Couldn’t match the hype

Solid, but almost too spicy for my baby
Originally published by DK on January 23, 2021 at 5:46 pmSolid, but almost too spicy for my baby
Originally published by DK on January 23, 2021 at 5:46 pmLooks who’s back, back again
Originally published by DK on January 22, 2021 at 12:41 pmThanks CK!
Originally published by DK on January 19, 2021 at 10:58 pmNo way Christy didn’t help with this
Originally published by DK on January 17, 2021 at 7:06 pmThat was one good sammie
Originally published by DK on January 15, 2021 at 8:41 pmShouldn’t this be a state secret?
Originally published by DK on January 14, 2021 at 12:09 amNot usually a fan of prime rib, but this was delicious
Originally published by DK on January 10, 2021 at 9:48 pmLeeann Chin is still v tasty
Originally published by DK on January 5, 2021 at 5:32 pmHBO + Candyland
Originally published by DK on January 2, 2021 at 5:20 pmThanks Chef! Thanks Nive Man!
Originally published by DK on December 31, 2020 at 4:43 pmThe 3 Finger
Originally published by DK on December 29, 2020 at 12:55 pmThird visit to the fairgrounds in 2020
Originally published by DK on December 27, 2020 at 8:21 pmCossetta Alimentari, FTW
Originally published by DK on December 25, 2020 at 6:17 pmThank you, Buttered Tin
Originally published by DK on December 24, 2020 at 11:25 amAnd I haven’t even gotten to the cake yet…
Originally published by DK on December 22, 2020 at 1:15 pm…it’s been a minute
Originally published by DK on December 17, 2020 at 7:29 pmMore perks from having a kid at Candyland
Originally published by DK on December 15, 2020 at 4:06 pmDidn’t taste like piss and flies to me
Originally published by DK on December 14, 2020 at 9:14 pmThere will be wine too
Originally published by DK on December 9, 2020 at 2:59 pmWith the whole fam too
Originally published by DK on December 6, 2020 at 6:41 pmSwedish meatball stroganoff
Originally published by DK on December 5, 2020 at 4:41 pmFirst day @ Candyland
Originally published by DK on December 5, 2020 at 12:23 pmIt will always be the Audrey, right Chef (and Nive Man)?
Originally published by DK on December 3, 2020 at 8:53 pmChristmas cookies are so good
Originally published by DK on November 30, 2020 at 10:52 pmChicago Mix, FTW
Originally published by DK on November 30, 2020 at 3:48 pmHappy Thanksgiving!
Originally published by DK on November 26, 2020 at 10:50 amThanks, Keri
Originally published by DK on November 25, 2020 at 1:27 pmSpicier than we expected
Originally published by DK on November 18, 2020 at 4:11 pmDouble-wrap drive-thru line around the building (but worth it)
Originally published by DK on November 17, 2020 at 9:40 pmBreakfast, lunch or dinner – always good
Originally published by DK on November 16, 2020 at 8:58 pmSuch a solid joint
Originally published by DK on November 16, 2020 at 8:31 pmAll by myself (thanks, Greg’s Meats)
Originally published by DK on November 14, 2020 at 3:01 pmNice 🍟
Originally published by DK on November 12, 2020 at 5:25 pmLuna going to town on green chippies
Originally published by DK on November 10, 2020 at 11:41 amNo surprise I seem to be plateauing on the weight loss
Originally published by DK on November 9, 2020 at 1:02 pmRestaurant Alma rocks
Originally published by DK on November 8, 2020 at 7:12 amAll for under 30 bucks!
Originally published by DK on November 7, 2020 at 5:04 pmChicken sliders and the “too much space” onion rings
Originally published by DK on November 6, 2020 at 7:53 pmThey gave me a damn apple
fritter instead of a hash brown 😡
Originally published by DK on November 6, 2020 at 8:45 amNo shitty Mac for this girl
Originally published by DK on November 5, 2020 at 7:05 pmThree years ago, I did a “Top 7” post on my favorite foods, but that talked about food categories in general terms. Lots of people have asked me about my favorite specific food items, so here they are (in no particular order):
Let’s start in the Northland at one of the premier dive bars in the country, the VC. Also known for it’s 24-inch Bamboozler pizza, the homemade bleu cheese is the best I’ve had anywhere. Wednesdays are wing night, so load up on buffalo sauce and dip away in that amazing bleu. I usually order some Poor Gary’s pizza too, but I never really have room for that in the end.
Staying on the Northland theme, let’s take a trip to the little village on the big lake, Grand Marais. While there are many great food traditions in town (Sven and Ole’s, Angry Trout Cafe, Blue Water Cafe – hell, even the local DQ is bomb), the claim of “World’s Best Donuts” is 100% true. Given the chance, I could eat an entire bag of the chocolate cake donuts in one sitting. Pro tips: pre-order online to skip the line and pay extra for a box instead of a bag so the chocolate doesn’t stick to the side.
Closer to home, the cheeseburger at Saint Dinette is my favorite burger of all time (and I’ve tried way too many). The competition between Chef Adam’s masterpiece and Au Cheval in Chicago was anti-climatic (and definitely not worth a multi-hour pre-pandemic wait). I’ve long had a soft spot in my heart for the burger at Fuddruckers in Bloomington (RIP), but that was good in a different way. Lots of people in town love the Parlour burger (and I think it’s very, very solid), but I’ve got to give the nod to the St. Paul contender. Team Nive Man, all the way!
