DeRUSHA Download: EPIC year for MN Chefs on the Beard Awards Long List - Plus Massive Changes in two Local Restaurants
TODAY I turn 50! I'm OLD! And It's OK!
DOWNLOAD DIALOGUE: THIS IS 50: Today is my 50th birthday. I’ve been dreading it, but now that it’s here, I can confess I’ve been ridiculous. It’s fine. I have a personal goal to make every year just a little better than the last year. I’m never looking for radical transformation - just constant improvement. Setting aside the COVID years of 2020/2021, which were sort of flat for me, I feel like every year has been better than the last, and why would the 50s be any different? I am coming in with new intentions, though: more time with friends, taking more risks, staying involved and active, and more thinking / less reacting.
No one believes me, but Alyssa, Sam and I are going out to dinner tonight and that’s it. Spending the night at our new downtown “Cabin in the City.” No big hoopla like when I turned 40 and had 125 people in the Fulton production brewery for a party. Just us. Thank you for being a part of my past - and here’s to all of our futures! - Jason
TOO BUSY TO DOWNLOAD?
Revival Suddenly Closes
Jorge Guzman Exits Petite Leon
The Best Dishes From My Birthday Friends Dinner
First Look at Xelas
Amazing Winter Weekend: Carnival, Hockey, and Art
BEST YEAR EVER: Not to get too excited about the long list of Beard Award semifinalists, the finalists is where the rubber meets the road, but this is the best year local chefs and restaurants have ever had. MNMO: https://fluence-media.co/3Ws8IdC
REVIVAL SUDDENLY SHUTS DOWN: A shocker to me, to employees, frankly the way this went down it feels like it was a shocker to the owners too. They just switched their St. Paul location to Bar Revival in late December, so I suspect they thought they’d be able to fight through winter. Reaction and details reported by me in MNMO: https://fluence-media.co/4at7Bjl
JORGE GUZMAN EXITS PETITE LEON: Mostly good news, I think: I’m excited about Guzman really dialing in Chilango and being able to prioritize his adorable family. Chef Ben Rockwell (Travail, Tenant) can fully put his vision in place + Ben Rients and Travis Serbus have taken Guzman’s ownership shares and put it into an employee stock plan - the team can have a piece of the action. Joy & Nicole go deeper - STRIB gift link: https://fluence-media.co/3C76LMJ
MY BIRTHDAY DINNER: What a wow of a night. Six of us gathered around a table at Mara by Gavin Kaysen at Four Seasons Minneapolis. We did the Chef’s Table experience -and Chef Thony Yang outdid himself. The Halibut with potato scales and a nduja hollandaise was the stunner - a classic Paul Bocuse dish that Chef Yang told us was special when to him when he worked at Spoon & Stable.
We had pheasant sausage, lobster salad with harissa aioli too. You can book your own chef’s table every Thursday and Friday with seatings at 5p & 8p, I highly recommend it! BOOK: https://fluence-media.co/3WqEY0u
GRAND VIEW LODGE’S WINE WEEKEND: I’m hosting this- it’s so fun. February 28 - March 2: wine dinners Friday night, seminars and grand tasting Saturday. DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/40zAQO9
STILLWATER GETS A NEW MAYAN RESTAURANT: I’m impressed by what I saw at Xelas by El Sazon. First look in MNMO: https://fluence-media.co/4g7BN4X
GREAT NORTHERN / K’OOBEN POP-UP: Amazing group Sun, Feb 2 part of Great Northern Festival - bites from Gustavo, José, Noe, Russel, Alex, Maggie and Jason — the people behind Oro, Pints & Paddles, Meritage, Black Duck and Alma. TIX: https://fluence-media.co/40pUdIb
GRAZE FOOD HALL IS RELOADING
Umami by Travail opened Monday. Asian street food by Travail and dumplings by Saturday Dumpling Co. UMAMI: https://fluence-media.co/40jsA3K
Tixtli by Nixta: tacos and masa-based dishes by Chef Gustavo Romero and the Nixta team. Opening early February on the second level.
