What began with yet another horrifying act of police violence against an unarmed black man has grown into an international social revolution. And with that came an explosion of public art. Starting at the corner of 38th and Chicago in South Minneapolis, murals memorializing George Floyd have spread as far as Berlin, Nairobi, and a … [ Read more]
Wild flavors and a steady culinary hand make Bebe Zito’s ice cream offerings precious
January 17, 2020 by
Ultra-premium. Ultra-exotic. Ultra-delicious. Those three little phrases sum up Bebe Zito Ice Cream. Ice cream chef Ben Spangler and fiancée / business partner Gabriella Grant have staked their fortunes on making frozen desserts that go above, and beyond, and then several more steps beyond that. In an ice cream landscape that includes everything from the … [ Read more]
Chips On Their Shoulders, Parks In Their Hearts
July 2, 2019 by
The cast of characters who created Minneapolis’ parks could be their own mutton-chopped version of “Parks and Recreation” There’s a lot of green in Minneapolis—6,800 acres of parks, to be exact. Fifteen percent of the city is parkland and 96 percent of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. Minneapolis’ 180 park properties have … [ Read more]
Ghosts of Maurer’s Saloon: The surprising history of Cuzzy’s in Minneapolis
July 2, 2019 by
The women in the Maurer family did not choose to become saloon keepers. It was forced upon them when their husbands committed suicide or were sent to prison. Elizabeth Maurer’s husband, Louis, was a German immigrant like her. In 1909, his saloon was a Gluek’s-connected establishment on Washington Avenue North in Minneapolis, a commercial stretch … [ Read more]
Whirlwind Tour: Minneapolis Skyway Dining
January 25, 2019 by
To an infrequent visitor, the streets of downtown Minneapolis can seem cold and sterile. Where any other city’s core would be filled with the bustle of crowds on the sidewalks and in the crosswalks, Minneapolis’ downtown looks suspiciously like the set of “I Am Legend.” This, we contend, is simply because the casual visitor does … [ Read more]
Bite of the Week: The Cubano at Guavas Cuban Cafe
December 12, 2018 by
Bite of the Week is a weekly feature showcasing an exceptional meal or dish, curated by The Growler. The closure earlier this year of the restaurant Xavi was rightfully hailed as a sad event, but there’s a big silver lining to that particular cloud. The Xavi space at 56th and Chicago Avenue has become Guavas, a … [ Read more]
Bite of the Week: Falafel at Fig + Farro
November 7, 2018 by
Bite of the Week is a weekly feature showcasing an exceptional meal or dish, curated by The Growler. Change is afoot at Fig + Farro, the stylish eatery in Uptown’s Calhoun Square. The restaurant recently hired chef Charlie Baez (who has worked at The Copper Hen, Young Joni, and Grand Cafe), and he has—as of this … [ Read more]
First Look: Number 12 Cider’s North Loop taproom is open for business
November 6, 2018 by
Cider is flowing in the North Loop as Number 12 Cider’s new cidery and taproom opened last week. The taproom, located at 614 5th St. N. in Minneapolis, adds to the craft credentials of the neighborhood, which already boasts Inbound BrewCo, Modist Brewing, and Fulton Brewing’s taprooms within walking distance of each other. Number 12 … [ Read more]
Now Open (Or Damn Close): La Doña Cervecería
October 12, 2018 by
Minnesota craft beer with a Latin influence.” This is the main point that Sergio Manancero arrives at as we discuss the genesis of La Doña Cervecería, the latest taproom to open its doors in Minneapolis’ Harrison neighborhood. The fusion of Manancero’s heritage and Minnesota’s craft beer scene extends beyond the beer filling the glasses at … [ Read more]
Bite of the Week: Banh Mi Pizza at Red Wagon Pizza Co.
October 10, 2018 by
Bite of the Week is a weekly feature showcasing an exceptional meal or dish, curated by The Growler and supported by our underwriter, Bite Squad. It’s a pretty familiar trick: You name a thing—a burger, a pizza, a sandwich—after a totally unrelated thing as an excuse to steal some of its flavors. When you order a … [ Read more]
Bite of the Week: Tacos at Animales Barbecue
October 3, 2018 by
Bite of the Week is a weekly feature showcasing an exceptional meal or dish, curated by The Growler and supported by our underwriter, Bite Squad. One of the hallmark joys in the major culinary capitals of the South is one’s ability to find excellent meats in unlikely places. A random outing in Tucson, Austin, New Orleans, … [ Read more]
John Orth: Minneapolis’ OG craft brewer
July 20, 2018 by
In 1854, to celebrate the completion of the first railroad connecting the East Coast to the Mississippi River, the owners of the Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad (CRI&P RW) invited approximately 1,200 distinguished Eastern notables and investors to travel by rail to Rock Island, Illinois, and from there by steamboat to St. Anthony Falls in … [ Read more]
PHOTOS: Rock The Garden 2018
June 18, 2018 by
Rock The Garden 2018 has come and gone. If you were there, you know it was hot, sweaty, and an exhaustingly fun time. If you missed it, or just want to reminisce, The Growler’s got you covered. Our photographer was there (regrettably wearing a black shirt, and black pants) and captured the tropically humid music … [ Read more]
Review: Sushi Train’s gimmick delivers real flavor
June 7, 2018 by
Have no doubt: The sushi-laden conveyor belt at the heart of Sushi Train is a gimmick. It’s a prop that sets the newly opened downtown Minneapolis restaurant apart from the dozens of other places slinging sushi in the Metro area and beyond—a visual symbol of excess, an eye-catching curio that makes you go, “What? Is … [ Read more]
The Neighborhood Walkabout: Armatage
September 23, 2016 by Leave a Comment
The juices from the succulent pulled pork seep through the golden crusted ciabatta bun through my fingers and all over my hands. This sandwich, known as the Calabrian from Porchetteria At Terzo Vino Bar, is messy beyond normal comfort but I don’t care. It’s too delicious to care, and on this beautiful afternoon, blocks away … [ Read more]
