ChrisS's Profile
Minnesota State Fair foods?
Well, just got back from the first visit for the year.
1. A corn dog, specifically the Poncho Dog, not the Pronto Pup. Sweet breading, but with a nice yellow corn flavor and a bit of grit in the texture. Cheese on a stick, the one near NPR that actually uses a block of mild cheddar. The "shake" (which seems to be just a big cup of soft serve) at the Gopher stand on the side of the Dairy Barn. I realize these are popular answers and nothing revolutionary, but they are all good.
2. Not this time, but maybe next. The lefse wrapped Brat sounds really good, and I guess a Kool aid pickle is worth a try.
3. Why even answer this question? I wear a front pack with a baby, haul a wagon with two other tots, and spend 8 hours on my feet. Do I really need something "healthy"? I have earned every greasy calorie I eat.!!!
4. There are are plenty over the years, but I have repressed most of those memories.
Best Dive My Side of the River MSP
My "dive bar" when I was at Mac was the Groveland Tap (Called BB Dixon's at the time) and is down on St. Clair near Fairview. These days find me at Obbs on the east side. just off of hwy 61 on Burns Ave. I haven't been, but a buddy of mine likes the Cherry Pit (formerly the Minnehaha Tavern) across from The Little Oven at Minnehaha and White Bear Ave. I am also a fan of Sweeneys and the Muddy Pig, but the Pig in particular is to snooty in its selection of fine and pricey beers to be a real dive. For a real dive of a dive, there is the Mounds Park Tavern/Lounge on Earl St. just north of I-94. If you want to hang out with St. Thomas students, Plums on Snelling is the place, but I find it generally obnoxious. For a bit of live music (typically with a modest cover charge) with your swill, the Turf Club at Snelling and University is great.
Garlic scapes
I have grown garlic once in the past (hardneck) and chopped up the garlic scapes for on top of pizza when we had them. This year at the farmer's market (St. Paul, MN) a Hmong farmer had one bundle (just $1!), so I got some today. While great as a pizza topping, I am wondering about other uses for garlic scapes. For those unfamiliar these are the long green tops with a small Hershey's Kiss shaped bulge near the top that has the flavor and texture of a single little garlic clove. The texture is like a small leek, and the flavor is garlic with some green onion and leek in the mix. So, to reiterate, what to do with them?
[MSP] Authentic Chinese
The Szesuan eggplant is a solid rendition of the dish. Before Tea House II moved in, the "special" menu on the back of the menu was about the only source east of downtown St. Paul for food to satisfy the local first and second generation Chinese-American population. I can't think of anything I would avoid off of that part of the menu. The "chef specials" menu has a black bean chicken dish that I like, and the specials often include some kind of simple stir fried greens that is usually very fresh and well prepared (gai lam, baby bok choi, etc..). As for the basic Americanized standards (egg fu young, general tzo's chicken, etc..), they are a cut above most of the mom and pop chow mein joints the dot the east side and first string suburbs. It isn't an exceptional place, but does satisfy the locals. As is almost always good advice at mid or low end chinese places, avoid the buffett.
St Paul Farmer's Market Tips?
I usually go Sunday mornings when it is a little less crowded. As with many farmers markets, bring cash, particularly one dollar bills. Don't overlook the market for adding to your gardens (flower or veg) as they still will have some greenhouse vendors. Parking is fairly easy, as the lot just north of big white factory building on the east side of the market is big and free. I always like to try and find some kind of oriental green that I haven't tried before. This time of year baskets of small zucchini and other "baby" summer squash are good, as are pea tips, spinach, and a variety of greens. Several vendors offer very good local honey. Some of the vendors offer a nice mix of lettuce, green onion, cilantro, and etc. for salads all for one price. Spend some time talking native plants with the folks at the Vagary, and herbs and garlic with "the herb man" with his feathered hat. Bring the kids and tip the clown for tying them balloon animals. I recommend nothing bigger than an umbrella stroller as it can get crowded. A baby does best in a back/front pack. As mentioned, a cloth tote bag or two is a good idea. Later on in the year the market is very good for tomatoes and many types of eggplants. Winter squash selection is particularly good later on, try Phlanum Farms in the southeast corner for winter squash once it is in season. Free range chickens/eggs, Birkshire pork, and lamb are the meats I will splurge on. This is a local only market, so don't expect bananas or any out of season vegetables.
[MSP] Authentic Chinese
Another option near Tea House II is HoHo Gourmet. If you order basic Midwest Chinese then that is what you will get, but the back page and the chef specials are usually quite good. Also you may need to ask about the 2-3 specials (dine in, not the take out specials) that are posted in Chinese near the center of the dining room. The best stuff tends to be the Hong Cong style dishes. HoHo is clearly visible from I-94 between White Bear Ave and Ruth st.
Decent food near Rosedale (MSP)?
A bit south of Rosedale,(2095 Como Ave) is the Abu Nader Deli. It is a nice little hole in the wall that serves very good gyros and other middle eastern fare. The prices have unfortunately gone up since it was "discovered" by the City Pages and others a few years ago, but it is still worth a visit.
Mother's Day MSP
Best place for mother's day brunch in the twin cities? My challenge this year is that my spouse is now two days overdue to be a mother again (number 3!). We did breakfast at the Little Oven two days ago after a disappointing false start trip to the hospital on the due date, or else I would probably go back.
Best Fresh Roasted Coffee Beans in Tampa Bay?
