Download: Live in LA, Decline of Restaurant Service

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DRIVETIME GOES HOLLYWOOD: Coming to you today from Los Angeles, where Sam got the chance to be a ball boy at the Arsenal match Wednesday night (Thanks to MN Aurora FC President Andrea Yoch for the hook-up - Andrea is the ultimate connector!). We’re touring colleges again - Sam’s turn to visit UCLA, USC, and LMU. Plus today is an amazing opportunity - we’re going to one of the first tapings of Wheel of Fortune with Ryan Seacrest as host! - DeRusha OUT!

TOO BUSY TO DOWNLOAD:

• Podcasts: Orest Kramarczuk, Why Don’t you use the Airport Cell Lot

• List of restaurants opening soon!

• Win the DeRusha Eats state fair blue ribbon

• Preview of Black Duck Spirits & Hearth

• Vinai from Yia Vang to Open Next Week

• New: weekend planner

If you’re looking for a speaker on food, media, career changes or current events analysis for your summer or fall event, please reach out! Jason@JasonDeRusha.com

Thank you for helping this newsletter grow to nearly 2,000 subscribers! I’d love to get over the hump (15 away!). Forward this to a friend - they can subscribe at bit.ly/DeRushaDownload!

DOWNLOAD DIALOGUE: I love great service - and it’s hard to find. We were at Alma’s Cafe last Friday night and had just a glorious time - friendly bartender, incredibly knowledgeable about the wine, fun, funny, it was just such a joy. And while not a rarity, it is relatively unusual.

Here in LA, we visited Bestia which had a similar situation - in fact it may be the first time that I tipped an busser directly because this gentleman was so attentive and kept the water glasses filled promptly without being obtrusive. It was a thing of beauty.

Why has service dropped off? Has it? I think part of the problem is that we (guests and servers) don’t respect the job. Have you ever asked a server what their real job is? Or what they want to be after serving? Restaurant people talk about “the industry” when really they should think of it as a profession.

I do worry about the profession - as labor costs rise, food costs rise, rents, insurance, and at the same time demand is falling. eating out as a leisure activity isn’t as popular as it was a decade ago. The economics of sit-down restaurants in the mid-price tier are not great. And yet there are places and professionals who just love people - like I experienced at Alma and at Bestia.

Who has the best service in your experience? Let’s shout them out! Reply or Reach out: Jason@JasonDeRusha.com

YIA VANG’S VINAI TO OPEN NEXT WEEK: You may have seen social media photos of the private soft opening meals at Yia Vang’s Vinai last night. They’re doing more practice meals tonight and tomorrow and then will open Tuesday. from the news release: “Vinai is a love letter to Chef Yia’s parents, named after the refugee camp where he was born. This dream has been a long time coming. Chef Yia has worked tirelessly to create a menu and space that feels like home, not just for us but for everyone who walks in.” I grabbed a reservation for early August. RESERVE: https://fluence-media.co/3LMdoF7

NOW OPEN: Is NE Minneapolis ready for $15 cocktails? I think so. Wonderful food from the soft opening of Black Duck Spirits & Hearth at the soft open we visited on Saturday. Think Mexican-inspired technique and flavors (lots of salsas and moles). The open fire is sexy - try to sit at the chef’s counter! Right by Hazel’s NE (which is also adding cocktails, I hear). Chef/owner Jason Sawicki has assembled an impressive team… read my early thoughts MNMO: https://fluence-media.co/4bUlXZf

SHERMAN EXPANDING AROUND THE COUNTRY: Will there be more Owamnis? More Indigenous Food Labs for sure. I talk with Chef Sean Sherman after attending the third anniversary party of Owamni. Lots of news nuggets here: MNMO: https://fluence-media.co/3Yd4KHr

WIN THE DERUSHA EATS BLUE RIBBON: I am sponsoring prizes for the Minnesota State Fair Chocolate Chip cookie competition and the Banana Bread Competition. You’ll get a cooler rosette than the one I made in IG Stories, a prize, and you’ll appear on Drivetime with DeRusha live at the fair. Deadline to enter is July 30! You don’t deliver your baked goods until August 17. ENTER: https://fluence-media.co/3LABWRz

OG ZAZA COMING TO CANTERBURY DOWNS: Huge development is happening in Shakopee in the area around Canterbury Downs, and this week owner/chef Josh Hedquist announced OG ZAZA is bringing it’s fantastic pizza to the south burbs. Sit-down seating, a little more traditional restaurant than the Potluck Food Hall at Rosedale Center, along with THC beverages. End of summer, Josh says. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3yltd2x

UNDERRATED RESTAURANTS: I’ve been posting a little more on Threads. 250 replies to the most underrated TC restaurants https://fluence-media.co/3yfjAm4

COMING SOON: I track spots announced and not yet open, and there’s a huge list of spots coming this year. Why do you people keep opening things? Email me with news or tips!

• Local Rumor, StP, now open

• Dexter’s - Dani del Prado, open August

• Vinai, open August

• Salt and flour, Ingram, north loop green

• Hope Breakfast Bar, north loop

• Barcelona Wine Bar in north loop

• Lagniappe on 54th and Chicago

• Lynette, from Lyn65 team, Minneapolis

• Tender Lovin’ Chix, Lyndale

• Minari, from DDP chief culinary guy, former Erte in NE

• Bar Siena, Hopkins

• Mr Paul’s pizza place, former Arezzo

• Grackle, Maple Grove, September

• Forepaugh’s reboot in St Paul

WEEKEND PLANNER:

I’m in Los Angeles, but you should have a ton of fun around town this weekend.

AQUATENNIAL: Saturday is the big day. Makers Market on Nicollet Island, 10am-4pm. Market by the Guthrie at night, 6-10pm. Target Fireworks at 10pm.  https://fluence-media.co/3A2pNlK

ART IN THE ALLEY: BIPOC artists with live demos in the alley by MartinPatrick3. 3-8pm. https://fluence-media.co/3SjEVS1

LORING PARK ART FESTIVAL: Saturday and Sunday. https://fluence-media.co/3YeqBhq

3M OPEN AT TPC TWIN CITIES: If you’ve never been, it’s super fun. I’ll be there Sunday. Tickets still available for this weekend: https://fluence-media.co/4bVtxTl

DRIVETIME ON DEMAND

MY REACTION TO JOE BIDEN’S HISTORIC DECISION: Hard questions about timing, about resigning the office, and the incredibly past week. https://fluence-media.co/46eWvfK

WHY ARE SO MANY CHARGED WITH FRAUD SOMALI?: Kayseh Magan turns the focus on his own community. https://fluence-media.co/3LyF2p0

BRAIN MCCLUNG / ABOU AMARA ON KAMALA: A Republican vet of the veepstakes and a Dem strategist chop it up: https://fluence-media.co/4bPZ5u0

BLOIS OLSON ON BIDEN DROPPING OUT: Does this affect Minnesota? https://fluence-media.co/3yc27ed

DO YOU CIRCLE AT THE AIRPORT OR CELL PHONE LOT? Why aren’t there better signs - and what’s your strategy? https://fluence-media.co/3YgykMi

OREST KRAMARCZUK: 70 years of sausage! And a touching story of helping immigrants https://fluence-media.co/46fy563

SUBSCRIBE TO THE DRIVETIME WITH DERUSHA PODCAST!

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E-MAIL ME!! HAVE COMMENTS? A GOOD QUESTION? WANT TO PARTNER? 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.

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