I was invited into venturing out on a chilly snowy evening in Minneapolis for some food and fun and an establishment I had yet to check out. Good thing I didn’t flake out like I’ve been know to as Haute Dish proved worthy of Minneapolis’s new place to be seen and eat REALLY good food. I was pleasantly welcomed as I walked through the door and was told a 20 minute wait, no big deal as I’m use to waiting 2 hours at Bar La Grassa! I sipped on a Minnesota Mule which consisted of Minnesota Organic Vodka, fresh lime juice and Ginger beer to top it off. Interesting and powerful, I was now warmed up for some great Minneapolis food which I had so much about.
Ok, dinner was AMAZING! I sampled the tator tot hotdish, the tuna casserole and the steak and eggs. All were delicious and served with proper timing. We had room enough for some carrot cake which I highly recommend. Ok, quit reading this and go sample what I did at HauteDish and then email me a tip. Heck, I even the ran into the singer of local band favorites SWAG enjoying some fine cuisine! CHEERS ~ Ben
I cant believe it took me so long to discover one of the true gems of Minneapolis - Brasa! - Wow, what a great restaurant. Say what you will but any establishment that uses high quality meats from local farms, local organic produce, and has garage doors that enter into the restaurant much like my first loft is A-List in my book.
One cant miss Brasa with its bright yellow decor and great location on Hennepin in Northeast Minneapolis (and now Grand Ave - St Paul). Expect somewhat of a wait if you go there due to the quaintness of the establishment and beleive me its worth the wait! I tried the pulled chicken sandwich with yams and sausage for my side. Perfect perfect perfect! The sandwich came with the Brasa hot sauce on the side which made the meal even more enjoyable (hotter the better right?!) The side of yams was perfect and add in the sausage for spice and you have a perfect meal…almost. Add a glass of the red sangria, though a little pricy at $7, it sure hit the spot on a hot summer evening and to finish off the meal.
Go there and let me know what you order and enjoy. I had a hard time deciding what I wanted which means Brasa will get to know me quite well this coming year!
One of the places in Downtown Minneapolis you will find me on a consistent basis is at Corepower Yoga Minneapolis studio. I must admit I ditched the Lifetime Fitness membership and opted for the $89.00 a month unlimited yoga. Ok, if you have never done this before you have no idea what you are missing! Its a heck of a workout both mentally and physically. If you dont believe me on the physical nature of yoga, try the Yoga Sculpt class on Saturday mornings at 10:00 am with Jamie. You will end up leaving a comment on this blog on how many times you had to take a break! Its demanding yet soft at the same time. Doing some downdogs, eagle pose, and core exercises for an hour gets the body flowing and detoxifies in a way only yoga can. I live and love this studio and all the teachers whom have impacted my life, including Jamie N, Jamie M, Andy G, Jen D, Emily, and Joel. Any of these instructors will teach one more about life as well a great yoga workout. Trust me, check it for yourself and leave a comment. Namaste
Ok, I must admit this is one of my favorite all around places to go for a quick bite to eat or to watch a game. Any place that serves tator tots with wasabi mayo, sriracha mayo, or garlic aioli is gonna rank near the top of my list. Throw in a little fennel herb dusted to the equation on the tots and you make the A-list…hands down!
I proceeded to try one of the famous kobe beef burgers which was done perfectly to my liking - medium rare complete with sriracha, pepperjack cheese, pickles, and a hint of garlic. Yummmm, the Rooster burger is the bomb!!! To top it off, try a cupcake baked in house for 3.00 that will make you come back again the next evening. Believe me, it happened to me!
The beer menu is also fantastic and tried the Surly Furious on tap - Cant beat the local brewery!! All in all, I recommend the Bulldog and just wish they had one in the North Loop!!!
