Download: Downtown Is Not Back, Bagel + Charcuterie Picks

CRAZY. HOT. SUMMER: I feel like we’ve been going non-stop! Since we last visited, we’ve been to PIcnic in Linden Hills, Taste of Minnesota twice, our friend Sunny’s house, Billy Sushi, I made pork steak al pastor tacos, spent the night at Grand Casino Mille Lacs’ newly renovated hotel room, and tooled around Bay Lake with the owner of Lonesome Pine. Right now I’m at Grand View Lodge in Nisswa, checking out their huge list of food options. I’m trying to savor every moment of outdoors, of being by water, of hanging out with friends. Hope you savor your week too! -Jason

TOO BUSY TO DOWNLOAD:

• New State Fair Foods - RANKED!

• Who’s Opening at 50th & France? YOUR TIP!

• Podcasts: My worst grade, Angie Craig, Mitt Repair Guy

• Dialogue: Downtown Is Not Back

• Karyn Tomlinson Comes to St. Anthony Main

• RIP Eli’s Downtown Minneapolis

DOWNLOAD DIALOGUE: Downtown is not back. Don’t believe the haters, and don’t believe the pollyannas. We just had a great Minneapolis weekend - we were downtown for Taste of Minnesota on Saturday (Wallflowers) and Sunday (Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis). It was bustling! Just like last weekend with the U.S. National Gymnastic Championships. And yes, this is the future of our downtowns (apparently) as hybrid and remote work models are here to stay. While smart people disagree on the responsibility of business or government to support a busy downtown, there is no disagreement that businesses cannot survive on events alone. And those events, which often have their own food, aren’t necessarily helpful to nearby restaurants.

I wish we knew more about how things are going with businesses. The realtors publish data on home sales, home builders publish data on new construction - restaurants don’t publish any data. Many don’t keep good data. How many butts are in seats? How many turns are restaurants doing? And how many restaurants are still hanging on despite knowing that things are not going to drastically change anytime soon. Agree? Disagree? Reach out: Jason@JasonDeRusha.com

HOT TIP: A Download reader tells me there’s a sign in the former Arezzo Ristorante at 51th & France saying Mr. Paul’s Supper Club is opening a new restaurant there.

DEEP FRIED RANCH SUMMER: As is my dumbest tradition, I have ranked the 33 new Minnesota State Fair foods based on a highly legitimate experience of tasting none of them. How’s the concept? The fun? The track record of the vendor? It’s fun to do and then see how reality matches up. MNMO: https://fluence-media.co/4czjRz6

ELI’S CLOSES: Joy Summers in the Star Tribune reporting that after 64 years in downtown Minneapolis, Eli’s has closed. I have fond memories of having dinner there with a former TV news director, Jeff Kiernan. Ahead of its time with craft cocktails too. “An unidentified employee said — and social media posts also hinted — that the decision was related to an inability to recover sales and traffic post-pandemic.” North Loop is thriving, downtown is largely event-based now, so spots like Eli’s are having a really tough time. STRIB: https://fluence-media.co/3zzYEqd

SUPPER CLUB TO ST. ANTHONY MAIN: Social media handles for Aster House popped up this week, and MSP Mag’s Steph March reports it’s the work of Jeff Arundel (Aster Cafe/Jefe Cocina). Myriel’s Karyn Tomlinson is helping with the menu. Exec. chef Josh Jones “is creating the menu with Tomlinson’s guidance, while she’s working on connecting the team with suppliers, and establishing a kitchen system that could support sustainability on this scale.” Look for wild rice croquettes, juniper braised bison with parsnip, salt-roasted carrots. MSP MAG: https://fluence-media.co/3S3hsEI

PICKS OF THE WEEK: I picked up bagels from the back of a van this past week and they were excellent. Jersey Girl Bagels is the creation of former New Jersey resident Jodi George. I asked, she is licensed with the state as a cottage food producer. Right now she’s serving Maple Grove and Plymouth with pickups, she’s making 450-500 bagels each week. We got everything bagels, and I loved the salt content - often bagels are underseasoned, and everything seasoning lacks salt. This was perfect! Nice hydration in the bagel too led to a good texture - Look for the order form on her Facebook page. https://fluence-media.co/4cwQkWO

FROM THE DINER CHARCUTERIE: My second cottage food producer pick is a charcuterie board artist and a teacher, also from Maple Grove. From The Diner posted on IG the board she made for us: https://fluence-media.co/3W2NoKn

Dawn Cleveland is a former hospital RN who makes beautiful boards. The classes she teaches look like a good time, too. Boards start at $70: https://fluence-media.co/4bEycZO

DRIVETIME ON DEMAND

JIMMY LONETTI & HIS GLOVE REPAIR SHOP: May be the only one in the country! https://fluence-media.co/3Wk7QYT

ANGIE CRAIG: OPPORTUNIST OR COURAGEOUS: My thoughts on her call for President Biden to drop out. https://fluence-media.co/3S3iiRS

STEPH SHIMP ON BLUE BARN’S NEW FAIR FOOD: Also the food that didn’t make the list! https://fluence-media.co/4cBYk98

WORST GRADE I EVER GOT: In defense of the F https://fluence-media.co/4eZoMLd

WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR OBIT TO SAY: https://fluence-media.co/3XUC3Pj

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GRAND CASINO MILLE LACS REDO: I spent Wednesday night at the newly renovated hotel at Grand Casino Mille Lacs, and it’s wonderful. (They hosted me as part of a social media deal with WCCO Radio). Hospitality was perfect, the dedication to highlight Anishinaabe art from here but also all over the Upper Midwest is so cool. Lots of new restaurants going on-line too… I’ll be back!

DRIVETIME IS LIVE FRIDAY AT GRAND VIEW LODGE: I’m Mr. Up North! Friday I’m at Grand View, they’re highlighting that GVL is more than golf… 10 restaurants, tons of fun activities (pickleball, sand volleyball, new water slides)… They’ve also added all sorts of lodging configurations to make it more flexible and accessible for people. Follow my social media channels to see what’s going on there!

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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