in favor of trying some Earl Grey Honey or Rhubarb Rosewater.

Amoos is at the NE Farmers Market every Saturday and the Minnetonka Farmers Market on Tuesday afternoons, so you have two chances to testdrive a flight of your own.  Let me know what you think! I imagine I'll need help picking my next round of flavors.

Follow my ice cream (and all other) escapades on Twitter @TheMinneapolite

Lord Fletcher's

Lord Fletcher's, in Spring Park, is a mainstay of Minnesotan summers. With a lakeside view and a delicious take on the surf and turf genre, it's just a classic, perhaps unsurprising, spot for dinner.

I thoroughly enjoyed my prosciutto-wrapped swordfish but I was more impressed by my companion's stuffed scallops. I never would have thought to stuff scallops with a cumin-laced corn mixture but I'm happy to find more creative minds than mine in the Fletcher kitchen.  So I appreciate the kitchen's ability to surprise me despite my expectation that "surprising" would not be an adjective I used to describe the meal.

It's nice to be wrong sometimes.

But even without the surprise of yummy scallops, the meal was a comfort. They have perfected the sweet creamed corn (and as a Southerners, I have strong opinions on creamed anything), and they know how to make a mean mocha pie. All in all, a lovely meal on a lovely evening.

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Chef Shack

I've visited the Chef Shack a few times, mostly at concerts or festivals around town.  Last night I was happy to note that it was parked next to Indeed Brewing, ready to supplement the liquid calories with some perfect-to-soak-up-that-beer choices.

I split an order of sweet potato tacos and they were fantastic! Upon viewing the choice on the menu, my friends and I debated whether the sweet potato was incorporated into the taco interior or if it somehow made up the taco shell itself. These are deep, powerful discussions after a couple strong brews.  We were happy to note that the sweet potatoes were creamily mashed beneath a layer of black beans (somewhere in there was a kick, a hint of spice) and a layer of cabbage and sour creamy sauce. I piled a good helping of their homemade pickles on the side, just because I love homemade pickles.  I don't know that they're the logical companion for sweet potato tacos but I was happy.

I asked a few other patrons about their orders and either everyone was in a superlative-shouting mood (fantastic! mind-blowing! amazing!) or their orders were just as delicious as mine.  One guy even noted that he absolutely loved his pulled pork tacos but was "devastated" that he hadn't ordered the bison burger with egg instead.  I really hope he pulled himself together and ordered the burger.

Check out the Chef Shack website for their dedicated locations.  They're at Mill City and Fulton farmers markets on Saturdays, and I can promise that an order from their traveling nirvana would be the perfect cap to a sunshiney afternoon digging through local produce.

Keep track of my food truckin' on Twitter @TheMinneapolite

Belle Weather

I love a good doodah. A "doodah" is a decidedly Southern word for a trinket, a small thing, or, when I'm feeling lazy, any "thing" that I lose the word for at any given time.  But in shop instances, it almost always refers to some sweet, small object (I almost said, "doodah" right there), usually of the pretty variety. Belle Weather, on Lyndale, is chock full of delightful doodahs!

The location is good in some ways, not great in others.  On a pretty day, it's easily walking distance from the Lake/Lyndale intersection and if you're a bike rider, you're golden.  But as it's nestled several blocks away from the intersection, it's likely overlooked by those shopping in Uptown on a weekend.  But really, that needs to change.

                    They recently added some resale clothes to the mix, which is fantastic.  They have a colorful, gently-used collection with lots of recognizable labels scattered among more unique pieces.  They have a beautiful selection of jewelry and many locally-designed purses and trinkets all of which would be perfect for gifts or for a random I-feel-like-buying-myself-something-pretty-and-unnecessary moment.

While you're there, you can check out June next door, an "upscale resale" shop with a lot of top designers and an excellent shoe and handbag selection. With these two gems side by side, there is zero excuse for skipping over them on your next Uptown shopping expedition. The doodahs await!

