Happy Bastille Day!

"On this date, 320 years ago, the French proletariat liberated the Bastille prison from the hated monarchy; then they all went and ate escargot. Or something like that."

If you missed our local celebrations around town on Sunday (Barbette, Brits), you still have options to celebrate in true French-style tonight.

Vincent, A Restaurant offers a Daily Happy Hour from 4:30 - 6:30 with:

Small Plates to Share for $4.00
Selected Champagne Cocktails & Martinis $5.00
All Beer & Selected Glasses of Wine only $3.00
And the Vincent Burger is only $8.00!

Vincent also offers a 3 Course Prix Fixe Dinner Menu for $30, Mon-Thurs from 5:00-9:00 pm.


Who is Vincent? Vincent Francoual was born in Puy-L'Eveque, in the Cahors region of France. He began culinary school in Souillac at the age of fifteen. Four years later, Vincent earned his diploma C.A.P. of Cuisine and C.A.P. in Pastry. Vincent spent a summer working in a French resort town on the Atlantic Ocean where he began his love for seafood preparations.


Today, at Meritage in St Paul, the staff returns from their all-staff 2-week holiday - which ran from the "American independence to the French Resistance". Chef and Owner, Russell Klein's menu is a combination of New American with French influences.


Meritage offers 5, 7 and 9 course tasting meals nightly from $65 - $95. My personal favorite way to experience Meritage is sitting at the sweet, 4-stool bar and enjoying several of Russell's "Amusements":

If you're in the mood for dining "l'extérieur", it's a beautiful setting in St Paul.


Feeling even more Frenchie? Did you know, we have the Alliance Française in Minnesota, which was was started in the 1920s by a small group interested in the language and culture of France. Led by University of Minnesota Professor Jacques Fermand, the group became a member of the Federation of French Alliances, and the AFMSP (Alliance Française de Minneapolis-St. Paul) pays annual dues to them. By the 1950s, the chapter had approximately 100 members. Currently, the AFMSP has approximately 975 members.

Alliance Française offers language classes, free French movie nights for the whole family, a library of books, journals and magazines, as well as social events.

And heck, July 6 - July 12, 2009 is "Minnesota French Heritage week" as declared by Governor Tim Pawlenty at the request of the Alliance Française!



Feeling less Frenchie? Here are Radar's recommendations for dialing it down:

Blue Door Pub, offers a "Frenchie" hamburger - stuffed with Swiss cheese and caramelized onion on a toasted, buttered, super fresh bun and served with a side of au jus.

For the best French Fries in town:

Burger Jones' "Try-Fry Tasting Tower" - hand-cut russet fries, maple-bacon sweet potato fries and parmesan waffle fries

Convention Grill and Fountain, 3912 Sunnyside Rd. Edina, MN

Edina Grill's sweet-potato fries!

Lurcat

The Nook

Or please submit your favorite fries!

Get out and be "Frenchy" today, if not in what you eat, then in what you wear - put a scarf around your neck or a beret atop your head!

Célébrer!

St Paul gets Brasa and Joe Mauer, not fair.

What's a LB of 12 hour slow roast pulled pork, 1/4 LB pulled marinated chicken, cabbage salad w/fresh cilantro, corn bread w/ honey butter, Joe, the host with the most, two glasses of House Red and Alex Roberts, the nicest, nicest chef in town all add up to? A great first night for Tim and me at the new Brasa St Paul.



Alex is calling this east-side sister, an "American Diner", hours extend from lunch all the way til close allowing passer-byers, families, friends to stop in, hang, read the paper and meet up for some cornbread, plantains or grits throughout the afternoon.



I fell in love with the largest round restaurant table in town, seats 12-14 with a lazy-susan that could seat four! Alex offers this table the standard menu items or a special menus depending on guest preference and time of reservation - like presenting an "entire pork leg or shoulder" that then is pulled back in the kitchen.


Brasa is fresh, out of the world tasty, reasonable, local, premium food with a premium at the helm. One who is welcoming his guests to come in, hang out "diner-style". I am envious of St Paul, especially the Grand Ave residents, have all that just steps from their door.

Hate Love?

Dreading tomorrow and all that lovey-dovey stuff? Let your loathe go at one of these events:

Midtown Global Market's - Shred The Love.

