I've only read one Stephen King book (Lisey's Story) because I'm scared of his writing -- both because it's intimidatingly good and it's just plain scary/gory. In the book, King's main character Lisey has the urge for "eatin' nasty." Her junk food of choice is Hamburger Helper.
I had an urge for "eatin' nasty" the other day, but I didn't choose Hamburger Helper (shocking, I know). Instead I doctored up a frozen cheese pizza (I like Jack's self-rising crust) with Lightlife's Smart BBQ, tomatoes and grated cheese. It was good -- nasty good.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Monday, June 25, 2007
Fitger's Brewhouse
Date visited: Friday, June 22
Some people might have marked the beginning of summer on June 21, and that's fine, I guess, since the calendars say it's so. I officially kicked off summer one day later at Fitger's Brewhouse (600 E. Superior St., Duluth; 218.279.BREW).
Fitger's became a summer tradition a few years ago when a friend suggested it as a meeting place to launch a weekend of camping, and now whenever I go camping anywhere near Duluth a Fitger's stop is in order. Why? Because I love their microbrew, they have nalgene "adventure" growlers (perfect for camping) and they offer a vegetarian/vegan friendly menu (and their wait staff knows the difference between the two). I love their wild rice veggie burgers (which are vegetarian, not vegan), but I've never been unhappy with my order.
On our latest stop, my camping companion and I split an order of cheese and black bean quesadillas and ordered a side of fresh veggies with ranch dipping sauce (simple, yet tasty). We also filled up the growler with El Nino Double Hopped IPA, which made for a fun Saturday evening at the camp site. If you like your beer with a little less hops, try the Apricot Wheat (it's even good warm, but it doesn't make good instant oatmeal -- don't ask) or the Starfire Pale Ale. Yea for summer!
Some people might have marked the beginning of summer on June 21, and that's fine, I guess, since the calendars say it's so. I officially kicked off summer one day later at Fitger's Brewhouse (600 E. Superior St., Duluth; 218.279.BREW).
Fitger's became a summer tradition a few years ago when a friend suggested it as a meeting place to launch a weekend of camping, and now whenever I go camping anywhere near Duluth a Fitger's stop is in order. Why? Because I love their microbrew, they have nalgene "adventure" growlers (perfect for camping) and they offer a vegetarian/vegan friendly menu (and their wait staff knows the difference between the two). I love their wild rice veggie burgers (which are vegetarian, not vegan), but I've never been unhappy with my order.
On our latest stop, my camping companion and I split an order of cheese and black bean quesadillas and ordered a side of fresh veggies with ranch dipping sauce (simple, yet tasty). We also filled up the growler with El Nino Double Hopped IPA, which made for a fun Saturday evening at the camp site. If you like your beer with a little less hops, try the Apricot Wheat (it's even good warm, but it doesn't make good instant oatmeal -- don't ask) or the Starfire Pale Ale. Yea for summer!
Friday, June 15, 2007
Pracna on Main
Date visited: Saturday, June 9
I've been meaning to update all week, but I've also been wrestling with one of my mom's favorite axioms, "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." Because I don't have much that's nice to say about Pracna on Main (117 Main St. SE, Minneapolis; 612.379.3200).
I visited the restaurant last Saturday with a friend, and while we thoroughly enjoyed the view, a walk along the Stone Arch Bridge and quietly mocking the humans on a stick, the food, service and prices at Pracna did not put me in a good mood.
To start, I had few option on the menu, and they were all the usual suspects (grilled cheese, veggie sandwich and pasta primavera). I chose the grilled cheese because at $9, it was the cheapest menu item, and none of my options sounded too good to me.
Now, I'm willing to pay for a good food experience -- when the ambiance and the flavors and the service all come together to form a legendary meal, the bill is worth it. But $9 for luke-warm grilled cheese and slightly stale waffle fries is definitely not worth it -- even for the view. I won't be in a hurry to go back, unless I'm in the mood for taking in a view with a few drinks (the bar did have a fairly extensive drink menu) and mocking the Segway riders.
I've been meaning to update all week, but I've also been wrestling with one of my mom's favorite axioms, "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." Because I don't have much that's nice to say about Pracna on Main (117 Main St. SE, Minneapolis; 612.379.3200).
I visited the restaurant last Saturday with a friend, and while we thoroughly enjoyed the view, a walk along the Stone Arch Bridge and quietly mocking the humans on a stick, the food, service and prices at Pracna did not put me in a good mood.
