DeRusha Download: Junk Fees Ban + Moms Day Guide
We are entering celebration season. The picture here is from Thursday night at the Basilica of St. Mary, where our 16-year-old celebrated Confirmation. This weekend it’s Derby Day, it’s Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day and graduation season follows. Maybe it’s obvious, but there’s something that always gets me going about celebrations. From the meal planning, to the family gathering, to the ritual of enjoying these milestones of development. I know some people get stressed watching their kids get older and time march on - but I love these different seasons of life. Celebrate something in your life this weekend!
TOO BUSY TO DOWNLOAD?:
Mother's Day Brunch Guide + June Rose tastings
My thoughts on “junk fees” being banned
Click the banner ABOVE to join me on a 20-mile beer/pizza/fun bike ride TOMORROW
Reader tips for Northfield, Minnesota
What MN spots got shout-outs in the New York Times?
Pick of the Week - one amazing intersection
Welcome Alexa Wozniak, Vincent Francoual, Anne Anderson, John Yuccas, Josh Paulsen, and all our new subscribers over the past two weeks!! I need your help to grow!! The more people who read this, the better we are equipped to support the spots that make our community special! Do you know a restaurant owner? Server? Chef? Foodie? Community-lover? If you enjoy the Download - forward this to a friend, and invite them to sign up at JasonDeRusha.com!
“JUNK FEES” BANNED: The MN House and Senate have to work out the differences, but they’ve both passed bills that would ban “junk fees.” Say goodbye to the 3-5% health and wellness charges, restaurants can charge mandatory tips but they’ll have to pass that on to employees and clearly indicate that in any price advertising. Personally, I’m fine with this. Too many different pricing schemes, even though I think most restaurants added fees to be honest and up front and disclose what’s happening. The truth is - as consumers we need to chill. We don’t demand that Best Buy explain exactly where the money goes when we buy a new TV. Why do we do that to the small business restaurant owners? COVID led to fees, we paid them happily, but now many are confused. 18-21% fee plus a tip line? So I’m tipping 40%? 5% wellness fee - do I add 15% now? Does that make me cheap? It’s stressful, and the final moment of an interaction with a restaurant shouldn’t be that.
I do worry that politicians have decided that restaurant owners are screwing employees, ripping off customers, and profiting huge money. This is largely BS.
I get it: we’re sick of being asked to tip at McDonald’s and at Target Field and at the airport snack store. But when fees go away and prices go up - don’t blame the restaurant owner. Or the server. Consumers decided we wanted it in the price, we want to tip and we don’t want the fees. So here we go.
Your feedback welcome at Jason@JasonDeRusha.com
MAKE MOTHER’S DAY RESSIES NOW!: It’s next Sunday. The Super Bowl for local restaurants. So many buffets. So many mimosas. I’ve put together a large list of options for every corner of the metro for Mother’s Day brunch- check it out at Minnesota Monthly online. https://fluence-media.co/49YSpsr
JOIN ME ON A RIDE TOMORROW: Let’s do the Fulton Gran Fondo! I’m riding the Piccolo - 11 miles to Pizza Luce, 11 miles back to the brewery - great for families or beginners! Saturday, May 4th, the 100 mile Gran Fondo starts at 9am, a 50 miler at 10am, and the fun 22 miler goes from Fulton to Pizza Luce and then back at 11am. Use the code DRIVETIME10 to save $10 on your registration here: https://fluence-media.co/4cK0dAS (Glad to partner with my friends at Fulton Brewing to encourage cycling and fun!)
ROSE ALL DAY: The rosé festivals and tastings are popping up on the calendar. Here are some of my favorites:
