Date visited: Thursday, November 15
I met a friend at Kabob & Curry (8085 Wedgewood Lane N., Maple Grove; 763.416.2224) for lunch today. We got to the restaurant around 11:30 a.m. for the lunch buffet, and unfortunately we were the only diners there. A few more people came in during our hour and a half at the restaurant, but it was the quietest experience I've ever had at a Maple Grove restaurant.
The buffet food was good, and it was a nice selection considering the lack of diners, but next time I'd order something off the menu. I also enjoyed my chai tea, which was completely unsweetened, unlike the stuff you're likely to find at the Caribou Coffee two doors down. Although the restaurant is in a strip mall, it doesn't feel like a strip restaurant on the inside with its brightly painted walls and subtle decor. The service was excellent. If you're in MG, make sure to stop by.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Superpost: Masa, Good Earth, Panera Bread, Turtle Bread Company & Majors Sports Cafe
Let's not waste our time discussing what a pathetic blogger I am, okay? I've been bad, I know it. And I even have a list of excuses, but they're not important. Here's what I would've blogged about if I'd had my wits about me in the past couple months:
Masa (1070 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis; 612.338.6272): I was there a few weeks ago for a Sunday night dinner with a large group of people, and I didn't really want to call attention to my dietary restrictions. After carefully studying the menu, I realized my dinner option was a boring salad. I didn't even spot an easily convertible option, so when the waiter came by, I asked him which menu item he'd recommend for a vegetarian (so much for blending in). He suggested the Vegetarian Enchiladas, which apparently is a super secret menu item that they don't list. But if you go, you should order it. The enchiladas were fabulous. Don't be afraid to ask.
Good Earth (3460 Galleria, Edina; 952.925.1001): Along those same "don't be afraid to ask" lines, I'm a huge fan of the Good Earth (the one in Edina, not the one in Roseville -- I'm not sure why it matters, but it does). Anyway, I love the Planet Burger (a vegetarian option that doesn't involve anything Boca or Gardenburger), the vegetarian enchiladas, the nachos, the veggie sandwiches and pretty much all the salads. But when I stopped by there this evening, all I wanted was the Harvest Wrap, with it's yams and wild rice and craisins. The only problem: the Harvest Wrap comes with turkey. So I nicely asked the waiter to leave out the turkey and add in a Planet Burger. It was a little salty, but it still tasted pretty great.
Panera Bread (umm, everywhere): Since I frequently find myself in the 'burbs and in need of a wireless connection, I frequently find myself dining at Panera Bread. And lately, I frequently find myself ordering the Orchard Harvest salad. It has dried cherries, fresh pears, toasted pecans, Gorgonzola cheese, cherry balsamic vinaigrette and some greens, too, and it's wonderful.
Turtle Bread Company (4762 Chicago Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612.823.7333): Last Thursday I took a very sniffly boy to Turtle Bread for some yummy -- and I like to believe medicinal -- soup. I was thrilled to see that six of the nine soup options were vegetarian or vegan. Usually I don't experience menu stress (more than two veggie options is unusual on most menus), so it was a nice change of pace. I ordered the Corn Bisque, and it turned out to be a good choice. But I'll be back again soon -- hopefully without the sniffles.
Majors Sports Cafe (2801 Snelling Ave. N., Roseville; 651.379.1180): I usually associate Majors as my disgruntled-with-work afternoon happy hour one-stop-shop (there's one near my office), but when I was dragged to an oh-so-depressing Vikings game last Sunday, I was happy to learn that they have a Boca Burger on their menu. I ordered it with mushrooms and swiss cheese, and it was as satisfying as anything you'd order at a place that refers to itself as a "sports cafe."
Masa (1070 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis; 612.338.6272): I was there a few weeks ago for a Sunday night dinner with a large group of people, and I didn't really want to call attention to my dietary restrictions. After carefully studying the menu, I realized my dinner option was a boring salad. I didn't even spot an easily convertible option, so when the waiter came by, I asked him which menu item he'd recommend for a vegetarian (so much for blending in). He suggested the Vegetarian Enchiladas, which apparently is a super secret menu item that they don't list. But if you go, you should order it. The enchiladas were fabulous. Don't be afraid to ask.
