B.T. McElrath

I Dig You! A Valentine's Picnic

MN State Fair food adventures by the dozen

From poutine and bacon ice cream to sweety balls on a stick

Wine and chocolate this pre-Valentine's week in food

The events on hand this week--wine, chocolate, chocolate--should make it pretty obvious which love-laden holiday is on the horizon. Hate it, embrace it, gobble it up. 2/7 It's been a long wait since November, but Salut's final French Regional Wine Dinner has arrived, and this time the evening hono ... More >>

5 edible gifts for foodies

Yael GrauerIt's hard to go wrong with chocolate truffles.​It's true what they say about the way to a man's heart (or woman's heart, as the case may be) being through the stomach. Even better is delighting a food lover with something they absolutely love, but would probably not splurge on thems ... More >>

Zumbro Cafe's Chicken Wild Rice Hash: 100 Favorite Dishes, no. 17

A healthier hash!​Normally we like to go to Zumbro Cafe in Linden Hills for breakfast and fuel up for a walk around Lake Harriet with eggs Benedict or flapjacks. But when all those carbs and cholesterol feel like too much, we turn to the chicken wild rice hash.

The Good Day Cafe's glazed doughnut pancakes: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 20

Anne Rucker Craving pancakes AND doughnuts? Now you can have both!​What could be better than two decadent, sweet and delicious breakfast staples rolled into one dish?  With the glazed doughnut pancakes at the Good Day Cafe you get the best of both breakfast treats.  Hearty-yet-l ... More >>

Rinata's eggplant involtini: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 24

Mo PerryA delicate amuse-bouche​Rinata's eggplant involtini with goat cheese, pine nuts, garlic, and tomato sugo is perhaps the perfect appetizer. Light, delicate, and intensely flavorful, this is no heaping plate of deep-fried calamari or platter of bruschetta dense enough to render the bre ... More >>

Smack Shack's lobster roll: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 25

Emily UtneIt's finally food truck season!​Early this week, we're told, Smack Shack should be rolling its big white truck into its downtown Minneapolis parking spot at First Avenue and Fourth Street North to kick off its outdoor season. (Don't worry, Northeasters, it'll still be at the 1029 Bar ... More >>

The Happy Gnome's MN game burger: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 27

Mo PerryEating locally sourced food never tasted so indulgent​Eating locally sourced food has been all the rage for quite some time now, but maybe you've eschewed the whole idea, thinking it meant stuffy, sparse plates of morally superior greens sprinkled with a few smug flax seeds. Allow me ... More >>

Patisserie Margo's Zuppa Englese Torte: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 28

A perfect 10 in taste and looks...​The Zuppa Englese torte at Patisserie Margo has a gorgeous multilayered construction that amazes the eyes and seems more precise and perfect than the original Italian treat. When translated, it means English soup, which one theory says came about when Italian che ... More >>

Dolsot Bibimbap at Dong Yang Oriental Food: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 31

Kei TerauchiDolsot bibimbop: the food pyramid in a stone pot​It may be true that fast food provides you the most calories per dollar. But you are paying for processed fat and starch flavored to taste acceptable to the tolerant palate. If you are looking to fill up on healthy and full-flavored ... More >>

Meritage's pommes frites: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 33

Joy SummersHold the ketchup, pass the Bearnaise ​Everything tastes better in French. Admit it. Would you rather eat mayo or aioli? A loaf of bread or a baguette? Velveeta or a little fromage? French fries or pommes frites? I rest my case. For French cuisine in the Twin Cities, it's hard to ... More >>

Piccolo's scrambled eggs with pigs' feet: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 32

The elegance of eggs​Doug Flicker has a reputation as one of the best, if not the best, chefs in town. Those who know food, like other chefs and serious food followers, watch his every move. He's earned that respect by cooking his food his way, even if it might not appear to be what's popular with ... More >>

Travail's fried chicken: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 34

​Even those who have lived in New Orleans for decades, where fried chicken is an art form, might find themselves losing years of their lives trying to prepare the dish at home, always feeling some sort of disappointment at the results. It's not always easy to pinpoint what is wrong. Was the batter ... More >>

Urban Eatery's Asian pork sliders: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 37

