I'm back, Foodie Fans!!

Sorry for the very long absence everyone....but don't worry, I've been doing lots of eating out since I last wrote!

There should be something for everyone in my latest round-up!

La Perla del Pacifico
A casual, and authentic Mexican restaurant in South Minneapolis.  You know the food will be authentic when the servers do not speak very fluent English!  The chicken fajitas are excellent and came with lots of fresh garnish and homemade tortillas. The prices are very modest and the ambience is very laid back.  If you are in the mood for great Mexican, and don't want to wait for a table at Pepitos, this is your place!
Location:  60th and Nicollet
Price:  $-$$

Trattoria Tosca
I dined here on New Year's Eve with about 8 friends, and every one of us raved about the experience and the food for days afterwards!!  Located next to the Turtle Bread Co. on 44th Street and Abbott, this place is a very cozy neighborhood gem specializing in Italian. They use as many locally sourced ingredients as possible, and it definitely shows in the quality and flavor of each dish.  We started with a few shared appetizers-- Caribbean White Shrimp, simmered in a delicate tomato broth with sweet pepper relish, garlic, herbs and lemon; next a Warm Beet Salad (beets never tasted so good!); and finally the vegetable plate, with grilled brussel sprouts, kale, a fried egg, soft polenta, and cherries (wow, this was amazing!).

For my entree, I selected the homemade tagliatelle pasta with pork shoulder ragu, honeycrisp apple slices, and soffrito.  I could have eaten an entire lobster pot full, because it was just so darn good!!  The crisp, sweet apple slices were a perfect complement to the al dente pasta and rich ragu sauce....I also tried some of the others' entree choices and all of them were excellent as well!  At the table we also had: Bucatini Pasta (raw plum tomatoes, garlic, chili flakes, and rosemary (simple in description, but perfection on the palate!); Roasted Barramundi (a delicate, mild whitefish drizzled with a lobster butter jus); and the Ribeye steak (this is no ordinary steak....probably one of the tastiest, most flavorful steaks I've had in the twin cities....made with a porcini mushroom marinade, served with roasted fingerling potatoes, figs, and a balsamic reduction.

My favorite dessert that we shared was the pana cotta with berries....a perfect ending to a perfect meal!

Location:  44th Street and Abbott (Linden Hills neighborhood)
Price:  $$-$$$
Run, don't walk!!


El Loro Mexican
There are several locations peppered throughout the Twin Cities, so hopefully there is one close to you!  Although La Perla del Pacifico is conveniently located just 7 minutes from my house, if I had my druthers, my first pick to get my Mexican fix would be El Loro. Chips and salsa:  Awesome.  Queso Cheese Dip: Awesome.  Guacamole: Awesome. Tilapia and Shrimp Fajitas: Awesome.  Sopapilla dessert:  Awesome. $9 Pitchers of Beer: Awesome!  Seriously if there was an El Loro located within 5 miles of my house, I'm absolutely positive I'd eat there at least once a week.
Location: Various locations including Eagan, and Brooklyn Center
Price:  $-$$


Cave Vin
If I won the lottery and didn't mind blowing up to the size of a small whale, I'd probably eat at Cave Vin at least 2 times a week!!!  This French restaurant is located at 56th and Xerxes, literally within a stone's throw of my house....I had never been before, even though I'd driven by thousands of times....now I am kicking myself it has taken me so long to eat there....
Appetizers:  We started with the baked french feta with red peppers, kalamata olives, capers, and homemade croutons.  We also had the Prince Edward Island Mussels with shallots, white wine and garlic, served with pomme frites (awsome, skinny french fries!) that came with a garlic aioli dipping sauce (fresh breath shouldn't be a priority if you want to order these tasty treats!)

For entrees, the table had: 
Seafood Risotto with calamari, halibut, gigantic prawns with red bell pepper, spinich and chive oil ($18)
Grilled Arctic Char-(white fish) with sauteed asparagus, red bell pepper, and black olive tapenade ($19)
Pistachio Crusted Pork Tenderloin with fingerling potatoes, grilled pears with saba ($17.25)
Chicken Roulade with asparagus, prosciutto and fontina with house-made gnocchi and herb tomato sauce ($17)

For dessert we shared the Bete Noire, a flourless chocolate cake with blueberry coulis and whipped cream ($7.50) and the Tres Leches Cake ($5.50) .  Although the Bete Noire was good, I literally let out an irrepressible squeal after taking my first bite of the Tres Leches Cake.  It was mind-blowingly out of this world.  I almost cried it was so delicious....seriously, if nothing else, you have to go here for the tres leches cake!!!!  I have been dreaming about it ever since, and can't wait to be reunited...next time it won't be a dessert that I'm willing to share!

