101 in 1001 #89: Try five new Twin Cities restaurants!

Confession: I am a foodie. 

I mean, duh, anyone who follows me on Instagram or has met me even a handful of times knows that. I eat at Spoon and Stable more than most 28-year-olds eat at Taco Bell. I'm growing more and more adventurous and proficient in the kitchen, but dining out and well has always been my first love. 

I do, however, get in the habit of going to the same few places over and over again. Current faves: Spoon, duh (always and forever, and yes it's so pretentious that I just called it Spoon)...Cafe Lurcat, right across the park from my apartment...Saint Genevieve for champagne and delish snackies...and of course Meritage and the St Paul Grill across the river in St Paul. So I made it a goal to branch out as part of my 101 in 1001, and I've hammered this one out in record time. 

1. Revival St Paul

My coworker AJ and I headed here for a spontaneous lunch outing one day when he was taking a half day. I had the sweet tea to drink, and he had the bourbon sweet tea...I was very jealous that he didn't have to go back to the office :) 

Revival is famous for having the best fried chicken currently available in Minnesota, but also for a damn good burger, so we did what all the cool kids do and got both, to split...plus some cornbread and a side of pimento mac and cheese: 

Verdict: There is no overhyping in the Cities when it comes to Revival. Both the burger and the chicken were high up in the pantheon of MSP GOAT, at least in my book. I left totally satisfied and spent the rest of that afternoon in a finger-licking food coma at my desk, fantasizing about fried things and the crispy, perfect top of that mac and cheese. 

2. Young Joni

Dick and Jodester beat me to Young Joni, the newest offering by Pizzeria Lola's wonder woman Ann Kim (nominated for a James Beard award, woo!). Young Joni, in Northeast just around the corner from Dangerous Man, offers her famous woodfired pizzas, but also expands into Korean-influenced riffs on other favorites. 

We ordered the "La Parisienne" pizza (prosciutto, gruyere, ricotta, brown butter, caramelized onions, and arugula), and it was revelatory. As was the shishito-pepper-laden cauliflower with golden raisins, though we weren't as wild about the Sweet and Spicy Pork Spare Ribs. The cocktail list was craft/artisan-level good, which is rapidly becoming de rigeur around the Cities, but my personal fave: 

The "Church Basement Bar Platter" for dessert. SO MINNESOTAN. Tiny morsels of Brownie, mini chocolate chip cookies, and dark chocolate-coated Special K bars, all served with a tiny carafe of ice-cold milk. Such a novel presentation and exactly what I love about creative dining in the TC. 

3. The Lexington

The Lexington, affectionately known by locals as "the Lex," has a storied history in St. Paul but has been closed for years due to a never-ending renovation and endless disputes with the city. It reopened this February, restored to its former glory, and it's just lovely.

I grabbed a spot in the bar on a frigid late-February day with Dick and Jodester, marveling at the gorgeous wainscoting, beamed ceilings, roaring fire and gorgeous vintage white baby grand piano. 

We got to enjoy the view through rose-colored (and blue, and green, and lavender, and yellow!) glass...the famous stained glass windows are original. 

Dad enjoyed a Vesper, Mom a "Minnesota Collins." 

I hollered back to my London days with the prettiest take on a Pimm's cup...

...and of course a little bubbly, because that's my jam and why not pop bottles on a Tuesday at happy hour? We also enjoyed their fried chicken sliders and garlic parsley fries (seriously such a good snacky dinner).

4. Mercury Dining Room and Rail

We hit up Mercury before my dad and I went to our Whiskey on Ice event, so I was coming out of the dark, terrible throes of the flu (plague). As such, I was not at my dining-out best, and barely touched my food, and skipped a drink altogether (also, duh, we were going to go drink copious amounts of whiskey). That said, the atmosphere is a huge improvement over former tenant Brasserie Zentral...

...and the quarter of the avocado and smoked-tomato relish grilled cheese I choked down was delicious (and made great leftovers once my stomach was back up to actual food)! I really ought to go back and retry this one when I'm feeling less like microwaved death.

5. Bellecour

BELLECOUR! Oh Bellecour. The new restaurant by my favorite person, Gavin Kaysen of Spoon and Stable, resides in the old Blue Point space in charming downtown Wayzata. Just like big sis S&S, it's nearly impossible to score a reservation, but Jodester did on the day the restaurant officially opened, and we headed there last weekend for our inaugural trip.

