Actually, Broder's Terzo Vino Bar isn't an Italian restaurant. It's an Italian wine bar, with a 1,000-bottle all-Italian wine cellar, and more than 40 wines by the glass (or half-glass.) The kind of place where you might stop for a glass of Amarone and a small plate or two, after putting your name in for a table across the street at Broder's Pasta Bar. I'm a big fan of the … [Read more...]
Hidden in plain sight: Indian cuisine at Malabari Kitchen, Winner, and Hot Indian Foods
A tiny storefront without a sign. A food truck. A gas station. Indian cuisine is showing up in unexpected places.The Malabari Kitchen has been in operation since last December, in the tiny storefront previously occupied, in quick succession, by Korean, Thai, and multi-ethnic Southeast Asian restaurants. There's no sign above the door, just an awning that says Asia … [Read more...]
Eat for Equity dinner May 25 to support Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness
Eat For Equity is a wonderful volunteer-led organization that organizes fundraising dinners. Every month, they pick a different worthy cause to support, and for this month, they chose the Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness. (The Twin Cities Media Alliance had its turn last year.) Eat for Equity events draw a fun group of people, mostly in their 20s.The menu … [Read more...]
Big Marina Grill & Deli in Columbia Heights: Middle Eastern and more
The buffet offerings are as varied as the clientele at Big Marina Grill & Deli, 4755 Central Ave., Columbia Heights—mostly Middle Eastern, with lamb shanks, chicken kabobs, kofta kabobs, stuffed grape leaves, grilled eggplant, felafel, hummus, tabouli, soups, samosas, baklava, and Greek and Middle Eastern salads and pastries. But there are lots of other dishes to choose … [Read more...]
The Pig Ate My Pizza—and I ate the pig
Did you ever wonder what would happen if the wild and crazy guys behind Travail Kitchen & Amusements opened a pizzeria? Would they, like, create a foie gras pizza? Or a Mussels from Brussels pizza, as a tribute to Jean Claude Van Damme, topped with mussels, brussel sprouts, and chorizo? Or maybe an appetizer made from pig feet and cheeks, and call it … [Read more...]
Quick bites at Nightingale in Minneapolis: Mussels steamed in Boom Island Ale and grilled romaine with boquerones
Stopped in recently for a quick bite at Nightingale, 2551 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis, and discovered a couple of delightful dishes. Mussels seem to be absolutely everywhere these days, usually prepared in white white wine, but Nightingale's rendition was distinctively different: steamed in Boom Island beer with butter and smoked tomatoes ($10). The grilled romaine ($7) was … [Read more...]
Keefer Court Bakery & Cafe in Minneapolis: What the mahjong ladies order
I try to be discreet about it, but I have this really bad habit of wandering around in Chinese restaurants to see what the other diners are eating—especially if the other diners are Chinese. I always have this suspicion that I am missing out, and that the Chinese customers know about dishes on the menu that I don't know about—or dishes that aren't even on the … [Read more...]
Sure signs of spring: Sea Salt, Tin Fish now open; Bread & Pickle opening soon
CORRECTED 5/1/2013 — Yay! Snow is in the forecast for Wednesday, but who cares? Sea Salt and Tin Fish are now open for the season. Leasing the food concessions at the lakes is one of the smartest things the Minneapolis Park Board ever did.On Sunday, the line at Sea Salt, at Minnehaha Falls Park stretched out as far as the eye could see (well, almost), but the food was, as … [Read more...]
Leftover surprise! Hello Pizza in Edina, and how I got paid to eat White Castle fish and shrimp tacos
What's on the menu this week is leftovers. Hello Pizza. Fish and shrimp tacos from White Castle. Don't like it? Tough. Go read somewhere else. I was out of town for a few days, and so I am dishing up what's left in the fridge.First of all, a visit last week to the new Hello Pizza in Edina. And let me preface this with a few words of wisdom from the old philosopher: so much of … [Read more...]