Beverages

St. Paul Grill Scotch Club offers prix-fixe pairing dinner

Pair scotch with food at the St. Paul Grill. ​The St. Paul Grill's celebrates the first anniversary of its Scotch Club by offering a prix-fixe dinner menu from May 16-26. The four-course dinner is available to Scotch Club members for $49.95, plus tax and gratuity--if you're not yet a member yo ... More >>

Bawdy Blue: A Burlesque Revue

Jelly Shot Test Kitchen's super cool cocktail gels

Courtesy of JSTKMichelle Palm loves this one...​With a City Pages photo shoot, an upcoming book, and a website that's been getting all kinds of acclaim, Jelly Shot Test Kitchen is having an amazing year. It's the brain child of Edina resident Michelle Palm, whose stunning gelatin cocktails and top ... More >>

Summit Unchained #6: An interview with brewer Damian McConn

Mark RobertsBrewer Damian McConn and his Gold Sovereign Ale​Earlier this month Summit Brewing Company released the sixth beer in its Unchained Series. Gold Sovereign Ale is an English IPA brewed according to a 19th-century recipe but using modern ingredients and brewing processes. In crafting ... More >>

Edina Grill's petite cocktails make it the happy hour of the week

Land of petite happy hour cocktails​Edina Grill5028 France Ave S., Edina952.927.7933Hours and Details:Monday - Friday, 3-6 p.m.$3 Kenwood Table red and white$3 Summit Pilsner and Ranger IPA bottles$3 Petite cocktails: tropical mint, rum punch, cucumber agave martini, spiked pear, sweet and spicy m ... More >>

Surly asks fans for help changing laws

Surly asks for help to get dream brewery approval​When Surly Brewing Company announced plans for a new $20-million brewery complex last week the Twin Cities beer world exploded with excitement. This wasn't going to be just any brewery; this was going to be a "destination brewery" complete with ... More >>

Winterfest 2011 reveals trends for Minnesota beer

Mark RobertsBeer fans savor MN suds at Winterfest​The 2011 Winterfest beer festival sponsored by the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild took place last Friday night at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul. As beer festivals go, Winterfest is an intimate and elegant affair, if you can call 800 p ... More >>

Tea-infused booze warms up the Aster Cafe

A row of dazzling tea infused liquors​Sure it's cozy and cute up in the Aster Cafe, but it's kinda cold and you don't feel like making the trip. That's fine, but you'll be missing out on their tea-infused booze. Sitting neatly up behind the bar, the liquors' jewel and amber tones speak to you, lea ... More >>

Winterfest showcases the best of the best of Minnesota-brewed beer

The best of Minnesota beer at Winterfest​Winterfest, the annual celebration of home-grown craft beer, returns to the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul on February 4. Sponsored by the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild and open only to breweries that are current guild members, Winterfest showcases th ... More >>

Harriet Brewing Co., Minneapolis's newest brewery, gets ready to launch

Harriet Brewing Company Harriet Brewing Company opening in Minneapolis​isn't just the latest entry into the burgeoning Minnesota beer scene, it's also the first new non-brewpub brewery in the city of Minneapolis since the Grain Belt Brewery closed in 1975. The brand-new brewery is housed in a ... More >>

Top 5 happy hours of 2010

by Marsha TrainerThe writing's on the wall.​The Twin Cities are home to many killer happy hours in a variety of venues. In the Upper Midwest, snazzy joints are just as likely to discount their cocktails in the early evening as your friendly local dive bar. The Hot Dish has been diligently visiting ... More >>

Sommelier Leslee Miller picks great holiday wines

Courtesy of AmuséeLeslee Miller gives us her picks.​It's holiday time, and we're sure you've bought all your gifts and are getting ready for an onslaught of family and friends. You've got the turkey ordered, your sides planned, and even that amazing dessert is partially completed and tucked in yo ... 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 >>

