Ground cherry image credit: Straight From the FarmLast night's Simple, Good, and Tasty local food dinner at the Strip Club in St. Paul did not disappoint. In fact, Kate O'Reilly Hillesheim described it to her friends on Facebook as "no joke, best meal of my life." Here were a few highlights:
- An amazing collection of local food enthusiasts and friends, many sitting with people they'd never met before, all enjoying a special event and great food.
- The Strip Club's terrific staff making us feel at home, including General Manager and partner Tim Niver offering terrific gin and tonics (made with homemade tonic) and other delicious wine, beer, and drink recommendations.
- Executive Chef and partner JD Fraztke and Todd Lein from Thousand Hills Cattle Company describing what we were eating and why.
- The first taste of ground cherries most of us had ever had.
- An amazing view of downtown St. Paul from one of the city's most romantic balconies.
- 5 courses of incredible local food.
Here what was on the menu:
- Laughing Bird shrimp from Belize (a sustainable coastal fishery that actually grows their own algae) with moroccan olives and Farmer Bob tomatoes
- Ground cherries with house-made pancetta and Donnay Chevre and greens
- Sweet pea sprout soup with Northern Lights bleu cheese
- Thousand Hills grilled sirloin with hominy, summer squash and chipotles OR sturgeon with roasted mushrooms, sweet corn and heirloom potatoes
- Candy bar tart with fresh raspberries and Sonny's ice cream
Thanks to all of you who came and made it such a great night, and to the Strip Club for helping make it happen.
If you're interested in attending our September event, a pig roast and potluck on September 13 at 5:00, please read about it and sign up here.