Location:  56th Street and Xerxes
Price: $$$


Cadao Express
This place is a teeny-tiny hole in the wall, mom & pop place that serves Vietnamese and Chinese. It may look like a complete dump from the outside, but what they create in that tiny kitchen is worthy of the best restaurants!!  Run by a cute Asian couple, they take pride in every dish....
I am a sucker for Vietnames rice vermicelli salads...the one i love the best is the one served with lemon grass beef. Served with a fresh side of mint leaves, cucumbers, carrots, and lettuce, you will devour every bite. I also tried the same salad with barbequed pork and fried spring roll cut up on top.
Their house fried rice is bursting with huge pieces of shrimp, chicken, and roasted pork.  Their Vietnamese spicy chicken dish is excellent (ask for it with steamed rice if you don't want it with the default fried rice). I've also had their hot & spicy soup, and at just $2 you get a huge bowl of flavorful soup full of mushrooms, bamboo shoots and egg. (Great for a cold night!)  Next time I go, I will be trying the Vietnames Pho, which is a hot noodle dish with fresh garnish accoutrements and grilled beef and fresh squeezed lime.  Nothing on the menu is over $7 or $8 dollars, which makes this place not only a great value but also a delicously satisfying meal every time!!

Location:  66th Street and Penn Ave
Price:  $ (maybe even cheaper than that!)

Corner Table

I do alot of dining out....ususally I stick to a rotation of core places that I know never disappoint....but last night I decided to try a new place that I have heard lots about over the past 2 years, but have never had the opportunity to try out. Corner Table is located on 43rd and Nicollet, and is known for a rotating seasonally inspired menu that is made from locally sourced ingredients wherever possible.

The dining room is very cozy, with not more than 8 or so tables. I started with the pumpkin soup which was hands down the best tasting soup I've had in just about my entire life! It was incredibly savory, and drizzled with I believe a truffle oil on top. It also had some toasted pumpkin seeds for a little texture. I could have just eaten the soup for my entire meal and have been utterly satisfied--it was that good!

For my entree I selected the pan-roasted chicken with whipped potatoes and roasted beets.  I usually don't order chicken at restaurants because it is usually a pretty boring meal....but when I got my plate, I was first surprised by how elegantly it was presented. After my first bite, I fell in love and will now hold every other chicken up to this standard....There was the perfect amount of skin left on the two pieces of chicken breast, which was deliciously and perfectly crispy and chewy. The chicken itself was tender and flavorful, yet was not drowning in any sort of overpowering sauce. The whipped potatoes were the perfect accompaniment...as was the large piece of roasted beet. I could not get over how delicious the entire was--needless to say, I cleaned my plate!  I also tried a bite of my friend's pan roasted rib-eye, and it was out of this world as well.   Both entrees were perfectly seasoned, flawlessly executed and worth every single penny!

For dessert we ordered the apple crisp with vanilla ice cream and the carrot cake.  Both were incredibly fresh and full of flavor. Again, both plates were licked clean.

I will certainly be going back to this place, and will recommend it to everyone I know....a wonderful neighborhood restaurant that truly takes pride in making every dish memorable.

http://www.cornertablerestaurant.com/index.php

Location:  43rd Street and Nicollet

Price:  $$$

The Library

I don't normally patron places on the U of M campus, but I went to The Library (corner of 13th and 4th Street) on Saturday night to watch the Texas/CU game with a bunch of others.

I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of food here.  I ordered the Cobb Salad with grilled chicken and ate every single bite. My friend ordered their "Gullet Pounder" hamburger and it was enormous! (Two half pound patties!) It came with some tasty seasoned waffle fries that I gladly helped myself to :)

I don't think I'd ever go back just for the food since it is predominantly an undergraduate bar, but the food was very good for bar food. If you are ever on that side of town and are looking for an inexpensive place to watch a football game and grab some food, this might be a good option.

Mission American Kitchen

http://www.missionamericankitchen.com/

Friday night I had dinner at Mission American Kitchen.  I wouldn't typically have picked this place, but because the dinner was hosted by out-of-towners who were staying at the Marquette Hotel, the location was the deciding factor.

For starters we had the housemade potato chips with chive sour cream, seafood ceviche with housemade tortilla chips, and the truffle cream cheese won tons with malt vinegar dipping sauce.  My favorite appetizer was the cream cheese wonton. The others were just okay.

For my main course, I chose the grilled center cut beef tenderloin with garlic roasted potato puree and bacon braised broccolini.  I also had the vine ripened tomato salad with fresh mozzarella and aged balsamic glaze (essentially a caprese salad). I thought my entree was good, but the reduction on the meat and potato puree was way too salty. For $32, I would have found a much better meal at half the price somewhere else. But since I wasn't paying, who was I to complain?

For dessert we ordered the red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting and the apple strudel torte with vanilla ice cream and caramel drizzle.  I thought the red velvet cake was a bit dry, but I loved the housemade vanilla ice cream. Would I spend $5 for a teeny tiny scoop--no....

