DeRusha Download: Inside Du Nord's New Cocktail Room, Tableside Service, 50th & France Resto Week
I'm leaving the country (for 10 days)
The parental guilt: we’re headed to Portugal for 10 days tomorrow and we’re also missing our youngest’s final homecoming dance, senior night for soccer, and a choir concert. Luckily the 17-year-old won’t hold this over my head for the rest of his life. More on the trip and travel below - I may (or may not) send a newsletter next week from Portgual. Reach out anytime at Jason@JasonDeRusha.com
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TREND ALERT: TABLESIDE SERVICE AT MARA
PERSONAL, DRAMATIC, FUN AT MARA: I absolutely love this trend - my wife is a sucker for what she calls “dinner and a show.” Mara is doing this with a couple dishes right now. “Both the way we prepare and deliver our Salt Baked Branzino are plays on old-school techniques that we’ve modernized,” Mara’s Chef de Cuisine Thony Yang told me. “We also share insights on the technique and the dish’s tie to Minnesota. In this case, it’s crayfish, which is present in the sauce and in some of Minnesota’s biggest lakes”
Proud to have Mara as a DeRusha Download partner. See Tableside in action: https://fluence-media.co/3zrajYE
TOO BUSY TO DOWNLOAD:
Du Nord opens cocktail room + restaurant
2 Minneapolis spots named to NYT 50 Fave Restaurants
50th & France launches first Restaurant Week
Stillwater Restaurant Closes, Asks For Community Input
Podcast Recos (check out JD Hoyts on my show!) + Weekend Planner
DOWNLOAD DIALOGUE: Slow Aging - Travel
This study couldn’t have come at a better time for me: researchers find that travel can help slow the aging process. Why? “The positive experiences associated with trips — the social interactions, mental stimulation, physical activity and healthy cuisines.” OK I’m not sure I’m engaged in “healthy cuisines” while on the road, but no doubt I’m fired up to experience the food and wine of Portugal. I am not surprised to see the social interactions and mental stimulation listed as bonuses: we are all in our own bubbles too often. We go to the office less, we’re looking at our phones or in our cars while in line at the coffee shop, we’re just less social than we were. Travel forces interaction. And the mental stimulation of experiencing the new can be life-changing.
We’re going to Lisbon, Evora, Algarve and Cascais on our trip. Can’t wait to share some of our experiences with you in the Download. You can follow along on Instagram and Facebook too!
VINAI AND ORO NAMED TO NYT 50 FAVORITE RESTAURANTS IN AMERICA RIGHT NOW: We celebrated our anniversary at Oro last week and can’t wait to get back to Vinai where Brett Anderson writes Yia Vang’s “personal take… is arresting, packed with chile and citrus, often streaked with wood smoke, and always suffused with back story.” Diane’s Place gets a shout-out too. Great honor to be part of this list of 50 new and not-new restaurants in the country. NYT (gift link): https://fluence-media.co/3ZCgFPQ
DU NORD COCKTAIL ROOM NOW OPEN: Such a win for the Lake Street area that’s got a long way to go post-protests and riots. Chris Montana’s Du Nord now has a cocktail room and a restaurant (Lagniappe) - huge selection of Po Boys, we loved the chargrilled oysters, the pimento on cracklin’. The Bees Knees takes advantage of DuNord’s nice gin and the coffee negroni is perfect with the Coffee Liqueur. Me in MNMO: https://fluence-media.co/3XFsH8m
FUTURE OF WINE IS WHITE: As we move to fall, more of us start to drink red. But around the world - people are craving more crisp, more acid, more white. White is winning - cool story via Pi Press (free link): https://fluence-media.co/3TGprs7
DERUSHA RECOMMENDS: Paid subscribers got a list of spots we’ve visited and enjoyed over the past couple weeks. PREVIEW: https://fluence-media.co/3ZvQgmt
