Valentine's Day or Excuse to Go Out to Eat

February 20, 2012 Betsy the Baker

Ben and I rarely need an excuse to go out to eat...but Valentine’s Day is a good one. We decided to grab a drink at the newly opened Eat Street Social before heading to Piccolo for, what would soon become, one of my favorite meals.

Eat Street Social opened a few weeks ago in the Tacos Morelos' space on 26th and Nicollet. The restaurant is beautiful with a tin ceiling, exposed brick, an eclectic mix of art, and a nice bar. They serve traditional drinks which have been updated with new flavors + a handful of old school soda fountain concoctions (phosphates, egg creams...yes, they make a Green River). The drinks are not only delicious but also incredibly fun which is not a surprise once you learn that the head bartenders came from Town Talk and Chicago's The Violet Hour. Oh, and they also own Bittercube, a well-known bitters maker...

To summarize, they know what they're doing...

...the only thing missing was a plate of Town Talk's garlic, parsley fries.

Next came Piccolo. I think that most people in Minneapolis who follow some type of food blog, magazine, or [wait for it] Bourdain or Zimmern have heard of the tiny (36-seater) restaurant on 43rd and Bryant. It has been praised by nearly everyone who has stepped foot within its doors...which means one thing: the bar has been set high...which is totally acceptable as the meal was amazing.

Here is a rundown of what we ate:

1. King crab and lardo pave with celery, avocado purée and cocktail sauce

2. Chicken liver and porcini agnolotti with juniper, sage and smoked brown butter

3. Charcoal grilled octopus "shawarma" with yogurt, pickled green tomatoes, white asparagus and garlic purée

4. Alina duck with bresaola, prunes, lentils du puy and cabbage

5. Short rib with morcilla, puffed rice, cauliflower and compressed celery

6. Chocolate pound cake with blood orange, medjool date and cocoa nibs

Charcoal grilled octopus "shawarma" with yogurt, pickled green tomatoes, white asparagus and garlic puree.

Short rib with morcilla, puffed rice, cauliflower and compressed celery.

Is it Summer Yet?

January 23, 2012 Betsy the Baker

One of my favorite things to do in the summer is to walk to the Mill City Farmers Market and eat Chef Shack's Pulled Pork Nachos.

Not only was the food truck named one of the Twin Cities' best restaurants of 2011 by Mpls St. Paul Magazine, it was also just rated one of America's most creative food trucks!

I wish I could have this for lunch today...

My Favorites

January 5, 2012 Betsy the Baker

New Year's Eve is not my "favorite" holiday. In fact, like many other people, I believe that it is over-rated and over-hyped and often leads to the celebrant being let down. Ben and I decided to forego a party this year and instead go out to eat at our favorite restaurant which, as it turns out, is also the place where we were married.

As opposed to simply posting a mildly boring recount of a wonderful New Year's Eve (which it was), I decided to indulge you with a list of some of my favorite things (which also means that I have tricked you into looking at a few wedding photos):

Favorite Restaurant: Café Lurcat

Not only do they serve a wonderful meal, they can also put on a spectacular New Year's Eve and, if I may say so myself, a fantastic wedding.

Favorite Part of New Year's: The Gerber, The Kuller, The Gerbler

My husband surprised me at New Year's dinner with the three drinks that we created for our wedding.

Favorite Chocolate Cake: Turtle Cake from Cafe Latté

I am suspicious of any individual who lives in the Twin Cities but has never had a piece of Cafe Latté 's Turtle Cake. And, please, do not try to convince me that there is a better piece of chocolate cake on the planet.