B.T. McElrath

Signature Dish: Victory 44's Chef Eric Harcey

In the search for the Twin Cities' best culinary creations, we often come across dishes that stop us mid-bite and force us to reflect on the level of thought and artistry chefs put into their work. The efforts of the chefs are often laborious, and the end results are regularly consumed before the fu ... More >>

Amon Tobin at Orpheum Theatre, 9/6/12

Photos by Anna Gulbrandsen Amon Tobin with Holy Other Orpheum Theater, Minneapolis Thursday, September 6, 2012 See Also: Slideshow: Amon Tobin at Orpheum TheatreAmon Tobin stays mum on ISAM 2.0If you weren't at the Orpheum Theater on Thursday night to see Amon Tobin there isn't much else to say -- ... More >>

Wolf's extra virgin honey: 100 Favorite Dishes, no. 8

Extra virgin...honey?​Move over EVOO, it's time for EVH to get the attention it deserves. Raw, or extra virgin honey, like this jar from Wolf Farms in western Wisconsin, is not heated or filtered--the unprocessed stuff may contain cappings wax, bits of propolis and pollen--and along with it all ... More >>

Zakia Deli's Kafta Sandwich: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 6

Spicy meatballs of love...​The simple joy of a gently spiced meat sandwich filled with hummus should not be overlooked, especially when you can survey its beautiful contents through the deli glass before they meet their enrobing pita. Add to that a cheery person who assembles your lunch with a kin ... More >>

Hong Kong Noodle's stir fried sole: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 5

A plate of Kowloon Bay in Stadium Village. ​It's hard to contain one's excitement for summer foods as winter finally, reluctantly gives way to spring. We want fried catfish po'boys, State Fair corn dogs, and above all to grill, baby, grill! But while it's snowing in April, it's easy to forget what ... More >>

Cake Eater's Blackberry Pie Bar: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 4

Is that a whole blackberry?​Emily and Taylor Harris's Cake Eater has become a neighborhood hang, serving breakfast and pastries in their charming day-glo orange trimmed building. The cupcakes are still important, but have lost their primacy in the wake of Sheela Namakkal's departure for Chicago. W ... More >>

Cedar Summit Farm's Grade A Cream: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 3

New Prague's finest dairy​There are so many things to love about Cedar Summit Farm's Grade A Cream -- the charming returnable one pint bottles, its MOSA organic designation and its local roots to name a few. But honestly, they have us at the cap of cream, which we like to call butterfat. The thick ... More >>

Gangchen's Vietnamese curry coconut: 100 Favorite Dishes, no 2

Curry, Vietnamese-style, at Gangchen.​Gangchen restaurant, at 18th and Nicollet, is an unexpected, but useful hybrid, combining pan-Asian fare with a surprisingly hoppin' bar scene--the place stays open 'till 2 a.m. every night! Gangchen is billed as a Tibetan restaurant, but there aren't many me ... More >>

Tilia's corn bread waffles Benedict: 100 Favorite Dishes, no. 1

The Benedict 2.0 at Tilia.​We started this list with one of the most humble breakfast foods and we're ending it with one of the most refined: the corn bread waffles Benedict at the new Tilia in Linden Hills. Chef Steven Brown and crew bring a fresh take to this iconic dish by serving the eggs on ... More >>

River Chocolate Company's Mango Tango: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 11

This ain't just mango and white chocolate...​It used to have a name that fit into the DSM, because there are so many flavors cohabitating in this seemingly simple candy from River Chocolate Company. However, proprietors Allen Whitney and Deirdre Davis didn't want to offend, so they rechristened th ... More >>

La Loma's puerco tamale: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 10

The lure of the puerco​Some dishes are precious, requiring a dedicated diner to make deep forays into their wallet, the world of impossible-to-get reservations, and hoity-toity food circles. La Loma's puerco tamale is just the opposite, which is part of the reason we consider it like an old friend ... More >>

Sun Street breads biscuit sandwich: 100 Favorite Dishes, no. 9

We'd rather have a biscuit in the oven than a bun!​When it comes to biscuits, the Americans have the English beat: ours have a rich, flaky, buttery crumb while theirs offer just a plain, hard crunch--dunking 'em in tea is practically a necessity. Like the bagel, the English muffin, or other sliced ... More >>

Trung Nam coconut croissant: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 15

