Kieran Folliard

Finnegans: turning beer into food for 12 years

As more Minnesota breweries are born, identifying each brand's niche is a key element. Finnegans has known this all along. Currently the fifth largest beer producer in the state, the twelve year-old company runs on the unique business model of a for-profit non-profit. The company sells its beer and ... More >>

2 Gingers Whiskey acquired by Beam Inc.

Just a year after veteran pub owner Kieran Folliard introduced his wildly successful 2 Gingers Whiskey to the free market, the premium spirit is now carried in more than 2,100 drinking establishments all over the state and the brand has sold nearly 20,000 cases of it product, making 2 Gingers the fa ... More >>

I AM MPLS! 2012

Minnesota Twins will serve Surly and Fulton at Target Field this summer

In an unveiling this morning, the Minnesota Twins announced that this summer fans will be able to enjoy both Surly and Fulton by the pint at Target Field.Surly will be available in Section 124, while Fulton will be poured at the Townball Tavern. This is great news for beer and baseball aficionados; ... More >>

The Best of Hot Dish: February 20-24, 2012

And thus ends another week at the Hot Dish, a week packed full of exciting local food news. Here are a few stories we wouldn't want you to miss.​~Find out which local food superstars are now semifinalists for the prestigious James Beard Award.~We visited Jack's Cafe, now open in Kingfield. Read th ... More >>

Whiskey War over as Kieran Folliard settles with Jameson Whiskey

Less than a week after Kieran Folliard filed a lawsuit against Jameson Whiskey, the whiskey war has ended. The complaint, filed in federal court last Wednesday, claimed that Jameson Whiskey's "Jameson Big Ginger" was a case of trademark infringement. Folliard requested a U.S. trademark for "the Bi ... More >>

Best of Hot Dish: February 12-February 16, 2012

It's all happening here at the Hot Dish, with another great week of local food news. Here are a few of our tastiest morsels. ​~We got up close and personal with Dakota Jazz Club's two executive chefs, Derik Moran and Kristin Tyborski, this week in Chef Chat.~Eli's has brand-new digs over ... More >>

Kieran Folliard suing Jameson Whiskey over "Big Ginger"

​Call it a case of Whiskey a No No, on Wednesday Kieran Folliard and his company, A Kieran Connection, filed suit against Jameson Whiskey claiming that the "Jameson Big Ginger" was a case of infringement.  The lawsuit claims that Folliard's 2 Ginger's whiskey filed a U.S. trademark applicatio ... More >>

2 Gingers whiskey now in local liquor stores [DRINK RECIPE]

Kieran's whiskey now available near you​Kieran Folliard left the Irish restaurant empire he had been building for years to focus full time on his burgeoning whiskey company. Today marks the wide release of his whiskey, named for his mother and aunt, both redheads. Liquor stores that will carry the ... More >>

Cooper Pub celebrates 2 years with happy hour deals today

Toast two years with 2 Gingers​Traditionalists insist the proper gift for a second anniversary is cotton. The look, the feel ... the only problem is, it's lacking in drinkability. Cooper Pub and Restaurant at the Shops at West End is celebrating in better style. Today, in honor of Cooper's second ... More >>

50 tasty reasons to love Minnesota food

Photo: Steve Neuharth, Michelle LeonReason No. 11: Chefs like Doug Flicker at Piccolo create food that doesn't just impress--it inspires. ​When Anthony Bourdain last year told his TV audience on No Reservations that his experience at Doug Flicker's south Minneapolis restaurant Piccolo was "far ... More >>

Kieran Folliard leaves pub business--don't panic!

Tony NelsonFolliard sold his bar business to focus on whiskey.​In the past few months, the Twin Cities' most famous Irish face, pub owner Kieran Folliard, has been launching several other food and beverage businesses. First, there was the Green Ox meat company he started with charcuterie king ... More >>

Tilia in Linden Hills feels like it's been around forever

Steven Brown's comeback rings out loud and clear

Top food and drink deals for Twins fans

Save $$ on food/beverage before or after the game. ​Have you seen what Twins tickets are going for on StubHub these days? Thirty-some bucks to watch them play the Brewers...and that's standing room only. After a rough loss to the Royal's last night, the Twins are hitting the road. But here a ... More >>

Try Kieran Folliard's new whiskey tonight--for free!

