MSPD's Recent Activity
Chowhound Post
Jfood returns to Heartland (MSP) - Food a 10; Management/Owner a Zero
I don't want to stray too far afield and into restaurant politics. It's worth noting that Russo was at the fore of a recent dustup regarding food allergies, as a City leader was proposing a number of controversial new ordinances and requirements on restaurants pertaining to allergies.
The story is best followed in Russo's own blog in the Star Tribune. You can also read his account of a meeting with the City official where the ideas jfood spelled out were discussed as productive solutions (instead of the costly bureaucratic solutions being proposed).
Now, to honor jfood's comment (as well as the site policies), a question about Heartland's menu. Being that it changes often, does anyone know if cassoulet is a regular feature throughout the winter? I could go for a bowl of beany, meaty goodness. And, jfood, was it Red Stag where you had an outstanding cassoulet last year? I remember you posting about a good one and, if I recall, a ho-hum version locally. It was about the same time I had a very good cassoulet at Meritage.
Chowhound Post
MSP New Szechuan restaurant where China Jen (Roseville) was - anyone tried it?
Maybe it's being confused with Grand Shanghai??
Chowhound Post
Late Night Dinner in Minneapolis
If I had only asked about Joe Senser's on here before....oh well.
Chowhound Post
Late Night Dinner in Minneapolis
I don't know much about beer, but Joe Senser's to me is no better or worse than any average sports bar anywhere around the country. You may as well go to TGI Friday's, Applebee's, Champps, etc. There won't be much dropoff in food quality.
Now that I think of it, I did try and order a "dark beer" at Senser's last time I was there. The options were pint of Guinness and larger glass of Guinness. I had the Guinness.
Chowhound Post
San Marzano tomatoes [MSP]
I was at Buon Giorno yesterday and they have a couple brands of San Marzano tomatoes. They also have a few options for canned tuna (I noticed while looking for anchovies) -- tiny cans, I can't imagine they were very expensive.
Bills Imported Foods on Lake has all kinds of canned fish...probably the largest selection I recall seeing anywhere. I don't know if they have the tomatoes though.
Chowhound Post
Surly Darkness on tap? - MSP
Places I would try (probably by calling to check), besides the aforementioned: Black Sheep, Stub and Herb's, Common Roots Cafe, Triple Rock
The MplsBikeLove forum has a thread devoted to Surly (beer, but also Surly bikes) that's kept fairly well up-to-date. It's on the "Blah Blah Blah" section, title of the thread is "Let's Get Surly". http://www.mplsbikelove.com/forum/vie...
Chowhound Post
Best Scones in the Twin Cities Metro
I also like the scones at Rustica. Colossal Cafe is worth a shot as well.
You probably won't get down that way, but Valley Natural Foods in Burnsville has excellent scones.
Chowhound Post
Where to eat in Bloomington, MN
Shhhh....it was tongue in cheek.
Chowhound Post
Where to eat in Bloomington, MN
How does this place stay in business? It's a classic, blue collar independent neighborhood lunch joint. It appeals to people looking for comfort food, cheap and filling meals, gravy/meat/potatoes served by lunch lady types in a no-nonsense setting on a no-nonsense plastic tray. It's incredibly consistent. Food you can always count on.
It's for people that dig with shovels, carry heavy objects, work with their hands and/or need to fill the emptiness of their cubicle-sucked souls with a good hot meatloaf sandwich, not some namby-pamby banh mi with 1/2 ounce of pork and some wierd little veggies that you're supposed to eat with your well-manicured pinkies extended.
Chowhound Post
Where to eat in Bloomington, MN
What is the fascination with sending this poor person clear over to the Mall of America? There is a Crave right by the OP's hotel (Galleria).
Chowhound Post
Where to eat in Bloomington, MN
Important note for a conference attendee: Wally's is closed after 3 p.m. Not a dinner option.
Chowhound Post
Where to eat in Bloomington, MN
Sorry, I hate to do this but, this is a terrible recommendation for a visitor. Everything on that list can be duplicated almost identically on France Avenue, five minutes from the Sheraton.
Tavern on France is a carbon copy of Twin City Grill (and much, much better). Ciao Bella just off France is better than Tucci Benucch.
There's a Famous Dave's much closer (98th Street, just off of Normandale Blvd...essentially one turn once you leave the hotel).
I guess crappy Mexican is missing from that immediate area, so maybe Cantina #1 is still in play. But why go through the hassle of parking/walking through the Mall, when you could have the same basic thing at Chevy's outside the Mall across the street?
Chowhound Post
No Mas - Jfood gives up on Chinese in MSP
Dim Sum and the regular dining are two different things -- my comments are re: the regular dining.
Chowhound Post
No Mas - Jfood gives up on Chinese in MSP
I can understand the wanting to give up. But if you can't find something to love at Pagoda, you're not trying at all. (Which reminds me, have you taken my advice to get a burger at Good Day Cafe yet?)
