Brad Ballinger's Profile
NYC Trip Report (Tulsi, Stanton Social, Earl's, Marea)
Clarification = I doubt I'll ever get the chance to try that fish in Minnesota where I live. It's much more popular in Japan, but not seen much in the United States. I've never seen it in any form in Minnesota.
How Do MSP restaurants compare to Chicago, Dallas, Miami, San Francisco Rests??
To comment again on this point of Michael's that I agree with... I just returned from a long weekend in New York City. Ate at Marea (Michelin two star), Tulsi (one star), and Stanton Social. Yes, the service at all three was on a higher plane than we typically see in the Twin Cities. But I also have to add that these retaurants (are able to) employ more service staff than their Twin Cities counterparts do.
Service at restaurants in those other cities tends to be more specialized, while Twin Cities servers perform all the functions of serving the table.
NYC Trip Report (Tulsi, Stanton Social, Earl's, Marea)
Our neighbors moved to Manhattan from St. Paul a little under a year ago, and have been after us to make a visit. We finally got around to it. It's been about 5 or so years since we last were in New York.
Friday: Got in around noon and walked from Turtle Bay to Madison Square Park for lunch among the Madision Square Eats vendors camped out there for May. Had the Speckenwulf pizza from Roberta's, and it was a fair rendition of Neapolitan style. My wife had something at Asiadog. Good topic, so-so dog. Afterward, we walked across the street to Eataly just for the sensory overload, and a beer in the rooftop Birreria. Nice space, and my immediate thought was that no where in the entirety of the Twin Cities would have this many people in this much square footage on a Friday at 2:00, unless it was a workplace. After that, we made the pilgrimage to Chambers Street Wines, and I shipped some home.
Dinner at Tulsi. We ordered the tasting menu (two regular, two vegetable). First off, the featured cocktails here were the best we had the entire trip. I thought they'd all be a little too sweet. Not even close. Great mixologist here. All dishes were very good. Moistest tandoor chicken I've had. It's easy to dry that out, but it was exquisitely prepared. Incredible depth of flavor, not just heat.
Saturday: Breakfast/Lunch at BXR. Happy to see Palm on tap. Had the croque tomate, which was just fine. Frites a bit on the limp side. My wife enjoyed her chevre chaud salad. For what it is, BXR is a solid, dependable spot. From there to a matinee of One Mane, Two Guvnors, which I mention only because of the obsession with food. Funny, funny show.
Dinner at Stanton Social, which was a bit of a disappointment. We were all over the concept of sharing small plates, which is why we chose this place. And I was intrigued by the French onion soup bites that were featured in a Best Thing I Ever Ate a while back. Those were quite good. Our server suggested we order everything at once, and let the kitchen take care of the timing. Wrong decision -- at least for that one visit. When the fifth course came out less than 20 mintues from ordering, I asked if they could slow it down a bit. They did. For a bit, and then the frenetic pace resumed. Most dishes were above average, but some were merely okay. Herb frites big disappointment. And we felt rushed the entire time. We decided to help the restaurant turn our table by not ordering dessert.
So instead we had our dessert at Big Gay Ice Cream. Salty Pimp is a good cone. We were in the mood for a nightcap back in our hosts Turtle Bay neighborhood, so we stopped in at Beekman Bar and Books and helped the Russian mob launder some money. I like the vibe of this place. Cocktails poured tableside seductively with James Bond movies playing in the background (muted, subtitles).
Sunday: Got to Neue Galerie before opening anticipating a line for the Klimt exhibit. No line, wo was had a light snack at Cafe Sabarsky inside until the gallery opened. Excellent strong coffee. Good breads. Klimt exhibit small but good. Heinrich Keuhn photography exhibit impressive. After a short stop at the Guggenheim two blocks away (short because the spiral was closed), we walked over to Earl's Beer and Cheese. Sampled all four beers and ordered the cheese board. Had my doubts seeing the spread in the ramekin, but was pleasantly surprised. Will come back next trip and order something else from the menu. So many things looked good. Walked one block east to ABV, but only had a glass of wine. Nice space. Nice concept.
Dinner at Marea. Was looking forward to ordering the four course prix fixe, but Earl's had me scaling back to a crudo dish and a secondi dish. I got the Akamutsu crudo because I know I'd never get to try that fish ever again. Prepared with chervil puree and grapefruit. Wonderful flavor that was both rich and light at the same time. My wife ordered the charred octopus. Best octopus I've ever had. Entree was the halibut with hen of the woods and fiddlehead ferns (probably ordered this dish for the sides than for the fish). Perfectly cooked. Could have used a touch more salt to liven it up. Dessert was a sorbetti trio (probably still being influenced by Earl's). Sikly textures and strong flavors. Nice ending.
Service good everywhere (with the exception of feeling rushed at Stanton Social). I've always experienced that restaurant service is an art/profession in New York, San Francisco, Europe, but even at the higher end places in the Twin Cities, it's just a job.
Another TC's sojourn begins.
If you want to head south, I'd recommend Nosh in Lake City, MN, or Harbor View Cafe in Pepin, WI. If you cross over into Wisconsin, the Eau Galle Cheese Factory isn't far.
Wine "mark ups" in restaurants
If we knew the markups on everything we purchased, we'd be outraged. But it always has been and always will be whatever the market will bear with respect to price. Marea, in NYC, has a bottle of wine listed at $18,500. Someone will order it.