1010 Washington: June 1, 2-5pm, FREE. About 30 of the best Roses of the season open to taste.
Surdyk’s Liquor: June 8, 12p-6p, FREE. More than 100 roses open to taste. (I’m honored to endorse Surdyk’s on my radio show)
Solo Vino Bottle Shop: June 8, 4-8pm, Kellogg Mall Park, St. Paul, VIP Tickets: $125 ( early admission at 3 pm) GA Tickets: $60. https://fluence-media.co/3Qoi9rk
FARE GAME TRUCK GOES BRICK & MORTAR: Chef Jason Sawicki has been dreaming of opening in Northeast Minneapolis since 2019. Black Duck Spirits & Hearth will open this summer across from Hazel’s NE. From BlackDuckMpls.com: “Cooking with fire has always been alluring for Chef Sawicki: His experience in modern Mexican cuisine, combined with his Polish heritage and affection for culinary innovation, have guided the menu at Black Duck.” Right now the Johnson Ave NE site is where his food truck Fare Game is parked. https://fluence-media.co/3UEJOaa
ZEN BOX FIGHTING FOR ITS LIFE: “if I calculate my cost, a bowl of ramen should be $25 if we followed inflation [Zen Box charges $16 or $17 for a bowl of ramen]. But we can’t. I’m very sensitive to the pricing. Where can I find ways to make sure that we’re even profitable?” Fascinating interview with Lina Goh, co-owner of Zen Box. She has had storm sewer construction outside her front door for two year. Labor costs are up, eggs are up, so how do restaurants survive? BIZ JOURNAL: https://fluence-media.co/4b1mTeG
MORE DUE FOCCACERIAS: Did Eric & Vanessa Carrara close Italian Eatery so they could grow Due? Did they close because the economics of sit down restaurants make growth impossible? From J.D. Duggan, Biz Journal: “Carrara said a partnership will be announced in about a month that will “spread Due across the cities". From Joy Summers, Strib: “There are so many moving parts to their businesses that [i.e.] became an engine that requires a giant effort to tend. ‘Plus, looking down the road, at the restaurant horizon, things are changing.’” Carrara said he’s received offers to buy the property where i.e. sits and he wants to keep the real estate and perhaps lease to a new restaurant.
PICK OF THE WEEK: I am blown away by all the food options at 38th & Nicollet in Minneapolis: Petite Leon, Kyatchi, Abang Yoli, Boludo, Thai Curry, Nighthawks, Cocina Latina, and Finer Meats. One spot. My pick of the week is Abang Yoli. Chef Jamie Yoo is cranking out incredible food. He gained fame for his Korean-style fried chicken, but his skill with textures and flavor is really on display with his charred sweet potato dish. Homemade sauces too - the habanero was awesome as is the riff on ranch with a hint of nori. He’s in the tiny space that used to house Boludo and does a ton of takeout, but there are about 15-20 seats, and it's some of the best fast-casual food in the state. [Jamie was a guest on WCCO DeRusha Eats: https://fluence-media.co/42jT2KU
STARLING EDINA NOW OPEN: Jester Concepts first suburban restaurant is now open in Edina. Buzz on Starling from openings has been good: My sources say get the hummus, wings, Balinese fried rice & green curry walleye. Fun menu compliments the quality Edina scene with Pajarito, Mr. Paul’s, Edina Grill and The Lynhall right up the street at 50th & France. Good luck to Brent Frederick and his team!
36 HOURS IN MINNEAPOLIS: Great story in the NY Times with all sorts of ideas on places to visit. Shout-outs to Marty’s Deli, Spoon and Stable, Meteor bar and Laune Bread among others! FREE LINK: https://fluence-media.co/3ybnjR3
DRIVETIME ON DEMAND
GREAT BURGER + HAWAIIAN: Chris Ikeda from Lake & Irving (Uptown) and Pau Hana (Savage) talks about how Hawaii influenced him and an uptown update. https://fluence-media.co/3UGVnxu
STOLEN RUBY SLIPPERS: Great chat with Star Tribune reporter Rachel Hutton about her deep dive into the most infamous theft in Grand Rapids. https://fluence-media.co/44saYEn
PAUL BLUME, FOXXXX 9: Reporter Paul Blume on bonding with KARE’s Lou Raguse as dads of girls on the same basketball team. https://fluence-media.co/3w81uS8
EXCLUSIVE: THE TWINS RALLY SAUSAGE: Get ready to hand me my Marconi award for this interview with the Minnesota Twins summer sausage. Tap that sausage! https://fluence-media.co/3Qtv7nO
LANDSCAPE TIME: Don’t plant this weekend! Not yet! But enjoy our new Friday segment with Bachmans. https://fluence-media.co/4b2k7Wv
FIND DRIVETIME WHEREVER YOU GET PODCASTS!
We upload every segment so you can listen on your own time!
Barbara Evans wrote in with lots of love for Northfield: “Things are happening here. It feels like exciting days are ahead to add to the accumulation of what we already have.
Northfield was just noted as the Best Place to live in Minnesota—so another reason to visit!” “We have 3 breweries (Imminent and Tanzenwald in Northfield and Chapel in Dundas) and one fantastic distillery, Loon Liquors.” Scotty’s Whole Hog Barbecue sounds like reason alone to visit!
On construction zones, Maureen Rangen says “Linden Hills is a mess & even the established restaurants seem to be affected by the shutdown of the main intersection. We stumbled upon the new neighborhood spot “Picnic” on a walk this week. As I suspect you know, it’s open in the spot where “Clancy’s Meats” was for years.
COMMENTS? THOUGHTS? WANT TO PARTNER? Don’t forget to sign up to ride the Fulton Fondo with me! 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.
HANG WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA
X: @DeRushaJ, @DeRushaEats
Instagram: @DeRushaJ
Facebook: TheJasonDeRusha
Copyright © 2024 Fluence Media, All rights reserved.
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.