Caja Fried Chicken: Also opening early February from Alex Roberts and the Alma/Brasa team. GRAZE WEB: https://fluence-media.co/40mEn0V
50% OFF MINNESOTA MONTHLY FOOD & WINE SUNDAY: Food & Wine Experience at Vikings OMNI Lakes! 50% off on SUNDAY March 23rd tickets with code JASON - or click here: https://fluence-media.co/4gY2UAO
GET INVOLVED - CHARITY SPOTLIGHT
MASONIC INSTITUTE FOR THE DEVELOPING BRAIN - “The Mix:” I love being a brand ambassador for Custom One - they did my deck and patio and my recent main level renovation too. Tickets are on sale now for our March 1st party in downtown St. Paul - a fundraiser for Custom One Charities. TICKETS: https://fluence-media.co/4gYziDq
WHAT AM I DOING THIS WEEKEND?
Birthday dinner #2 tonight at All Saints, Dan Gladden and I will interview Joe Ryan, Joe Mauer, Bailey Ober and more from 2-3:30p at Twins Fest Saturday, having family over to watch football at the city cabin Sunday.
DIVE IN THIS WEEKEND
ST. PAUL WINTER CARNIVAL: Carnival Grande Day Parade Saturday 2-4p on Grand Ave is a highlight. https://fluence-media.co/3PJpH78
HOCKEY DAY MINNESOTA: Shakopee hosts - all day hockey Saturday on TV and at Valley Fair. https://fluence-media.co/3Cjrm0c
U.S. POND HOCKEY CHAMPS: Friday, Saturday, Sunday at Lake Nokomis. Shuttle in from the Courtyard Bloomington. https://fluence-media.co/3E5n4Ky
GREAT NORTHERN FESTIVAL: Sauna at Malcolm Yards, Ice Bar at Union Depot, HOTTEA Art by Midtown Global Sat https://fluence-media.co/4aqFjWG
COME WITH ME TO GREECE: I’m doing an October Island Hopper vacation to Athens, Mykonos and Santorini. Planning your vacations? I’d love to travel with you! DETAILS: wccoradio.com/Greece
DeRUSHA ON AIR HIGHLIGHTS
RYAN JEFFERS: What’s a Catcher do in the offseason? https://fluence-media.co/3Elbs60
REAR END? TOOKUS? Dump truck talk + Tracy Perlman, Nick Engbloom: https://fluence-media.co/4h95FPA
IS $20 TOO MUCH FOR THE FAIR? https://fluence-media.co/4g3MsO4
THE BUNMAN: Bill Hansich, Hanisch Bakery Red Wing https://fluence-media.co/40HeKJJ
U OF MN RESEARCH: Nick Engbloom on Diamond Awards: https://fluence-media.co/42swLgi
WOULD YOU SNOOP ON A FRIEND’S TABLET?
https://fluence-media.co/3PKLMlTTIK TOK FLIP FLOP:
explains: https://fluence-media.co/4awvGWOSWEATPANTS ARE FOR LOSERS: https://fluence-media.co/4ga9W4f
We upload every segment of my show - so you can listen to a full hour or whatever you enjoy. It’s automatic if you subscribe via Apple Podcast https://fluence-media.co/3xTkkNu Spotify: https://fluence-media.co/3VUtph4
ONE MORE THING
No, I didn’t have a party that you weren’t invited to! I had a massive party at 40, maybe I should have a 50, but I was feeling a little bummed about turning 50 and now I feel great and I’m not bummed, and so here we are. I’m hanging in my cabin in Groove Lofts, and I’d love to see more of you hanging downtown with us!
Happy birthday, Jason! Love to hear how you are celebrating. I had a call with one of your besties Lauren this week. Hope you continue the celebrations all weekend!
Greetings from Mexico 🇲🇽 Happy Birthday Jason🎉