ike.'s Profile
Mexican Breakfast in Mpls
not to pile on the MGM posts, but my favorite chilaquiles in town are at la loma.
seeking list of best,most interesting NE Minneapolis restaurants
When did you hear that about Bombay 2? When the place was closing down she said she hoped to get something going in the Skyway in a matter of months. She even had a big list of email addresses for updates. I never heard anything since. Man that place was the best.
New Years Resolution: Explore Vietnamese Restaurants in MSP
Another place worth recommending is Pho 79 in St. Paul on Energy Park Drive and Raymond. Great pho, great egg rolls, the wings are awesome and there's a spicy chicken/rice dish (the name escapes me) that's good too. I really wish there was a menu online for this place. Great lunch specials and very friendly ownership. This place is awesome.
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Pho 79 Restaurant
2233 Energy Park Dr Ste 800, Saint Paul, MN 55108
Bagel + Lox
Well yeah, but then anytime I cook at home I'm "giving up atmosphere". I'm not going to plan 5 days ahead every time I crave a bagel/lox, but it's good to know I can do it myself better than anyone in town.
I basically used Peter Reinhart's bagel method as my guide, and the lox was an amalgamation of a few different recipies. Basically just coating the flesh of two pieces of salmon with a mix of salt, brown sugar and pepper, pressing them together flesh-to-flesh, wrapping, and sticking in the fridge for 4+ days. There's more to it, but a quick search will tell you all you need to know.
Source for sides of pork/ whole hogs, etc in the Twin City area?
I've bought quantities of pork straight from Tim Fischer of Fischer Farms. He's a great dude. And he's usually willing to meet you somewhere in town so you wouldn't have to drive to the farm. Highly recommended.
http://www.fischerfamilyfarmspork.com/
Recipe for Bagels? [moved from Minneapolis-St. Paul board]
I'd LOVE if you posted your recipe/techniques! The sooner the better, as I was hoping to make them this weekend.
As for freezing, how do they hold up?
Bagel + Lox
Personally, finding the "perfect bagel" isn't necessarily the priority. Land-locked as we are, our standards have to be realistic.
That said, the lox is what's hard to find. I'm perfectly fine with a place using (fresh-ish) Bruegger's bagels, so long as they're topping said bagels with some good quality lox and other related accompaniments.
So yeah. The intent of this thread was more about lox and less about bagels. But thanks for the suggestions so far.
Bagel + Lox
Actually, now that I think of it, I had one at the St. Paul Farmer's Market this summer that was heavenly. I believe it was from Golden's Deli, but from what I can gather on the interwebs, they don't serve it in the cafe. Just the market. But they're not at the market after October. Boo!
So if you can wait until next spring, hit up the market and try it out. I think it was like $9, but the treat was worth every penny.
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Golden's Deli
275 4th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101
Bagel + Lox
Right, I've made them at home before. But rather than going to a bagel shop for fresh bagels to bring home and assemble the sandwiches myself, I'm interested in learning where I can order one off a menu.
I see that Mort's Delicatessen has a lox "platter", but the $13 pricetag prevents me from being interested. The one I got yesterday at Common Roots was half that.
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Common Roots Cafe
2558 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55405
Mort's Delicatessen
525 Winnetka Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55427
Bagel + Lox
This is my newest food obsession. It seems to be slim pickins finding places that serve bagels with lox around here. Let's talk about where to go for this delicious combination.
Yesterday I was finally able to get one at Common Roots Cafe. Deeeelicious. The onion bagel was a tad difficult to chew through, but everything else was perfect. I will definitely be going back for another.
I've heard that the St. Paul Bagelry offers a good one as well, but I have yet to try it myself.
I'd also heard that Brothers Deli in downtown Mpls had a good one, but when I went in last week, they only had a scant bit of old lox that she wouldn't even serve me. She said she couldn't remember the last person to order it.
Where else should I go? Help me feed my latest craving!
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Common Roots Cafe
2558 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55405
Brothers Deli
50 S 6th St, Minneapolis, MN 55402
St. Paul Bagelry
1702 Lexington Ave N, Roseville, MN 55113
I think I've found the best sandwich in MSP
The kofta meatball sandwich with harissa from the World Street Kitchen truck is my new favorite sandwich. One of those things where you don't want to finish it because then it's gone forever. Amazing.
BEST BEEF JERKY (MSP)
Beef jerky is one of my favorite foods ever, and the best I've had in the twin cities is from Ready Meats on Johnson St. in northeast Minneapolis. They have it brought in from a smokehouse in North Dakota, but it is just ridiculously good. My dog just loves when I pick some up too. :)
MSP Best Butcher/Grocery for Steaks
I will second the H&V ribeye from Seward. It's absolutely the best steak you can buy for the $. The guys behind the counter are really nice too. While you're there, be sure to pick a few different homemade sausages and some beautiful ground bison for burgers. Man I love that place.
Restaurant Week ... [MSP]
I went to Barrio for lunch yesterday. The guacamole was pretty good, though the avocado could've been a bit more ripe. There was a trio of salsas as well, all of which were very different from one another and tasted great. The chips were piping hot and fresh. The steak taco was a bit cumbersome, but the flavor was very rich. The carnitas taco was nothing special, but not bad. It's not a stand-out deal though when compared to the regular menu. So don't go rushing there to hit RW. I'd love to go back for more of the chips/salsa and tequila!