Much like Spoon, it is immediately apparent just how much thought and intention went into designing the more classic-French Bellecour. It's absolutely lovely, from their enticing pastry window and bakery...

...to the cozy bar, walls of wine, gleaming kitchen, and this mural, which I am utterly obsessed with, in their light-flooded Garden Room (where we dined). The feeling is so different from Spoon, but the same level of attention to detail ensures that the experience, once again, leaves visitors spellbound. 

We started with the most gorgeous Cremant de Loire, a Champagne-adjacent wine region in France, and also enjoyed a fantastic, very mineral Sancerre with our entrees. Adding to the fun of the night: I had made the acquaintance of sommelier Nicolas Giraud at Spoon and Stable on New Year's Eve, when we chatted in French for about 10 minutes about the dinner's wine pairings and his background. He remembered me, and came up to our table launching straight into French, for another quick chat about Bellecour, the wine, and the adventure of running two restaurants with exquisite wine offerings. I was on cloud nine, and it wasn't just the cremant!

On to food! We started with oeufs mimosa, a Belgian endive salad (front), and a fabulously savory salade frisée (right) with quail egg and sherry vinaigrette. All fantastic, and so carefully executed and plated that it took the entire experience to a visually delicious level as well. 

Dad ordered steak frites, with a beautiful filet and fantastic fries. Mom ordered short rib, served with a sauce au poivre and the teensiest mushroom duxelles...fall-off-the-bone tender and so savory. My duck a l'orange, meanwhile, was flawless...and I'm very picky about duck. Just LOOK at that!

We wrapped up with two desserts...a honey-and-cream vacherin and a Paris-Brest interpretation of a profiterole...and a chat with the hostess and Gavin himself, who came over and graciously indulged our gushing for nearly ten minutes. We're total groupies, and I feel no shame...my dad, in particular, is obsessed. A quick shout-out to Gavin - he is truly the warmest, most personable restaurateur I've ever encountered, and his pride in his establishments, staff, service and cuisine is palpable. It makes dining at his places an absolute delight, and completely guarantees I will be a lifelong Kaysen loyalist. 

Can't wait to see what he does next...and what the next big things in the Twin Cities culinary scene will be! 

For more 101 in 1001, head here. And if anyone wants to HH at Bellecour, pound through some fried chicken at Revival, chill at the Lex, or go on new adventures...hit me up, yo!

the Twin Cities Arts Roundup - Winter 2017

Wow, I completely skipped a winter arts roundup, and it’s probably about time I hop back on that bandwagon…this has been a crazy winter and spring of hitting up my favorite places and trying out a few new ones for the best of the Twin Cities arts scene!

Guthrie Theater

- My little Open Call crew saw “The Lion In Winter” in early December – a witty and sarcastic Goldman play famously turned into a 1968 film starring Peter O’Toole and Katharine Hepburn. Covering the end of the reign of Henry II, it centers around his desire to pass his kingdom down intact to one of his three sons, and his estranged wife Eleanor of Aquitaine’s machinations to ensure her favorite wins the day. We loved it...I particularly enjoyed Laila Robbins as Eleanor.

- We were supposed to see “King Lear” in mid-February, but due to our group’s crazy schedules we ended up pushing to March 7. I studied Lear in college and have always had a soft spot for this, arguably the darkest of Shakespeare’s tragedies. Our crew was not impressed in general, not being as Shakespeare-obsessed as I am, but I loved it and thought the production was incredible…especially Stephen Yoakam as Lear (I wish I would have seen it again just to see the double-cast Nathaniel Fuller!).

- A scant three days later we were back at the Guthrie for “The Royal Family,” a Kaufman and Ferber play loosely based on the Barrymore acting dynasty. Several of us brought new friends with us for the evening, so our usual group of five swelled to eight or nine! I found “The Royal Family” to be such a fun, refreshing romp after the darkness of “Lear,” and my group really enjoyed it as well.

Minnesota Orchestra

- My family has an annual tradition of seeing a show the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and this year it was “Ratatouille in Concert!” I had never seen this particular Disney-Pixar show, and really enjoyed it…enhanced, of course, with the divine Sarah Hicks conducting and with the Orchestra’s usual flair.

- We also saw “Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone” in concert at the Convention Center! This is apparently going to be an eight-year undertaking for orchestras across the country – a new film will be made available in the accompaniment-ready format each year. I had SUCH an amazing time…I think “Harry Potter” has one of the best scores in modern cinema for sheer catchiness and I have zero shame in admitting that.

