The Blue Door

Finally, after several futile attempts to get into the Blue Door without an hour wait in very cramped quarters, we got lucky enough to snag an outside table. On a Sunday, no less. And believe me, it was worth the wait.

While we've eaten at The Blue Door before, we previously stuck to the classic and less risky choices, such as their version of the Juicy Lucy, the Blucy: tangy blue cheese and garlic stuffed into a half-pound of beef. While every thing we have tried there has been perfectly delightful, and wonderfully greasy, my taste in food, my...palate, if you will, has matured recently and I was ready to expand my burger boundaries. What better place for expansion (get it? Expansion? As in "your waist line will also expand?" ok.) than the home of Spam Bites, the Jiffy Burger, and something called The Defibrillator.

We started with the Spam Bites, giant balls of crispy breading filled with cream cheese, pickles and Spam. While I was not entirely sold on the Spam thing, having never eaten it before (that I knew of), all doubts faded the minute the server placed the heaping basket down. There wasn't a single glistening drop of grease on these golden nuggets. The breading was so crunchy and light we actually pondered out loud how they did it. Did they make the balls in advance, flash fry them, then quickly dipped them in magic oil before serving them along side a sweet dipping sauce? We never did find out, because just as we were polishing off every tiny morsel of the Spam Bites, our burgers were served. And what a thing of beauty they were.

The Jiffy Burger, as the name implies, is slathered with peanut butter. But wait, that's not all. It is also topped with crispy bacon, pepper jack cheese, pickles and a smudge of mayo. It sounds like it was created for, and possibly by, a very pregnant woman. But not being pregnant, I can assure you that anyone would enjoy this concoction. It is really not as strange as it sounds. The flavors work together beautifully. The creamy peanut butter and salty bacon make a lovely couple, and the tang of the pickles gives it the punch it needs, since the pepper jack cheese didn't bring much to the party. It was addiction worthy.

The Merriam Park Burger was recommended by the server, and turned out to be surprisingly more interesting than the Jiffy. Bacon, blue cheese, and garlic ooze from inside the burger, while a generous blob of sweet currant jelly is smeared on top. The jelly was a fun little addition to what would have simply been a gorgeous stuffed burger. We instantly decided to order a side of the jelly with the Jiffy Burger next time we visit. Seriously, it's been about two hours since we were there and I am already craving me some Jiffy.

Don't let the name fool you. The Spam Bites are huge.

You know you want some. 

Jiffy Burger. 

(Editors note: These suckers do not photograph well. Just trust me and go.)

The Merriam Park in all it's goopy glory. 

Web site

thebdp.com

Chef Shack- Food Truck

In what hopefully will be the first in a series of reviews on the up and coming food truck scene in the Twin Cities, I bring you, The Chef Shack.

Last summer, Minneapolis City Council passed a proposal to allow a maximum of 25 licensed street food operations in downtown Minneapolis. In St. Paul, vendors can operate under slightly looser requirements. With a prime parking spot in the Mill City Farmers Market, the Chef Shack food truck was way ahead of the pack, attracting long lines on warm Saturday afternoons since 2008.

This was my first visit to the Chef Shack, having been scared off by the lengthy waits, and the very real fear that, after all that time, they would have ran out of what ever it was I wanted. The Chef Shack does, after all, operate out of a very limited amount of space. But today was the very first day of Mill City Market's fifth summer season, and if I wanted to go on pretending to be a true foodie, I was going to have to give these much buzzed about guys (or gals, actually) a shot. So we waited in line, taking turns dancing to Cajun jive with our daughter. The weather was pure Minnesota spring perfection, that rare combination of sunshine, warmth, and total lack of humidity. So what's a ten minute wait when you are surrounded by the river on one side, the new Guthrie on the other, and a crowd of giddy Minnesotans all around? It's true, we are even nicer when we are warm.

