Fast Italian Comfort Food

My fabulous friend Julie introduced me to Buon Giorno many years ago and I am so grateful to her for doing so! This little gem is tucked away off of Highway 13 in Lilydale. It's an Italian market that has a great pasta bar and also offers other Italian favorites such as lasagna, salads, and other goodies. You can also pick up frozen meals, including everything you need to make your own pizza at home. I tend to prefer their frozen lasagnas for occasions when I need to feed a lot of people. They also have quite a variety of cheeses. They even sell the Spicchi candies that the Highland Park Punch Pizza gives everyone at the end of their meal. And, if you don't want to make another stop at the liquor store for some wine, they even sell a few varieties of wine!

I almost always eat from their pasta bar and usually ask for it to go. It's super reasonable at only $9.95 per pasta meal (and the portions are so large I usually split it and it makes a great lunch for work the next day). There are a variety of options to customize as you go through the line. The first thing the chef will ask you is if you want salt, pepper and/or crushed red pepper in addition to garlic, green onion and/or onions. Next, they will ask which three ingredients you prefer. This is where the fun begins! I personally love the combination of chicken, sun-dried tomatoes and zucchini. They also have a variety of other meat options including sausage or meatballs. If you prefer seafood, they offer shrimp and scallops. They have a variety of other vegetables including mushrooms, peppers, olives and tomatoes. After your ingredients begin to cook, they will ask you for your sauce preference. You can choose from red, cream, pesto or any combination. I always choose pesto and cream. From there, you will choose your pasta from bowtie (farfalle), penne, tri-color cavatappi (my personal favorite) or spaghetti. Finally, they will finish off your dish with some grated Parmesan cheese, if you desire. When you check out, they will also ask you if you would like a piece of bread with butter (complimentary to your meal). If you have kids, they offer a kid's version including one ingredient and they are more than willing to make buttered noodles for your child (I believe the price is about $5.95 for the kid's version).

Tri-color cavatappi with chicken, sun-dried tomato, zucchini and pesto cream sauce

Penne pasta with sausage, mushrooms, sun-dried tomato and red sauce

If this isn't enough comfort food for one evening, they also have some delicious desserts. There is always at least one or more cheesecake offerings along with some delicious cookies and of course tiramisu. They typically have a few different cakes to choose from, one of which is usually chocolate.

Tiramisu

Plain cheesecake

I highly recommend bringing a few extra dollar bills so you can tip the chef. However, now they offer tipping at checkout so if you prefer this method, you can do so at the time of paying your bill. There are spots to sit if you prefer to dine there (and they have a nice little patio area for summertime). It's near several bike trails so it could be a great option for refueling during a long bike ride in the summer! They also offer the Belly app so you can earn points and rewards.

This is a great spot for when you would like some variety but don't want to wait a long time or want to be able to come home after a long day at work and enjoy some affordable comfort food. Please be advised they are only open until 8 pm and they are not open on Sundays. They are also linked with I Nonni so if you ever want to enjoy a nicer Italian meal, you can go next door to I Nonni.

Buon Giorno

Gem in the Southern Suburbs

I had the opportunity to dine at Masu Sushi & Robata in Apple Valley three different times in the past few months. Each time, I was met with a friendly greeting, attentive service and delicious food. I really enjoy having a variety of high-quality non-chain restaurants in the suburbs since they can be difficult to find. I really hope the community can support this wonderful restaurant so we are not subject to another failed non-chain restaurant due to lack of interest or not understanding the cuisine.

I absolutely love that they have a bento box option. I have always been a person who enjoys eating a little bit of a lot of different things. Thus, the bento box is a fabulous option - without feeling too gluttonous.

The first time I ordered a bento box I had the vegetable tempura. As I should have known, it was a bit too heavy for lunch time but I ate a small portion of it to satisfy my craving for fried food. Kevin chose to order the shrimp and vegetable tempura this last time so that is what is pictured below.

I began with their miso soup. It's not the best I have had but it was a good filler while waiting for the rest of the food.

Once the bento arrived, it gleamed with tasty options. I began with the spring greens with vinaigrette and was pleasantly surprised by the taste. I could have munched on an entire salad of this. Next, I moved on to the teriyaki covered sticky rice. The teriyaki didn't overpower the rice and it wasn't smothered with it - just enough to give some flavor. The mini spring rolls were fried to perfection and gave just the right amount of crispiness to enjoy three small ones. I was slightly underwhelmed by the zucchini. They were just a bit mushy for my taste and perhaps slightly large to eat all in one bite. The pickled vegetables in the middle of the box were delicious! Even if you think you may not enjoy pickled vegetables - you must try them!

I look forward to going back for dinner at some point so I can try a different portion of their menu. They also offer some fun drink options and a large variety of choices for vegetarians and vegans. Please give this place a try - even if you think you don't like this particular cuisine. Their friendly service and wide variety of menu items encompasses almost any dining companion or picky eater you may have.

Masu Sushi & Robata

Culinary Adventures via Film

Since we canceled cable last year, my husband and I have found plenty of fabulous material to consume our television watching time via Netflix. I have been particularly fond of finding documentaries or series featuring chefs in the past year. Here are some of my favorites:

Spinning Plates
For Grace
Chef's Table
The Mind of a Chef

And if you are a oenophile, here is another you might enjoy:
Somm

Some other fun or interesting food shows:
The Great Food Truck Race
Cooked

Top Questions...