Almond Bubble Tea from Pham's Deli soothes the holiday hurries

Mmmmmm almond bubble tea​Almond Bubble Tea$3.75Pham's Deli - Midtown Global Market920 East Lake St., Minneapolis612-870-2622It's the run up to that turkey- and family-heavy holiday. You know the one. If you're not hurriedly packing to catch a flight, then you're running out to the store to pick u ... More >>

Steepery Tea Bar by the Tea Garden opens in Woodbury

It's tea time in Woodbury!​Can you believe that just a decade ago, most Twin Citians wouldn't have known bubble tea from bubble gum? The Tea Garden is already eight years old, and it just opened its sixth location, a shop in Woodbury called the Steepery Tea Bar. Steepery offers more than 50 v ... More >>

Four Loko banned in New York

"Blackout in a can" gets banned.​Following on the footsteps of regulators in Michigan, Oklahoma, and Washington, the New York State Liquor Authority has banned the sale and distribution of alcoholic energy drinks, like Four Loko and Joose, as of November 19 (Utah's state-run alcoholic beverage ... More >>

It's Beaujolais nouveau season! Here are 2 ways to celebrate

The first wine of 2010​We don't have a lot of wine vineyards in Minnesota, but there's still plenty of reason to celebrate another grape harvest by opening a bottle of French Beaujolais nouveau. The first bottles of this year's vintage--meant to be drunk when it's barely off the vine--are offi ... More >>

Big Bowl Galleria's pomegranate ginger ale is fizzy and fresh

Fizzy, fresh and non-alcoholic ​Pomegranate Ginger Ale$3Big Bowl - Edina3669 Galleria, Edina952-928-7888We admit that the Hot Dish has a tendency to highlight the libations. So, this week we present a tasty, accessible alternative -- and we're glad to do it. And, it's even at a chain restaur ... More >>

Peace Coffee serves its first cup at new shop

Liz PotasekPeace Coffee Barista Adam Marquardt prepares a flavorful cup of slow brewed coffee by measuring and grinding the beans, carefully wetting the grounds and pouring just the right amount of water into the filter.​With a disco ball, a light fixture made from old bike parts, and an array of ... More >>

Flamenco Organic: NE roastery seeks the ultimate in fair-trade coffee

Freshly roasted, Flamenco-style​When Dave Chall, of restaurant supplier Upper Midwest Gourmet, originally thought of coffee, he viewed it simply as an additional revenue stream. But now the bean arm of his NE Minneapolis operation, Flamenco Organic, is at the forefront of the local java industry. ... More >>

Pink Lady-- vintage cocktail recipe

Much more than a girly drink. ​While the name Pink Lady implies a drink that is delicate and sweet, this lady kicks ass. With a shell-pink hue and rich scents of apple and pomegranate, this vintage cocktail is potent but deceptively balanced. We recommend using only fresh lemon juice and homemade ... More >>

Wine Sale Week: Surdyk's fall blowout includes free tastings

Surdyk's big fall sale: Here are in-store tastings and 10 recommendations on what to buy​When you pull into the Surdyk's lot on a Saturday afternoon during it's big sale, you'd think you were trying to find a parking spot in downtown New York. There's a reason for that: Surdyk's offers not onl ... More >>

Wine Shop Sale Week (Today: great deals at South Lyndale Liquors)

Time to load up the cart​Each day this week we are featuring an ongoing wine shop sale and 10 recommendations from each. Today's feature is South Lyndale Liquors, a solid wine shop specializing in wines under $25. Its sale ends Saturday.