We're doing Chambers tomorrow. Based on the couple mentions here, I'm pretty excited.
MSP: Bar with room rental, good food.
I will second this. We had a party there a couple nights before our wedding, and it worked out great. The food is good, the staff is always really cool, and the beer is great. They didn't charge a room fee, just a conservative minimum tab.
Kansas City Breakfast
We're headed there this weekend to hang out and get some bbq, and I'm having a tough time finding the must-hit breakfast spot. We're staying in the Plaza area, and we'd likely be looking to go on Sunday. Where do we go?
For the record, we know we're going to Arthur Bryant's one night (non-negotiable, as we've been there a few times before) and we're not sure about the other night. Probably either Jack Stack or Gates.
1950's theme party ideas
I have a work party tomorrow afternoon, and the theme was just given to me this morning. (Gee, thanks!) The theme is 1950's.
There are only 5 of us participating, so my contribution has to coordinate with what's already being brought. And it has to be fairly basic (i.e. no herring) to appease the limited palates I am working with. So far, the list is:
- tater tot hotdish
- deviled eggs
- chex mix
- grasshoppers / pink squirrels
I don't want to cop out by bringing a pickle/olive tray. My only ideas so far are to do a jello mold with canned fruit inside, or else maybe a cheese ball. I'm a product of the 80's, so my knowledge of the 50's is not exactly very deep.
If you have any great ideas, please pass them along!
MSP: Fresh, Local Thanksgiving Turkey?
I ended up running down to the STP farmers market yesterday and got there as everyone was packing up to leave. Callister was all out of turkeys, but Bar-5 ranch had some. An 18-pounder is reserved in my name. I'm excited to show my family how much better this is going to be than the usual grocery store kind. Can't wait!
MSP: Fresh, Local Thanksgiving Turkey?
I told my family that I'm going to take care of finding the turkey this year. They normally get whatever's on sale at Cub or Rainbow, but this year I want to find something more local and natural.
Where should I go? How much can I expect to pay for a 17-18 pound bird? I want to reserve one soon to ensure I get one that's fresh and not frozen, so I'd like to get this done this weekend. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.
Thank you!
[MSP] - Chilaquiles?
Where is the best? I've had it at the MGM from La Loma, and it was delicious. Last weekend I ordered it at Chiapas on Central, and it wasn't as good. I'm on a mission to find the best chilaquiles in the Cities. Help!
[MSP] Church Dinners
Holy Cross isn't doing their fish fry this year! Major disappointment after having a great time there last year.
Where's the hopping church basement scene this year? We're just looking for your good ol' fashioned midwestern AYCE cheap fish fry.
MSP - Corned Beef Hash
The porridge and toast is the only thing I can bring myself to order. I got the crab cake benedict once and was a little disappointed. Adding some maple syrup to that porridge is heavenly.
But unless HK corns their own meat, I can't imagine how it could top the Square Peg. It just can't!
MSP-Happy Hours and Specials for the cash strapped
www.thriftyhipster.com is a good place to start.
Nami and Koyi downtown have good drink/sushi specials.
MSP - Corned Beef Hash
In my quest for a corned beef hash thread, I did come across your lambasting. Funny.
The first time I went there I got the Denver sandwich (egg), which was decent. Since the CBH is a breakfast special likely served all day, you should be golden if they're serving it. The chef always comes out to talk to you too, which is a great touch.
MSP - Corned Beef Hash
Thanks for the link. You'd think that searching "corned beef hash" would've turned that thread up, but obviously not!
If anyone's going to try Square Peg for hash, I'd suggest calling first to see if they're serving it that day. They list it as a Tuesday/Wednesday breakfast special, so sometimes it's sold out by the weekend. We lucked out by having New Year's on a Tuesday!
MSP - Corned Beef Hash
My first meal of 2008 was likely one of the best I'll have all year. Our peaked pack of partiers showed up at the Square Peg Diner (East Hennepin just east of Stinson) at about 12:30 on Tuesday, in lieu of me making an eggbake at home. I had heard about their corned beef hash from my parents, and in our first trip there a month or so back we were treated to a sample from the head chef/owner. He corns the beef himself, so it's not always available. When I saw it on the board of specials this time, I didn't even take a menu. This was by far the best corned beef hash I've ever had. It really makes the canned stuff I've learned to enjoy seem like Alpo. With 2 eggs and a slice of toast for $7, it was one hell of a deal for something so fresh. Living in NE Mpls, I will gladly frequent the Square Peg for their hash alone.
Where else in the Twin Cites takes pride in their corned beef hash? I want to know.
ike.
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Square Peg
2021 E Hennepin Ave Ste 190, Minneapolis, MN 55413
MSP - Where to find the best cider
I'd love to find some unpasteurized apple cider before it's gone for the season. Where can I find the best cider in town?
[MSP] Best Minneapolis Skyway Chow
My favorite slice is at Mama's in the US Bank building. They slice 'em huge, and it's a very fresh taste.
