Happy Memorial Day! In honor of the official kick-off to summer, I'm devoting today to marshmallows. If you're like me, you've never thought too much about the fluffy processed pillows of sugar (which by the way are not vegetarian -- I know and I don't care; I eat gummi bears, too). They all tasted pretty much the same; there was no real reason to be picky about brands or sizes or even "flavors."
But then I tasted the handmade marshmallows from a mother of five named Laura. Laura's marshmallows are amazing. They come in all sorts of crazy flavors, like lavender/lemon and black jelly bean.
I picked up a pack of vanilla and a pack of double dark chocolate the last time I was at the Wedge and while they're not cheap ($5 for 8), they are memorable. I've been roasting them over a fire the last few nights, and they make melty, gooey s'mores. They don't puff up and toast like processed marshmallows, instead they literally melt off the stick. But if you can catch a marshmallow on a graham cracker before it's fiery descent, you'll become a believer (or, yes, a marshmallow snob).
Monday, May 28, 2007
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Hot Plate
Date visited: Sunday, May 27
It's that time of year when everything is beautiful. As I sat on the patio at Hot Plate (5204 Bloomington Ave., 612.824.4794), enjoying a cup of coffee, the scent of lilacs wafting in the breeze and The Wendy -- an egg, cheese and tomato English muffin sandwich served with a side of fried potatoes -- life sure felt perfect.
Since I've been to Hot Plate before (once on a chilly winter day, and another occasion when I forgot my brunch date and showed up about 45 minutes late and very frazzled), I can tell you that it's not just the sunny, t-shirt weather and the three-day weekend that has me jazzed about the restaurant. The first time I went I feel in love with the pumpkin-buckwheat waffle, and I sipped a large cup of Chai tea to calm my nerves on the second visit. Both experiences were enjoyable despite the weather and my special brand of spazziness.
It's that time of year when everything is beautiful. As I sat on the patio at Hot Plate (5204 Bloomington Ave., 612.824.4794), enjoying a cup of coffee, the scent of lilacs wafting in the breeze and The Wendy -- an egg, cheese and tomato English muffin sandwich served with a side of fried potatoes -- life sure felt perfect.
Since I've been to Hot Plate before (once on a chilly winter day, and another occasion when I forgot my brunch date and showed up about 45 minutes late and very frazzled), I can tell you that it's not just the sunny, t-shirt weather and the three-day weekend that has me jazzed about the restaurant. The first time I went I feel in love with the pumpkin-buckwheat waffle, and I sipped a large cup of Chai tea to calm my nerves on the second visit. Both experiences were enjoyable despite the weather and my special brand of spazziness.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Fogo de Chao
Date visited: Tuesday, May 15
I ended up at Fogo de Chao (645 Hennepin Ave., 612.338.1344), the new Brazilian steakhouse downtown, because I got a hook up for a free lunch from a friend. It's not a restaurant I would pick, but I was pleasantly surprised by the salad bar offerings (artichokes, roasted red peppers, cheeses, a variety of mixed salads, delicious asparagus and more), the tasty side dishes (crispy polenta cubes, mashed potatoes) and the amazing cheesy pastry puffs that the waiters kept bringing to the table. I also enjoyed a papaya dessert, and the flan and molten chocolate cake that my companions ordered were mouth-watering as well.
That said, I can't recommend the restaurant to vegetarians. Remember, it's a Brazilian steakhouse. There's literally meat at every turn. Waiters wearing gauchos patrol the dining room with 15 different skewers of meat, shaving off slices to hungry diners on demand. I don't mind watching people eat meat as long as I don't have to, but many of my fellow vegetarians would be disgusted (and rightfully so).
The moral of the story: If you are forced into a meal at Fogo de Chao (or get a free hook-up), there's nothing to worry about, you won't starve. But making it a destination isn't the best idea - as if you needed me to tell you that.
I ended up at Fogo de Chao (645 Hennepin Ave., 612.338.1344), the new Brazilian steakhouse downtown, because I got a hook up for a free lunch from a friend. It's not a restaurant I would pick, but I was pleasantly surprised by the salad bar offerings (artichokes, roasted red peppers, cheeses, a variety of mixed salads, delicious asparagus and more), the tasty side dishes (crispy polenta cubes, mashed potatoes) and the amazing cheesy pastry puffs that the waiters kept bringing to the table. I also enjoyed a papaya dessert, and the flan and molten chocolate cake that my companions ordered were mouth-watering as well.
That said, I can't recommend the restaurant to vegetarians. Remember, it's a Brazilian steakhouse. There's literally meat at every turn. Waiters wearing gauchos patrol the dining room with 15 different skewers of meat, shaving off slices to hungry diners on demand. I don't mind watching people eat meat as long as I don't have to, but many of my fellow vegetarians would be disgusted (and rightfully so).
The moral of the story: If you are forced into a meal at Fogo de Chao (or get a free hook-up), there's nothing to worry about, you won't starve. But making it a destination isn't the best idea - as if you needed me to tell you that.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Morelos
Date visited: Friday, May 11
It was a long week, and Friday was a long day, so when I plopped into the booth at Morelos (14 W. 26th St., Minneapolis), I couldn't get a margarita fast enough. Luckily I didn't have to wait long for the blended strawberry drink to arrive, and it didn't taste as strong as it felt, which is exactly how I like it.
Alcohol aside, the menu offered a half dozen designated vegetarian options, and they all looked fairly promising. I ordered the vegetarian tamales because it's hard to find veggie-friendly tamales. Apparently, that's for good reason. Although the menu said the tamales were filled with vegetables, they seemed to be filled with a bland mashed potato mixture. They were topped with an incredibly spicy sauce (keep in mind I'm a spice wimp), and served with rice and black beans on the side. Overall, I wasn't a big fan of the meal, but I'd definitely give Morelos another shot, and that's not just the margarita talking.
It was a long week, and Friday was a long day, so when I plopped into the booth at Morelos (14 W. 26th St., Minneapolis), I couldn't get a margarita fast enough. Luckily I didn't have to wait long for the blended strawberry drink to arrive, and it didn't taste as strong as it felt, which is exactly how I like it.
Alcohol aside, the menu offered a half dozen designated vegetarian options, and they all looked fairly promising. I ordered the vegetarian tamales because it's hard to find veggie-friendly tamales. Apparently, that's for good reason. Although the menu said the tamales were filled with vegetables, they seemed to be filled with a bland mashed potato mixture. They were topped with an incredibly spicy sauce (keep in mind I'm a spice wimp), and served with rice and black beans on the side. Overall, I wasn't a big fan of the meal, but I'd definitely give Morelos another shot, and that's not just the margarita talking.
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