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organic, sustainably farmed seasonal ingredients. For each of three courses, you
choose among four or five options such as grilled swordfish with glazed fennel, or a
pan-roasted duck breast with sautéed swiss chard, lentils, and glazed figs.
As the dining scene in the Twin Cities has ripened, second-generation stars have
risen such as 112 Eatery (112 N. 3rd St., Minneapolis; & 612/343-7696; www.
112eatery.com), the brick-walled downtown bistro opened in 2005 in the night-
clubbing warehouse district. After polishing his reputation at two other esteemed
kitchens in town (D'Amico Cucina and Café Lurcat), chef/owner Isaac Becker brings
flair to every cafe item, like his sirloin steak crusted with nori, tagliatelle with foie gras
meatballs, and even a bacon-and-egg sandwich spiked with hot harissa sauce. Then
there's long, sleek Spoonriver (750 S. 2nd St., Minneapolis; & 612/436-2236;
www.spoonriverrestaurant.com), opened in a riverfront plaza across from the Guth-
rie Theater in 2006. Chef Brenda Langton reprises the fresh and healthy locavore
fare of her acclaimed former cafe, Brenda. Her menu is somehow upscale and
homey at the same time, with lots of artful salads, charcuterie, pates and terrines,
and vegetarian specials. Over in St. Paul, Lenny Russo—who earned his stars at
longtime St. Paul favorite W. A. Frost & Co.—opened
Heartland (1806 St. Clair Ave., St. Paul; & 651/699-
3536; www.heartlandrestaurant.com) in 2002. The
Prairie-Style decor of Heartland suits its Midwestern
farmer's market-inspired menu. The daily-changing
roster of entrees includes roasted rabbit, braised elk
chops, pan-fried trout, salt-cured Lake Superior smelt,
bison bratwurst, or duck prosciutto.
The scene is so hot even nationally celebrated chefs
are trying to muscle their way in. Wolfgang Puck
recently opened 20.21 as the house cafe of the
superb Walker Art Center (1750 Hennepin Ave., Min-
neapolis; & 612/253-3410; www.wolfgangpuck.com).
Several menu items, including some fancifully sculp-
tural desserts, are designed specifically to complement the Walker's 20th- and 21st-
century art. Modern artworks also line the walls at Chambers Kitchen, Jean
Georges Vongerichten's hip hotel restaurant in the Chambers Hotel (901 Hennepin
Ave., Minneapolis; & 612/767-6979; www.chambersminneapolis.com), which fea-
tures Vongerichten's trademark Asian-accented rustic French cooking in a sleekly
minimalist informal space with an open kitchen.
( Minneapolis/St. Paul International (10 miles/16km).
Locavores flock to Spoonriver on
the banks of the Mississippi.
L $$$ Graves 601 Hotel, 601 First Ave. N., Minneapolis ( & 866/523-1100 or 612/677-
1100; www.graves601hotel.com). $$ Saint Paul Hotel, 350 Market St., St. Paul ( & 800/292-
9292 or 651/292-9292; www.stpaulhotel.com).
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