bigchow's Profile
MSP: ISO the elusive east st paul taco trucks
There is one frequently parked behind the mercado on Maryland and Forest. I have had the lengua and standard beef tacos, both were good. The salsas were the best part in my opinion.
Sea Salt (MSP)
Git off my lawn!!
Seriously though I like it for what it is, a snack shack in a city park. I like that the interior is all about the staff, as they do so much volume in hot conditions, some blaring rock (regardless of quality) can really help keep the plates moving. If it is too noisy inside, go outside.
I cannot imagine what good prices/quality is for some of the haters though?
{MSP} Chris and Rob's Coming to West 7th...
You can always ask for your italian beef to be dipped, otherwise I find the plain to be a little bland.
Great steak in Omaha
I like Piccolo Pete's fine, but for quality, atmosphere and flavor, I rate Johnny's Cafe higher. The Chateaubriand for two is dynamite.
Midtown Global Market MSP - It's Up To Us
Whatever, the suburbanites, and moneyed folks that you need to have a fancy food joint do not fit the demographic of the neighborhood, nor is it on any of their major routes. The ethnic clientel already have plenty of other longer-established markets for most of their staples. So where does the MGM need to fit? The restaurants have to do a brisk lunch and weekend business to survive spotty evenings. The stores have to be reasonably priced so that the neigborhood folk will shop there, or be exotic/differentiated enough that people will make the trek to their location. The produce exchange hits the first count very well, and Holy land and Farm in the Market hit the second one well to a lesser degree. These three will be the survivors/canary in the coalmine. Other than they, the other vendors are just nice to have but not as central.
Midtown Global Market MSP - It's Up To Us
What about Slavs? Are they helped in the ordering by pictures? Seriously though what was wrong with the market that you would not to return to it?
MSP: IZZY'S ICE CREAM
The situation or circumstances could not have contributed to your preference either? I mean an ice cream cone on a cold Feb/March day would be pretty near freezing in temperature muting any taste you are able to perceive. Try again on a hot day or don't.
MSP - Uncooked Flour Tortillas - Where?
I have always had good luck making my own, the simplest recipes are the best. When I lived overseas, there were no other options for tortillas, so I learned fast how to make my own.
Favorite Beer Bar Ever?
Legendary place, but it's not in CA or NY, so it does not get the love...
{MSP} Chris and Rob's Coming to West 7th...
They are solid, not earth shattering, but solid. The italian beef is really good.
Favorite Beer Bar Ever?
Yeah this is nice, but it seems too heavily weighted towards the Northeast and CA. Perhaps some more folks in flyover could list their faves.
Favorite Beer Bar Ever?
In the current parlance 'beer bar' is a bar you go to for their selection of beer so you and they are comparing apples to oranges.
Warm beer is a semi-myth. Different beers are served at different temps, with 50 or so being the warmest they get. Since your mouth has a temp of 98 and change, the beer is plenty cold.
MSP: anyone been to Osaka restaurant?
Sounds like a cheesy Benihana teppanyaki joint.
California IPAs
And a lot of people trot out the balance canard when they want to disparage a hop forward beer they dislike.
(MSP) Hamburger Ground on Site?
You could grind it yourself in your kitchenaid stand mixer. Or you could just ask. I am sure that any full service butcher would grind a roast or whatever for you if you tell them. You could try Clancy's or Everett's or Von Hansens...
I've got Miller Lite. What do I do with it?
In the area, Summit's Pilsner seems like a good offering. I think they have really improved it.
Bourdain on illegal immigration and the Restaurant Industry [moved from Not about Food board]
Thats a typical management statement. American workers know that things can be better and would not break themselves for the scraps handed out by tightwad ownership corporations. If the obligation/loyalty and reward were mutual turnover would not be a proble. We're too savvy about what we get in exchange for our labor.
In my ten years cookingI have watched wages stagnate as illegal immigrants poured into the jobs formerly held by citizens. Ten years ago they were paying us $8 an hour, made us buy our health insurance and did not match 401k contributions. Guess what? It's still the same situation today. Inflation chips two to three percent off the wage and we get one to two percent raises per year. I am so glad to be leaving this industry. Price pressure for labor used to work in favor of the worker, not so much when management think you all are replaceable and there is an infinite pool of poor foreigners ignorant of their rights.
Sam Adams Seasonals - How do they do it?
Training wheels and baby steps folks! Better beer is still a niche industry, and its enthusiasts are still a micro minority. Lets not eat our own yet. Wait till the market share is a little larger. Besides, for me that first time I had their cream stout or double bock back in college surely opened some doors for me, I hope.
Are there any bottled conditioned US beers?
I've successfully cultured yeast from New Belgium years ago. So many beers are bottle conditioned, it would much easier to identify the traits which allow you to notice that they are... Sediment, floaties and such, but filtering has gotten so much better nowadays, they may still be live, but mostly flocc'ed out.
Bass Ale
My palate has changed or their recipe has, because it has gone from good to bad over my drinking years.
Do You Dig Sierra Nevada Pale Ale AND.....
SNP is fine, I am not as passionate about it as I am about other beers, but it is nice to have available. Like Sam Adams, it is widely distributed and available in places you do not often find better beers. In MSP it is available on tap. I've seen their Celebration Ale around lately as well.
MSP - Kitchen Supplies
I've even bought cheesecloth at the Ace Hardware store on Grand. It is more common than I expected.
Help! I forgot to order a turkey! (MSP)
Call Callister's farm in the market. They probably have some smaller birds that need roasting! I was late last year and they got me a ten pounder.
Minnesotans: what are your favorite Minnesota Breweries and Beers
I've had good meals at Town Hall and quite recently too. Perhaps the beer was so good it made my palate forgive the chow. You rank GW over TH? I like their cask mild, and their imperial wit last year was superb, but their regular offerings don't pwn me like that Masala Mama at TH.
Midtown Global Market MSP - It's Up To Us
The diversity still seems to be there, as the better planned operations look to be doing well. Poor planning and execution seems to be the reason behind the failures: RofF, Chang Bang, the little produce stall guy and the florist. The stalls that market(in the display sense) themselves well and serve a real need are all still there. Which places were you sad to see go?
What are you drinking right now?
Bell's were in Illinois, but they pulled out of Illinois. http://www.chicagoreader.com/features/stories/bells/
Oh and there are two 'types' of beers made by new glarus. They have their everyday tap offerings like Fat Squirrel et al. and they have their special bottlings like the Raspberry Tart and the Belgian Wisconsin Red. Those two are a great counterpoint to anyone who trots out that canard about fruit in beer.
Minnesotans: what are your favorite Minnesota Breweries and Beers
Did you drink the beer from the can? ;) That would have had an effect. Seriously though Darkness, Furious, Bender, Cynicale and Surly Fest are imo world class. We are lucky to have them here.
Rock Bottom MPLS has had many different brewers over the years. Some of them have been good and others not so much. I would not judge Surly based upon an experience there.
The Hoops bros. are my vote for best brewers in the state, one is up at fitgers and the other is at town hall.
MSP - Buster's on 28th Report
I was there last night and I agree the onion rings are great!
What's your latest wheat beer discovery?
I second the Schneider and Pinkus recommendations. They are worth the price.