RHYTHM & BREWS DISCOUNT TICKETS: 25% OFF for Download readers - Minnesota Monthly’s Rhythm & Brews is Saturday at CHS Field. Live music & unlimited sampling of beers, seltzers, ciders, wines and RTD’s from local and national brands from 1-5pm. Use Code JASON for 25% off: https://fluence-media.co/47C62ye
50TH & FRANCE RESTAURANT WEEK: Construction has been tough on many parts of town, 50th & France in Minneapolis and Edina is no exception. Restaurant week starts Sunday, September 29th - Deals at places like Pajarito, Edina Grill, Red Cow, Raag, Mr. Paul’s and more. https://fluence-media.co/3XFCLy5
DEVIL’S ADVOCATE PAUSING / RECONCEPTING IN STILLWATER: Not sure I’ve seen this before - Eric Forsberg’s Devil’s Advocate will close at the end of October and “take community feedback on potentially transitioning to a new concept.” They’re asking: was the concept wrong? Does the name scare you off? Devil’s Advocate doesn’t mean pro-Devil, people!! WhatNextStillwater.com
IT’S OKTOBERFEST SEASON
FULTON: Weekend two: Sept 27/28 https://fluence-media.co/3ZlUKvU
October 5:
Travail / Nouvelle Oktoberfest: German-style food stations, stein hoist competition, live music by Dr. Keilbasa, https://fluence-media.co/3XiH5mV
Earl Jam: Earl Giles has live music, food, drinks, kid and pet-friendly, starting at 11am. FB EVENT: https://fluence-media.co/3zk7clb
FOOD WRITING BY FRIENDS
WHAT DO TEENS THINK OF SAUERKRAUT PIZZA + MATT’S BAR: Such a fun journey by Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl, taking a bunch of late teens to some of our iconic spots. Spoiler: they crave “genuine” spots and loved. https://fluence-media.co/4eggMot
OG ZAZA COMES TO SHAKOPEE: Minnesota Monthly Editor-In-Chief Alesha Taylor visits one of my favorites, OG Zaza. “This new location in Greystone Construction’s Winners Circle development is not only a milestone for Hedquist but also adds to the growing culinary landscape that includes Bravis Craft Mexican Kitchen, Badger Hill Brewing, and Mr. Pig’s Smokery.” https://fluence-media.co/3U3CPH9
WEEKEND PLANNER:
Tonight our first Paris Dining Club at home dinner… we’re doing their Autumn series so a delivery from Jamie Malone to my house in September/ October / November — that’s a win. Then we’re on a plane to Portugal!
FRIDAY: FASHIONOPOLIS: MSP Mag’s fall fashion show at Four Seasons Minneapolis. Tickets: https://mspmag.com/promotions/fashionopolis
SATURDAY: Hewing Hotel + MP3 collab on In The Alley market. Live German music, a beer garden with Tullibee food - last one of 4 is this week, Noon - 4pm. https://fluence-media.co/3XXusOv
SAT NIGHT PARTY AT MIA: Sad I’ll be out of town for this - a night at the museum sounds cool - 2 drink tickets and light bites included. 8pm - Midnight https://fluence-media.co/4e99W46
DRIVETIME WITH DERUSHA ON DEMAND
INSPIRED BY NEW VIKINGS RB AARON JONES: You’ll be moved by his letter to Green Bay - https://fluence-media.co/3TLlH8J
ONE-HIT WONDERS: Paul Fletcher, me, and Electric Fetus rank you very much https://fluence-media.co/4ejVUg2
BUDDY BOWL HISTORY: Great chat with JD Hoyt’s owner (former line cook) Pat Monague: https://fluence-media.co/3XGac3I
HILL-MURRAY LOCKS UP CELL PHONES: Just like a concert. How’s it going, Melissa Dan, President? https://fluence-media.co/3XUo5MR
CHRIS SHERMAN ON TURNING OFFICES INTO HOMES: What needs to happen? What’s realistic? Groove Lofts looks cool! https://fluence-media.co/3XI4Ogb
JENNIFER MAYERLE on GUN TRACING: Fascinating insight from her trip to the ATF facility. https://fluence-media.co/3zKrhRT
LINDSAY WHALEN ON WHAT MAKES THIS LYNX TEAM DIFFERENT: Does she wish the W had today’s attention in her day? https://fluence-media.co/3Nlx7wx
SUBSCRIBE TO THE DRIVETIME WITH DERUSHA PODCAST!
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Spotify: https://fluence-media.co/3VUtph4
SEE YOU NEXT WEEK! The partners make it possible for me to do this — so do you! Thank you for reading!! I love seeing your feedback - so please share thoughts and news tips to Jason@JasonDeRusha.com.