Tony NelsonKieran Folliard pours his new whiskey!​Just in time for St. Patrick's day, our Knight in Shining Irish, restaurateur Kieran Folliard, is releasing his new 2 Gingers Irish Whiskey. Folliard's Big Ginger cocktail--two shots of Jameson Irish Whiskey mixed with ginger ale and garnished ... More >>

St. Patrick's Day's best Irish eating and drinking

LDHNY/FlickrLadies and gentlemen, start your slicing!​Sure, you want to celebrate St. Patrick's Day tomorrow, but, no, you can't spend the entire day subsisting on green beer. We'd recommend a few other Irish-appropriate beverages plus several foodstuffs to sop up some of that alcohol--and h ... More >>

Kieran Folliard expands his Irish empire

Restaurateur introduces new whiskey and specialty meats

Cooper Pub & Restaurant: Happy hour of the week

The awe-inspiring bar at Cooper​Cooper Pub & Restaurant1607 Park Place Blvd., St. Louis Park952.698.2000Hours and Details:DrinksDaily, 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m.Sunday - Thursday, 10 p.m.-midnight $3.25, $3.75, $4.25 Tap beers $4 Rail drinks$4 JamesonFoodNightly, 10 p.m.-midnightMonday - Friday, 2-6:30 ... More >>

Kieran's Old Pub RIP

Kieran closes The Old Pub.​When Kieran Folliard moved his bar from its out-of-the-way digs at Fourth Street and Second Avenue to a more prime Block E spot, he said he'd keep the old spot open to fulfill the 19 months left on his lease. But Folliard changed his mind and closed the Old Pub las ... More >>

Ringo to close this weekend

Goodbye Ringo--or should we say, au revoir or adios?​On the heels of Sauce's closure, another West End tenant will shut its doors: The Star Tribune reports that Ringo has announced it will close after service on Dec. 18. The news is disappointing, though not surprising--here's why:

RIP Sauce Pizza & Wine; Little Szechuan II coming soon

Crystal GrobeSauce Pizza becomes a Rojo party room.​After barreling into St. Louis Park this summer and making Minneapolis's Sauce Soundbar change its name to the less-snazzy Cause, Sauce Pizza & Wine has closed. The owners also operate the adjacent adjacent Rojo Mexican Grill and have decid ... More >>

Dinner at Craftman, a photographic farewell to Mike Phillips

​ When my friend suggested we head to Craftsman for one last hurrah with Mike Phillips at the helm, I jumped at the chance. We got the last remaining reservation for Friday night dinner and ordered according to Phillips's M.O.: Meat!

Mike Phillips and Kieran Folliard launching Green Ox meat co.

Mike "Charcuterie" Phillips with some of his wares ​For years, Mike Phillips, the man behind the 100 Favorite Dishes-worthy charcuterie at the Craftsman, has dreamed of becoming the Midwest's first artisan salami maker, and I'm happy to report that plans are in the works to make that dream a r ... More >>

Minneapolis's 5 most jinxed restaurant locations

In honor of Thom Pham's announcement that he'll be opening a new restaurant, Wanderers, at 555 Hennepin Ave.--a space notorious for its quick turnover of restaurant operators--Hot Dish decided to take a look at the Top 5 Jinxed Restaurant Locations. Will Thom Pham have better luck in this downtow ... More >>

Jameson at the Local: Drink of the week

The Big Ginger​ Jameson Irish Whiskey at the Local Voted Best Irish Pub 2010 The Local is all that. And true fact: It sells approximately 25 bottles a day of Jameson Irish Whiskey--the most of any pub in the world. The world. A big part of the success is due to the popularity of their signa ... More >>

St. Patrick's Day: The party starts today at Kieran's!

Get an early start on St. Patty's day by joining the bagpiper-led march from the old Kieran's location to the new one!

Crave, Cooper, and Icon bring convenience to St. Louis Park

Taste is often lost in the strip-mall dining experience

Coming Soon: Kieran's moves to Block E

Bye-bye Bellanotte, hello Kieran's!

Drink of the week: Cooper Pub and Restaurant's Big Ginger

A big ole glass of love.

Month in Review: Open, Closed, Coming Soon

Openings were few, but there's a lot of cool stuff on the drawing board...

Month in Review: Open, Closed, Coming Soon

A massive slew of openings this month, from Anchor Fish & Chips to Lyndale Tap House...

Coming Soon: Cooper

Kieran Folliard's latest St. Louis Park pub is a beaut!

Month in Review: Opened, closed, & coming soon

D'Amico Kitchen among the exciting openings this month...

Month in Review: Opened, closed, & coming soon

Goodbye Pastrami Jack's, hello Sea Change...

Month in Review: Opened, closed, and coming soon

Only a few closings and lots great to anticipate this month...

Month in Review: Opened, closed, and coming soon

We said goodbye to the Boathouse and hello to Bun Mi this month...

Month in Review: Opened, closed, and coming soon

We had far fewer closings this month (whew!) and lengthened the list of impending arrivals.

New restaurant roundup

Catch up on recent openings and closings, plus what's coming soon...

The Local sets world record for most Jameson Whiskey sold

For the third year in a row Minnesotans have drunk themselves into the record books.

Sham-Rock Out: Mill City Irish Fest

Foodie Fight

One of Dara's favorite local restaurants has a mustard meltdown

Capital Pub

The Liffey, new St. Paul sister to the Local, is old and older, in the best ways

Everything But the Kitchen: Zinc

Better Driving Through Chocolate

Think Globally, Eat Locally

The Local's Kieran Folliard is no stranger to turning pieces of straw into plates of gold.

LSGI Again?

The City appears headed toward another lawsuit over property on Nicollet Mall