Good Earth (3460 Galleria, Edina; 952.925.1001): Along those same "don't be afraid to ask" lines, I'm a huge fan of the Good Earth (the one in Edina, not the one in Roseville -- I'm not sure why it matters, but it does). Anyway, I love the Planet Burger (a vegetarian option that doesn't involve anything Boca or Gardenburger), the vegetarian enchiladas, the nachos, the veggie sandwiches and pretty much all the salads. But when I stopped by there this evening, all I wanted was the Harvest Wrap, with it's yams and wild rice and craisins. The only problem: the Harvest Wrap comes with turkey. So I nicely asked the waiter to leave out the turkey and add in a Planet Burger. It was a little salty, but it still tasted pretty great.
Panera Bread (umm, everywhere): Since I frequently find myself in the 'burbs and in need of a wireless connection, I frequently find myself dining at Panera Bread. And lately, I frequently find myself ordering the Orchard Harvest salad. It has dried cherries, fresh pears, toasted pecans, Gorgonzola cheese, cherry balsamic vinaigrette and some greens, too, and it's wonderful.
Turtle Bread Company (4762 Chicago Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612.823.7333): Last Thursday I took a very sniffly boy to Turtle Bread for some yummy -- and I like to believe medicinal -- soup. I was thrilled to see that six of the nine soup options were vegetarian or vegan. Usually I don't experience menu stress (more than two veggie options is unusual on most menus), so it was a nice change of pace. I ordered the Corn Bisque, and it turned out to be a good choice. But I'll be back again soon -- hopefully without the sniffles.
Majors Sports Cafe (2801 Snelling Ave. N., Roseville; 651.379.1180): I usually associate Majors as my disgruntled-with-work afternoon happy hour one-stop-shop (there's one near my office), but when I was dragged to an oh-so-depressing Vikings game last Sunday, I was happy to learn that they have a Boca Burger on their menu. I ordered it with mushrooms and swiss cheese, and it was as satisfying as anything you'd order at a place that refers to itself as a "sports cafe."
Monday, September 17, 2007
Ecopolitan & French Meadow Bakery
Date visited: Saturday, September 15
I have to be totally honest: We went to Ecopolitan (612.87.GREEN; 2409 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis) with a back-up plan. I was the only vegetarian in the group of foodies who set out on a raw foods adventure on Saturday night, and my three dinner companions and I weren't completely sold on the idea of a no-cook meal. We figured we'd sneak down the street to French Meadow Bakery (612.870.0907; 2610 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis) if the Ecopolitan menu wasn't up to snuff.
But after being seated in Ecopolitan's dining room -- which is really just the dining/living area of a converted house -- and ordering vegan organic wine and some fruit juice, we settled into the concept of raw foods. We ordered a pate sampler with mushroom, walnut and pumpkin seed pates and then decided to split an order of Rawvioli (sliced radishes filled with cashew cheese) and Macadamia Alfredo (a pasta that was made from thin slices of butternut squash served with a sauce of cashews and macadamia nuts).
We were surprised at how filling the food was -- we were full and satisfied after eating the appetizer and two pasta dishes. We were also impressed with the complexity of the flavors and the creativity and inspiration that went into making the meal. While I won't be going raw anytime soon, I will be eating at Ecopolitan again.
As for French Meadow Bakery, we couldn't pass it up since we were in the neighborhood. So we stopped in for dessert. I split the flourless chocolate cake (which is like a really big, rich truffle) and the Killer Chocolate Torte (which lives up to its name), and we ordered a bottle of WineHaven's Raspberry Wine -- the perfect foil for all of that chocolate. (Random notes: French Meadow serves half-priced bottles of wine on Saturdays and Mondays, and that particular bottle of wine came from Chisago City, MN and more than a pound and a half of raspberries went into the bottle.)
I have to be totally honest: We went to Ecopolitan (612.87.GREEN; 2409 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis) with a back-up plan. I was the only vegetarian in the group of foodies who set out on a raw foods adventure on Saturday night, and my three dinner companions and I weren't completely sold on the idea of a no-cook meal. We figured we'd sneak down the street to French Meadow Bakery (612.870.0907; 2610 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis) if the Ecopolitan menu wasn't up to snuff.
But after being seated in Ecopolitan's dining room -- which is really just the dining/living area of a converted house -- and ordering vegan organic wine and some fruit juice, we settled into the concept of raw foods. We ordered a pate sampler with mushroom, walnut and pumpkin seed pates and then decided to split an order of Rawvioli (sliced radishes filled with cashew cheese) and Macadamia Alfredo (a pasta that was made from thin slices of butternut squash served with a sauce of cashews and macadamia nuts).
