Food and Drink

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Lions Tap Family Restaurant

May 29, 2010 in Food and Drink | No comments

16180 Flying Cloud Drive
Eden Prairie, MN
Flying Cloud Drive & Co. Road 4 (Just West of Flying Cloud Airport)
Open 7 days a week 10am-10pm

Three words describe this place…simple, simple, simple…..simply the best burgers, fries and beer! And that’s all they serve…you can get a soda, but if you’re of age…DON’T! You must try their beer, specially brewed for the Lion’s Tap by Cold Spring Brewery right here in Minnesota. You have four beers to choose from: Light, Lager, Honey Bock and a Red. I’ve had the Red and I have to say it is very good. They have six different burgers to choose from starting at $3.00.

Like the menu, the restaurant is just a simple hole in the wall place in the middle of nowhere, but don’t let that stop you. Bring the kids and sit and enjoy simply one of the best, fresh burgers you’ll ever eat! I’ll meet you there!

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Pita Pit Mankato

May 9, 2010 in Food and Drink | 4 comments

Pita Pit Mankato

528 So. Front St.

The corner of Warren and So. Front St.

The Pita Pit opened in Mankato on Friday, May 7th, and while it is a chain, I have to say it’s a welcome addition to the Mankato restaurant scene. Local restaurants are great if you have time to take a long lunch and relax while you eat, however, many of us don’t have a lot of time during our lunch breaks and when you are short on time good choices for lunch can be tough.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Chipotle, Arby’s, and any other number of fast food chains, but they aren’t always the healthiest choice. Enter the Pita Pit. While many of the choices still have a lot of calories, they also have a lot of good things in them that make up for it.

From baba ganoush and hummus, to gyros and breakfast pitas with avacado and tomato, they have something for everyone. The food will not make you drop your jaw in amazement, but it is a good choice for a quick lunch or supper and the prices are reasonable.

I had a baba ganoush pita with feta and tomatoes and it was delicious. Added bonus: the Pita Pit is in the downtown area of Mankato (very near all of the most popular bars) and it is open until 3 am! So now all of the intoxicated bar-goers have an alternative to Erberts and Gerberts when they are ready to head home for the night.

Check out the Pita Pit Menu before you go!

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It’s Grillin’ Season in Minnesota

April 29, 2010 in Events and Activities, Food and Drink | 1 comment

The weather has warmed up and the grills have come out. While we still get the occasional rain shower, that’s not enough to deter Minnesotans from getting out and warming up the grill. In the spirit of grilling season, here are a few great things to make for a crowd or just for yourself:

  • Scallops: While scallops might not be a traditional grill food (at least for the casual griller), they are a quick and easy way to get great seafood for your next get-together. You can either throw them directly on the grill for just a couple of minutes on each side or you get a frying pan with some butter and saute them for a couple of minutes on each side. Both ways make great seafood in only a few minutes.

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  • Chicken: Whether you like BBQ chicken, lemon pepper chicken, or a Greek chicken, you can get the flavors you want and enhance them with the grill. A great recipe I like to use is for Greek chicken. Take the chicken breasts and marinate them in Greek yogurt, dill, and lemon juice for at least a couple of hours. Then shake them off a little and throw them right on the grill. Serve with feta cheese for a great Greek meal hot of the grill.

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  • Steak: This is the crowd favorite by far. Even a cheap steak tastes great when it’s grilled, so it’s no wonder people like it. I like to marinate a couple of NY Strip Steaks fresh from the market in worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and Tabasco sauce. After a few hours the steaks are ready to go and with the marinade, there’s no need for steak sauce.

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  • Asparagus: If you are a vegetarian you can make some great black bean burgers along with some fresh asparagus straight off the grill. The delicious flavor of asparagus is accentuated when it’s grilled and if you aren’t a vegetarian you can wrap some prosciutto around it for even more flavor.

    • While the list of things you can grill is endless, these are just a few of my favorites. Be sure to invite some friends over this Spring and get some grilling food and some beers for a great night of fun without going out!

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    Ice Cream Time in Minnesota!

