Corned beef hash and pancakes at Nicollet Diner
Minneapolis’ only remaining all-day-everyday independent eatery just made an ambitious move up the street to the edge of Nicollet Mall, into a sleek 13,000-square-foot building that used to house the iconic Ichiban. Roxy’s Cabaret, a theater for drag shows, karaoke, bingo and comedy, is coming soon. Meanwhile, the old address, 1428 Nicollet Av. S., is converting to a pizza and chicken joint called Mother Clucker’s.
Nicollet Diner’s menu is the same — even slimmed down a bit for now, with the nearby Muffin Top Cafe and its pastries still a block away. But the gleaming digs inject new life into the quirky hangout around the clock. Read also : Prime Videos ‘Paper Girls’ trailer lets you meet the time-traveling gang. There is no trace of Ichiban; blue metallic booths with Formica-topped tables give the otherwise modern space a retro vibe, and there’s a central U-shaped counter plus a bar to meet pretty much any need, no matter the time of day.
For me it was breakfast. My server was practically giddy when I chose Sam’s Skillet ($17), his favorite because the slow-roasted corned beef in the hash is a surprising specialty of the house. (He convinced me to come right back for the Reuben.) The ground beef, mixed with sauteed onions and crispy hash browns, topped with gooey cheddar and a few eggs, was exactly the kind of hearty, satisfying dish I crave. on a hazy morning that warrants a bottomless cup of coffee. I went all in and traded my side of toast for a stack of two pancakes, topped with a dollop of whipped butter that quickly melted into a salty puddle. Delicious. (Sharyn Jackson)
1333 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., 612-399-6258, thenicolletdiner.com
Another Bad Investment hot sauce from Lost Capital
Last week, we shared local hot sauce suggestions for our national moment of mourning: the Sriracha shortage. The response made it clear that our reputation for school pasta spice palates is undeserved, but several readers let me know there was a glaring omission.
Lost Capital Foods is a Falcon Heights-based business run by husband-and-wife team D.J. and Anastasia Bocchetti. Read also : Come on, America. Food not “wake up”. Working in small batches, they ferment local chiles into a variety of sauces with spice levels that range from gently warming to levels that are so good burns.
In my defense, I had considered another bad investment ($8.99) for the article, but since it was sold out online, I was worried it wouldn’t be readily available. But don’t worry. Another bad investment is available throughout Lunds & Byerly’s stores, several local cooperatives and breweries – and it’s back in stock online.
The fresh red sauce delivers on balanced heat, twang and a versatile fruitiness that’s bliss on a tortilla chip. The producers describe the dominant manzano chile as having an orange pepper flavor, and that push of sweet vegetable flavor is definitely there. I sprinkled some on cold pizza, mixed it into chilaquiles and ate it straight on some tortilla chips.
A tip from the chip to all the readers who sent in their favourites. I’m excited to add another bottle to my selection of must-have local hot sauces. It’s like a whole mood board of warmth on my fridge door. (Joy Summers)
Lost Capital Foods, Falcon Heights, lostcapitalfoods.com
Brie curds at the News Room
When I told a friend I was going to the newsroom for a pre-theatre dinner, she said, “Oh, I always forget that place.” With so many restaurants and only so many dining crowns, it’s understandable. On the same subject : 4 questions about superhero powers (explained by science). It’s a shame, too, because on a beautiful summer night — with the doors open and the terrace at the front buzzing, it’s really quite lovely.
The newsroom is one of those restaurants where even the pickiest of eaters can find something to enjoy. For starters, you can’t go wrong with the Brie curds ($11.95), which are exactly what they sound like: squares of deep-fried, deliciously creamy Brie. What elevates these curds (besides Brie) from State Fair status to A-list appetizers is the homemade blueberry ketchup served with them. It might sound “interesting,” as diners in Minnesota might say, but it’s just the right amount of fruity to cut through the richness of the cheese. Don’t skip it – it changes the whole experience.
If you happen to be on the patio and wash them down with a strawberry mule—one of the restaurant’s signature cocktails—so much the better. (Nicole Hvidsten)
990 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., 612-343-0073, thenewsroommpls.com
Mussels at Bar Rufus
When the Rand Tower was transformed into a beautiful Art Deco hotel, the bar downstairs became a beautiful space to relax in, with thick upholstered chairs and historic architectural details. But only recently has the food menu been given the star chef treatment. Daniel del Prado, who seems to be almost everywhere these days, has installed a new lobby bar and food menu here.
The concise menu offers a few French snacks along with a burger that is ideal if you are a smashburger mustard fan. When I went with a colleague this week, we lingered over a side of fries ($7) and the clams in a rich butter and white wine sauce served with grilled bread and a salad of flat parsley ($19). The crispy little fries are served with ketchup and a curry mayo, but they were destined for a good, long soak in this broth.
The clams themselves were plump, fresh and fun to dig into. It was the first time in a long time that a happy hour in downtown Minneapolis felt like a normal fun night out with friends. (J.S.)
527 Marquette Ave. S., Mpls., 612-224-3710, barrufus.com
Choco Taco at the St. Louis Park Aquatic Park snack bar
Much has been made of the demise of the Choco Taco, a frozen novelty long relegated to the back of the grocery store freezer. Among all the ice cream-like delights out there, it ranks maybe a 4 out of 10.
But we never know how good something is until it’s gone. When Klondike announced it was discontinuing the treat as a “result of complex manufacturing challenges,” an outcry on social media renewed nostalgia and interest in the Choco Taco, and a mad dash among fans to buy the last of them. It got so hot that people traded boxes of them on Facebook’s marketplace – for $500.
If you’ve found yourself mourning the Choco Taco, here’s some good news. Aquatic Park in St. Louis Park recreation center has a small snack bar with hot dogs, pizza, soda and right there on the poster size menu next to the window, the Choco Taco ($2.50). According to the teenager who worked last weekend, the snack bar still has “boxes and boxes” of them and will sell the treats until they’re gone.
I hadn’t had one in decades, and my memory of the Choco Taco was perhaps a little tastier than the real thing. Still, after a long day in the sun, a cold and super sweet treat met the moment, sending me back to the sweltering summer nights of my youth, running out of the house at the first ride of the Mister Softee truck rolling down. the block.
It was nice to step back in time for a moment, but if given the choice, I would have gone for a higher-caliber, locally-made novelty such as Sebastian Joe’s Oreo-dipped Brr Bar ($6.15); La Michoacana Rose’s refreshing mango con tajin paleta ($2.50); or, for a crowd, Bebe Zito’s impressive Scrumbebelyupmtious Bar, a log-shaped cake made of chocolate ice cream, Oreos and brownies, with a chocolate bar draped over it ($50). Those? All 10s. (S.J.)
5005 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park, 952-924-2500, stlouispark.org. Paid access to the pool ($6-$15) is required to reach the snack bar.
