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Local Restaurants Serve Global Flavors at the State Fair

Posted in on Sat, 08/28/2010 - 7:00am by Tracey Paska -

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It’s that time of year again, when Minnesotans of every stripe gather at the Great Get-Together for 12 days of farm exhibits and blue-ribbon competitions, midway rides and carnival games, and lots (and lots) of food. When it comes to fairground fare, it’s easy enough to find all-American classics from corn dogs to corn-on-the-cob. But there are also favorite foods that reflect Minnesota’s immigrant history, such as Norwegian lefse, German bratwurst and Italian zeppoles. In recent years, however, the state has also become home to people from Latin America, Asia and Africa, and slowly but surely, State Fair food is beginning to reflect the change.

Bow Down Before the Altar of Deep Fried Things on Sticks!

Posted in Out & About on Fri, 08/27/2010 - 7:00am by lee -

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When Shari Danielson, our editorial director, recently asked me to share my "biggest food weakness," none immediately jumped to mind. Not too long ago, I might have answered conventional beef jerky, bad Asian food served in airports, unsustainable sushi, and/or gummy worms. But the joy of these foods has diminished over the past few years, and when given the choices these days, it's not that hard for me to pass.

My (amazing, wonderful) wife was quick to point out that saying "no" to these foods does not mean I don't have a food weakness. True, I'm not the guy who can't walk past the mini-donut stand without buying a bag, or the gal who sneaks a Big Mac when nobody's looking. My weakness is this: I love to eat things I've never tried before.

Simple, Good and Tasty Book Club Tonight: Talking & Cooking "The Minnesota Table"

Posted in Book Club, Out & About on Thu, 08/26/2010 - 7:00am by Tracy Morgan -

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Full market basket, check. Overflowing CSA share, check. Hideously prolific garden, CHECK WITH THE ZUCCHINI ALREADY! Yes, this time of year is chock-full of local goodness. So much so, at times, that you might just move from happily local-foods-rich to utterly overwhelmed. Fear not, The Minnesota Table: Recipes for Savoring Local Food Throughout the Year is here to help. Author Shelley N.C. Holl and chef/recipe creator B.J. Carpenter have culled out some of the most delicious tips, tricks, stories and concoctions imaginable.

A No-Hype Guide to What's Ripe

Posted in Family & Home, Farms & Gardens on Wed, 08/25/2010 - 7:00am by Alicia Jabbar -

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Can you pick up a tomato and sniff it to know that it’s ripe? What about a sweet pepper? Or a cucumber? In reality, there is no such thing as a “ripe” scent. Truth be told, you need more of a knack than your nose to know what’s ripe and when to buy it, so you won’t be throwing it away tomorrow.

As I’ve written before, I used to work as a farm hand for an organic vegetable farm. So I have a pretty good idea when a vegetable is ripe and ready to bring home to your kitchen.

Summer Squash

Alter Eco Offers Delicious Fair-Trade and Organic Foods You Can’t Get Locally

Posted in Out & About on Tue, 08/24/2010 - 7:07am by lee -

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Maybe, like me, you live in Minneapolis, or someplace else in the United States where coffee, cocoa beans, quinoa, and rice don’t grow. Maybe, like me, those are some of your absolute favorite things, and you’re not willing to give them up. Maybe, like me, your spouse has even suggested that giving them up would be detrimental to your marriage. What are you going to do?