    April 17, 2010 in Food and Drink | No comments

    At the first sign of the ice melt, ice cream shops in Minnesota begin opening their doors. If you like to stay frozen year-round, here is a list of some great Minnesota ice cream shops:

  • Izzy’s Ice Cream Café in St. Paul
  • Grand Ole Creamery in St. Paul and Minneapolis
  • Pumphouse Creamery, 4754 Chicago Ave. S., Mpls, MN 55407
  • Crema Café, 3403 Lyndale Avenue South Minneapolis MN 55408
  • Sebastian Joes Ice Cream, Two Minneapolis locations: 4321 Upton Ave S and 1007 W Franklin Ave
  • Sonny’s Ice Cream, 3401 South Lyndale Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
  • Ringtown Creamery and Café, 1965 Cliff Lake Road
  • Adele’s Frozen Custard Old Fashioned Ice Cream, 800 Excelsior Boulevard

    • Is there any better thing to do on a warm spring day but sit and have some ice cream with the ones you love? Meet you there!

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    Cheers, It’s Time for a Minnesota Beer

    April 14, 2010 in Food and Drink | 1 comment

    There are many great Minnesota Breweries to try out – especially in the Spring and Summer when it’s nice out. Take a tour or just sample some of the great beer:

  • Surly Brewing Company, Brooklyn Center, MN
    Tours on Friday nights only (please check website)
  • Brau Brothers Brewing Co., Lucan, MN
    Check website on where you can buy their beer.
  • Summit Brewing Company, St. Paul, MN
    Tours: Tues, Thurs. and Sat. Also has gift shop on site.
  • August Schell Brewing Co., New Ulm, MN (also the home of Grain Belt)
    Tours, beautiful gardens and lots of history to see.
  • Rock Bottom Brewpub, Minneapolis, MN
    Good food and good beer.

    • Here’s a list of a few more:
    Cold Springs Brewery, Cold Springs.
    Mantorville Brewing, Mantorville.
    Flat Earth Brewing Co., St. Paul.
    Fulton Brewery, Minneapolis.
    Lake Superior Brewing Co., Duluth.
    Lift Bridge Brewery, Stillwater
    Pigs Eye Brewing Co., St. Paul
    St. Croix Brewing Co., St. Paul
    Vine Park Brewing Co., St. Paul (you can brew your own beer here)
    Fitger’s Brew House, Duluth
    Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis
    Granite City Brewing (Many locations ~ Brew Pub)

    Put a few of these on your list for summer sampling…I know I will!

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    Greek Orzo Salad Recipe

    April 14, 2010 in Food and Drink | No comments

    Ingredients

    • 1 8 oz box of orzo pasta
    • 8 ounces feta cheese, cubed or coarsely crumbled
    • 1 cup chopped roma tomatoes
    • ½ cup sliced red onion
    • 1 med cucumber chopped
    • 1/2 cup chopped pitted kalamata olives
    • 1 tablespoon snipped fresh basil
    • 1 tablespoon snipped fresh flat-leaf parsley
    • 1/3 cup olive oil
    • 3 tablespoons lemon juice or apple vinegar
    • 1/2 teaspoon snipped fresh oregano
    • Salt and ground black pepper

    Directions
    1. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Rinse with cold water; drain again. Transfer pasta to a large bowl. Cover; chill in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours. Add feta, tomatoes, onion, cucumbers, olives, basil, and parsley to the chilled pasta; stir to combine.
    2. For dressing: In a jar with a screw-top lid, place olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and oregano. Shake vigorously to combine. Pour dressing over pasta mixture; toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and ground black pepper. Cover; chill in the refrigerator for 2 to 24 hours. Makes 6 main-dish servings.

    For many of the ingredients for this recipe, check out the Global Market in Minneapolis.

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    Northern Grounds Cafe – Ely, MN

    March 31, 2010 in Food and Drink | No comments

    Our on return trip from “Snowshoe Country” we swung through Ely…since we had never been there, and stopped for breakfast at Northern Grounds and we were very pleased. The coffee was good and hot and the atmosphere was relaxed.

    They have a large selection of wonderful breakfast items – blueberry pancakes, eggs, a multi grain toast to die for (I asked where the bread was baked and it’s baked right there in Ely at Plum Bun bakery), bacon, and all things breakfast. It also looked like they had a very good lunch menu, so we’ll have to stop back by next time we’re in the area.

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    Fitger’s Brewery Follow-Up

    March 29, 2010 in Food and Drink | No comments

    On our recent trip up North, we stopped at Fitger’s to take in some food and drink. We were there on a Friday, right before a beer fest, so the brewery actually had quite a few people around. Their amber beer was just back on tap so we scooped up a growler of it – the Witchtree ESB. It was amazing. I love a red – at least when it comes to my beer, and as far as reds go it was one of the best I’ve had (aside from Red Hook’s ESB).