Follow me and my doodah pursuit on Twitter @TheMinneapolite

Pedal Pub

I realize these party vehicles have been traversing the streets for a good long while (and until last night I felt like the only soul who hadn't tried the Pedal Pub), but as is common on this blog, I'm going to review the experience even if I'm not among the first to do so. I get to things in my own sweet time.

First off, I feel like this would be a miserable experience if the weather failed to cooperate.  A hot, muggy two hours cranking away at this contraption would have made me cranky, beer or no beer.  But our weather was absolutely perfect, almost cool, and said cranking was no more overwhelming than a leisurely bike ride.  I think I may have had a slightly harder time pedaling just because I'm short and the driver confirmed that the pedals are really built for someone over 5'3 (ugh...foiled again...I round up to 5'2).

We took the Nord'East route and the driver really looked to the group for preferences as to stops.  We made a stop first at Tony Jaro's for a Greenie (no clue what is in that other than a violently green form of kool-aid and a good deal of alcohol) and then on to 1029 (overcrowded so we skipped it) and Jimmy's for beer sticks (delicious).

We brought snacks, which is heavily encouraged, but failed to dig in until the last 20 minutes of the two hour tour, so I'd recommend popping open that can of Pringles or tub of taco dip earlier in the evening.  Also, you do work up a smidge of a sweat pedaling this contraption so dress accordingly.  It's a great time and a reasonably-priced, unique outing so it'd be high on my list for a birthday party or work happy hour event.  And I don't think you could get a better location than Nord'East.  You end where you started, wonderfully close to Stanley's and myriad other famous bars so the evening doesn't have to wrap up when the pedaling ends.

Pedal over to Twitter and follow me @TheMinneapolite

Zelo

I'm a sucker for ahi tuna and sesame-dressed salads and Zelo makes a great one! I've always loved their flatbreads (the fig is my favorite), but I think their salads are the star, at least for lunch. Check it out the next time you're downtown debating the merits of Panera Bread (no judgment, I'm a fan) for the umpteenth time.

Indeed Brewing

I am not a beer connoisseur. I know what I like (Abita Harvest, tough to find up here) and I know what makes me sleepy (Guinness). I've only recently been schooled in the definition of "hoppy" but with each new brew I  find myself asking, "so is this one hoppy?" So, clearly, I'm still learning.
But what I lack in beer know-how, I make up for in beer enthusiasm. I love trying new beers, new patios, new pint glasses, and happily, new taprooms.

Indeed Brewing is not a place you'd stumble upon unless you frequent traintracks in NE Mpls (no judgement on that point).  It's hidden amongst similar warehouse buildings, some of which have seen brighter days. But the warehouse feel is pretty perfect and there's something very Americana about sipping a cold beer while a train rumbles by.  The picnic tables, the light gravel, the mix of wood and metal in the interior...they all inspire a certain casual happiness that seems built for a happy hour or a lazy Saturday. The beer itself is very good, though I favored the Day Tripper over the darker, pictured Midnight Ryder. And since I have no clue what I'm talking about with beer, you'll have to get your brainy beer reviews elsewhere. I just liked it.

Adding to the excellent summertime experience is a solid lineup of area food trucks. I'm curious to see what becomes of the food offerings once the negative windchills roll in but I, like everyone else this time of year, am happy to live in denial that such a time will come.

For now, I will happily nurse my Day Tripper brew on a picnic table in good company, watching the trains roll by.

Chicago at the Ordway

Chicago is a musical hellbent on providing ample opportunity for self-effacing humor.  It's raucous and flashy, with a lot of scandalous clothing and spread-eagled dance moves, and behind every step is a smiling, glittering wink at the audience asking, "don't you just love a good SHOW?!"  Truth is relative and perhaps unimportant in this Broadway darling, the murderesses come off clean, the one Innocent heads to the gallows, but with a high step and a grin, we are completely supportive of those narratives.

I've never seen Chicago live before and this was actually my first trip to the Ordway, I'm ashamed to say.  I scratched the heck out of an old Chicago soundtrack CD and I know every verse of Cell Block Tango by heart, but I've never seen the gyrating, Fosse syncopation in the flesh. And what a difference flesh makes!  Even from balcony seats, the smirks and shoulder shrugs and winks infuse the numbers with a joy that only comes form the clickety-clack of heels on a stage. More than once the audience met the actors' enthusiasm with hoots and bravos from every corner of the theatre.