We were surprised at how filling the food was -- we were full and satisfied after eating the appetizer and two pasta dishes. We were also impressed with the complexity of the flavors and the creativity and inspiration that went into making the meal. While I won't be going raw anytime soon, I will be eating at Ecopolitan again.
As for French Meadow Bakery, we couldn't pass it up since we were in the neighborhood. So we stopped in for dessert. I split the flourless chocolate cake (which is like a really big, rich truffle) and the Killer Chocolate Torte (which lives up to its name), and we ordered a bottle of WineHaven's Raspberry Wine -- the perfect foil for all of that chocolate. (Random notes: French Meadow serves half-priced bottles of wine on Saturdays and Mondays, and that particular bottle of wine came from Chisago City, MN and more than a pound and a half of raspberries went into the bottle.)
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Lucuma Bakery & Deli
Date visited: Thursday, August 23
I was curious about Lucuma Bakery and Deli (4157 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612.724.1237) when I noticed it was open a few weeks ago, but when I received a copy of its menu declaring "We can make everything vegetarian!" in the mail, I knew I had to go.
My favorite date (who happens to be healing up nicely) and I decided to stop by Lucuma for dinner this evening and it was incredibly tasty. The menu was divided into dishes from Mexico, Peru and Colombia. We didn't get too adventurous with our orders: We started with the Arepa (a sweet corn cake with cheese), and I had a vegetarian burrito and he had the chicken chimichanga.
I loved the Arepa, it was like cornbread crossed with a pancake, lightly fried with a little melted white cheese on top. But the date wasn't too keen on it--he didn't like what he described as a "burnt flavor." The veggie burrito came smothered in sour cream and guacamole, and filled with a lightly spiced mix of red and green peppers with onions. It was served on a plate with lettuce and spicy salsa, beans and rice. The date did enjoy his chimichanga.
Next time I go, I'm going to try one of the blended juices. Two other diners ordered the Maracuya (passion fruit), and it looked pretty tasty. The restaurant also offers a breakfast menu.
I was curious about Lucuma Bakery and Deli (4157 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612.724.1237) when I noticed it was open a few weeks ago, but when I received a copy of its menu declaring "We can make everything vegetarian!" in the mail, I knew I had to go.
My favorite date (who happens to be healing up nicely) and I decided to stop by Lucuma for dinner this evening and it was incredibly tasty. The menu was divided into dishes from Mexico, Peru and Colombia. We didn't get too adventurous with our orders: We started with the Arepa (a sweet corn cake with cheese), and I had a vegetarian burrito and he had the chicken chimichanga.
I loved the Arepa, it was like cornbread crossed with a pancake, lightly fried with a little melted white cheese on top. But the date wasn't too keen on it--he didn't like what he described as a "burnt flavor." The veggie burrito came smothered in sour cream and guacamole, and filled with a lightly spiced mix of red and green peppers with onions. It was served on a plate with lettuce and spicy salsa, beans and rice. The date did enjoy his chimichanga.
Next time I go, I'm going to try one of the blended juices. Two other diners ordered the Maracuya (passion fruit), and it looked pretty tasty. The restaurant also offers a breakfast menu.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Crave
Dates visited: Friday, July 27; Tuesday, July 31; Wednesday, Aug. 1
I visited Crave (952.697.6000, 3520 Galleria, Edina) for the first time last week, and since then I’ve been back twice. I should probably make some cheesy joke about craving Crave here, but I won’t because there are actually several reasons for my frequent attendence: It’s near where I work, making it a convenient lunch spot, and it has one of those menus with something for almost anyone.
I’ve been sampling Crave’s incredibly well-designed salads. Good salads are actually a lot more difficult to come by than one might expect. They’re dependent on not only a perfect combination of ingredients, but perfect proportions. So far I’ve tried the Bruschetta Salad, Crave Salad and Beet & Walnut Salad, and each one of them was exceptional. I’ve also had the grilled vegetable sandwhich, which came with an unforgettable sauce, mushrooms, asparagus and red peppers.
But even more impressive is the amount of menu items that I want to try but haven’t. Next time I go, I’ll be trying the veggie sushi rolls or the pita & spreads appetizer or the mozzarella and tomato stack or... well, there’s plenty more.
I visited Crave (952.697.6000, 3520 Galleria, Edina) for the first time last week, and since then I’ve been back twice. I should probably make some cheesy joke about craving Crave here, but I won’t because there are actually several reasons for my frequent attendence: It’s near where I work, making it a convenient lunch spot, and it has one of those menus with something for almost anyone.
