The Minnesota Homegrown Cookbook
is full of gorgeous photos and 100 recipes from 35 restaurants around Minnesota. It puts a special emphasis on cooking with locally grown, organic, sustainable products. It will be highlighted at the “Taste and Toast” event celebrating 50 years of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and 100 years of the University of Minnesota’s horticulture program. You’ll be able to buy the book at the June 13 anniversary event, at local bookstores, or order it online at Amazon.com.
Famous for its crab rolls and rainbow trout pond, Jax Café (1928 University Ave. NE, Mpls., 612-789-7297) is celebraing its 75th anniversary this year. This northeast Minneapolis gem has been family owned for three generations.
Though Minnesota is about as far from the ocean as you can get, we should be thankful that we have so many local restaurants that bring us delicious seafood. I love the Alaskan king crab legs and Australian lobster tail at Morton’s (555 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., 612-573-9700), the fabulous shrimp and crab cakes at Alaska Eatery (6501 Wayzata Blvd., St. Louis Park, 952-345-0505), the lobster-salad benedict served for breakfast at Dover Restaurant and Bar at the Doubletree Hotel (1500 Park Place Blvd., Minneapolis, 952-542-8600), the whole lobsters at Manny’s (612-339-9900) and Oceanaire (612-333-2277) at the Minneapolis Hyatt Regency (1300 Nicollet Mall, Mpls.), and executive chef Matthew Fogarty’s General Matt’s Calamari at the California Café (third level, Mall of America, Bloomington, 952-854-2233).
Sue Zelickson is host of WCCO Radio’s Food for Thought.