- Michael and I spent New Year’s Eve (at least the first part!) at Orchestra Hall for their annual gala. While I loved the discovery of Puts’s “Millennium Canons” and really enjoyed Rachmaninoff’s Symphony no.2, I could have done without Dawn Upshaw’s Great American Songbook. Oops.

- Jodester and I immediately purchased tickets to the vaunted Sir Neville Marriner performance last summer, and I was dismayed by his passing last fall at the age of 93. The Orchestra turned his planned appearance into a beautiful and touching tribute concert, highlighting his experience with the MN Orchestra musicians and performing a few of his favorite pieces. A fitting tribute to a giant of the classical music world!

- Hal and I took up Open Call on a free-tickets offer to Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony in February, and I had the worst seats I’ve ever had at Orchestra Hall…eep! That said, Hugh Wolff conducting the symphony with no break and no SCORE blew my mind – such a great roommate date.

- Jodes and I found ourselves at Orchestra Hall last weekend for an Elgar and Schubert program conducted by Osmo Vanska, who is one of my all-time favorite people in the state of Minnesota. The program was unbelievable – the Elgar utterly blew me away – and watching how athletically he conducted it made me inordinately happy.

Minnesota Opera

- Michael and I saw “Diana’s Garden,” a delightful Mozart-era work that’s been essentially unperformed for years, in January. Focused on Greek mythology and featuring the most charming costuming and an absolutely sick soprano aria in the first act, it was the perfect light, fun thing to get through a dreary sub-zero Minnesota winter.

- In March, the Minnesota Opera world-premiered a new work, “Dinner at Eight,” based on another Kaufman and Ferber gem. I saw it with my new friend and fellow Notre Dame grad Nicholas, who is a talented collaborative pianist and opera lover. We both really enjoyed it – though it wasn’t my favorite work I’ve seen at the Opera, there was some truly beautiful and interesting music in there, and the juxtaposition of humor and poignancy was very well done.

- Last Saturday, Michael and I headed to the Metropolitan Ballroom for Cabaret 2017, an event put on by the members of the Opera’s Resident Artist Program annually. The 40s-themed evening featured a variety show-style revue featuring the dozen young artists, and we had a ball watching the performance and then dancing (and drinking!) our faces off afterward with the cast!

Others

- Kels and I saw “The Bodyguard,” the Whitney Houston musical based on the movie of the same name, in January – while it won’t win any awards for plot, the music was KILLER. My particular favorite: joining the whole audience in rocking out to “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” at the end of the curtain call, of course!

- Hannah and I scored amazing tickets to The Lumineers at the Target Center thanks to my amazing sister Em. I’ve loved the Lumineers as long as they’ve been played on the radio, and their live show was right up there with everything I’ve seen and loved of them so far. I especially enjoyed the fact that they opened with “Submarines” straight off taking the stage to Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain.” Win.

- Dick, Jodes and I took in Theater Latte Da’s “Peter and the Starcatcher” in mid-February, mostly because Tyler Michaels was playing Peter/Boy and I will see anything and everything that he appears in. I really liked it, but I think other things Latte Da has done have been better – notably “Sweeney Todd” and “C.”

WHEE what a marathon it’s been lately! No signs of slowing down either – I’ve still got a half-dozen events in the next month to look forward to. Can’t wait for more amazing performances in the near future!

101 in 1001 #65: Learn calligraphy!

I have a new hobby!!!!! Last night after nearly two months of anticipation, I took my first calligraphy class by Hooked Calligraphy through LAB Minneapolis, and it was an utter dream. 

Rewind: I've always had excellent cursive handwriting, and have always enjoyed that little nerd skill. See holiday to-do list, below, for example: 

I have ALSO, however, always had an absurdly intense desire to learn calligraphy. Fans of EL Konigsburg (one of my favorite children's book authors) may remember "The View From Saturday," a book about a quiz bowl team in which calligraphy plays a major role. No? Just me? Nbd. Throw on top of that the fact that my brilliantly gifted younger sister Em is a graphic designer and has a true artistic gift for lettering in all its forms, and you have one envious sister. See her work below, for example: 

HI RIGHT? So I signed up for the Lab class as soon as I decided to make calligraphy a goal on my 101 in 1001. Last night found me strolling across a drizzly, gray Loring Park (getting chased by a territorial goose in the process) to the Loring Corners building. 

