February 2009

February 23, 2009

Is Local Restaurant Coffee Awful? Also, Pulitzer Prize Guessing Game

A reader from Paradise Roasters in Ramsey writes:

“We primarily sell coffee retail through our website, ParadiseRoasters.com, but we are looking at expanding into local restaurants. We don't expect this to be the easiest thing to do, because even in such a foodie area as the Twin Cities, the restaurant coffee here is still horrible. Because no one complains? No one cares?”

“I'm also hoping that the coffee could help fuel your literary fire. I know, it’s kind of cheesy, but that's what one of our customers, a Pulitzer Prize winner for fiction, said about our coffee when it came to his writing. I won't argue.”

To which I reply: Interesting points! Some local... Read more »

Posted on Monday, February 23, 2009 in Dear Dara | Permalink | Comments (15)

February 6, 2009

Vegetarians With Money Speak Out!

Nicole writes: “I'm a vegetarian with money to drop on a fancy dinner. I'm tired of these nicer restaurants with one or two vegetarian options on the menu or meals during which I’m constantly requesting modifications to other dishes. I want choices and I'm willing to spend. And if I may throw in two more desires: non-vegetarian friendly (maybe steak?) and located on a bus line (the last one is not as important).”

Nicole, do you know about the vegetarian tasting menus at La Belle Vie? Five or eight courses, and the preparations are just as elaborate and thrilling as the meat-centered cuisine. Heartland in St. Paul also runs a nightly vegetarian tasting menu, the “flora” one; I’m a confirmed carnivore and I even get it occasionally... Read more »

Posted on Friday, February 6, 2009 in Dear Dara | Permalink | Comments (4)

February 4, 2009

Why Aren’t You On Top Chef?

Maybe the reason I’m not a Top Chef fanatic is because the Twin Cities never has a dog in the fight? Be that dog! Andrew Zimmern just posted the open casting-calls for the next season of Top Chef, along with info for special secret on-the-down-low Chicago casting at his blog.

If you get on, I promise you’ll never want for work in this town again. Not enough? I can promise you you’ll get media attention from every single paper, magazine, and blog in town, forever. Not enough? I promise you you’ll get a Facebook invite by every single person you went to high school with. Not enough! What do you want, immortality? This... Read more »

Posted on Wednesday, February 4, 2009 in Dear Dara | Permalink | Comments (0)