I’ve been sampling Crave’s incredibly well-designed salads. Good salads are actually a lot more difficult to come by than one might expect. They’re dependent on not only a perfect combination of ingredients, but perfect proportions. So far I’ve tried the Bruschetta Salad, Crave Salad and Beet & Walnut Salad, and each one of them was exceptional. I’ve also had the grilled vegetable sandwhich, which came with an unforgettable sauce, mushrooms, asparagus and red peppers.
But even more impressive is the amount of menu items that I want to try but haven’t. Next time I go, I’ll be trying the veggie sushi rolls or the pita & spreads appetizer or the mozzarella and tomato stack or... well, there’s plenty more.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Veggie news & a broken collar bone
My favorite dining companion broke his collar bone during a soccer game last week, so I've been too busy keeping shoe laces tied to blog. But I did run across this article in the New York Times this morning, and I thought it was worth sharing.
And yesterday, I received the latest copy of Vegetarian Journal, published by the Vegetarian Resource Group. The issue is dedicated to the Vegetarian Resource Group's 25th anniversary, and it had an interesting article discussing the past 25 years of the vegetarian movement (for lack of a better word), and prominent vegetarians discussing what the next 25 years might hold.
Also, my broken (his collar bone is in three pieces!) dining companion and I were excited to discover a new bar, Busters on 28th, has opened in our South Minneapolis neighborhood. It opened Tuesday, and it was so busy that we couldn't find a table. Last night we stopped by again, and enjoyed some amazing black bean dip and a couple of beers.
And yesterday, I received the latest copy of Vegetarian Journal, published by the Vegetarian Resource Group. The issue is dedicated to the Vegetarian Resource Group's 25th anniversary, and it had an interesting article discussing the past 25 years of the vegetarian movement (for lack of a better word), and prominent vegetarians discussing what the next 25 years might hold.
Also, my broken (his collar bone is in three pieces!) dining companion and I were excited to discover a new bar, Busters on 28th, has opened in our South Minneapolis neighborhood. It opened Tuesday, and it was so busy that we couldn't find a table. Last night we stopped by again, and enjoyed some amazing black bean dip and a couple of beers.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Midtown Farmers' Market
Date visited: Saturday, July 14
I have a new favorite Saturday morning tradition: It involves waking up at a reasonable hour (around 9 a.m. if I'm feeling ambitious), grabbing a canvas bag and browsing the Midtown Farmers' Market.
I love the market (which is open Saturday mornings and Tuesday evenings) because it's filled with a diverse collection of food, crafts and people. There's usually a band playing and a couple different languages being spoken within ear shot. Going there makes me feel more connected to my community and to the food that I eat.
We stopped by the market a few weeks ago and loaded up on early season veggies (peas, lettuce, broccoli and potatoes), but we got really lucky on Saturday with a bag of tomatoes. The first taste of homegrown tomatoes is one of the best things about summer. It's so easy to forget what food really taste like until you pick up locally grown carrots, broccoli or tomatoes. We've been eating flavorful sandwiches and enjoying tomato salads. Tomorrow I'm planning to make a fresh tomato pizza for dinner, and I can't wait.
I also fell in love with the cheese from the Wisconsin Cheese Outlet. We bought a brick of some of the most flavorful swiss cheese I've ever tasted, and I'll be back next week to buy the fresh cheese curds that I sampled and haven't been able to stop thinking about since.
I have a new favorite Saturday morning tradition: It involves waking up at a reasonable hour (around 9 a.m. if I'm feeling ambitious), grabbing a canvas bag and browsing the Midtown Farmers' Market.
I love the market (which is open Saturday mornings and Tuesday evenings) because it's filled with a diverse collection of food, crafts and people. There's usually a band playing and a couple different languages being spoken within ear shot. Going there makes me feel more connected to my community and to the food that I eat.
We stopped by the market a few weeks ago and loaded up on early season veggies (peas, lettuce, broccoli and potatoes), but we got really lucky on Saturday with a bag of tomatoes. The first taste of homegrown tomatoes is one of the best things about summer. It's so easy to forget what food really taste like until you pick up locally grown carrots, broccoli or tomatoes. We've been eating flavorful sandwiches and enjoying tomato salads. Tomorrow I'm planning to make a fresh tomato pizza for dinner, and I can't wait.
I also fell in love with the cheese from the Wisconsin Cheese Outlet. We bought a brick of some of the most flavorful swiss cheese I've ever tasted, and I'll be back next week to buy the fresh cheese curds that I sampled and haven't been able to stop thinking about since.
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