My calligraphy companions and I wound our way through a labyrinthine warehouse/office space until we came to this most Instagrammable of setups for our evening class: 

I'm such an aesthete. Why not take the extra bit of bother to make something beautiful? The prettiness of the event set it up to be a truly fun and lovely evening. Major props to the team at LAB for ensuring the night was off to a gorgeous start! 

Our instructor for the night, the crazy-talented Clair of Hooked Calligraphy, walked us through the intricacies of the calligraphy pen and then threw us right in by telling us to dip our pens in our ink and try writing our names. Needless to say, I was NOT a natural. 

After hilarity ensued all around, and once I'd blotted the ink off my hands, sleeves, and the table (fail), we started with the basics...the downward stroke, the downward/upward combo, and then drawing "O"s. The tip of a calligraphy pen splits based on how much pressure the writer applies, and that drives the thickness of the line...thick lines and pressure for downward strokes, and the most feather-soft drag upward for thin upstrokes. It is HARD. 

That said, I was so pleasantly surprised by how fast I started to get the hang of it. Not saying that I instantly became a Martha Stewart-worthy calligrapher, by any means, but as soon as I got accustomed to the different grip and handfeel of the pen, and the excruciating slowness and attention to detail it required, I started improving. 

While we practiced, Clair passed around amazing samples of her work, on everything from wedding invitations and envelopes to postcards and gift tags. My favorite? She scanned her handwriting into her computer, and used it to make lasercut wood "place cards" for a wedding...they were spectacular and looked so impressive. 

By the end of class, I was utterly hooked...exactly the goal of a company called Hooked Calligraphy, duh! I can already tell that this is going to be a dangerous (and expensive) new hobby. It's perfect though...the careful intention behind the art, and the way it forces the writer to be slow and focused, is exactly what I need to unwind. 

Before you know it, I'll be hitting Emily levels of skill and artistry...HA! 

If you're into any kind of artistic endeavor in the Twin Cities, I can't recommend LAB highly enough...find them here. I'd also suggest you follow them (and Clair!) on Instagram for some major prettiness in your feed on the daily. Otherwise, check out the rest of my second 101 in 1001 here...and come along for the fun next time! 

101 in 1001: A few big work developments!

I’m really excited to be absolutely pounding through my second 101 in 1001 so far…after kicking it off less than two months ago, I’ve already checked off (or made plans to check off!) several items on the list. As many of those are professional at present, it’s an added bonus.

First, and most exciting, I’ve been invited to represent my employer on the 2017 Greater Twin Cities United Way Campaign Cabinet, checking off #52, “Get more involved in the United Way!” Joining just 40 other professionals in the Twin Cities area, the invitation is an absolute honor and will enable me to not only bring greater visibility to my employer’s campaign, but to shape and impact the campaigns of some of the Twin Cities’ biggest and most dynamic companies. The networking opportunities are killer, the mission is inspiring, and I can’t wait to be a part of the United Way’s next season.

Second, in February and March I checked off #41, “Plan an event for my board.” As I’ve mentioned in the past, I hold a position as a boardmember for the Saint Paul Public Schools’ finance curriculum, and it’s been a total adventure over the last year. I’ve learned so much about successful administration and partnering with the community – experiences I count myself very lucky to be having this early in my career. In February, we hosted 150+ high schoolers at my office for “Career Day,” with over 30 volunteers from my company running sessions on interview skills, resume reviews, and professional networking. The day was an absolute riot – I don’t think I stopped moving for the entire 6-hour event – and we got amazing feedback from students, volunteers and SPPS administrators on the day.

Then, in March, we welcomed 120+ sophomores to the office for “Branding Yourself Day,” a series of sessions on how to build a personal brand and ensure that these students have the skills and self-awareness to present themselves well. I ended up teaching several of the 45-minute sessions, covering everything from how to shake hands and dress properly to what makes brands successful in the millennial age. The day culminated with a 1.5-hour etiquette lunch taught by a professional etiquette coach…everything from how to eat to converse to generally succeed at a business luncheon. I had such a great time, and again, the feedback from the day was fantastic.

When days at the office get dull or I get dissatisfied with life, it’s always nice to know I have these relationships and experiences tucked in my back pocket. Serving the communities I live and work in, and representing my company positively in the Cities, doing what I love…does it get better? I’m incredibly grateful to the Greater Twin Cities United Way and to Saint Paul Public Schools for trusting me with these platforms, and can’t wait to continue growing in my civic and philanthropic engagement, whatever the next steps on that path may be!