Take that, White Castle!​To think that we once satisfied our late-night snacking urges with the mushy blandness of the White Castle slyder, a meal that's perfectly content to be seasoned with nothing more than steamed onions. Sure, there's comfort to be found in the squishy buns and flat mea ... More >>

Isles Bun & Coffee's Puppy Dog Tail: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 38

Kei TerauchiFollow the finger for yummy tails​The morning commute is a struggle. With my hair still damp and stomach empty, I head out to catch the bus at Uptown Transit Station. As I sleepily walk down on Hennepin, a sweet and inviting aroma takes hold of all my senses. I look up and see a ... More >>

Szechuan Spice's Chicken with Double Chili Pepper: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 41

Mo PerryFiery goodness to make your tongue tingle​There is something other-worldly about Szechuan Spice's chicken with double chili pepper--a haunting quality that hovers on the periphery of your memory and manifests in periodic, sudden, urgent cravings. Maybe it's the chicken, lightly crisp ... More >>

Sunny Side Up Cafe's Santa Fe Railroad French Toast: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 40

Sara RiceSunny Side Up Cafe knows the way to Santa Fe... French toast, anyway​After a night out in Uptown, it's important to have your recovery plan in place before hitting the sack for the night so you know where to stumble to when the sun rouses you. There's no shortage of breakfast joints ... More >>

Dancing Ganesha's Chicken 65: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 42

Colorful and tasty too​Good smells waft down Harmon Place when you open the doors to Dancing Ganesha and grab a seat at the bar, it only gets better. Pass by the elephant and settle in to watch the dual TV's -- one showing a Bollywood musical and the other reprising a cricket match with the West I ... More >>

Il Gatto's ravanelli: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 53

In the plain white dish​Despite it's vibrant magenta coat, the radish usually plays the role of supporting garnish or salad accoutrement. Not so at Il Gatto, where the ravanelli makes the taproot of the Raphanus sativus a star, putting it front and center in this simple, yet addicting dish. Served ... More >>

Mandarin Kitchen's Seafood and Tofu Hot Pot: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 54

Kei TerauchiA hot mess = bubbling pot of seafood​Do you ever find yourself in a Chinese rut? You keep ordering the same old egg roll, sweet and sour, lo mein, sesame chicken, and egg foo young. What? You are ordering pad thai at a "Chinese" restaurant for "change"? Now, that's just desperate ... More >>

Gopher Bar's Coney Dog: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 56

Anne RuckerIf nothing else, this dive bar sure has good Coney Dogs.​If you've never set foot in the Gopher Bar, prepare to be sent back in time. It's a true, old-time dive bar, complete with politically incorrect, if not blatantly offensive, signage, dingy lighting, and generally grumpy service. D ... More >>

Holy Land's hummus tahini: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 57

Danielle Lenz​Hummus has been gaining rapid popularity across the country as a healthy and delicious spread, perfect for parties, snacking, and even dieting. Around these parts, however, it's been popular for decades, thanks in no small part to a northeast Minneapolis institution, the Holy Lan ... More >>

The Sample Room's wild mushroom ragout on polenta: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 58

Mo PerryA rich, complex, earthy treat​Everyone keeps saying spring is around the corner, but it's hard to believe when ice is still encrusting the sidewalks and your skin seems to have taken on a permanent, dry translucence. Still, you know from experience that this is the time of year when y ... More >>

Flamingo Restaurant's vegetarian combo: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 60

Sara RiceUnlike Skittles, this rainbow has more than one flavor​The Midway area of St. Paul is a veritable melting pot, bringing together cultures from around the world. One point where two of them -- Somali and Ethiopian -- meet, is Flamingo Restaurant.

Cave Vin's steak frites: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 67

Lu LippoldGood, and good FOR you.​I do not want to hear one more word about you and your cholesterol. Furthermore, I do not want you giving me that look when I say I'm having a giant slab of red meat for dinner with a side of fat-ridden fried potatoes smothered in mayonnaise. You know why? Bec ... More >>

In Season's fried oysters: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 66

Sasha LandskovWe wish these were always In Season!​Though scientists have disproved the notion that oysters may only be safely eaten in months with the letter "r" in their names (May, June, July, and August), it is true that the mollusks tend to posses their best qualities when water temperatures ... More >>

Surly Coffee Bender: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 70

Anne RuckerLike the can says, "It's never too early to GET SURLY!"​Never before has a beverage so delicious been so darnn confusing. Is it coffee or is it beer?  Is it acceptable to drink at breakfast, or should it be reserved for later in the day?  Why not both? 