Expand your plain/chocolate/almond horizons: the coconut croissant.​Plain croissants are an indulgence that's fairly straightforward in nature: layers of whisper-thin pastry with a buttery buffering between. Almond filling adds an element of sophistication; chocolate a certain hedonism. But coco ... More >>

Loring Kitchen & Bar's zucchini fries: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 14

Veggies fryer = deliciousness​You've just completed a seriously competitive shuffleboard session, or perhaps you've been taking in the spring plumage of those imposing and numerous geese. Or did you ride your bike across the Irene Hixon Whitney bridge, or hike into the wilds of downtown to get y ... More >>

The Triple Rock's mother biker: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 12

Debbie TallenNo animals were harmed in the making of this hangover cure​The Triple Rock Social Club may not be the most intuitive place to find one of our 100 favorite dishes of the year. More bar than restaurant, and more punk music club than anything else, it's not the kind of place you br ... More >>

El Taco Riendo's tacos: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 21

Mo PerryIf only all fast food were this fresh​With the burgeoning local food truck scene, the Twin Cities may finally be catching up to other parts of the country, where Chipotle is far down the list of places to go for fresh, quick, authentically Mexican tacos. But even in the dead of winter ... More >>

Broders' Cucina Italiana's fresh pasta: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 22

Mo PerryYou'll never touch Creamette again​Imagine if all your life, the only cheese you'd ever eaten was Kraft American Singles. That was your entire notion of what cheese could be: shiny, florescent squares of solidified molten plastic, which you happily ate for ignorance of other options. ... More >>

Salted Caramel Shake at Burger Jones: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 23

Anne Rucker Burger Jones brings on the salt!​Salty caramel is certainly all the rage, and why not?  It's delicious!  Unfortunately, few places are willing to take this scrumptious flavor combination to the salty extreme.  Not any more thanks to Burger Jones.  Their sal ... More >>

Heartland's Kansas City strip steak: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 29

Michelle Leon​Over at Heartland Restaurant & Farm Direct Market, when it comes to locally sourcing meat and produce, there is no messing around. So when you see the words "Kansas City" on the menu, this might cause a bit of  head-scratching. But according to chef Lenny Russo, the Kansas C ... More >>

Hmong Village's Stuffed Chicken Wings: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 35

​Walking through the food vendors at St. Paul's Hmong Village is a feast for the senses. First, take in the sight of all the dishes: slabs of lacquered ribs, fish wrapped in banana leaves, vibrant tri-colored teas. Then there's the scent of lemon grass and ginger, and the sound of conversation in ... More >>

Surdyk's Flights Chicken Banh Mi: 100 Favorite Dishes No. 39

Anne Rucker Delicious and quick at the airport! Who knew?​No one really likes the airport.  Parking, security lines, delays and long flights all add to the stress of traveling.  Luckily, Surdyk's Flights Wine Market & Bar at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport has ... More >>

Bradstreet Craftshouse's Black Walnut Old-Fashioned: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 43

Kei TerauchiBehind every great cocktail is a great bartender​What makes a bar a good bar? It may be the atmosphere--the lighting, the music, the decor. It may be the conversations that flow between you and the knowledgeable bartenders. And it must be the cocktails. Step into Bradstreet Cra ... More >>

Wakame Bistro's Crazy Lobster Roll: 100 Favorite Dishes No. 44

Anne Rucker Unexpected sushi roll heaven.​Throw away your current notions of run-of-the-mill sushi menu delights because the Crazy Lobster Roll at Wakame Bistro bucks all tradition.  Somehow this roll manages to be deliciously rich, creamy, spicy and filling all at the same time. &nb ... More >>

Brit's Pub Scotch Eggs: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 45

Is it patio season yet?​The humble Scotch egg combines two bang-up breakfast foods and turns them into an edible, portable, rollable snack--that somehow manages to make sausage and eggs pair perfectly with pints of beer. We try 'em nearly every chance we get, and though we appreciate the, ahem, ... More >>

Peninsula's chili tofu: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 46

Danielle LenzHousemade tofu at Peninsula​Encountering tofu on a menu may leave some shuddering with the thought of beige, tasteless hunks of rubbery soybean curd, choked down primarily by smug vegetarians and overzealous health nuts. Meat and potatoes may seem the more satisfying way to go. Th ... More >>

Annona Gourmet's balsamic vinegars: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 47

Mo PerryAnnona Gourmet has a whole wall lined with delicious flavored vinegars​Tucked away in a sleepy corner of Northeast Minneapolis, in the Saint Anthony Village strip mall, lies a hidden gem. Annona Gourmet, a small shop whose motto is "educate your appetite," invites guests to do just t ... More >>

