hang in there little buddy…. During last night’s Top Chef, I seriously had no idea who was going home. It could have been anyone. But first … LOOOOVED the quickfire challenge. The chefs got $10 and 10 minutes to buy something from one designated aisle at the market. I feel this all the time, when … Read more
When the rain started falling in August, it did more than just water the tomatoes. Sadly it washed away many of the season’s hopes for farmers in Southeastern MN. Many farmers found their homes washed away or their fields under contaminate water. Luckily enough, there is a sweet connection to the area with many local … Read more
Fluorescent cube life getting you down? Do you dream of being your own boss, making your own way, calling the shots? Do you like sausage? A different life beckons Cherie Peterson and Merry Barry. Having created some of the best boutique sausages to ever grace a bun, The Sausage Sisters are moving on and selling … Read more
hey, you got some grass? Saturday’s Fair Index (with apologies to Harpers) Number of Lark-bound old ladies that got stuck in the fergaliscious crowd in front of KDWB: 2 Chances that someone sucking down a shake by the dairy barn would step in dung: 1 in 4 Ratio of fanny-packs to tube tops at noon: … Read more
A colleague likes to talk about the Ivy League football games he went to as a graduate student at Harvard. Apparently they did not sing the Tom Lehrer Harvard fight song (“Wouldn’t it be peachy if we won the game …”); in fact, the crowd’s invective sounds as though it was scarcely more subtle than … Read more
Seasonally, the time is right for hotdish. The weather is turning cooler, the oven has waited patiently while the grill has had its many days of glory. People are coming off their summer buzz and organizing, whether to boost a local sports team or join a church choir. And in this neck of the woods, … Read more
Casey’s too cute to chop onions… Here’s the Big Lesson for the kids on Top Chef: Don’t Believe Your Own Press. The Dream Team of CJ, Tre, Brian and Casey sputtered out last night on the second version of the Restaurant Wars episode. You can’t even say they went down in flames, there wasn’t even … Read more
It’s that time of year when finding cutting edge eats means turning your back on the hoi-polloi and shaking hands with the common man. Forget your foams and chuck your sous vide, it’s all about the stick. The pioneers of fry-technology and stuffing-science are in high demand as we ponder what’s in store for 2007. … Read more
Garlic is often referred to as the Stinking Rose. Maybe that’s why this Saturday’s Minnesota Garlic Festival is being held waaaaaay out at the Wright County Fairgrounds. I imagine the westerly winds will soften the pungent aromas as they waft toward the Cities, so that on Saturday evening you will be struck by the odd … Read more
I don’t love running like I love fried chicken, but I really can’t have one without the other. This summer, my daughter and I have been training for Jack’s Run, a race named for a little friend we know and love. But running is hard. And when it’s hot and humid and lazy and beach … Read more