Food: August 2005 Archives
I can't seem to get enough roasted vegetables lately.
They are so easy to make. I just get whatever looks good at the farmers market, wash it, slice it, toss it lightly with olive oil & sea salt, bake it at 400° until it looks ready to eat. The veggies cook up sweet, soft and a tiny bit carmelized.
They are so easy to make. I just get whatever looks good at the farmers market, wash it, slice it, toss it lightly with olive oil & sea salt, bake it at 400° until it looks ready to eat. The veggies cook up sweet, soft and a tiny bit carmelized.
The co-worker who would prefer to be called my favorite co-worker and her husband went with my to a Thai Cooking class at Supatra in St. Paul. I had never been to Supatra as a patron before but the class piqued my interest because it began with a tour of the St. Paul Farmers Market.
When class began, Supatra Johnson took us all across the street to visit the market. She pointed out all the Asian vegatables and helped explain a little about how they might be used. It made me feel a lot more comfortable about buying some of the more exotic vegetables and herbs that are available in the farmers market. I also found out that my favorite herb, Thai basil, is very easy to find if you are just looking in the right place, i.e. not Byerly's, Cub, Rainbow or Fresh & Natural.
Supatra then demonstrated how to make Thai Lettuce Wraps. They tasted great, but they were served with lettuce that was a poor choice for wrapping anything in. The poorly suited lettuce aside, the marinade for the meat & seafood and the tamarind dipping sauce were outstanding. The sauce seemed especially easy to make and had a lot of flavor. I wouldn't mind serving this at home, but would get a lettuce that was easier to roll up.
My favorite dish by far was the Som Tum or Green Papaya Salad. It was very easy to make and the flavors were a great blend of hot, salty and sweet. I've had Som Tum before I think, perhaps as a garnish to a larger dish, but I never knew what it was. I'm going to get the supplies to make this dish A.S.A.P. If you ask me to bring a salad to your next event this is likely what I'll bring.
It was a treat to not only learn some new cooking techniques but to have a great meal included. I enjoyed the class and I'll be back to check out the restaurant.
I've had a couple of great lunches recently.
First up is Pop!. Pop is in an odd unassuming location in northeast Minneapolis. It has quite a nice menu with great fresh soups, super competent salads and interesting entrees. It's not the fastest place for lunch but the food has been really good both times I've been there. It's a really nice switch from the chain restaurants found in nearby Roseville. Maybe I like it best of all since it's such an unexpected gem and it's a nice place for a conversation -- the great food is just a bonus. (I love the little coffee shop across the street too.)
POP! A Neighborhood Restaurant 2859 Johnson St. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418 612.788.0455Next up, Cosetta's Italian Market & Pizzeria located in downtown St. Paul a short walk from the Science Museum and not far from the Excel Energy Center. They have a really impressive selection of salads, pastas with a fabulous sauce, and pizzas. The prices are good and the deli style ordering ensures a quick service for the famished. It's what casual dining should look like in my opinion. When you are done eating they have a great little specialty market where you can pick up some great deli items like specialty sausages or fresh mozzarella cheeses. I love their red sauces on the lasagna. If you haven't been there do yourself a favor and go there next time you are near downtown St. Paul.
Cossetta's Italian Market & Pizzeria 211 7TH St W St Paul, MN 55102-2520 View Map (651) 222-3476Last up, the hamburger chain Red Robin. When I went to D.C. this co-worker of mine (you know who you are) kept talking about her love of and desire for "greasy hamburgers". When I got home I had to have one myself. So I thought, "Hey what about this new place I keep driving past, Red Robin? It seems like a nice place." So I went there. The hamburger tasted fine, the service was really good, and the fries were very bland. Perhaps it was the portion size, I really don't know, all I know for sure is that I thought about looking for the Syrup of Ipecac when I got home. I felt bloated and greasy and I dreamed of relief. I'm not saying don't go there, I'm just saying it's not high on my list of places to go. You might like it for all I know. If you want a great burger I think Gordy's Hi Hat is the best place to go.
