Secrets of the City

Levain, Heartland, or Auriga.

All three use local culture, tastes, and design in a unique way. And all three tuck themselves away in a primarily-residential area so they feel neighborhoodish.

The Nortons just outside of Red Wing is great, though technically in Wisconsin, and that’s a half-hour drive from Minneapolis. Nye’s says Polish Minnesota, and that’s a great historic tourist spot. I don’t have a clue about restaurants, obviously…

Tough question : short list.

Auriga (Damn you rex) and French Meadow Bakery and Cafe.

Hmm.. I would add Lucia’s.

And one of those horrible Mall of America restaurants. Not because it is good but because in everyone’s mind Minnesota is the Mall of America. Are you really going to try and aruge that reality isn’t socially constructed?

California Cafe wasn’t so bad the one timeI was there for that purpose.

st. paul:

w.a. frost

ristorante luci

zander cafe

I could understand asking this question in a region that had some strong culinary identity worth preserving. And the talent at Auriga et al are trying to forge a new definition of what “says Minnesota” by nuturing a European-style emphasis on artisanal local products. But note Jenkins’ answers to the question- two places I’ve never heard of (Little Oven and Lindey’s Steak House). It makes me wonder if Minnesota has any bona fide food culture of its own? And if so, how does it taste?

Downtown Olive Garden.

Pizza Luce, any location
Longfellow Grill
Chatterbox Pub
Craftsman

Mpls: Mayslack’s, Murray’s, Peter’s Grill, Porky’s, Al’s

St. Paul: Keys, The Lexington, Mancini’s, Red’s Savoy, Cossetta’s

Outstate: Toby’s (Hinckley), Norske Nook (Osseo, WI)

Minnesota definitely has a taste of it’s own: walleye, wildrice, venison, sweet corn . . . winter squash is just in season now.

On the fine dining end, I second Not2Sure: Lucia’s uses veggies and meats from local Minnesota/Wisonsin family farms.

It tastes like wild rice.

The Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth.

Tavern on Grand, Pannekoken (I think there is still one near the Maplewood Mall, The Loon.

Olive Garden ha ha ha

i don’t know…it’s a toss up between applebees and leeann chin.

Regarding wild rice, quoting Dara:

“Now, like many of you, I have been traumatized by wild rice tucked inside spring rolls and wontons, suspended in Jell-O, layered in cheesecakes, hidden in quiches, incorporated into every imaginable type of soup and chowder. And so now, like all of us, when I hear about wild rice in strange places I get out my trusty fire axe and make for daylight. [...]“

” [. . . ] yet, the wild rice in this instance works quite well, adding a simple dimension of crunch to a pie that is otherwise dominated by the nutty, woody, smoky flavors of morel and bison. Look, it’s the future! We can have our ecosystem and eat it too.”

I’m with D. The walleye at the Tavern on Grand would do the trick. Then walk it off in Crocus Hill.

Someone needs to buy us (and by us I mean specifically me) a drink for this advice.

Walk around Calhoun and with a fake smile. Steal glances with the hot guy in flip flops at Kowalskis. Complain about Mall of America. Then, when no ones watching…shop of Mall of America. Nyes. Because you’ve been waiting for an opportunity to wear that burnt orange satin shirt from Target. But most importantly, Chipotle. And lots of it.