Pagoda has hundreds of dishes and a constant array of changing specials -- everything from Americanized to standard Chinese Chinese food. All of the...let's see....25-30 (?) dishes I've tried there have all been between good and amazing.
When Mother Nature is pissed off like she seems to be right now, their hot pots and soups are the perfect cure for the shivers. I wish I was having lunch there today.
Chowhound Post
A bit of New York in the Midwest
Wow. Jan, FYI, you just re-opened a seven year-old thread.
Interestingly enough though, the Jewish deli landscape hasn't changed much since then in MSP. Cecil's still sucks and there have been a handful of places that tried and failed or are trying and failing.
Chowhound Post
Minneapolis- your favorite downtown restaurant,$65 per person please- thanks-any cuisine
5 course tasting menu at La Belle Vie. $65 per person exactly.
Chowhound Post
St. Paul late night dessert spot?
A seat at the bar at The Strip Club would be my destination.
Chowhound Post
MN - Eagan lunch places?
I should also mention that I haven't worked in Eagan for over 2 years and, though I still eat there fairly often, some of my old posts might be a little stale.
Chowhound Post
MN - Eagan lunch places?
Classic Sai-Gon up on Beau D'Rue drive (just east of Rahn) in the combo apartments/strip mall is also good.
Oasis Market that I used to mention in Eagan posts stopped serving their fried chicken BTW. Junior's Grill is a good option and the new sushi place next to Sambol is OK. Their uniqueness is that for their all-you-can-eat specials (7 days a week) you can order anything on the entire menu. Sushi, sashimi, cooked, soups, noodle dishes, and on and on.
Ring Mountain over by 35E and Cliff does some good soups/sandwiches but the real draw is the gelato.
Chowhound Post
Tamalandia [St. Paul, MN]
No, Tamalandia closed a long time ago. The trek down to El Burrito Mercado is your best bet for tamales in that area.
Chowhound Post
St. Paul budget-friendly suggestions needed
If Japanese food is in play, I would recommend Tanpopo.
Chowhound Post
MSP: Somali or Hmong Food?
Thanks. I had read the Secrets of the City bit a while back and that was the only think I had ever heard about the place. I stopped in to grab a menu and they were very friendly but haven't been able to get back...when I posted about it a couple months ago, nobody had much to say. I hope to get over there soon.
Chowhound Post
MSP: Somali or Hmong Food?
In English, please.
Is the food good or not?
Chowhound Post
Getting psyched for the Fair (MSP)
Ha! It's probably a GOOD thing I only got four. I spent the first few hours there volunteering in the Health Fair 11 building which included me being the early morning guinea pig on the blood pressure, cholesterol and weight devices. Talk about scare tactics. Thankfully all numbers are trending in the right direction!!
Chowhound Post
MSP - Hole in the Wall Mexican Recs in South Suburbs
Supermercado Olmeca, attached to Tacolmeca, also has a nice bakery and some real treasures (like chiccharon, carnitas, tamales). And don't forget to stop in the bakery next door to Taqueria La Hacienda.
Not a restaurant per se, but in the older strip mall in Burnsville's "Heart of the City" there's also the Hidalgo Market. While not as cool as Olmeca, it's a neat little Mexican market. They have tamales on the weekends that aren't bad and sometimes other foods ready-to-eat. Their taqueria (Taqueria Hidalgo) in the same strip, a couple doors down, isn't as good as TLH or Olmeca.
Chowhound Post
Best French Bread MSP
You might enjoy Rustica's offerings. 46th and Bryant Ave (although they are moving later in the Fall).
Chowhound Post
Getting psyched for the Fair (MSP)
Re: the yellow color, it looked exactly like that cheap vanilla-type store bought ice cream. Maybe "French Vanilla" or whatever....it's some variation of vanilla. This had the same color, texture and flavor.
Obviously, always wanting to reaffirm my chowhoundishness credentials, I was trying so hard to detect the "subtle" flavors of honey and just couldn't find them.
Oh well...the cheese curds were good (although we split the order between the five of us in the family and I only got maybe 4 blobs).
Chowhound Post
Getting psyched for the Fair (MSP)
Glad you liked it. I guess the secret is to pay the extra $1 or whatever to put actual honey on it. Otherwise it's just yellowish ordinary vanilla ice cream with sunflower seeds in it (my seeds had no salt flavor unfortunately).
Chowhound Post
Getting psyched for the Fair (MSP)
So after reading the raves on here for a couple years, and never getting the chance, I tried the honey sunflower ice cream, and.....YAWN. Sunflower seeds make a good addition to ice cream but all in all, there are probably 100 flavors in the case at Cub that would get me more excited. Disappointing.
Chowhound Post
MN's most hilarious restaurant: Val's Rapid Serv St. Cloud
Thanks for the great photo chris. I've been back a few times, but not with camera in hand. I just love this place.