As we waited, a Chef Shack employee knelt in front of the menu black board. We held our collective breath to see which way this will go. He could erase yet another menu selection off the board, leaving us with only three to choose from this late in the day, or he could, do we dare hope... add an item. And he did! He added an item. Not just any item. This lovely, lovely man scribbled Pulled Pork, wait for it...nachos on that magical board. A roar went through the crowd, or maybe it was just in my head. Either way, when I finally got up to the window to order, I didn't even care that the last of the brats my husband was craving was given to the lady in front of me. I shrugged my shoulders and ordered their famous mini-donuts for him, and the pulled pork nachos for me. I was giddy too.

Ok, so I shared my nachos. And he shared his donuts, although mostly with Millie.

First, let's just get this out of the way: Ouch. $7 for a relatively small offering of nachos hurts. There, I said it, it's a bit pricey. For the same price you would get a giant platter of soggy chips, cheese sauce, and gray guacamole for you and five of your friends at any dive bar in town. Have I made my point? You pay for quality people.

So let's talk quality. Big, crunchy, not too salty green and white tortilla chips, topped with black beans, salsa, and guacamole that was more of a punchy sauce than the thick gobs we have to come to expect. I assume this is because guacamole cannot hold up well under the conditions, but I don't care. The layers of flavor, from the vinegary salsa to the slightly smokey pork to that creamy sauce, packed such a glorious punch, you find yourself practically licking the paper plate. Seriously good.

Now, for dessert. As some of you may know, I am not a big fan of cinnamon, which in turn, makes me less than excited about State Fair mini donuts. I have had a bite or two of those ever popular fritters over the years, and have been less than impressed. The Indian spiced mini donuts at the Chef Shack are not of the State Fair variety. They are luscious pillows of fluffy dough, covered in a thick layer of the largest grains of sugar I have even seen, and dredged in an intricate mix of spices. Yes, there was cinnamon there, but there was also cardamom, and did I taste some sea salt? I don't know, and again, I don't care. They were divine. No wonder almost everyone at the Farmers Market was carrying a bag of these beauties, and wearing a big ol' grin on their faces. Spring has indeed arrived.

The line. Not so bad when you know what's in store for you.

I love you, dark stranger.

I admit the choice of background is not the best here. But Yum!

The girl loves her sugar.

The view.

Web site

Chef Shack

Travail Kitchen and Amusements

In sleepy little downtown Robbinsdale, one eatery keeps visitors' eyes wide open. Grab a tall chair and pull up to a weathered wood table, now look up: the menu is a giant blackboard hanging over your head. In the open kitchen, cooks sporting colorful bandannas are busy foaming, spraying, dripping, steaming and roasting ingredients within an inch of their former life. You may not recognize the pink foam on your salad, it used to be a beet. And that candied shard of glass on your dessert? An orange slice, or was it a lemon?

Travail lives up to its name, it is, in fact, amusing. But don't let the craziness on a plate fool you, these guys are dead serious about their food. This is molecular gastronomy at its best, where fresh, thoughtfully chosen ingredients are the stars, with bells and whistles thrown in for kicks and giggles.

All the cooks serve and all the servers cook, meaning that on our lunch time visit, we were treated to dining advice by one of the two owners. For starters, he recommended the prosciutto wrapped figs, swimming in a shallow pool of blue cheese sauce. They were chewy, sweet, salty, and creamy, all in one tiny bite. Lovely.

For my lunch, I blindly and willingly followed his instructions and ordered the home-made tofu, which was absolutely delightful. The tofu was fluffy and speckled with green herbs, bright and bursting with fresh flavor. A basil truffle oil drizzle and crisp wedges of various citrus gems completed the dish.

My friend ordered the ubiquitous beet salad, presented in a Mondrian-esque form complete with aforementioned pink foam. Cubes, twirls, and disks of varied colors of beets danced on a white plate, and where it lacked a bit in flavor, the dish made up for in sheer fun. And the fun was just beginning.

