Best of
the Twin Cities
Soul food gets a bum rap for being unhealthy. This fortifying cuisine was born of a need to make sturdy, nutrient-rich collard greens palatable; to put the summer's crop to good use; to use every bit of the beast — not just the tender ribs, but the feet, the ears, the tail. Soul food was farm to table before hipster gastronomists could even hold a spatula. And at Breaking Bread Cafe, chef LaChelle Cunningham knows that this is good food, healthy food, even with the fat and a little salt and sugar. Minimally processed, whole-ingredient, from-scratch cooking provides a welcome respite from north Minneapolis' fast-food stronghold. Dry-rub roasted chicken wings are perfectly seasoned and tender; jerk shrimp is a spicy kick in the pants. Mac and cheese makes for a delectable calorie splurge, but you can also fill your meat-and-two lunch plate with vegetarian collards, curried cabbage, or black beans and rice. Forget what you think you know about soul food. Let Breaking Bread welcome you in for a lunch that's affordable, fulfilling, and delicious.