    The other beers we had were good, too. We picked up a bock and a brown ale, which were both delicious. My mom was adventurous and had a sample of seven beers with lunch – she said nearly all of them were very tasty, including an apricot beer, which I found to be a little too fruity for my tastes.

    We also had lunch at their pub and the food was decent. It was nothing too spectacular, but it was great as far as brewhouses go. The hummus we had as an appetizer was good – although not authentic – and the rest of the food we had was satisfying. Overall, the experience was fun and it would probably have been a fun time if we’d stayed around for the beer fest going on that night.

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    Mankato Mexican Food Battle Royale

    February 28, 2010 in Food and Drink | No comments

    Mankato/North Mankato has three main Mexican Restaurants (not including Zanz) that each vie for the business of Mankatoans. Each has its own appeal – so here’s the info so you can decide which one is right for you.

    Mexican Village

    1630 E. Madison Ave
    Mankato, MN 56001
    (507) 387-4455

    This is the oldest restaurant of the three and it is also the most Americanized. They have burgers, chicken fingers, and other American items, which may be a deterrent to some, but a bonus for those who have picky eaters in the family.

    The Mexican food is satisfying and the menu is expansive. From the enchiladas to the fajitas, everything is good, but not necessarily authentic. The atmosphere is family-friendly and it’s also a good place to go for your birthday (free fried ice cream and a fun little song involving a sombrero). This is probably your best bet for an all-around crowd pleaser, although it might not satisfy the taste buds of those who enjoy an authentic Mexican cuisine.

    El Mazatlan

    1525 Tullamore Street
    Mankato, MN 56001
    (507) 625-2406

    While I have not eaten here, I know many people who have. Many of them say it is much more authentic than Mexican Village (think corn tortillas rather than flour). The margaritas are good and the place is always packed, so that must mean they are doing something right. In fact, one reason I have never been here is because there is no place to park.

    Tip: If the parking lot is full, Mexican Village is just a block over, so even though it may not be the same, if you are too hungry to wait, you should be able to get in faster at Mexican Village.

    Bonito Guadalajara

    503 Belgrade Ave
    North Mankato, MN
    (507) 386-7167

    This one is in lower North Mankato and it is probably the most authentic of the three. It is a bit of a hole-in-the-wall and the service isn’t always the best. The food is decent, however, not always worth the wait. If you want a taste of authentic Mexican food at a reasonable price, this is a good place to go. Just make sure you plan for a long lunch or dinner.

    Guenther’s Cafe – Magical Burgers / Small Spaces

    February 23, 2010 in Food and Drink | No comments

    To be honest, there’s no real way to sum up the atmosphere in Guenther’s. The building, formerly an Indian food restaurant, also houses a public accountant’s office. Inside, the quarters are small, but the bar comfortably seats around 10 people and the 4 makeshift booths seat a few more. No matter how small, the atmosphere is electric. From the antique beer lights on the walls that mimic the movement of waterfalls to the whiteboard behind the bar area that displays the menu, this place is straight out of the 1950′s. And it’s that 1950′s charm that makes this little hole-in-the-wall my new favorite place to spend my lunch hour.

    The owners take great pride in the food they serve and in the manner in which they serve it. The menu is small, but that’s because the owners want to perfect everything before they make it available to customers. The onion rings alone, the waitress told us, took three weeks for the cooks to perfect. But perfect them they did. The homemade onion rings are something to behold. The way that the onion stays in the ring when you take a bite is unheard of in a regular chain restaurant – and the crisp on the exterior is nothing to sneeze at.

    In addition to their delicious onion rings, they make everything homemade. From the chili (Esther’s Chili to be exact) to the sweet-smelling cinnamon rolls and the thick strawberry malts – everything is made with love. Patrons can choose from the Tap Burger (1/6 lbs) or the Big Tap Burger (1/3 lbs) or a variety of other items such as hot dogs and grilled cheese sandwiches. The prices are reasonable but the food in combination with the atmosphere is worth its weight in gold.

    The little burger joint is only open 7 am – 2:30 pm (while I have not had the breakfast yet – I wouldn’t expect that it’s any less than amazing) – again because of the owner’s dedication to making everything the best before it goes out to customers. In this case, it’s training the staff, not the food, that is keeping them closed after 2:30. However, I was assured by the very friendly waitress that they will soon be open until 7 pm. Oh, and another note, be sure to get there before noon if you want lunch at a normal time, because the place is packed – constantly. But if you don’t mind rubbing elbows with your neighbor, this slice of burger heaven might just be the greatest place on Earth.

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