It's always interesting to hear someone's reaction when they hear I write a food blog. Here are some answers to some of the most common questions:

What's your favorite restaurant?
This is a trick question! As I say when working with students and teacher - it depends! It depends on the type of cuisine, my mood, the people with whom I am dining, and so many other factors. However, if I am forced to name my top 5 from the 2014 list, here it is:

Ngon Bistro
Alma
Brasa
Heartland
Pizzeria Lola

How do you decide which places to try? or How did you hear about...?
I began with the 2014 Best 50 Restaurants list from the Mpls. St. Paul Magazine. However, I also follow a few different local culinary blogs/sites such as Heavy Table and Minneapolis Eater.

Do you get paid to do this?
I wish!!! I receive an occasional shout out on Twitter but I am doing this for fun. However, it certainly would be much easier on the budget if I were to be paid. Then again, I might feel a certain obligation to write my review in a particular way so this way there is no bias.

Is there anyplace you have really hated?
No. There are certainly places that have been disappointing but I haven't absolutely hated any one place.

The biggest request...
So where should I go for my next meal out...?
Again, it depends. I now have my list ready on my phone in case I receive a request. And, I am constantly adding to my list as restaurants open, close or change concepts.

Long overdue...

Yes, I tend to have library books long overdue since I am a teacher. However, this time I am long overdue for a post on this blog. I have been feeling frustrated that I haven't had time (or let's be honest - made the time) to keep up with this blog. And, I am frustrated I wasn't able to complete my original goal of trying all 50 top restaurants (according to Mpls St. Paul Magazine) in one year. By nature, I am an "Achiever" according to my StrengthsFinder so admitting defeat is not something that comes easy to me. Thus, I have chosen to shift my focus just slightly for this blog. I will continue to pursue to the top 50 restaurants in the Twin Cities (and of course there have been two new lists published since I originally began this journey - check out the latest one here: 50 Best Restuarants). However, I will also post about other food related adventures, articles and musings. My hope is to continue to write, have fun and enjoy engaging in conversations about the culinary scene in the Twin Cities. We are lucky to have such talent in this area and I look forward to continuing my original journey as well as pursue new culinary adventures!

Uptown Steakhouse

Kevin and I tried Burch Steakhouse and Pizza Bar on a rainy Friday evening. I had been there previously with some friends to try out the pizza bar in the basement. The food at the pizza bar was fabulous but the noise was almost unbearable. This time, we sat upstairs in the steakhouse portion of the restaurant. I had heard great reviews of the restaurant and was eager to try a few dishes.

The Snow crab cakes with spicy mayo and beet slaw were flavorful and well balanced.

We also ordered the Roasted carrots with thyme and chevre. The carrots lacked flavor and were quite limp.

We had heard from several people that we had to order one of their dumpling dishes so we chose the Lobster spaetzle with caraway and mint. It tasted as though the lobster was just added at the end and no other lobster flavor was infused throughout the dish. The caraway and mint didn't seem to add any flavor to the dish, either.

Kevin ordered the Grilled pork tenderloin with cannellini beans, pickled shallots and fried oysters. He enjoyed the dish but didn't think it stood out from any other pork tenderloin dishes he tried at other restaurants.

For my main entree, I chose the Blackened Alaskan halibut with spinach, caramelized onions and lemon. It was flavorful but nothing I would go back for in the future.

We were hoping the desserts would help us overlook the inconsistencies of the previous dishes. We opted for the cream puffs and a lemon tart but unfortunately, neither dish was worth trying again.

I know many people have told me how much they enjoy Burch but I do not think the same after my experience. I did enjoy my previous experience at the pizza bar and would recommend that, but just be prepared to shout at your dinner guests the entire evening!

Burch Steakhouse and Pizza Bar

North Loop Italian Hot Spot

I have been to Bar La Grassa several times in the past few years and I was fortunate to have another great experience back in May. Our experience began with a white bean salad amuse-bouche. Even though I typically don't enjoy the texture of beans, I found this dish to be full of flavor and worth taking more than one bite!

The variety of bruschettas they offer are interesting so we chose the Charred Red Onion with Goat Cheese Bruschetta. It has the sweetness of the charred red onion with the smooth taste of the goat cheese, which blended well together on the bread that had the perfect texture without being too crunchy.

I really enjoy trying a little bit of a lot of different things when dining out so we chose a few items off the menu for our main entrees. However, what I really enjoy is that they offer small portions of their pasta. I appreciate this option because it helps both in controlling portions as well as allowing a table to share a variety of dishes. I have always been fond of the Silk Hankerchiefs with Basil Pesto. The fresh pasta is so much different than a typical pasta dish and worth every calorie!

Kevin chose the Smoked Spaghetti Alla Chitarra with Brown Butter and Lobster. The server told us they smoke the flour they use to make the spaghetti, which gives the smoky flavor and a richness that is so different from the richness you may experience from a sauce. The umami flavor was pronounced without being overwhelming. I recommend this dish for its complexity as well as creativity in preparation.

We added a side dish of Broccolini in Prosciutto Brodo. It was very rich and was a bit too smothered in the brodo, but certainly enjoyable for a few bites.

We couldn't pass up dessert after looking at the menu so I ordered the Salted Caramel Crespelle. The blend of the sweet and salty was the perfect ending to this Italian meal. 

Kevin chose the Gjetost Cheesecake. It was absolutely smooth and divine! The blend of flavors ensured that it wasn't too sweet and was a great ending to a fabulous meal.

The meal was complete after we received two small sweet treats at the end of the meal. They consisted of chocolate and sea salt and were another example of how Bar La Grassa handles service so well and treats everyone as though they are the only guest. I can't wait to go back!

Bar La Grassa