First Avenues Valentine Day's Massacre


Maybe you'll love this, Black Forest Inn has beer flavored chocolate.

Bryant Lake Bowl Theater's drop dead funny show, "Adventures In Mating".

St Paul's, James J. Hill House, Victorian Poetry Slam. Although nothing to hate about this historic beauty.

Here's to a hateful holiday!

2009, and, we're off...

Events so far on my calendar for the new year:

January 17th - February 14th
Art Shanty on Medicine Lake - this icy adventure pushes the limits of art and environment.

Saturday, January 24th
Bunny Clogs Family Music Show at The Cedar - Local music man Adam Leavy's dip into a children's music project. It's sure to be an urban, creative good time.

Sundays, January 18th and 25th, and Sunday, February 8th
Master Works, The MOBA Plays at Bryant Lake Bowl Theater - Yes, there's a museum called The Museum of Bad Art, and local, nationally recognized playwrights and directors create plays based on 6 of these bad pieces. In this case bad=good to me.

Eating more often at The Strip Club in St Paul - the food and service are equal parts superb and stellar.

Strolling through every weekend or so at Soo Visual Arts Center - a dreamy space filled with an abundance of pure creative objects.

Saturday, February 21 - June 21
Tom Arndt's Minnesota at The MIA - Stunning black and white photos from our everyday life in MN from the 70s to today.

Shopping often at either location while taking in the lavish service and phenomenal finds at StyledLife. Retail at it's best.

May
Chan Poling's, "Venus, A Musical" - a sure-to-be hit for another local music talent who's goal is to bring Venus to Broadway after this local run at The Ritz.

Target Free Thursday Nights or Free First Saturdays at The Walker

What do you have planned?

So this is Spring?

Not sure what we did to deserve this volatile season, especially with the winter we suffered through. But it's time to beat it and get out.

Check out what you can rent at Lake Calhoun .

National Geographic's, Walks of a Lifetime Podcasts. Head down to the river near the Guthrie and let the the soothing voice of travel expert Rudy Maxa guide you through a tour of the Twin Cities.

Treat yourself after you take in or ever pronounce the "Sesquicentennial" 150th celebration of MN, with a local St Paul fave, Grand Ole Creamery.

It's an ideal time to buy local, Farmers' Markets are everywhere, find one.

And for those into Fleas, here are those Markets too.

More outdoor adventures to come. This so-called Spring owes us a few more days to feel confident it's here to stay...

Super Tuesdays, hold the politics

Tired of the candidates? Here's other topics to take in on Tuesdays:

Triple Rock Social Club, The Weekly Triple Double, 2-4-1's and no cover.

Half-price Wine:
Amore Victoria
Birchwood Cafe
Downtowner Woodfire Grill
Duplex
Highland Grill
La Bodega Restaurant and Lounge: 3005 Lyndale Ave S, 612-823-2661
La Cucaracha, 36 Dale St S, 651-221-9682

Metro Magazine's Twin Cities Supper Club, One Tuesday a month $35 equals 2 drinks, appetizers, several family-style entrees, networking and conversation with other locals all while exploring some of the cities best restaurant options.

Mpls St Paul Magazine E-Newsletter - Get your beauty tips, fashion trends, and the latest must-have products every Tuesday.

These get my vote.

Restaurant Week is here, restaurant week is here!

Really people, this is a great way to take in the tastes of our towns. Participating restaurants generously provide lunch fares that include two courses and is either $10 or $20, and dinner that includes three courses and is either $15 or $30.

Details here: Mpls/St Paul Magazine Restaurant Week

Need help with the list? Here's where I plan to partake:

Upscale experience:
D'Amico Cucina, my second favorite lounge in the Mpls, and that's where I choose to chow. If you go on the weekend, a little jazz trio plays! I get hearty just thinking about it! This is the spot for elegant Italian.
La Belle Vie and this special menu is offered in the lounge-only, even better, it's the best in Mpls bar-none. The menu is creative and adventurous, challenge yourself, please.
Vincent A Restuarant, an elegant, open, airy dining room. Skip Chipotle, this is a lovely and bright spot for lunch. And for $10, you would spend that on your football burrito anyway!