Maple bacon donut at YoYo Donuts: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 72

The best thing to happen to breakfast​The salty. The sweet. The long john. It just all makes sense. YoYo Donuts in Minnetonka has made breakfast an ass-kicking event with the introduction of the maple-bacon long john--and they aren't skimping.

Willy D's ribs: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 74

​There are way too many situations that restrict us from getting our rib on: One doesn't dare order a rack of bones on a job interview, a first date, or any meal-based meet-up that involves signing paperwork or handshakes. Ribs are for eating in the presence of loved ones who have already pl ... More >>

Salsa a la Salsa's Fried Chocolate Truffles: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 75

Shauna YoungeA fiesta in your mouthLet's face it, in Minnesota we like fried food of nearly any type whether it's meat, veggie, or fruit. Even if the idea unusual fried goodness only appeals to you during State Fair season, Salsa a la Salsa's fried chocolate truffle is one fried food not to miss. Th ... More >>

Anodyne's Artichoke Melt: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 76

Blue chips are a bonus.​Some dishes thrive on flashy presentation, trendy techniques and lofty aspirations. Not so the artichoke melt at Anodyne, which relies on a great cast of ingredients that come together to calm, entertain and feed a busy gal. The bread is grilled to perfection and its conten ... More >>

B.T. McElrath's Salty Dog bar: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 78

​Chocolate as deep, dark, and loving as a Barry White lullaby, studded with hunks of Hope Creamery butter toffee and dusted with a fine layer of rough-hewn sea salt nubs: These are the simple components that create the complex flavor experience of B.T. McElrath's Salty Dog bar.  The Minneapol ... More >>

Thanksgiving hostess gifts

​Considering your girlfriend's 80-year-old grandma spent all day peeling potatoes and baking pumpkin pies, you'd better not show up to supper empty handed. While flowers are always a classy hostess gift, here are five great, locally made, edible options. Your hosts can serve them, send them ho ... More >>

MSP Airport: The best eats

Don't put our fare in the flyover category

B.T. McElrath vs. Chocolat Céleste: A holiday chocolate showdown

Lisa GulyaIf only chocolate truffles really grew on trees​As if the Minnesota History Center's "Chocolate" exhibit doesn't provide enough excuses to indulge this fall, the Hot Dish is here to tempt you with locally made seasonal chocolates. We tested our sweet tooth against pumpkin truffles fr ... More >>

Top 5 local chocolate treats at the History Center

Monica WrightGorging encouraged​Sure, you can visit Chocolate: The Exhibition and leave the Minnesota History Center's gift shop with a cocoa-colored magnet or pencil. Or you could get into the freakin' spirit of things and indulge in one of these top five delectable (and totally local) chocol ... More >>

TCHO Chocolate: killer bars & baking drops now sold here!

www.tcho.com​Early on, San Francisco established itself as a hotbed of American-made gourmet chocolate, raising up the likes of Ghirardelli, Guittard, and Scharffen Berger. The city's latest entrant into the market, TCHO--pronounced "choh," as it's the phonetic spelling of the first syllable o ... More >>

Kings Wine Bar has a new executive chef

Kings Wine Bar in South Minneapolis has a new executive chef and an updated menu in the works.

Saying I Love You with Semen

There's no way this tastes like chicken.

Foodie Father's Day suggestions

We hope your dad likes barbecuing, cause that's what's dads do, right?

Twin Cities Chocolate Extravaganza

Stockings, Stuffed

A foodie's guide to last-minute gifts to make your chowhound smile

Best of the Twin Cities: The Winners

Raising Cane

If C&H is the only sugar in your kitchen cabinets, you've got some sweet surprises in store

Easter Buffeted

Ham for one, and other celebratory ways to get rid of a pig

Treat or Treat

Take time to stop and eat the chocolate

Salsa With the Stiletto Set

A Frosted Fantasy

Won't You Be My Diner?