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.

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