Casual choices:
Town Talk Diner, love this joint! Offering brunch and lunch this week. For a creative, posh, state-fair style adventure.
Red Stag Supper Club, the first LEED-certified restaurant, so consciously cool! So there's two reasons to go. When else will you have lobster egg salad this week, let alone, this year?
Herkimer Pub and Brewery, the one offering beverages to their Restaurant Week menu. Hey the Herk knows some of us are more thirsty than hungry. Oh, and mini burgers AND mini fries! All I can say is, cute!

Another dining out perk to offer you - Open Table, it's a national online reservation site that I use whenever I can. Why? You receive points each time you reserve and dine, those points add up and can be used at participating restaurants. Here's the link for reservations specifically for Mpls/St Paul Restaurant Week.

Go eat.

Things I love this Valentine's Day

I'm a sentimental, romantic mush. So Valentine's Day is a holiday I love. So cliche I know, which I don't love, but whaddya do...

Here's my list of lusts:

• Skyways - no other city has 'em like we have 'em, they are true angels this time of year aren't they?


• Monte Carlos wings - hands down the best in town. If you've never had them, go get your love-affair started...


• The city lakes - As I walk Lake Harriet, often I share the love with some guy ice fishing while listening to his transistor radio. Opposites really attract.

• Hunt & Gather Antiques for their vast supply of vintage Valentines.


• Our bouquet of diverse talent. A day doesn't seem to pass that I don't meet a local with some sort of creative talent. From a stained-glass aficionado to a secret seamstress.
• The Valentine card that arrived today from my Mom and Dad. It was our first card with the words "daughter and her husband". What I love is knowing how happy it made my Mom to send and seal it with a kiss.
• Our lovely dining options that set the Cupid mood - Grand Cafe, Lucia's, Georgio, Crema Cafe, Heidi's, Cave' Vin. Limited on food, but unlimited on romance, Bev's Wine Bar.
• Those damn conversation hearts.

• MSP International airport. It's the launch pad to escapes and dreamy destinations. And it's the home base when I'm ready for the comforts of home.
• That I will once again be celebrating the day with my husband, the mushiest of the mushes...

So what do you love this Valentine's Day? Whatever it is, celebrate it.

FIrst Date, Last Date.

I'm sad. I found out earlier this week that after 11 years, Cafe 128 in St Paul was closing. Another 11 year run has been my relationship with my fiance, Tim. Our first date was dinner at 128 Cafe back in 1996. We had our last date there Saturday night. Cafe 128 was my first real localvore experience, a chef/family run kitchen, a small intimate setting, a staff that knows you and food that is locally raised and consistently savory. Tim and I have been in love with these types of restaurants ever since. So much so, our long-term goal is to open a restaurant of this type.
Last night, we did our Cafe 128 date right. I brought my camera, and captured walking up to 128 for the last time. A women eating outside took our photo by the door, she mentioned that we were one of many couples and families who were going through the same nostalgic evening. We sat in the same room as our first date. We ordered our favorite starter, our favorite salad, Tim order the full-rack of ribs and I the pork loin. We ordered just to order, we weren't that hungry. It was sentimental dining. I stuck our food, wine and desserts menus in my bag to stare at later, maybe in 11 years? There was a sweet, thank you message on the bottom of the menu from the staff.
We then sat, listened and observed what an intimate restaurant goes through when it comes to an end. We watched as the staff gathered, we chatted with two emotional 8 year-run dishwashers as they ate their last meal and said how much they loved their jobs. And then we heard the chef for the last time call out to his servers, "last call for food".
We were the last ones in the room and wanted to be, this is where we started. 128 gave us our first "taste" together of our passion for local, casually elegant dining. So all we could think to give the staff was a round of applause, and we did...

La Belle Vie - anyone can live it

"The Beautiful Life" is right. La Belle Vie has it so right when it comes to pure dining pleasure. Their food, service and atmosphere is the full package. Yes you pay for it, but there are moments in life when it's darn worth it! However, there is another way to approach this high quality experience at any budget. How? Consider stopping in for a beverage in their handsome lounge - this provides a taste of their superb service in the beautiful 1920's setting. Or for under $20, cozy up in one of the corner booths with a glass of wine and the mini lamb burgers. Just please go and enjoy The Beautiful Life for yourself...