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Terrific Toast and Taste in the Gardens

The Strip Club's JD Fratzke and me

The Strip Club's JD Fratzke and me

I was totally surprised by how much fun I had at Toast and Taste at the U of M Landscape Arboretum last night. My friend Jon and I were glad to have changed into clean clothes before we arrived - the place was absolutely beautiful, and everyone looked great. We were greeted by a tuba duet and the gracious Arboretum staff who sent us on our merry way, armed with a map and a couple of wine glasses.

Jack Riebel and Brenda Langton

Jack Riebel and Brenda Langton

To say that Toast and Taste was a who’s who in Twin Cities local food would be an understatement. The first three tables we saw were staffed by Alex Roberts, serving almost full-sized sandwiches from Brasa; Tracy Singleton and the Birchwood crew, serving Peace coffee brownies, strawberry rhubarb cobbler, and crostini with Riverbend Farm radish butter; and Brian Hauke from the Red Stag Supper Club, serving fantastic foie gras. It was hard not to overeat in the first 5 minutes.

Things continued from there - samples of Surly, Schell, and Brau Brothers beer; wine from Morgan Creek (I was one of many who failed the taste test, confusing their Minnesota wine with a Pinot from California), Alexis Bailly, and Northern Vineyards; and food - glorious food - from Cafe Maude, Barbette, the soon-to-open OM, and more than twenty other local favorites. Highlights for me included:

  • Finally getting to spend a few minutes with The Strip Club’s JD Fratzke, whose “grown-up BLTs” (his words) were astoundingly good.
    The Craftsman's Mike Phillips

    The Craftsman's Mike Phillips

  • Enjoying a little bit of silliness while sampling sublime pork terrine with Mike Phillips from the Craftsman.
  • Meeting Chefs Brenda Langton (Spoonriver, Cafe Brenda) and Jack Riebel (Dakota Bar and Grill) - Jack’s ahi tuna with pickled ramps and pressed watermelon was good enough to go back for seconds.
  • Meeting Brett Olson from Renewing the Countryside and catching up with Jenny Breen from Good Life Catering on the way out.

 

The Birchwood Cafe Staff

The Birchwood Cafe Staff

The two hours Jon and I spent at Toast and Taste flew by - we were sad to leave. I left energized, as ever, by the people I’d met and talked with, the food and drink I’d sampled, and the prospect of doing it all again in a year.