Okay, I haven’t been online as much as I thought I'd be these past five days. Actually, I’ve left the computer mostly in my room and what writing I’ve done has been in a notebook. As I’m heading north in a few minutes, I thought I’d do a quick “food post” on my time in the big city. By the way, I like Minneapolis. I’ve only passed through it in the past, but it’s a nice city and I have enjoyed my stay here… But these are some of the more memorable eats I’ve had the past few days. Sorry for the quality of the photos, they were taken on my blackberry which takes the crappiest photos, in my opinion. Or maybe it’s just because I’m comparing them to what I get with a digital SLR that I didn’t feel like hauling around with me.
The Normandy Kitchen… I met some friends from Utah here and when I saw Potato-Horseradish Crusted Walleye on the minute, my mouth began to water. It was delicious, but a bit small for walleye. The fish chucks were about the size of a panfish fillet and there were only two. The walleye was served over a Spinach rice pilaf and drizzled with a herb butter sauce. I supplemented the lack of volume with some liquid grain.
Bar-b-que Market… I only ate lunch here and they had a good pulled pork sandwich. Their meat had a great smoky taste with a sweeter-than-I-like sauce. The sandwich came with fries and cole slaw. After being served, I started shoveling cole slaw on the sandwich and the owner came over and asked if I was from North Carolina. The guys I was with were amazed, not knowing that most North Carolina barbecue sandwiches are served with cole slaw between the buns.
The Local… This place has great burgers and sandwiches and I had a sausage and mash potato dinner that was wonderful. They also had the cheapest pints around which is probably why they were always so busy and I didn’t eat there as often as I’d like. But they had a wonderful waiter who was very friendly and helpful and one night, after another guy and I commented on beer glasses, he presented us with two Guinness World Cup glasses. He got a good tip that night!
The News Room… This place had a bar that was designed as a wooden sailing ship (mixing metaphors, as the rest of the place had old type writers and newsprint wallapaper). As it was across from the local and often not as busy, I ate there several times. They have a good sandwiches and a great salad with a wonderfully balsamic vinegar dressing. They also have a good Jambalaya, very spicy and the sauce for their calamari had a wonderful tang to it.
Most of the other meals were in banquet settings… Have fun. I'm sorry that I haven't been keeping up with blogs this week because I know you all had great things to say. I’m heading up into Lake Superior County and across the Upper Peninsula and will have limited internet connection. I hope to catch up with everyone later next week.
The Normandy Kitchen… I met some friends from Utah here and when I saw Potato-Horseradish Crusted Walleye on the minute, my mouth began to water. It was delicious, but a bit small for walleye. The fish chucks were about the size of a panfish fillet and there were only two. The walleye was served over a Spinach rice pilaf and drizzled with a herb butter sauce. I supplemented the lack of volume with some liquid grain.
Bar-b-que Market… I only ate lunch here and they had a good pulled pork sandwich. Their meat had a great smoky taste with a sweeter-than-I-like sauce. The sandwich came with fries and cole slaw. After being served, I started shoveling cole slaw on the sandwich and the owner came over and asked if I was from North Carolina. The guys I was with were amazed, not knowing that most North Carolina barbecue sandwiches are served with cole slaw between the buns.
The Local… This place has great burgers and sandwiches and I had a sausage and mash potato dinner that was wonderful. They also had the cheapest pints around which is probably why they were always so busy and I didn’t eat there as often as I’d like. But they had a wonderful waiter who was very friendly and helpful and one night, after another guy and I commented on beer glasses, he presented us with two Guinness World Cup glasses. He got a good tip that night!
The News Room… This place had a bar that was designed as a wooden sailing ship (mixing metaphors, as the rest of the place had old type writers and newsprint wallapaper). As it was across from the local and often not as busy, I ate there several times. They have a good sandwiches and a great salad with a wonderfully balsamic vinegar dressing. They also have a good Jambalaya, very spicy and the sauce for their calamari had a wonderful tang to it.
Most of the other meals were in banquet settings… Have fun. I'm sorry that I haven't been keeping up with blogs this week because I know you all had great things to say. I’m heading up into Lake Superior County and across the Upper Peninsula and will have limited internet connection. I hope to catch up with everyone later next week.
The farther north you get, the sweeter the BBQ becomes, and like you, I'm not a fan of sweet sauces.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I love a good "bangers and mash" supper now and again. Sausage is often overlooked as a dinner entree, in my opinion.
Cheers.
Life is to be lived and I like how you take the time to soak in the local flavor. Potato-Horseradish Crusted Walleye is a new one for me and shall investigate this recipe further.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post. Don’t worry so much about keeping up with the entire blogisphere…keep living life and stay in touch when you can.
Great minds think alike. I too posted a food entry today. Never been to Minneapolis but I've always wanted to visit it, preferably drive there via the U.P.
ReplyDeleteThis post is really mouthwatering, Sage! I really like cole slaw and unfortunately I can only enjoy it in Spain at Tony Roma's or Fridays -my kids' favourite restaurants-. But I'd love to eat some American specialties at restaurants like BBQ Market.
ReplyDelete((Still some weird things happening with the comments at Blogger. I can't see my comment, but your blogs says it's been published!))
ReplyDeleteSpinach rice pilaf and fish. I get the fish, the rice the scent of the pilaf. But the iron of spinach will swallow everything else flavourwise. And honestly, fish any fish and spinach cannot work.
ReplyDeletesometimes a friendly waiter makes the meal taste even better.
ReplyDeleteI had jambalaya once, it was spicy and I loved it.
My blacberry also takes crappy pics, you would think the more expensive the better but that's not the case
This makes me want to hit the road...
ReplyDeleteOne of my goals is to take off a whole summer, road trip, eat, hike, take photos, and blog about it all......
Sounds like some great food! And keep enjoying your trip! You can catch up or get back to blogging later. :)
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite places to eat when up there is a place called Joe's Garage. You can eat on top out in the open and the food is real good. I usually follow it up with a stop at Garrison Keillor's bookstore across the river. The man himself just lives a stone's throw from St. Paul's Basilica.
ReplyDeleteSounds like good eats. If ever I'm in that neck of the woods, I'll check them out.
ReplyDeleteI really dislike sweet sauces. IN fact, I have a rule, "Sweet and meat do not meet."
ReplyDeleteWe went to a barbecue place for lunch yesterday (for the first time) and they didn't serve slaw on the sandwich - and we were amazed!! We asked for some, and they brought it.
ReplyDeleteIf I ever get up that way, I'll try that place.
Oh goodness, BBQ and Guiness... never met a BBQ sauce I didn't like! Cole slaw in the bun? Never tried it, but love cole slaw too... You eat well my friend :)
ReplyDeleteI always laugh when you say you haven't been blogging much. It's always like triple what I've blogged.
ReplyDelete