It is a little bit of a Trek, but El Molino on 7th in Ybor city is a fine little coffee roaster, and even though it is a bit yuppified over the past decade, visiting Ybor city for a day is still a fun day trip from the area. Lunch at The Columbia might make it worth your drive.
Central Happy Hour
I am not a big fan of O'Gara's, but do like Sweeney's. I am just looking for something a bit more Minneapolis in location. If anyone knows the Contented Cow in Northfield, that is what I am really looking for.
Porky's MSP-any good?
The sauce is a little sweet for my taste, but good for satisfying a crowd. I am stuck on the Hot-Dago (I still can't belive they call it that!).
Central Happy Hour
I need a good place for happy hour that is central to the twin cities, more beer than wine or mixed drinks, and great appetizers are a necessity. One friend comes from Bloomington, one from Lino Lakes, and one from Plymouth. So far we seem to have settled on the Triple Rock, but are looking for other places to add a little variety. Easy (and free) parking would also be a plus.
Porky's MSP-any good?
The review of Davydd is spot on. In terms of food quality there are a lot better bets for greasy burgers and fries, however sitting around slurping soda on a humid mid-summer Friday evening watching the classic cars go by might be something worth doing once a year. As an east sider I want to plug the Dariette on Minnehaha ave west a few blocks from White Bear Ave is a hidden little gem of a drive in.
MSP - Teahouse Szechuan Opening in St Paul? Anyone been there?
Third visit: Asparagus and crab soup, Szechuan wontons, Pork with smoked Tofu (by request made a little spicy). The soup was very mild and quite viscous with a good asparagus flavor, but only a mild taste of crab. The asparagus was sliced into thin little rounds. The wontons had a the flavor of good quality pork and were slicked with chili oil and soy. The smoked tofu and pork was the real standout. The chef cuts well, with the pork and tofu in similar sized juliennes. An addition of some chili oil isn't a bad thing. The dim sum service was available, but they only had a half dozen offerings,which were ordered off a dry erase board near the entryway rather than on carts. I would second a vote for the shanghai pancakes as very good, we had them for the kids on the first visit and they were lovely.
St. Paul-Randolph/Snelling lunch ideas
Lots and lots. Not too far away is Punch pizza (Randolph to Cleavland and then south a few blocks) which offers real Neapolitan style pizza and good salads. Just up Snelling is Grand Ave, and there are no end of good places there. Everest on Grand up by Kowalski's (East of Snelling on grand near Ayd Mill Rd) offers good spicy food, as does Kyber Pass (Afghani food) next to the original Dunn Brothers right at Snelling and Grand. Just west on grand is the Pad Thai Cafe, although just a little farther away (Snelling to Selby and then west) is Taste of Thailand which is better for Thai (service can be very slow however). Hong Sen is just west of Macalester on Grand and offers good basic Vietnamese (beef with potatoes is great). The Saint Clair Broiler at Saint Clair and Snelling is a classic and will serve you a good burger or sandwich. For a brew with the burger the Groveland Tap is a few blocks west of the Broiler and is a nice little tavern (somewhere between Matt's Bar and the 5 8 Tavern in ambiance food and beer). The Uptowner at Lexington and Grand kicks butt for breakfast items.
FORAY INTO VEGETARIANISM
My spouse and I are generally carnivores, but often eat vegetarian, and eat occasionally with a vegetarian (ovo lacto) couple that includes an avid bodybuilder. They are keenly aware of keeping good quality satisfying and protein rich calories in their meals, and generally do so without much use of fake meat. The key is not to fear good quality carbs, especially if they come with some protein, such as buckwheat. I find dishes that focus on the old vegetarian standby of a whole grain mixed with a legume can be quite satisfying to the average carnivore. Some of the newer whole grain pastas are much better tasting then they have been in the past, and tossed some up with some olive oil, garlic, chick peas, and roast vegetables can make a simple and satisfying meal for a mostly carnivore.
MSP - Teahouse Szechuan Opening in St Paul? Anyone been there?
I haven't been to China Jen, but I suspect they are. They are more Shanghai dim sum than Szechuan, and are made by wrapping a meatball and a small cube of cold consume in a thin dumpling skin and then steaming it until piping hot. You eat them by picking them up with a spoon, pouring a little black vinegar dressing over the top, biting a little hole in the side, sucking out the soup, and then eating the rest of the dumpling. The St. Paul location will be focused on Shanghai style Dim Sum and Szechuan cuisine as specialties.
MSP - Teahouse Szechuan Opening in St Paul? Anyone been there?
I went back for a second visit this past Thursday evening. A half dozen tables filled, and all by older Chinese-Americans. I agree, the twice cooked pork is a real stand out if you have some appreciation for the succulence of pork belly. The BonBon Chicken was spicy, but didn't have the depth of flavor or the crushed/shredded texture that I wanted. No roasted sesame flavor. The shredded pork with preserved mustard green soup was very good with shreds of very fresh snow peas adding to the mix of flavors. The DanDan noodles were solid. I really like the juicy-buns, but they are not as thin skinned and delicate as some might want. I will probably go for Dim Sum next weekend.
MSP - Teahouse Szechuan Opening in St Paul? Anyone been there?
Yes. I went a couple of weeks ago and was fortunate enough to have a good conversation with the manager. The food was great, especially off the Szechuan section at the back. They have one cook who is from the Chinese state cooking school in Chendu, and another for the weekend dim sum service. The manager is fresh in from NYC, and has ensured that the juicy buns popular there are on the menu here. The decor has been upgraded substantially from the previous mom and pop chow mein joint (Ho Mei) that used to occupy the site, and the food is a 100% improvement.
