Tizzing the Season?

It's impossible to avoid, the holidays are coming. If you don't want to face them, I support you and you can stop reading. If you want to embark on holiday shopping like you never have, read on...
The Twin Cities is home to many creative souls. Souls that create by hand their vision, their love, their craft and for many their livelihood. A few are lucky enough to sell their wares at local stores, and I am thankful for those retailers that support our local talent. Such as: Cliche, Design Collective, Gallery 360, Picky Girl, 1326 Grand Ave, St Paul, Corazon, StyledLife.
However, most local artists have few opportunities for exposure. A passion of mine is buying a piece direct from the hands that made it. I enjoy the intimate exchange of meeting the creator and hearing the story behind their goods. Giving a gift of this kind to me is the ultimate. It's often one-of-a-kind, obvious in it's handmade detailing, lacks a commercial identity which gives an organic personal touch to the giving. And hopefully the gift gets the reaction "where did you ever find this?" - which can be rewarding to a giver because your covert work has been validated.
So if I have converted you to give a little differently this year, here is where to find these soulful gifts:
For the high-end woman on your list, a social + shopping option for you which also benefits Women Venture. Maiden Minnesota, Wed, Nov, 7th 5-9pm @ Chambers Hotel Burnet Gallery, 901 Hennepin Ave, Mpls 612-767-6900.
For the reader, writer & paper lover - MN Center for Book Arts, 6th Annual Book Arts Festival and Sale. Sat, Nov 10th, 10am-5pm, Sun Nov 11th, 12-5pm. 1011 Washington Ave S, 612-215-2520.
For a whole-lotta options in jewelry, adult & kids clothing, calendars, knitware, toys, pottery, posters, prints, card sets and yet even more, make time for: No Coast Craft-O-Rama, Fri, Nov. 30th, 3-8 pm, Sat, Dec. 1st, 9am-5pm. @ Midtown Global Market, Lake St & Chicago Avenue, Mpls.
Even if just one item is checked off your list, it's a wonderful life.

Corner Table in The News

Corner Table Restaurant Leads the Way With Organics Recycling

(Minneapolis, October 24th, 2007) – As a way to reduce the amount of trash delivered to landfills and lower costs, Corner Table has implemented Hennepin County’s Organics Recycling Program.

While Corner Table has always recycled, the Organics Recycling Program provides an opportunity to greatly reduce the amount of garbage generated and save money on the trash bill. And the program has delivered – the restaurant has cut the amount of trash generated by 95 percent while reducing their trash bill by nearly 50 percent. “Hennepin County has made the program easy to implement and it’s worked even better than we expected,” says Scott Pampuch, chef/owner,

To begin the program, a representative from Hennepin County Environmental Services paid a visit to Corner Table to do an assessment and help get them started. The restaurant now has four recycling/compost bins (for bottles, cans, paper and food waste) and recycles or composts 95 percent of all waste. The remaining five percent includes plastic wrap, and the restaurant has plans switch to recyclable wrap when it becomes available. All wine corks and bottle caps are donated to local art programs, and small plastic grocery bags are given to neighbors for pet waste. The restaurant also uses biodegradable garbage bags made from corn to further reduce waste.

Prior to adopting the program, about 85 percent of the restaurant’s waste (enough to fill a two-yard container each week) went to a landfill or incinerator. With the program in place, the restaurant doesn’t even fill the standard trash bin used by a typical household each week. “Our customers are very interested in reducing waste and making positive environmental change, and they’ve given us a lot of positive feedback,” notes Pampuch. “This program really fits with our philosophy at Corner Table.”

In addition to positive public response, Corner Table is seeing tangible cost savings as well. The initial set-up cost for bins, stickers and biodegradable bags was quickly recouped. “We were able to eliminate our contract with the trash hauler, which is a significant savings, source biodegradable bags, and reorganize how we sort our waste, that was it.” adds Pampuch.

Being at the cutting edge of recycling has paid off for Corner Table. “It’s the right thing to do, our customers appreciate it, it’s easy and it’s saving us money. What’s not to like?” says Pampuch.

To learn more about the Organics Recycling Program for businesses in Hennepin County, contact John Jaimez at Hennepin County Environmental Services at 612-348-5893. Corner Table is an independently owned restaurant located at 4257 Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis.

La vida local - Living the local life

helping preserve the environment, and strengthening our community by investing dollars close to home. How do you do this? Take 2 minutes and listen to Scott Pampuch, a local chef who owns and runs Corner Table, 4257 Nicollet Ave, 612-823-0011. It is one of my favorite restaurants in the Twin Cities. The food is high-quality, intelligent, and yet approachable, and the warm and personable staff is such a complement to Scott's thoughtful fare. Scott mentions small steps we can take to make an impact in our food buying choices, and the importance of sustainability.

In addition to Scott and his restaurant living local, they are also living green. I was informed and educated while dining there last night by a passionate server, Debra. She listed off the detailed efforts involved in Corner Table going green, as well as being the first restaurant in Hennepin County to do so! So what are they doing that other restaurants aren't? All their food and soiled paper waste is picked up by Randy's Hauler and composted. Everything is recycled - down to wine corks and caps, which are then picked up and used in local schools for arts and crafts supplies. Diners have leftovers? Corner Table's to-go containers are soybean based. Filtered carbonated water will be coming soon, a local and less expensive option to the bottled and pricey San Pellegrino.

Another way to make local choices when eating is to seek out restaurants, such as Corner Table, that serve food grown, picked, produced and raised locally. Here are a few other restaurant options that serve from the local land: Restaurant Alma, 528 University Ave SE, Mpls - 612-379-4909. Brasa Rotisserie, 600 Hennepin Ave, (Mpls - 612- 379-3030. Muffaletta, 2260 Como Ave, St Paul - 651-644-9116. Lucia's, 1432 W 31st St, Mpls - 612-825-1572. Cafe Brenda, Spoonriver, 750 S 2nd St, Mpls - 436-2236. Grand Cafe, 3804 Grand Ave S, Mpls - 612-822-8260. Birchwood Cafe, 3311 E 25th St, Mpls - 612-722-4474.

So do right by the land and practice la vida local!