The best free wine tasting of the year

Haskell's DowntownHaskell's Downtown Minneapolis: Try before you buy​Everyone who drinks wine has been to, or at least noticed, an in-store wine tasting, whether it's a winemaker in town or a distributor pouring six of their value wines. Well, a big in-store tasting tomorrow (Saturday, October ... More >>

St. Innocent Wine Dinner at Luci Ancora is a don't-miss event

Mark VlossakAmazing wines from a top winery: St. Innocent Wine Dinner with Mark Vlossak​Too many wine dinners in the Twin Cities serve below average wine and offer poor value. And though the St. Paul wine dinner at Luci Ancora on Monday night is not cheap, it does offer a chance to drink some ... More >>

612 Brew, Fulton Beer, Surly, and the craft beer renaissance

Raise a pint to local breweries

Rye whiskey makes the endangered food list

Helga's lobster stew/flickrRye whiskey, an endangered spirit.​In tandem with National Bourbon Month, bourbon's best friend, rye whiskey, has fallen on hard times. According to Slow Food USA's Ark of Taste list--a compilation of 200 plus food items designed to alert communities to endangered c ... More >>

Bull Run prepares to open flagship shop next month

Coffee connoisseurs are getting jittery over Bull Run opening​Bull Run Roasting Co submitted its Shea Architects-designed plans to the city in mid-August for its upcoming and much anticipated space in the revamped Calhoun Square, smack dab where a Starbucks used to be. Bull Run's first outpos ... More >>

Top 5: bourbon cocktail recipes for National Bourbon Month

bhamsandwich/flickrThe mint julep is our friend.​Yes siree, September is National Bourbon Month, and we are here to celebrate our favorite amber fluid--the only one native to the USA-- with you.Made with corn, and named for a county in Kentucky, bourbon making is no free-for-all, there are very sp ... More >>

Wondrous Azian Kitchen's Brazerac--a dreamy drink of the week

A cocktail born in a dream.​Brazerac$8 Thom Pham's Wondrous Azian Kitchen 533 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis 612.338.1479 It's not everyday that someone gets to live one of their dreams. But that's just what happened to bartender Brad Smith, the mastermind behind the cocktail menu at Wondrous Azian K ... More >>

Grilling recipes and wine pairings for the season's last barbecues

Turkey dinner and Barbera​Late summer and fall can be a terrific time for getting in your last barbecues of the year. Earlier we discussed simple grilling options and affordable wines . Now it's time to talk about creating more exciting dishes on the grill. As always, a perfect wine pairing is ... More >>

Remodeler uncovers vintage booze stash in Minneapolis home

Darin BackHow long does liquor last, anyway?​An air-conditioning installer recently uncovered an interesting stash amid the third-story duct work of a 110-year-old Lowry Hill home: four cases of pre-Prohibition booze. The Star Tribune reported that the cases contained 15 jugs and 30 bottles ... More >>

La Cucaracha's fun and down-to-earth happy hour

Hola.​La Cucaracha Mexican Restaurante, 36 South Dale St., St Paul, 651.221.9682 Hours and details: 7 days a week 3 -6 p.m., Friday-Saturday 10-midnight. $2-$3 beer specials, $3.50 house margaritas and rail drinks, $5 appetizers. Other daily specials: Monday: $2 off large bullfighters Tue ... More >>

Heavy Table and Crispin Cider's autumn mixology contest

Crispin CiderThe flavors of autumn.​ Do you fancy yourself a fine mixologist? Crispin Cider and Heavy Table are looking for you to share your finest cocktail creations made with Crispin and ingredients of your choice in their Autumn Mixology contest. This is your chance to show the world th ... More >>

Affordable wines made for grilled food

Nothing like a steak off the grill​Most people who drink wine are not going to pop open a 2000 Chateau Montrose St.-Estephe, a 1998 Fox Creek McClaren Vale, or a 2005 Dr. Loosen Erdener Treppchen for their casual grilling event with friends. If you do pop these open, make sure I am invited. Fo ... More >>

Whiskey sour recipes to celebrate National Whiskey Sour Day

A 150-year-old classic​Like an easy lady, the whiskey sour has a tarnished reputation, similar to the tequila sunrise's. Being made for years with sour mix that tastes like bathroom cleaner will do that to a drink. Since today is National Whiskey Sour Day, it's a perfect opportunity to make th ... More >>