For dessert, we chose to splurge (not that it's that much of a splurge at only $9) on the Dessert Tasting. We expected a token bite of each dessert, but what showed up were three complete plates. Can I get a whoot whoot?

Pictures speak a thousand words, or so claimed some writer who ran out of adjectives, so I will follow suit and show, not tell, about the enchanting ending to our lunch:

Flan, oatmeal "cookie", apricots, apples and a tiny berry compote.

Cherry sorbet, chocolate cherry bomb cake, and coconut cream. 

Pineapple slices, slivers, rolls and juice, served along side popcorn, and get this: Popcorn ice cream! It tasted like butter, so yes, it was amazing. Oh yeah, there were also cashews, blueberries (both fresh and dried) and cashew brittle. Whew. 

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Travail Kitchen and Amusements

Chilly Billy's

We've recently returned from a vacation in Scottsdale, Arizona, where self-serve frozen yogurt joints are more common than McDonald's. A delicious, healthy alternative to Dairy Queen, these little shops offer many flavors of frozen yogurt of various fat levels, and a wide array of toppings like fresh fruit, candy, nuts, and syrups. Grab a cup at the front and load up to your heart's content, placing your concoction proudly on a scale and paying by the ounce. Eat a little, splurge a lot, it's up to you.

The day we returned to Minnesota, I "Googled" Self-Serve Frozen Yogurt and lo-and-behold, just such a place had opened in Dinky Town just days earlier! In the car we all went, driving as fast as the law will allow to Chilly Billy's, Minnesota's own spoonfull of dessert heaven.

Chilly Billy's offers 10 flavors of frozen yogurt, from creamy cheesecake to rich peanut butter to the ultra tart pomegranate raspberry, and at least 40, count 'em, 40 delightful toppings. They rotate flavors and occasionally add toppings, keeping frequent visitors like me on our toes. I've already filled an entire punch card, and planning ahead to my next visit: peanut butter and chocolate frozen yogurt topped with cherries, hot fudge and whipped cream. Maybe a shake or two of sprinkles, just for kicks. It's up to me, which is the whole point of self-serve. Oh, the delicious, intoxicating power!

Web Site
Chilly Billy's on Facebook

Kopplin Coffee Shop

Remember when it was spring last week? It is but a fading memory. This weekend it is threatening to snow, yes, snow, here in our fair Saint Paul. Since you won't be taking the kids to the park, head over to Kopplin Coffee Shop instead for a warm-you-down-to-your-tootsies treat.

Yes, they brew one of the best cups of coffee in town, and yes, they have lovely pastries from Rustica, like a golden brown danish crowned with a little shiny slice of peach or a paper-thin vanilla lemon cookie that melts delicately in your mouth. Yes, they have all those things plus knowledgeable, down to earth service, but the best reason to bundle up and leave the house is their oh-my-God-where-have-you-been-all-my-life hot chocolate.

Order the Rouge hot chocolate, and you will be handed a small cup of rich, velvety cocoa the likes of which Swiss Miss has only dreamt of. Made with locally crafted Rouge chocolate this divine concoction reminded me of MarieBelle in New York City except their version $7 and came in a itsy bitsy dixie cup.

As you sip the molten chocolate, close your eyes, ignore the sleet whipping outside the front window,  and you might just forget all about Spring. Doesn't look like it's coming anyway.

Web site
Kopplin's Coffee

Dino's Gyros

Does a fast food joint belong on a food blog? It does when it's Dino's Gyros.

It's not gourmet, it's not fancy. You won't find yourself engulfed in the smokey sweet aroma of lamb rotating and caramelizing on tall grills, or surrounded by the colorful bellows of burly Mediterranean chefs directing kitchen traffic from behind the scenes. At Dino's, the same pleasant young chap taking your order may have schlepped burgers down at Burger King last week, no real food experience necessary. But it's the quality of food at reasonable prices that has kept the neighbors coming back over the years.

