The finalists for the 2019 James Beard Foundation Awards were announced from Houston this morning, and four Minnesotans have punched their ticket to the awards galas. They are: Best Chef Midwest Ann Kim, Young Joni (See: Kim chats with Steve Hoffman about KFC and Kimchi) Jamie Malone, Grand Cafe (See: Steve Hoffman’s interview with Malone and … [ Read more]
For Minnesota’s Restaurant Scene, 2018 Was a Hell of a Year
The state of independent restaurants in Minnesota in 2018 is not merely strong; it’s exceptionally strong. A number of high-profile openings and announced expansions leave diners with a glittering galaxy of choices that will only continue to brighten as we move into 2019. First and foremost: Carefully curated mini-empires are expanding incrementally and wisely to … [ Read more]
Bright Colors, Deep Flavors: In Hai Hai, chef Christina Nguyen has created an autobiographical powerhouse
Three facts about Christina Nguyen, chef-owner at Hai Hai and Hola Arepa: 1. She believes that the customer is right…unless the subject is omelette larb. “It’s the one dish I won’t allow people to get less spicy, because I am a total tyrant and crazy person,” she says. “There are certain things that you should … [ Read more]
Craft Cocktail: Lychee Keen at Hai Hai
Outside of Hai Hai in Northeast Minneapolis, the snow banks are growing and the wind is howling. Inside, there’s sugar cane being pressed, limes being juiced, and a thicket of green herbs covering the bar. As long as I don’t leave this bar seat, it’s no longer winter as far as I’m concerned. Let’s keep … [ Read more]
MSP well-represented on longlist of James Beard Awards 2018 semifinalists
The James Beard Award Foundation released their longlist of semifinalists for their 2018 honors Thursday morning. Minneapolis–St. Paul was well represented, placing seven entries in the regional powerhouse category of Best Chef: Midwest. For national honors, the 2010 Best Chef: Midwest, Alex Roberts of Restaurant Alma, nabbed his second consecutive semifinal nod for Outstanding Chef nationwide. … [ Read more]
The Mill: New supermarket to open in North Minneapolis
A full-service supermarket and wellness center will be opening mid-December in North Minneapolis. The North Market is filling a hole in a neighborhood that previously relied on scattered convenience stores for its groceries. MPR News reports that the closest full-scale supermarket to the North Market is three miles away, making it difficult for those who … [ Read more]