Chicago, to me, while certainly a show about Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart (pitch perfect performances by both Terra MacLeod and Tracy Shayne) and their quasi-heartless, quasi-impassioned murder of their men, has always been a show peppered with juicy supporting opportunities.  And the delicious roles of Amos Hart, Billy Flynn, and Mama Morton were filled so perfectly, they occasionally overshadowed the leading ladies. But I think that's part of the beauty of Chicago.  You're transfixed by the stories of Velma and Roxie, just like headline hungry press, but then your attention is drawn to these supporting perspectives breathing life into 1920s Chicago. Mama Morton, played by Kecia Lewis-Evans, is especially stunning. I don't think I have ever experienced a voice with that kind of operatic, yet guttural, tone. Her every note seemed backed by a freight train but the tone was so perfect, so controlled, there was never a sense that she was overreaching. Her solos were the highlight of the show for me and judging by the uproarious applause around me, I don't think I was the only one holding that opinion.

I will admit that I was skeptical of Mr. O'Hurley (of Seinfeld fame) taking on the role of Billy Flynn. But O'Hurley smirks and flirts so flawlessly that despite Flynn's somewhat suspect character, you can't help but love him a bit (and want him to buy you a drink). That speaks volumes to O'Hurley's skills as an actor and his singing chops are nothing to dismiss. Joined by the showstopping (I believe there was an audible gasp at the revealing moment) R.Lowe as Mary Sunshine, the banter between these two was another high point of the evening.

A fantastic array of supporting actors only serve to strengthen and highlight the skill of the ladies tasked with making murderesses both lovable and interesting.  Velma and Roxie's stories are both exasperating, given that they were based on true events, and hilarious, given how quickly we redeem this wayward pair. They were swept up in the debauchery and excitement of the Jazz Age, poor girls, and we're more than happy to be swept along with them.

Chicago is only in town for a short time, Aug.7-12, so get over to the Ordway soon!

Follow all my toe-tapping theater experiences on Twitter @TheMinneapolite.

Flamingo Restaurant

I have a weakness for Ethiopian food.  Fasika, in St. Paul, introduced me to what Minnesota had to offer on that cuisine and it has become a family favorite. But for this Ethiopian experience, I wanted to try something new.  Flamingo Restaurant was recommended as a great place for vegetarians/vegans and since I was in the company of one of these strange, meat-eschewing folk (my sister), I decided to give Flamingo a whirl.

It's wonderful! The trouble it has is that it's tucked away on Syndicate right in the heart of that light rail construction so I imagine its patronage suffers strictly due to parking issues.  But really, there is plenty of side street parking on Sherburne and the rstaurant is worth the effort.  Coming from Minneapolis, taking 94 E to Snelling (left) to Sherburne (right) to Syndicate (right), got me there with no trouble.

If you haven't tried Ethiopian food, you're missing out.  First off, there is no better way to start a meal than with an order of sambusas, pastry shells stuffed with lentils or beef and then fried.  Flamingo's variety was absolutely perfect, the pastry shells hot and crisp and the interior oozing with onions, lentils, and enough spices to warrant the glass of water. The main course, a vegetarian combo,  is traditionally eaten with one's hands with the help of healthy pile of injera bread.  Having lived in Morocco for a time, eating with my hands is a happy, visceral experience for me but if you're skittish about getting your hands messy, our waitress did offer us a fork if we so desired. The dishes are spiced with cumin, turmeric, garlic, and berbere spices, which remind me a bit of Ras El Hanout spicing in Moroccan cooking.  Some of the dishes are a smidge spicy, but I have a pretty high tolerance for heat and enjoy the occasional kick. Lentils play a key role in the vegetarian entrees and I favored the red and yellow lentils over the brown.  The cabbage dish is also popular and I loved the spinach.

