I am looking for a place to have a celebratory breakfast meeting with some colleagues. Half will be coming from Hutchinson, half from Bloomington.

Any suggestions?

The do afternoon teas at the Minnetonka General Store. I don't remember the schedule.

They used to have lovely teas out at the Arboretum. Here is the current schedule:
http://www.arboretum.umn.edu/Teatime....

Mississippi Market doesn't get their Rustica delivery until about 11 AM.

Ward 6 just announced that are now open for breakfast on weekdays. I hope that means they are doing a good volume of business and the kitchen is operating on all cylinders.
It's very gratifying to see something good in that great building after seeing it sit vacant all these years.

Roth Kase Grand Cru gruyere at Costco. I made some quiche with it and it was fantastic. Also, it is made in Monroe, WI -- so almost local.

We walked over to Sibley Plaza during the snowstorm yesterday and notice a "Going out of business sale Dec 1-10." on the dorr of Kiev Foods. They weren't open - probably due to the weather, but it looks like today is their last day.

Dan dan noodles from Tea House.

The East Side of Saint Paul has many relatively unknown hole-in-the-wall places with great food.
2 favorites:
- Fried Chicken at Magnolia's on Payne Avenue
- Pho at Saigon Express on Arcade Street near Jessamine

Prairie Pride Farm sells Berkshire pork at the Saint Paul Farmers Market. We love their sausages!

I buy one at Mississippi Market that comes in Mason jars and is from Dennison, MN. I don't remember the name. Wonderful and a bit less expensive than Ames Farm.

Second for Magnolia's. If you call ahead they will make you a family-sized take-out order with mashed potatoes, gravy and cole slaw for an excellent price. This is a great option for family gatherings with small kids, IME.

I had some excellent calamari at Blue Point in Bloomington last week. Better than I had at Sea Salt. http://www.bluepointrestaurantandbar....

If you are in Saint Paul, Morelli's makes their own fresh brats. I also recommend anything from Prairie Pride at the Saint Paul Farmer's Market.

I had a great cheeseburger, fries and malt on outside the Dariette on Sunday afternoon. While all the suckers were sitting in line at Sonic (they have had to hire off-duty police to manage this.) Why have the chain-food when we have a real drive-in?

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Dairy-Ette Drive In [SEE DARI-ETTE DRIVE IN]
1440 Minnehaha Ave E, Saint Paul, MN 55106

A friend just told me last week that Dick's has great hashbrowns.

we're hearing good things about the New Hong Kong kitchen across the street (though, I haven't been yet.)

I have to put in a plug for the New Hong Kong Kitchen. They used to be in a strip mall over by Southdale when I lived in Bloomington. Now they are at the corner of Dale and Mayland across form Connie's. They are my default Chinese take-out on they way home in St. Paul. When you go in, most of the people eating there are Asians. They do some great sizzling platters. Extensive Cantonese menu.

There is a new (~3-4 months) Salvadoran place called Las Pupusas on Arcade Street on the East Side of St. Paul. One of my neighbors said it's pretty good. There are also rumors of pupusas in the restaurant in back of the Las Palmas mercado on Payne Avenue (near the Oil and Water gallery).

Las Pupusas
1098 Arcade St.
St. Paul
651.771.7811

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LAS PUPUSAS DELICIAS RESTAURANT
417 Terrace Lake Rd, Ronan, Mt 59864

I saw the food equivalent of crocuses blooming in the snow.
Connie's Creamy Cone (Maryland & Dale in St. Paul) opened for the season this weekend!
Unfortunately I didn't have time to stop.

Maverick's, just north of Larpenteur on Lexington? Great sandwiches. Very casual and inexpensive.

I've not been there, but my neighbors all rave about Sui Yep on Payne Avenue. I think they only do takeout.

When I worked at Honeywell in Plymouth, there was a little hole-in-the-wall chow mein place in the strip mall at 55 & Boone or Winnetka where Down in the Valley and Schuler's Shoes are. It was called Lu's Chow Mein, I think.

Has anyone heard if they are having a soft opening? Mpls-St. Paul Magazine says they have hired the chef from Muffaletta. I drove past the other day and their certificate of occupany was posted and the building looks pretty ready to go. I would love to try this place.

I saw this in the Pioneer Press today. It's very sad downtown St. Paul can support so few nice restaurants. They cite the bridge collapse as a driving factor -- no one wants to get on I-94 after 2 PM.

Somewhere with some small fun shops. Edina or S. Mpls would be good. Even Victoria Crossing. Shopping recommendations also welcome. My sister wanats to be a decorator.

Not MOA!

Another vote for Trung Nam. They are wonderful; the owner are great too. I stopped by at 7:30 on a weekday to get some croissants for an early meeting, not realizing they don't open until 8:00. The owner let me in through the kitchen door and I got my croissants. Try the coconut ones. All are $1.40,
The croissants at Bread and Chocolate are very good if you are on Grand Ave. (It's at Victoria Crossing).
I was not impressed by the one time I tried them at the Patisserie on Randolph.

Monday is my birthday and I am having a shopping and lunch day with my siter and SIL. Suggestions for a special lunch? I was planning on Cafe Maude, but they aren't open for lunch yet.

eastsidegirl

A little Vietnamese deli opened a few months ago on the East Side. It is called May's Deli and BBQ. It is on the frontage road on the east side of 35E between Wheelock Pkwy and Larpenteur (it's right next to Roadside Pizza). They made not only the sandwich fresh for me, but the papaya salad as well.