Restaurant recommendations from MnMo food critics Jason DeRusha and Joy Summers
Jason’s Picks:
It’s the party time of year: backyard parties, graduation parties, I-just-built-a-new-patio parties. Even if you are only having 20 people over, sometimes it’s nice to leave the cooking to someone else and actually enjoy yourself.
• Chowgirls Killer Catering: Amy Brown and Heidi Andermack are so good they’ve written the book on party food, a.k.a. the recently published Chowgirls Killer Party Food. I love their paella parties! They bring the giant paella pan packed with saffron and sausage and seafood: It’s communal, it’s fun, and it’s more affordable than you’d think.
• Mobile Pizza Truck: I’ve always wanted to have a wood-fired pizza oven pull up in my driveway, and Red Wagon is one of the best: A legit brick pizza oven becomes as much a show as it is a meal.
Joy’s Picks:
This summer we are celebrating a landmark birthday for my dear mother-in-law. We’re pulling together friends from every facet of her life and I’m staring down the barrel of figuring out how to feed all of these people! Luckily, I’m not short on catering connections.
Kitchen in the Market
photo by stephanie A. Meyer
• Kitchen in the Market: These pros set the tone for your evening with their charm and professionalism. Gluten free, vegetarian, dairy-free—despite any dietary curve balls thrown at them, a Kitchen in the Market menu always appears effortlessly delicious. A fire-kissed eggplant spread they made for a recent party bewitched our guests.
• Create Catering: Chef Philip Dowart’s crew will cater at your site, or you could have your event inside their gorgeous studio in Northeast’s art gallery district. The food is always artful, delicious, and easy to eat. Plus, they are one of the very few caterers who are also licensed to serve a full bar.