As I'm a big fan of Fasika, not far away, I couldn't help but make a comparison.  Flamingo's food is top notch, and they may be a better locale for two people looking to share a combo.  The combo plates at Fasika are really better suited for 3 people and they run a bit pricier.  Our combo was the perfect size for two people and only cost $14.  Throw in an order of sambusas and some Special Juice (guava and mango and strawberries...delicious for dessert), and you've got a great meal for under $30.

There's a soft spot in my heart for Flamingo, too, because it is owned by two East African women proud and excited to share their food and hospitality.  Their website references their friendship and their desire to share the foods and experiences of their ancestors:

Our story can speak to other East African women about possibilities that can exist in spite of the obstacles we faced.” -Shegitu Kebede.

“We had a bond right away because we shared the same dream.” -Frewoini Haile

It was lovely to experience their dream tucked into a side street in St. Paul.  I hope you'll visit, too.

Check out all my culinary experiences on Twitter @TheMinneapolite

Rembrandt at the MIA

The MIA has to be one of my favorite things about living where I do, not only in South Minneapolis itself, but simply in the Twin Cities.  To have such a collection of art provided free to the public is such a cultural blessing, I feel almost guilty for not going more often.

The Rembrandt in America exhibit, though not free, is worth every penny of its $12 pricetag. If you've got a handy-dandy smartphone you can avoid the $4 charge for the audio tour and listen to the tour via the MIA wifi. It's a great system, a wonderful guided tour, and the paintings are a treasure.

The tour provided wonderful background into life in Amsterdam while Rembrandt was painting, the master's life and loves and the heartbreak both brought him, and the fascinating development of understanding which paintings were actual Rembrandts and which were pieces bearing his name as master of his studio.  I also found the histories given on ownership of the paintings very interesting and it led me to wonder what it is about this painter in particular that people find so enthralling.  His Lucretia (pictured) is what answered the question for me.  Rembrandt perfectly (perfectly!) captured Lucretia's shame, innocence, and heartbreak in a few spare tears pooling in her eyes.  And having learned the personal significance of the painting, the heartache is all the more touching.  Rembrandt's gift must be seen to be fully appreciated, so take advantage while you can!  While Lucretia is a permanent fixture at the MIA, her beauty and significance are better experienced when surrounded by many of Rembrandt's other masterpieces.

The exhibit continues through September 16.

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Cafe Ena

Cafe Ena is one of those places I forget exists.  This isn't to say it's forgettable, by any means, only that I get consumed by all the new (to me) places I want to try and poor Cafe Ena is left behind.  But no restaurant that serves a crab and avocado masterpiece like that pictured deserves such ill-attention.  It may sit on the appetizer menu but this little guy packs a protein and flavor-laden punch that suited me fine (with the addition of some tortilla chips) for dinner.

I will add a mild disclaimer here.  I'm not a "fusion" fan.  I think the term is overused.  So whenever I see a menu or hear of a restaurant with the word "fusion" in the mix (asian fusion, latin fusion, mediterranean fusion, fried chicken fusion) I tend to be a smidge skeptical. But I forgive Cafe Ena for this "fusion" (latin, in its case) business simply because the food is that good.  I don't care what genre of restaurant it assumes itself to be, it's well executed, creative fare that doesn't over-complicate itself.  The ingredients are fresh, the presentation pretty, the result, delicious. Fuse away.

My little group of friends sat outside, celebrating a birthday, and I don't think there's any drink that better embraces the sunshine than sangria.  Cafe Ena, happily, makes a lovely glass, not too sweet or heavy on the fruit, which was the perfect companion to my meal.  Sitting in the company of friends, laughing over failed online dates and the adventures of 30-something folks...this is why sunshine and good food exist.

I can't help but think a worthy night for anyone would involve drinks and dinner at Cafe Ena followed by more drinks and dessert at King's across the street.  Cafe Ena may be tucked away at 46th and Grand, a bit hidden from the hustle and bustle of Uptown (which is a good thing, in my opinion), but there's a lot of deliciousness waiting to be experienced on that corner and I recommend you take advantage of the sunshine with a glass of their sangria in hand.