This is a decent place to go for a business dinner, but not worth the money or the hassle of downtown parking if you are just looking for a good meal.

Buster's on 28th

Buster's on 28th was the perfect destination on a chilly & rainy fall evening. We started our meal by sharing the buffalo chicken wings with a "cooling blue cheese sauce".  Although the wings were very meaty, they definitely pale in comparison to the wings at The Nook in St. Paul.

Buster's is known for its extensive beer selection. With over 116 bottled beers and almost 30 different beers on tap, you are sure to find something to wet your whistle. I selected the Omegang Hennepin...according to the beer list, it promised a "champagne like effervesence". It was crisp and light and very smooth. I especially love that all their draft beers come in unique namesake glasses.

For my entree, I chose the braised short ribs with mushroom and goat cheese risotto with French onion jus. My risotto was amazing and cooked to perfection. The short ribs were flavorful, but not as fork tender as the braised short ribs at Kings in South Minneapolis (see previous post on Kings).

Some of the other selections at the table included the Elian Gonzalez, a sandwich with shredded pork, sliced ham, spicy mustard, gruyere, and pickles on ciabatta bread. I took a bite of this sandwich and it was very tasty, although it would have been better with a richer sauce. Another friend chose the cedar plank trout with duchess sweet potatoes and sauteed red cabbage. Luckily this friend sat next to me, because I picked off her tasty entree quite frequently....the trout was perfectly cooked and very mild. The cedar plank it was served on gave it a wonderfully subtle cedar smoked flavor...but not too overpowering.

My next beer selection was the Magic Hat #9...which was described as an ale beer "cloaked in secrecy". I'm not a huge beer person, but this was delicious! The menu also called it "dry, crisp, fruity and refreshing" and I agreed on all counts.

As our table was finishing up our entrees, our server came over to tell us that the Manager wanted to buy our table some dessert since we had all ordered off their new fall menu. Our entire table lit up like kids on Christmas morning--FREEBIE!!!  We chose the pumpkin bread pudding with creme fraiche and the apple crumble cobbler with vanilla bean ice cream.  Both were to die for, and our table was equally divided on which one was better.

I would highly recommend Buster's if you are in the mood for good food, great beer, and a cozy welcoming setting perfectly suited for those cold winter nights we have coming our way.

Location:  4204 28th Avenue
Website:  http://www.busterson28th.com/
Price:  $-$$











http://www.busterson28th.com/

East Meets Northeast

Friday night I went to check out the new "Thai-Fusion" place in Northeast called Ginger Snap. It is located where the former "Times" restaurant stood, across the street from Nye's Polonaise Bar.

We started off with some of their signature cocktails. I ordered the "Dirty Kimono", which was essentially a dirty martini with a shot of sake. One of my friends ordered the Ginger Snap version of a bloody mary...except it came with a quail egg. My drink was decent, but not necessarily worth the $7.

(That large white thing is the quail egg. Eeew)

We shared several appetizers including: chicken lettuce wraps, duck pot stickers, shrimp spring rolls, and cream cheese and carmelized onion fried won tons. I don't think any of them blew me away, but they were all tasty and satisfying.

Now for the main entrees--I ordered the green curry with chicken. The green curry was pretty thin, and had pieces of eggplant, peas and onion. The chicken was not pure white meat, but a mix of white and dark in assorted sized pieces. Because of the mix of white and dark meat, I was not a fan of the dish. I think Tom Rup Thai has a much better Green Curry dish, with far superior flavor and heat.

(Fried Tofu with Green Curry)

I actually enjoyed the fried tofu pieces in my friend's vegetarian green curry more than I enjoyed my chicken.

Another friend ordered the beef pho soup, and it came with lots of accompanying garnish and greens to mix into the soup.

And adventurous friend ordered the grilled rueben with kimchi. "Kimchi Kulakofsky".  He said he really enjoyed it, so i'll have to take his word for it since the thought of corned beef and kimchi did not sound too appetizing to this native Korean. I did have one of his sweet potato fries, and it was very good.

My final verdict is that this place is just okay....certainly not a place I'd purposely seek out again, but if I lived in the neighborhood, it wouldn't be a bad place to grab a drink and some appetizers on occasion.  If you are looking for true Thai food, you will not be happy with this place....head to Tom Rup or Amazing Thai in Uptown instead.

Sushi in the Skyway

If you are in the mood for fresh, quick and tasty sushi at lunch,  head to the mom & pop counter service place right next to Andrea's Pizza. Head towards the Men's Shoe section in Macy's, and continue through the Skyway ....the sushi place is on your right, immediately before Andrea's.

Today I had a very delicious California Roll (yes, I'm one of those novice sushi eaters) and some seaweed salad. The California Roll had 8 pieces and cost $4. If you eat there, you get free miso soup.

Your order will take about 5-7 minutes depending on how many other people are waiting, but at their prices, it is worth it!