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Food + Wine Blog
29 December 2008 3:44 PM
New Year's Eve at Chino Latino
Looking for something tasty on New Year’s Eve? Chino Latino has announced its New Year’s Beach Party. A tasting menu for two costs only $50 and is riddled with dishes from around the world (and the world’s beaches, presumably).
From beef tenderloin to shrimp shaomai, the menu is sure to help you remember 2008 in a good light.
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18 December 2008 3:01 PM
Local Heroes: FireLake
I spend my night at FireLake, a well-loved and well-reviewed steak house located downtown, inside the Radisson (which, by the by, was the first Radisson in the world. Neat, huh).
Chef Paul Lynch was kind enough to come to my table for a glass of wine. We talked about a range of things—from his top 5 Minneapolis restaurant picks to his experiences cooking around the country and abroad to yes, I even asked him if he watched Top Chef (he has. And he’s a big fan of Tom Colicchio’s craft restaurant).
However, the most interesting thing I took out of our conversation was his commitment to local food sources. He told me that in the summer months, over 80 percent of the money spent on food at FireLake is spent on products grown and raised in the State of Minnesota. Even in the winter (a time that’s a bit chilly for crops), 60 percent of Firelake’s offerings come from Minnesota.
It’s great to eat in a place with a real mission and goal. It’s not that Chef Paul doesn’t have enormous skill and expertise, he does—but he’s also focused on issues important to our city (and, along with that, our state and nation) and the ultimate benefit of its citizens. He isn’t just making dishes for the sake of ingenuity or oddity. He’s making them because he wants his customers to experience the very best products Minnesota has to offer. The trout I ate was from a farm that has raised trout for over 100 years. The Elk you may see as you head south down the MN interstate? That’s what you’ll get on your plate. Talk about local.
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08 December 2008 11:05 AM
Weekend in a Winter Wonderland
This weekend Minneapolis got its first official blanket of snow, and the city couldn't look prettier. It really puts you in the mood for the holidays.
I spent my Friday night at Salut in downtown Edina. It's a French restaurant, with a little American twist. After sipping some Rose, I shared plates of Escargot, Mussels and Frittes with my date. The experience was very charming (and not to mention delicious), and the atmosphere was paired nicely with downtown Edina's outdoors--the snow fell gently on the cute paved streets, the trees were all aglow and the theater sign showed brightly.
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04 December 2008 9:09 AM
Poppers of Fire & Damnation
So, Chino Latino [www.chinolatino.com] has recently introduced “Habanero Hell Poppers.” They’re reputed to “put fear of Jesus” into some guests.
The peppers have a Scolville heat rating of 200,000—compared to 2,500 – 8,000. The chilis are tempura-battered and stuffed with siracha-laced cream cheese. Alongside the spicy guys is an iced shot glass of kaffir lime sorbet. Best of all, they come with a warning: “EAT AT YOUR OWN RISK.”
I’m not much for spicy. I think I’m sticking with the Llama Island Salty Squid (and the Passionate Eruption volcano-sized drink).
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