To start, I had few option on the menu, and they were all the usual suspects (grilled cheese, veggie sandwich and pasta primavera). I chose the grilled cheese because at $9, it was the cheapest menu item, and none of my options sounded too good to me.
Now, I'm willing to pay for a good food experience -- when the ambiance and the flavors and the service all come together to form a legendary meal, the bill is worth it. But $9 for luke-warm grilled cheese and slightly stale waffle fries is definitely not worth it -- even for the view. I won't be in a hurry to go back, unless I'm in the mood for taking in a view with a few drinks (the bar did have a fairly extensive drink menu) and mocking the Segway riders.
Friday, June 8, 2007
True Thai
Date visited: Wednesday, June 6
The first time I went to True Thai (2627 Franklin Avenue East, Minneapolis; 612.375.9942) I wasn't too impressed with the food. I ordered the Pad Thai with tofu, and it was good, but not exactly special. I was happy with the beer menu, which featured a bunch of selections from Bell's Brewery.
I went back to the restaurant this week expecting an average experience, but I was happily surprised when I ordered the red curry with kabocha squash. It was flavorful, kicky and a little sweet. It also helped that I started the meal with some of the freshest egg rolls I've ever had -- they were hot and crispy, and the vegetables inside weren't over-cooked. Excellent. It should also be noted that almost every dish on the menu is vegetarian-friendly.
In some unhappy restaurant news, I was stuck in the suburbs for lunch about a week ago, and my only nearby food options were chain restaurants located in strip malls. I decided to try Chin's Asia Fresh because I had never been there before. What a mistake. I ordered the Thai Peanut Stir-Fry with Tofu and fried rice. The Thai Peanut sauce was over-powering and spicier than typical chain fare, and it came with tough little nuggets of tofu. The fried rice was greasy and bland. Yuck. I won't be going back -- ever.
The first time I went to True Thai (2627 Franklin Avenue East, Minneapolis; 612.375.9942) I wasn't too impressed with the food. I ordered the Pad Thai with tofu, and it was good, but not exactly special. I was happy with the beer menu, which featured a bunch of selections from Bell's Brewery.
I went back to the restaurant this week expecting an average experience, but I was happily surprised when I ordered the red curry with kabocha squash. It was flavorful, kicky and a little sweet. It also helped that I started the meal with some of the freshest egg rolls I've ever had -- they were hot and crispy, and the vegetables inside weren't over-cooked. Excellent. It should also be noted that almost every dish on the menu is vegetarian-friendly.
In some unhappy restaurant news, I was stuck in the suburbs for lunch about a week ago, and my only nearby food options were chain restaurants located in strip malls. I decided to try Chin's Asia Fresh because I had never been there before. What a mistake. I ordered the Thai Peanut Stir-Fry with Tofu and fried rice. The Thai Peanut sauce was over-powering and spicier than typical chain fare, and it came with tough little nuggets of tofu. The fried rice was greasy and bland. Yuck. I won't be going back -- ever.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Fat Lorenzo's
Date visited: Thursday, May 31
I haven't ever really eaten at Fat Lorenzo's (5600 Cedar Ave. S, 612.822.2040). I've never ordered the pizza, hoagies or pasta or even sampled the salad.
But I have visited the restaurant twice in the last week because I love gelato, and Fat Lorenzo's happens to have an amazing selection of it. I discovered the restaurant last Friday, after eating at the nearby 5-8 Club. A group of us strolled in -- lured by the homemade gelato sign -- and we weren't disappointed. I devoured my cup of creamy gelato with chocolate chunks and swiped a few scoops of strawberry from my date.
Last night we walked back, and tried the strawberry-papaya (sweetly satisfying) and the kiwi-starfruit (refreshingly tart). I have a feeling we'll be back soon, and maybe one of these days I'll get around to eating dinner before I indulge in dessert.
I haven't ever really eaten at Fat Lorenzo's (5600 Cedar Ave. S, 612.822.2040). I've never ordered the pizza, hoagies or pasta or even sampled the salad.
But I have visited the restaurant twice in the last week because I love gelato, and Fat Lorenzo's happens to have an amazing selection of it. I discovered the restaurant last Friday, after eating at the nearby 5-8 Club. A group of us strolled in -- lured by the homemade gelato sign -- and we weren't disappointed. I devoured my cup of creamy gelato with chocolate chunks and swiped a few scoops of strawberry from my date.
Last night we walked back, and tried the strawberry-papaya (sweetly satisfying) and the kiwi-starfruit (refreshingly tart). I have a feeling we'll be back soon, and maybe one of these days I'll get around to eating dinner before I indulge in dessert.
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