What A Minnesota Food Critic Ate In May
So many highlights - hopefully you get inspired!
This was a strange month for me - we went to New York City to bring home our oldest from college, we’ve been cooking from home more since we have another human at the house. Every month I do a round-up of everywhere I’ve eaten, with a quick note. The idea isn’t to give deep reviews - rather but to pique your interest with something that you haven’t tried in awhile.
Highlights: Bucheron, Mara, Meritage, Somali food, South Lyndale Liquors and a trip to New York City!
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Mara Bar - I love this place for drinks. Great bartenders, incredible wine, beautiful surroundings.
The Cabana Club: St. Anthony Main, this place was packed on a Friday night. It was fine - loved the crispy garbanzo beans, the jerk chicken was nice. Love the cocktail menu has high proof/medium/low and is around $12-$14/drink.
Mara for Breakfast: I’m a sucker for the shakshuka here and any of the pastries. (we spent a night at Four Seasons Minneapolis)
South Lyndale Liquors: What a delight. Broccoli rabe sandwich was perfect, they have self-serve wine-by-the-glass, I’m a big fan of chef Matt Bickford - I wish I lived closer!
Diane’s Place: we picked up pastries to bring home - Diane Moua is a delightful human and a brilliant chef. NE Minneapolis.
Monte Carlo: had martinis with our friend Tom before he went to the Wolves game.
Dario: somehow underrated! Dario is really settling into a mature, nicely operating restaurant. The pasta has always impressed me, but the service feels natural now too.
Spoon and Stable: a fabulous dinner as part of Univ of Minnesota’s Children’s Hospital Wine Fest.
Milkjam Creamery: We ordered an ice cream pie for Mother’s Day and whoa - just a beautiful blend of textures and flavors (mango, pistachio)
Plaza Mexico on Lake Street: Pollo Movil for chicken, a great bakery in there too - Visit Lake Street partnered with me to do a couple videos.
Flora Room: We drove downtown on May 14th to taste some of the special cocktails as part of Chartreuse Week - a special promotion with one of my absolute favorite liqueurs. Flora is wonderful - great people at the bar below Porzana.
The Block Rogers: Craft & Crew had a soft opening of their newest restaurant in the Northwest metro. Pet friendly, super-nice server, almost identical to The Block SLP.
Bucheron: For Alyssa’s birthday, we went back to Bucheron which I haven’t been to in awhile. A really special place: great technique, best-in-class fine dining with a casual, friendly, service style that suits us today.
Red Rabbit: one of my favorite local pizzas, great cocktails and wine always at the right temp.
Cub Foods: For $1.49 you won’t find a better raised glazed donut.
Meritage: Such a joy - shrimp cocktail, beautiful french fries, we had sweet pea pancakes and fabulous wine.
Sanag Restaurant: See my last newsletter - this was a fun experience trying camel for the first time.
Starling, Edina: They launch their Caribbean-themed “passport” menu June 1, we love their chicken sandiwch, hummus and chicken yakisoba with thighs.
Pittsburgh Blue: We finished a choir concert in Maple Grove around 9p and stopped in for a perfect ribeye at Pittsburgh Blue. Not many late options in the burbs!
Bar Brava pop-up: Four Friends, Three Cultures: Ed from My Bao Buns, Chef E from @screaming_sushi and Baaska (@realwasabi_) teamed up for their first ever collab dinner.
NEW YORK CITY:
Vezzo Thin Crust Pizza: nice under-the-radar thin crust, not traditional NY Slice-style pizza near Seth’s new apartment, not far from NYU.
Piggyback by Pig & Khao: loved the flavors here, very sharable, midtown and delicious.
Grace Street Coffee & Deserts: Koreatown, super-cool shaved ice desserts and a Basque-style cheesecake
Blank Street Coffee: I’m a fan. Solid coffee, minimal design, my kind of place.
Utopia Bagels: one of my favorite NYC bagels, you can actually order Utopia online
Regina’s: Great Italian sandwiches -piled high on terrific bread in the Upper East side.
Eleven Madison Park: we walked in on a Sunday night and sat at the bar and had a tiny snack of asparagus. Funny story on my Instagram:
Kolkata Chai: I love this chai, you can buy this online too.
Hi Collar: Very cool Japanese version of a cafe with beautiful omelettes and spaghetti.
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