Download: INSIDE PASS to Aspen's Food and Wine show
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Hello from Aspen! I’m at the FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen, my first national food & wine show, to get my arms around the newest trends in food and drink. I’m also catching up with local chefs like Gavin Kaysen, Andrew Zimmern and Justin Sutherland. I think more Minnesotans should come to events like this - I’ve run into so many random, interesting people and I’ve only been here one day! Travel feeds the soul, and coming to big events in your area gives you the chance to network beyond your bubble! Make sure you’re following on Instagram, Facebook or Threads. I’m even posting some on TikTok. So hip and with it. -Jason / Jason@JasonDeRusha.com
TOO BUSY TO DOWNLOAD:
Local Beard Award Winner
Father’s Day Gift Guide
Podcasts: Cheryl Reeve, Famous Dave, and more
Who I spotted in Aspen
Read to the end for an question/answer about Parent’s Night Out Spots
LOCAL CHEF WINS JAMES BEARD AWARD: An above-the-fold headline for this week. Hai Hai and Hola Arepa chef/owner Christina Ngyuen was named Best Chef: Midwest in Chicago at the James Beard Foundation awards. She joins 7 other Minneapolis chefs who have won that award. Read her emotional remarks and my analysis in MNMO Mag: https://fluence-media.co/3VCMHsm. LISTEN to her first interview via WCCO RADIO: https://fluence-media.co/3VjvIde
DIALOGUE: Before we hit three parties, had two dinners, and drank a very reasonable amount of wine - Luke Shimp & Tracy Bachul and Alyssa and I took a hike into the Maroon Bells. It is a reminder of the natural beauty all over this country, and Colorado has it in spades. There’s something about the soothing, calming, zen-like quality of running water. It’s why so many of us are drawn to lakes and fountains and yes, I want a water feature in my yard.
Luke & Tracy own Red Cow and Red Rabbit and are so thoughtful and kind and you have different kinds of conversation with you’re trying to avoid mud and you’re balancing on stones to keep hiking around a lake. I often describe myself as a “great indoorsman” - I don’t hunt, I don’t fish, I don’t hike that often. Maybe the absence of that in my normal routine makes me crave it, or at least makes me enjoy it more when I am in it.
Favorite spots to hike in Minnesota? Let me know - hit reply to this newsletter, I’ll share your tips next week!
SPOTTED IN ASPEN: So far we’ve seen Luke & Tracy Shimp (Red Cow/Red Rabbit), Andrew Zimmern (famous), Linda & Peter Quinn (Bread & Chocolate/Cafe Latte), and a bunch of people who are involved in the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital. Wine people like Noah Dorrance from Reeve Wines, Karissa Kruse (President of Sonoma County Winegrowers Association) and her husband Steve Dutton (winemaker and grower). The 3 Top Chef Finalists are here (Dan Jacobs, Danny Garcia and Savannah Miller) - and I have interviews with all of them on Instagram and Facebook. No one liked doing the fish boil (no one really likes fish boil).
BEST BURGERS + THEIR ORIGIN STORIES: What restaurant owner said he didn’t expect his burger to be “our Anthony Edwards?” Which one described the creation of their burger as a way to shut-up a bar manager complaining about drunk guests? I love this cover story I did for Minnesota Monthly: https://fluence-media.co/4aNRvj8
NASHVILLE TRAVEL GUIDE: I summarized some of my faves in the newsletter last week - see my pictures and more ideas for Nashville from my visit a couple weekends ago on my website: JASONDERUSHA.COM: https://fluence-media.co/3VvlOGM
ENTER BY 5PM TODAY!! WIN A TRIP TO LONDON TO WATCH THE VIKINGS: The Vikings asked me to help give away a trip for 4 to London to watch the Vikings play the NY Jets! WOW! Round-trip airfare, hotel and 4 tickets, ENTER TO WIN: https://fluence-media.co/3QYGyE3
FATHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE
Sunday is the day!!! A couple spots I recommend you check out! (Full list at my website: https://fluence-media.co/3yJyOzx)
PENS: I am obsessed with Barry Rubin’s selection of fun and luxurious pens. You don’t have to spend a lot to give a gift that he’ll think of every day. I have about a half-dozen rollerball pens from Barry, email him NOW with dad’s favorite color or hobby and he’ll hook you up. EMAIL: penstore@gmail.com
WATCHES: TC Time & Luxury: i get all my watches from David Brenke. He’s spent his career working in luxury watches - he can find anything you need, but his showroom in St. Louis Park is stocked with pre-loved Rolex, Tudor and IWC to more entry-level Seiko. Tell David I sent you, he’ll give you an even better deal than normal! SELECTION: https://fluence-media.co/3ViIGJw (You can even get this lovely Tudor I’m wearing!)
COFFEE SUBSCRIPTION: I’ve been a subscriber to Trade Coffee for 8 years or so now. You get 30% off your first month if you use my link. https://fluence-media.co/3w16Iyl (I get $20 if you sign up!)
KITCHEN KNIVES: Eversharp just had a crazy tent sale with unbelievable knives from Wusthof and huge discounts. Everything they have left is now in the shop, ready for gifting. The Santuko knives I’m holding are $99, usually $150. Email info@eversharpknives.com, or stop in 344 Taft St NE, Minneapolis.
DRIVETIME ON DEMAND
LYNX/USA BASKETBALL COACH CHERYL REEVE: Yes, I asked about Caitlin Clark. https://fluence-media.co/4efbRoa
NORTH DAKOTA SETS A MAX AGE FOR CONGRESS: Noted agist radio host loves no. https://fluence-media.co/3RsTTFb
DO WE WANT AI ON OUR PHONES?: I talk to NY Times chief consumer tech writer https://fluence-media.co/45nOGnE
FAMOUS DAVE ANDERSON: We talk MN BBQ and 30 years of Famous Dave’s. https://fluence-media.co/3xhR1Uv
FIND DRIVETIME WHEREVER YOU GET PODCASTS!
We upload every segment so you can listen on your own time!
You can always ask a GOOD QUESTION to me at Jason@JasonDeRusha.com
Nathan Tracy reached out on x.com/DeRushaEats:
“can you rec 3 places in Mpls/St. Paul proper for Parents' Night Out this Saturday? Good drinks, people watching, and making a reservation are key!”
Can I ever!? I get the reservation urge- when you have a babysitter and you have limited time, you don’t want to wait an hour, or bop around to somewhere else if you can’t get in. SO I went to Resy and Tock and searched for 6 at 6:30pm - here are some spots I found with openings:
Earl Giles distillery (NE)
Butcher & The Boar (North Loop)
Riva Terrace (rooftop at Four Seasons)
Stepchld
Red Wagon Pizza (South Minny)
Emerald Lounge (Saint Paul)
Wrestaurant at Palace,
How’d I do? What would you add to the list? Jason@JasonDeRusha.com I’ll share your tips next week!
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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