Cocina del Barrio's jalapeno poppers: 100 Favorite Dishes, no. 48

Alma GuzmanPoppers in the making, filled with Oaxaca cheese. ​Jalapeno poppers have all the makings of a great junk food fix. They're salty, fatty, crunchy, and cheesy, and leave behind a spicy kick--Hot Cheetos, you ain't got nothing on this! But the typical deep-fried jalapeno popper prove ... More >>

Thomasina's Cashew Brittle: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 51

Thomasina's Cashew BrittleThis brittle is anything but.​ Brittle is brittle is brittle, right? We thought so, too until Thomasina's Cashew Brittle came into our lives. If you love sticky, rock hard, overly sugary brittle, these handmade, small-batch confections aren't for you. After ... More >>

Patisserie 46's Rory Cake: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 52

Patisserie 46 bakes this beautiful Rory cake. ​A boy named Rory is one lucky fellow. He's joined the likes of local adman Tom "Wheels" Whalen and author Neal Karlen in having a foodstuff named in his honor. But his tribute is no ordinary cheese plate or blended coffee drink: It's the stunning Ror ... More >>

Polish Delight Cocktail at the Inn, 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 55

Polish Delight is downright delightful​The Polish Delight cocktail from the Inn in downtown Minneapolis tastes like a lingering spring kiss. Bison Grass vodka, ginger, and apple-and-scallion simple syrup are slurried within a sparkling white white and served with a fresh lemon curlicue. The fruit ... More >>

On's Thai Kitchen Nam Thok: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 59

An off-menu variant of Nam Thok at On's. ​Sure, On's Thai Kitchen on University Avenue offers the usual suspects: spring rolls, green curry, pad Thai. But it's worth exploring the further corners of the menu's authentic, home-style Thai cooking and considering lesser-seen dishes such as Pad-Ph ... More >>

Bars Bakery's Turtle Bar: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 64

Shauna Younge for City PagesYou can visit the bar, even on your lunch break.​ Even though Bars Bakery hasn't even been open six months, the little Selby Avenue shop has made itself heard over the din of the ever-expanding cupcake competition. By specializing in freshly baked bars of every variety, ... More >>

Tremblay's Sweet Shop salt water taffy: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 63

We're gonna need a bigger bag​It's easy to be overwhelmed when you enter Tremblay's Sweet Shop in Stillwater. Who knew there was THIS MUCH variety when it comes to saltwater taffy? Everywhere you look is a bucket or barrel heaped with a new -- sometimes bizarre -- flavor of taffy to try: butte ... More >>

Pizzeria Lola's Lady ZaZa Pizza: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 65

A slice of Korean-Italian heaven...​I am not alone in my reverence of the Lady ZaZa, although when I first made her acquaintance, this lovely dish had not yet been christened with a proper name. She was known simply as the kimchi pizza among those who frequented Ann Kim's hugely popular Pizzeria L ... More >>

Everest on Grand's cabbage and potatoes: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 68

Sara RiceFinding your way to Everest on Grand is a lot easier than climbing Mt. Everest​If you're a curry lover and looking for a change of pace from some of our more standard-issue Indian restaurants around town--or if you're a vegetarian or vegan in search of a dish that doesn't pale compar ... More >>

Christos's saganaki: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 69

Burn, baby, burn​Hot, flaming cheese. Does an appetizer get more mouthwatering--or more dangerous--than the saganaki at Christos?

Cupcake's mini cupcakes: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 73

Mo PerryA whimsical treat for any occasion​Sometimes we feel inspired to make a gesture--a little something to say thank you or good job, or add a touch of brightness to the day. At such times, options are limited. You can swing by Super America for a box of doughnuts, grab a dozen bagels f ... More >>

Mrs. Kelly's Tea gives free tasting this weekend

Liz PotasekSample 100 different varieties of Mrs. Kelly's custom blended tea this weekend.​Keep that pinkie finger planted firmly on your tea cup. While coffee seems to be getting snobbier by the day in this town, one local tea distributor sets out to prove that tea is not fussy. Meet Mrs. Kelly, ... More >>

2002 Through Food-Colored Glasses

Dear Dara's year-end wrap-up

The Joy of Complacency

A Cooking Class

The Alchemist

Brian McElrath's Zinfandel-Balsamic Vinegar Truffle is so potent and rich it seems almost meaty.