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Egg & I

If Pizza Luce is my choice for pre-race carbing up, Egg & I (Little Egg location, never been to the St. Paul Big Egg) is my choice for post-race carb replacing (and it is now clear that I routinely cancel out any calorie burn from a half-marathon with these two habits). Cheap and quick = two things hard to find in Uptown, especially on a Saturday.

The kamikaze cake (pictured), stuffed with blueberries and topped with bananas, blueberries, and pecans, is my go-to and I favor the multi-grain version (although my curiosity is piqued for the sourdough). Today I supplemented the carb overload with a side order of canadian bacon, so I'm sure this meal qualifies as "healthy." I can never muscle all the way through one kamikaze cake, I always need help.  But that's what friends are for.

I've also enjoyed probably half the egg-oriented dishes on the menu and I cannot say enough nice things about their sausage links. My one complaint?  I don't like see-thru glass mugs for coffee.  No logic behind that, just don't like 'em.  If they had ceramic mugs, this place would be perfect.  But if that's the ONLY thing I have to complain about, I think this place is close enough to perfect for you to give it a try.

Follow my eatings (pre- and post-race) on Twitter @TheMinneapolite.

Pizza Luce

I run a lot of races.  They're mostly half-marathons, run at a slower-than-average pace, with a handful of this-is-crazy-talk marathons thrown in for good measure. Eating Pizza Luce, preferably Ruby Rae, beforehand has become my tradition.  Even if all the running magazines suddenly said that carbs were evil and I should be living off apples and cheez whiz the 12 hours before a race, I would still drum up a couple of willing friends to support my carb-loading the night before 13.1 (or 26.2) miles. Ruby Rae is my good luck charm, lets hope she works for the Urban Wildlands race tomorrow!

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French Meadow

I've lived in the Whittier neighborhood for three years so French Meadow is dangerously close to my home. It's too easy to walk 5 minutes there on a Saturday morning for fresh-squeezed orange juice and omelets stuffed with goat cheese and veggies.  I venture over less often in the evenings as Common Roots is my more frequent stop. But the edamame dumplings have convinced me that I need to remedy this situation. French Meadow is great for full entrees (their summer vegetable ragout almost convinced me to eat supper #2) but as I was just in for a bite, I was happy to give the dumplings a go. Paired with a couple sweet potato wedges from my companion's walleye sandwich and it was a perfect cap to almost-Friday.

And, it's hard to find fault with life when there are pretty white lights twinkling by your table.

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King's Wine Bar

I've been to King's Wine Bar at 46th and Grand half a dozen times in the last year.  I don't remember how I heard about it but I ventured that direction on a blind date.  The date was a dud, but the tots were not.  Remember this, intrepid online daters, a bad date is worth housemade tater tots with a gruyere and bacon dipping sauce, so take my advice and at least throw dating caution to the wind with fried potato and a nice glass of something in hand. [I will take this opportunity to apologize for the grainy picture of the tots. Clearly, we were enjoying them a bit too much and I had to halt the festivities to snap a quick pic. My haste in wanting to get back to eating said tots made for a not-fantastic visual.]

Tonight I was in much happier company as I met up with two girlfriends for dinner.  I had a glass of Santa di Terrossa (pinot grigio) with my third of the tot appetizer and nursed the last drops over my salmon burger. I'm honestly not a salmon burger girl.  I think burgers should be made of cow, bison on the rare exception. But the promise of srichacha and onion rings coaxed me into an unorthodox choice.  King's has never disappointed (their meatloaf is better than your mom's) and the salmon burger was no exception.  

My only regret is not convincing my ladyfriends to share a slice of dulce de leche cheesecake with me.  Next time, I suppose. 

King's has a ridiculous amount of awesome going on most evenings.  Whether it be half-price bottles (Wednesdays) or trivia (Mondays) or date night tasting menus (Tuesday) or happy hour (3-6pm everyday, includes $2 off those tots), you really can't go wrong.  And if you're looking for even more reasons to venture to 46th, check them out at the 46th Street Block Party and King's Birthday Bash on August 12th. King's burgers AND face painting? You have nowhere better to be. 

Follow all my gustatory adventures on Twitter @TheMinneapolite