Going to cheat with a two-fer of Minnesota State Fair classics: the Pronto Pup (NEVER CORN DOG SINCE 1947) and Fresh French Fries. Of course, the fair has an amazing assortment of excellent food options (corn roast, Blue Barn, Lulu’s), but I can eat Pronto Pups right when I get there in the morning and just before we leave after a late Grandstand concert (and usually several more times in between). I LOVE French fries (Barbette, the clown, many others), but this year’s pandemic Food Parade reminded me that the red and yellow booth serves up the best ones ever.
If you’ve been following this site at all the past few months, you probably saw that we’ve been making a habit lately of visiting Carbone’s on Randolph for pizza on Mondays. This is the pizza of my childhood, and only the original Randolph location is legitimate in my book (the other franchises try admirably, but they just aren’t the same). We had our concerns when they closed down briefly to remodel and expand, but the original ovens remained and the greasy flavor lives on. In a metro area full of great pizza options, Carbone’s on Randolph is the one for my list.
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to have a fast food entry on my list, but the 3 Finger Combo at Raising Canes is something I could order every day and not get tired of it. The quality of the chicken is always top notch, they have great fries, the Texas toast is a nice extra and for someone who grew up wanting things plain, Cane’s sauce is the best. Also love the little ice cubes in the freshly made lemonade. Egg McMuffins from the clown are also something I could eat every day (and the quality never wavers no matter where you are in the world, which is an incredible feat). And of course, Arby’s has the meats.
I’ve handed down my love of steak to my eldest daughter, but I’ve yet to take her to the temple of Minneapolis beef, Murray’s. Now I know that many people consider Manny’s to be the temple of Minneapolis beef, but I went to Murray’s first, sharing a Silver Butter Knife steak with my mom way back when. I thought it was magical that they could cook such a thick steak so uniformly perfect and have it be *so* tender. These days, I usually get there for the luncheon filet, a 6 ounce tenderloin with au gratin potatoes that is an absolute steal at $32. Just like pizza, there are a lot of great steak places in town, but Murray’s is my fave.
After I came up with this list, Colleen asked me, “what about Cecil’s?” Their New York style hot pastrami & Swiss on egg white absolutely needs to be top 7, but I don’t know what I want to bump off the list. Let’s just go with eight for now…
UPDATE: I also forgot about mild chilitos with extra cheese at Zantigo.
Originally published by DK on November 4, 2020 at 9:08 pmStill the champ
Originally published by DK on November 2, 2020 at 1:00 pm30F on the St. Genevieve patio
Originally published by DK on October 24, 2020 at 7:56 pmBrake Bread 🍞
Originally published by DK on October 22, 2020 at 1:24 pmAlso missing Kyatchi
Originally published by DK on October 21, 2020 at 1:20 pmThis pandemic trend is okey-dokey
Originally published by DK on October 19, 2020 at 1:04 pmChicken wild rice soup @ Minnehaha Cafe, Mystic Lake
Originally published by DK on October 11, 2020 at 6:02 pmSo great to hang out in the Commons today with JV, RW, JK and the kiddo
Originally published by DK on October 10, 2020 at 5:45 pmSo great to see Talia again!
Originally published by DK on October 8, 2020 at 10:29 pmShort-staffed, limited hours, two hour wait @ Sven and Ole’s
Originally published by DK on October 3, 2020 at 11:15 pmMmm…buttered bread
Originally published by DK on October 1, 2020 at 11:19 pmMac and cheese taco?
Originally published by DK on October 1, 2020 at 11:07 pmWorld’s Best + no lines
Originally published by DK on October 1, 2020 at 11:04 pmFit *and* obese
Originally published by DK on September 30, 2020 at 8:07 pmPepperoni *and* sausage today
Originally published by DK on September 28, 2020 at 12:02 pmTop notch food at Fortune Bay
Originally published by DK on September 25, 2020 at 10:48 pmJamaica in Gilbert
Originally published by DK on September 24, 2020 at 10:16 pmMasks now required at the VC
Originally published by DK on September 23, 2020 at 9:21 pmThanks for another great season, Gordy
Originally published by DK on September 23, 2020 at 9:13 pmDo it yourself in 2020
Originally published by DK on September 22, 2020 at 6:50 pmHaving an empty nest is strange
Originally published by DK on September 22, 2020 at 6:49 pmGreg’s Meats FTW
Originally published by DK on September 21, 2020 at 7:46 pmI’m wearing this new one if we get to go back again
Originally published by DK on September 16, 2020 at 11:26 pmBeautiful evening on the patio at Kado no Mise
Originally published by DK on September 16, 2020 at 5:46 pmPunch + Carbone’s 🍕
Originally published by DK on September 10, 2020 at 10:40 pmKinda sad, but way better than nothing
Originally published by DK on September 3, 2020 at 5:24 pmI wish it could be year-round
Originally published by DK on September 1, 2020 at 6:00 pmLil’ Chovi Sunday menu in Minneapolis
Originally published by DK on August 31, 2020 at 8:36 amPine Tree Apple Orchard
Originally published by DK on August 29, 2020 at 2:28 pmGood luck to Danielle in her future endeavors (Mississippi Pub, Inver Grove Heights)
Originally published by DK on August 26, 2020 at 7:56 pm