DeRUSHA Download: First look at St. Pierre, Big Savings on Food & Wine
Inside Travail's new Duel experience, how much to fix the X?, and my new look
DOWNLOAD DIALOGUE: A NEW LOOK
You’ll notice a new look in some of the imaging graphics in the newsletter and this is just a first step in a rebrand that I’ve been going through. Just saying it out loud sounds ridiculous: a rebrand? For a person? Actually, I think all of us could benefit from going through some of the process I’ve been working through with the help of the experts at Superhuman in Minneapolis) over the past six months. (Thanks Van, Laura, Alex, Beccah, Malia + the team!) What is your mission? Mine is to inspire fearless action. What makes you unique and valuable? Decades of credibility plus an approachable everyman vibe. It helps to think of yourself as a car brand: are you a Ferrari? A Lexus? A VW? A Honda? This process (along with advice from my executive advisor / strategist Lauren Pradhan) helped focus my approach. I’m food but I’m also wellness. I’m local booster and also travel. I’m home improvement and also style. What binds that together? Inspiring fearless action! Later today my new website should go live! You may have seen some of the new design elements on my Instagram feed, I hope you like it! I love it. - Jason
TOO BUSY TO DOWNLOAD?
Save 50% on MNMO Food & Wine Experience Tickets THIS WEEKEND
St. Pierre Meats & Seafood First Look
Wow! Travail’s new Duel menu - an inside peek
Eagan Restaurant Week
READ TO THE END for more Spring Break Staycation Ideas
SPRING BREAK VACATION IN TOWN AT MARA
My friends Shawn and Sara just did a staycation weekend at Four Seasons Minneapolis - and they’ve got the exact right idea. Even if you don’t stay in this glorious hotel, consider a night on the town - pop in at the Mara Bar, go have dinner inside Mara by Gavin Kaysen, maybe pick up a pastry in Socca Cafe. (And if you see Mary Kennedy, who’s holding the wine in this pic - ask her for a suggestion. She’s one of the smartest wine minds in the Upper Midwest!) Trust me, visiting feels like you’ve been transported - an affordable luxury! Walk in or call to reserve!
Mara at Four Seasons Minneapolis is a download partner. Why aren’t you?! THANKS!
YOU Support the DeRUSHA Download! Newsletter is always free - I’d be honored if you’d upgrade for $50/year to a paid subscription to support my efforts.
JOOK SING POP-UP: We went with friends to Jook Sing’s residency inside Steady Pour, they’ve been popping up for a bit now and let me tell you - you don’t want to miss it. See my IG video for details: https://fluence-media.co/3RjexXv
FIRST LOOK: ST. PIERRE: It’s Minnesota, you’re gonna call it “St. Pierres,” right? Snack Bar always seemed busy to me, but Issac Becker and Nancy St. Pierre are used to BUSY BUSY. So it’s gone - although some menu items remain, mashed up with some Burch Steak menu items, and a new focus on seafood. We really liked it - my first look in MNMO: https://fluence-media.co/41VJ4jp
$780 MILLION TO FIX UP XCEL ENERGY CENTER: The state is being asked for $400 million - St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter joined me on WCCO Radio. https://fluence-media.co/4hjAYXi [more best of the show below]
MINNESOTA MONTHLY FOOD & WINE EXPERIENCE: It’s Saturday and Sunday in Eagan! SAVE 50% ON TICKETS WITH CODE JASON! Discount shows up in checkout: https://fluence-media.co/4gY2UAO
SPIRITS TASTING TO BENEFIT QUEER SPACE COLLECTIVE: Bourget Imports and Freeland Spirits’ Jill Kuehler to taste spirits, craft cocktails, and food from Pinoli while raising money to support LGBTQ+. Wednesday, March 26th, 6:00 – 7:30 PM https://fluence-media.co/3DKYbUI
EAGAN RESTAURANT WEEK: Enjoy Eagan hired me to do a social media video promoting it… this is the sort of ridiculous content anyone can hire me to produce. IG: https://fluence-media.co/4kJb6qQ. Restaurant week begins on Monday - you sign up to check-in at 20+ local restaurants, earn points, and enter to win a gift card. I’m a huge fan of MyBurger, Kitchen & Rail, Southern Social, and a new fan of Casper’s Cherokee, where they have 20 Long Island Ice Teas and an amazing 3rd generation owner Tracey. Here’s the info: https://fluence-media.co/3STZNQO
TWINS SPRING TRAINING IN FT. MYERS/NAPLES FL: Some of my favorite spots to eat: https://fluence-media.co/41iStRs
TRAVAIL DUEL MENU: Travail’s current generation of chefs reminds me of the spirit we saw 15 years ago. Such a great sign for success even as the Collective expands into Italian Eatery, a rebirth/growth of Pig Ate My Pizza, and Stargazer. Our style editor and I wrote a She said / He said piece for MNMO: https://fluence-media.co/41KQUMF
WHAT AM I DOING THIS WEEKEND?
MIAMI! We are visiting University of Miami - where will Sam end up in college!?! Accepted at the U of MN, Madison, Marquette, Alabama, USC and U of Miami. Over the next week we’ll be hearing from about 10 other schools he applied to. Fun - nerve wracking - all the things. We’re certainly going to Mandolin and also Sanguich de Miami- tons of great suggestions in this IG thread: https://fluence-media.co/4if48rT
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THE WCCO RADIO YOUTUBE CHANNEL!
I take on all political parties: THE GOV SHOULD BE TOURING MN NOT IOWA: https://fluence-media.co/3FxgEEA and THE REPUBLICAN CLOWN SHOW: https://fluence-media.co/4bDQaNM
THE LEAD: My top stories of the day - Monday we talked to the CEO of Faribault Mill https://fluence-media.co/3Y1jyb1
FUN TO WATCH OUR GAME SHOW: https://fluence-media.co/3FAeEeS
SHOULD WE ALWAYS FORGIVE:
gives advice https://fluence-media.co/4kL3DaPAUCTIONING OFF LYNNE ROSETTO KASPER’S KITCHEN: Revere Auctions talks https://fluence-media.co/4hrUyAO
AUDIO PODCASTS: Subscribe via Apple Podcast https://fluence-media.co/3xTkkNu Spotify: https://fluence-media.co/3VUtph4
ERIN MAYE QUADE: She went viral for suggesting that Republicans are more hesitant to speak out against sex predators - came on my show. https://fluence-media.co/4j26cDN
WALZ RIPS TESLA: Are you mad? https://fluence-media.co/4iKyySM
ONE MORE THING
It’s spring break - and many of us are staying home. Imagine treating your own city like you were visiting. Go to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, go walk by the Mississippi River and walk to the endless bridge inside the Guthrie. Go eat a jucy lucy at Matt’s Bar, or the 5-8, or both. How about visiting one of my most under-hyped restaurants? Bring the kids to a food hall (Graze is worth re-visiting) or give yourself a date night at one of my favorite bars of 2024. Get out there!
Love the new site and the rebrand!
Always keeping it fresh!