Bull Run vs. Kopplin's in a battle for the best cup of coffee

Bull Run's cup of love​The Twin Cities is a coffee shop mecca with literally hundreds of places to grab a mugful. Nonetheless, local connoisseurs know there are only two real contenders in the battle of the bean: Bull Run Coffee Bar in Minneapolis and Kopplin's in St. Paul. As summer wanes, it's t ... More >>

Top 5 rum cocktail recipes

Rum infusing in Madagascar​We are feeling just terrible about missing National Rum Day last Monday (we were a little distracted by it also being National Bratwurst Day, and we don't recommend mixing the two) but you don't really need an excuse to drink a beautiful cocktail. With the summer winding ... More >>

Peace Coffee is brewing up its first shop

Courtesy of Peace CoffeePeace Coffee buys the beans and roasts them, and now they'll brew them, too, at a coffee shop opening this fall in Longfellow.​Peace Coffee already sources and roasts the beans for our morning cup, and starting this fall, it will brew them up at a new coffee shop in the Lon ... More >>

A great wine club for free

Mike ThomasThomas Liquors Wine Education series​There are several wine clubs in the Twin Cities, though many are more focused on socializing than on pouring wines with any character or providing educational instruction. But one very good wine club is offering you a chance to learn about South ... More >>

Why pay top dollar for wine? It's BOGO time!

Haskell'sHaskell's BOGO sale: Buy One, Get One​I am amazed by the average wine drinker who pays top dollar for their wine. Many say they are having a party and need wine fast or their local wine shop is so convenient. The worst advice ever given to a wine buyer was to purchase wine at a shop r ... More >>

Stub & Herb's is going loco for local beer

​In a move that may ruffle some feathers, Stub & Herb's has announced that they are choosing to abandon many of their popular out-of-state beers, and instead shift to a hardcore focus on local brews. News broke from the horse's mouth on the message boards over at beeradvocate.com:

The most important concept in great wine: the winemaker

Mark VlossakMark Vlossak of St. Innocent Winery​Of the five most important facets of wine--terroir, vintage, appellation, wine producer, and winemaker--the last is arguably both the most and least important. The winemaker is the most critical factor in what comes out of the bottle, yet all win ... More >>

Worst Wines of the Year (so far...)

​I sample over a thousand wines a year (yes, I spit many, for the sake of my health and liver), and very few wines are what I deem undrinkable. My dad, for example, loves his Tisdale Merlot, which is usually on sale at Morelli's in St. Paul for $2.00. I consider it drinkable, especially for ... More >>

Ginger Cucumber Amore--a drink recipe from the garden

Michelle LeonAn experiment with the flavors found in Thai cooking.​Using the freshest of the season's ingredients--this time, cucumber--we continue to share drink recipes that make the most of the harvest. We named this cocktail Ginger Cucumber Amore because the flavors blended in such a heav ... More >>

What kind of wine drinker are you?

John GlasSerious wine geek wines​To me there are three types of wine drinkers: the wine drinker, the wine snob, and the wine geek. Wine drinkers are the largest of the three groups, and they are the most likely to try a new wine bar, buy a glass of South African chenin blanc at a restaurant, ... More >>

Wine 101: Who made your wine--and why it's important

St. InnocentTemperance Vineyard Site​Can you name five wine producers? Many casual wine drinkers might mention Robert Mondavi, Sutter Home, Beringer, Coppola, or Kendall Jackson. But what about Monchhof, St. Innocent, and Felsina? In the fourth of a series of Wine 101 topics (which includes terro ... More >>

Classic cocktail recipes--drink like Mad Men do

Michelle LeonClassic Martini​Want to learn how to make classic cocktails like those that the philandering, cigarette smoking, deceptive characters on Mad Men swill? As the AMC series starts its fourth season Sunday, the period piece set in the '60s reflects a time when it was okay to have a bar in ... More >>