The gyros themselves are generously sized and served on soft Greek pitas, along with creamy tzatziki sauce, fresh tomatoes and thinly sliced raw onions. The spicy gyros, Tony's favorite, come with a tangy sauce and crisp lettuce. There are many chicken options, as well as a falafel sandwich and several salads if you prefer to go the vegetarian route. The kids' menu is one of my favorite benefits at Dino's, since their gyro meat is one of the few things on the planet my daughter will eat. That, and their French fries, which are simple and delicious, crisp on the outside, super tender on the inside.

Dino's is fast food, but it's still a family built, family run, local chain. Although it has expanded with new franchised locations since it's humble beginnings as a tiny family restaurant in a run-down strip mall on Snelling Avenue, all locations have maintained the family feel of the original, serving good Greek food with a warm smile.

The original location has since been moved a few yards up Snelling, and now boasts a sparkling clean interior and a cute little patio. Other locations include Woodbury and Edina. And let us not forget their giant stand in a lovely permanent structure at the Minnesota State Fair. I always think it's funny when I see the long lines at the fair, considering most visitor had to have driven or walked right past the original restaurant on their way into the fair. But then again, maybe I am being just a little arrogant because I am lucky enough to live just a few blocks away from Dino's and can enjoy it throughout the year.

Web site
Dino's Gyros

Longfellow Grill

When I started this blog, I viewed it in part as a great excuse to try out new restaurants and coffee shops, to be more adventurous, to step outside our norm. But in that excitment, I forgot about some of the old faithfuls, the places you go to when you are tired and hungry and want to be assured of a nice meal and comforting surroundings, without having to do any of the dishes afterwards. One such place for us is Longfellow Grill just over the river and through the woods in Minneapolis.

Longfellow Grill, a part of the Blue Plate restaurant family, is a spacious, lively neighborhood hot spot right on the bank of the Mississippi river. With a sprawling patio overlooking Lake Street, and lots of cozy seating in a colorful interior, Longfellow Grill offers both a cure for the winter blues and a friendly place to linger over a cocktail in the summer. The menu is robust and interesting, offering basic fare with a twist, like a decisively adult sized mac and cheese, a flavorful meatloaf served with garlicky mashed potatoes with asiago cheese, and a lucsious butterscotch pudding. 


On a recent visit, I had one of the best fish sandwiches I have ever had. Off the specials menu, this was not just any fish sandwich, it was a Thai Fish Sandwich. I don't know what that means, exactly, but it was soft and sweet with so much heat I could only finish half. Which worked out great because I gave the other half to Tony and got the rest of his burger. A bacon burger, moist and delicious, especially when dipped (over and over) in a smokey Tillamook cheddar cheese sauce. I would have loved to have licked that tiny cup clean, but I didn't think that would be a good lesson in table manners. Speaking of Millie, her food came in the cutest little '50 t.v. tray with a gooey blob of twisted mac and cheese (mellowed out kid's version), cheesy bread, veggies and dip, and a cookie! Sheesh, if only she ate food. 


Yes, we are regulars at Longfellow Grill, and I have brought just about everyone I know here at one time or another. Heck, I am even "friends" with them on Facebook, and you know how meaningful that is. It's nice to know that, while it might be exciting to venture outside of our comfort zones every once in a while, your favorite haunt will always be there when you want a piece of home delivered with a smile. And a great local beer. 


Giant kids meal. Plus a couple of home-made potatoe chips from my plate. 

Bacon Cheeseburger. Oops, I forgot to mention the sweet potatoe fries. How could I forget those thick, sweet sticks of loviness?! They are divine.

One of our favorite appetizers, tempura fried green beans with plum sauce. The best way to get your daily veggie. 

Ta da! Thai fish sandwich. I have dreamt of this sandwich since. 

Web site
Longfellow Grill