101 in 1001 #79: Try a bourbon/whiskey tasting.

I've come to a realization lately that I am one of the (un?)lucky people of the world who is an alcohol equal opportunist. You name it, I like it...well, with the exception of Stoli Razz (hi, junior year. WOOF.). That said, I hold a special place in my heart for champagne, and, less typical for a girl, for whiskey. 

Maybe it goes back to my younger years, when my dad would make Manhattans after work and let me eat the bourbon-soaked cherries after he finished. Maybe it's the complexity and depth of a truly good whiskey. Maybe I'm just a masochist and enjoy the burn. But whether it's in a craft cocktail or on the rocks, I've really come to enjoy whiskey in most of its forms. 

Like I mentioned, I think I got it from my Papa Bear, so when his birthday rolled around last October and I found myself looking for the perfect gift, something whiskey-related came to mind. I almost bought him fancy whiskey stones, until I found out that he was already receiving a set from yiddle brudder Jonny. Then I started Googling whiskey classes in the Twin Cities, and found out that one of the Midwest's largest whiskey tastings, Whiskey On Ice, was held in the Twin Cities every April. Before I knew it, I had purchased two passes, printed them off in a cute whiskey-themed card courtesy of PaperSource, and was good to go. 

Fast forward to Sunday of last weekend. I was four days into the most brutal virus I've ever had as an adult...basically, if I wasn't puking I was asleep.  And Whiskey on Ice was looming. 

What's a girl to do? Follow the patented Papa Bear Method For Getting Over Illness: Flush that sh*t out of your system by going about your normal routine, daily Manhattan and all. Thank god for Jodester and her convenient purse pack of Tums! Long story short, I rallied like a true champion, and 5pm saw Daddy and me rolling into the Minneapolis Depot. 

You guys. SO worth it. 

We showed up and got checked in before heading into the Depot's events space, which was lined all the way up and down and in the middle with booths of tasting - over 60 all said and done. There were also several different food tables and water stations, a silent auction, a cigar bar and cocktail lounge, and a VIP seating area. Padre and I started in the middle, where the local whiskeys seemed to be concentrated. 

Well, for the most part. Our first taste was a searing 120-proof Aberlour A'Bunadh that left both of us with eyes watering (and left no doubt in my mind that this was going to kill the last of my flu bug). We worked our way down the line, trying a variety of whiskeys from Wisconsin and Minnesota with mixed results. 

What I did appreciate about the local distillers was their pride in their product, and just how many of them were relatively new to the game. I feel like local breweries were a huge thing about five years ago, and now they're totally established. Now it's shifting to being all about the distillery, and I'm so intrigued to see where the scene goes in the next several years. 

Having tasted plenty of local blends, we shifted our attention to the big leagues...

I fell in love with Balvenie pretty fast...we tasted the 12-year Doublewood, and then the rep offered us the "VIP" 25-year aged single-barrel tasting. HOLY omg, it was incomparable. Other notables from the day: Woodford Reserve's double-oaked, Macallan 18 and Rare Cask, and Teeling - which is apparently right around the corner from the Guinness factory in Dublin. Mom and Dad will have to make a stop in May! (The Teeling rep made us mini Manhattans and won my heart forever.) 

Speaking of Irish whiskeys, we found and fell for Green Spot on the recommendation of an attendee who was a self professed Irish snob. It was just the right amount of smoky for me with very little of the hardcore, peaty flavor that I don't love. Highly recommend. 

We also really loved our stop at my dad's home planet, the Crown Royal table...he bonded with the rep in no time over their mutual detestation of Crown Maple, and we liked the Reserve we tasted. It's no XR, but it'd do for a weekday, essentially. (I KID I KID.) Not going to lie - the biggest takeaway from the day for me was that I prefer bourbon to anything else on offer, and tend to like less peaty, mildly smoky flavors. Just like Papa Bear. 

Other favorite part of the day: checking out all the packaging, duh! Emily has totally rubbed off on our entire family...when we were in wine country over Christmas, we spent so much time checking out labels and branding, and Dad and I did the same thing all day on Sunday. A few of my favorites above from a Chicago brand we really liked...so many cool and different approaches!

By the time we left, I had a fantastic buzz going, and a newfound appreciation for the sheer variety and complexity of the world of whiskey. We cemented a few old favorites and found some new ones to check out...all in all, a win of a day and a great time with my Papa Bear!