If NZ Sauvignon Blanc is Best Who's Second Best?
For Cloudy Bay as a pioneer, I think it's a fair satement. But so many nowadays are all grapefuit and tropical flavors. For true cat piss, though, you have to go to Loire (or drink Scheurebe from the Pfalz).
If NZ Sauvignon Blanc is Best Who's Second Best?
I'm with Chef June. I'll take A loire Sauvignong Blanc (Sancerre, Pouilly Fume) over Kiwi juice any day. And I find NZ sauv blancs nothing like them
Also, readily-available domestic sauvignon blanc at $25 may be difficult. Readily-availbe under 420, yes. Not readily-available over $25, yes (Rochioli, Merry Edwards). But not so much of both.
Wine Recommendation 2002 Vintage
Then next I'd look to Burgundy, which also did well in 2002. A Premier Cru from Mugneret-Gibourg (Chambolle-Musigny Les Feusselottes, or Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Chaignots) would be a great wine to have. Their Grand Cru Burgs would be out of your price range.
Wine Recommendation 2002 Vintage
Great Champagne vintage. You can probably still find many in your price range.
Where to take some visiting Food Snobs?
Not Sanctuary (count me among the gaspers).
Ditto Meritage and La Belle Vie. Ditto Piccolo. Sticking around St. Paul, I'd also suggest i Nonni. For Minneapolis, Alma.
Pearl Onions
Lund's also has fresh ones. In a mesh bag. Frozen are easier to peel when thawed, however (don't require boiling to peel). And, if you want to vary it a little, a couple weeks ago, Heartland market had fresh cippolini onions. I used them in an oxtail dish. Maybe they still have some.
Looking for the Twin Cities Best Calamari, suggestions?
i Nonni has served the best I've had locally. At Sea Salt, I always order the calamari tacos, which I love, but haven't tried the calamari on its own.
Craftsman on Lake
For those of us who live closer, thank you for making the drive and giving them your business.
Another TC's sojourn begins.
I agree with Keith re: Salut. It's more style over substance. And menu items like "Le Cheezeburger" just make the place too self-aware for me.
The closest thing the Twin Cities has to an authentic brasserie is Meritage in downtown St. Paul, which I highly recommend.
Blue Door vs. NE Bulldog
Maybe they did some industrial cleaning. I'm telling you, man, it was vile. I even mentioned something to the bartender who just shrugged it off.
Blue Door vs. NE Bulldog
Last time I was at BDP, I had to walk out. I first sat at a corner table on the bar side. But the smell of urine coming from the bathrooms not too far away was far too strong. I then moved to the bar seating by the window in the other "room," as far from the bathrooms as I could get. Could still smell it. Hopefully, they've done some power-washing since then.
I wonder if it turns into a college crowd place at night.
With and without food.
Right. That came a bit later, but ale and wine (and eventually tea) were it for quite a while.
With and without food.
"But wine traditionally is intended to be drunk with food -- from way back thousands of years before the Christian Era."
Well, mainly because nothing else was safe to drink.
Suggestions for Large Group in St Paul?
Not sure about kosher items, but I think Happy Gnome would serve you and your group well.
http://thehappygnome.com/
How Do MSP restaurants compare to Chicago, Dallas, Miami, San Francisco Rests??
Michael and mitch make some solid points. Gastronomically, we do pretty well. We don't have as many great options as the other cities, but we do okay per capita. And here's where mitch's point about density comes into play. Without the population density, and, I would add, tourist traffic, we can only support so many places at the higher end.
And Michael's lamentation about service is also true. The good servers we have are very good. There just aren't as many of them. But we also have some who make up in earnestness what they lack in knowledge and experience.
With and without food.
Depends on the food. One could argue that zinfandel, petit sirah, and South American malbec are good "fireplace wines," but they also do well with grilled meats like burgers, sausages, and sometimes steak.Also, I can enjoy a thirst-slaking Muscadet on the patio in summer, but also with shellfish or mild fish dishes.
First tasting of the 2010 German vintage - AMAZING!
FYI... If you purchase Merkelbach, I'd drink most of them sooner than later -- even if 2010 will be a long-lived vintage. In my experience, I've had bottle variation issues with Merkelbach wines, as well as them not lasting as long as Christoffel, who farms the same vineyards.
Twin Cities visit (MSP)
We're proud of the dining options we have here in "flyover country." You will enjoy your dinner options very much. The cafes at the Walker Art Museum and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts have both undergone recent makeovers, and are getting good reveiws, FWIW.
The street level bar in your hotel, Bradstreet Crafthouse, is a good place to start or conclude your evenings. They really kick-started the craft cocktail movement in the Twin Cities.
Best inexpensive Sancerre and Sauvignon Blanc
Finding Sancerre for under $15 is getting more and more difficult. If you still want Loire Valley sauvignon blanc wines, however, you'll find more wines from Quincy and Reuilly in your price range. But wines from those appellations aren't easily found unless you live in a large enough city.
Twin Cities visit (MSP)
Also, BLG is larger, more bustling, etc. You could always do both... :o)
Bar La Grassa--First time
No gumminess for the agnolotti on Saturday; nor did I find them to be excessively large. The gnocchi, on the ohter hand, have been better. From piece to piece, they were uneven. I suppose it all depends on what night you go, and who cooks your portion.
Bar La Grassa--First time
Server told us it was new. Well, maybe she only recently tried it.
