Now is the glory of summertime, when the air is soft and warm and the restaurant news is slow and easy. I’m kicking up my feet on a patio tonight and I hope you have the chance to do the same. Here are the things that I can’t wait to dig into.
Norseman Distillery Pooches and Punch
I popped by this beautiful warehouse room in Northeast when the cocktail room first opened. (It’s near Eversharp, which reminds me that I need to get my knives sharpened. It’s a useful, quiet corner!) Tonight is the distillery’s first ever dog adoption event, where 100% of the punch proceeds will be donated to help pups in search of their forever homes. Puppies and punch! What could go wrong? The event goes from 5 to 9 p.m. and it’s worth noting that their patio is dog friendly every day. Cross your fingers I find my new best buddy! (And worst case scenario, I get a killer gin and tonic from a couple of ridiculously talented bartenders. I love this plan!)
Xavi Restaurant Mango Salad
There’s a new restaurant that has quietly opened in South Minneapolis, a stone’s throw from Richfield in the former First Course location. Xavi Restaurant (pronounced: jzhuahvi – it’s easier to say after some wine) is a seasonally inspired, cozy little bistro with fresh menu inspiration drawn from all over. The cool mango salad is a stunner and perfect for gobbling up on a warm summer night. The snazzy ginger dressing and peppery greens are tied together with a good amount of mint. It’s everything light, lovely and exactly what I want to be eating right now. There’s also a great wine and beer list for pairing, but make note: it’s not a large place and the patio isn’t quite open yet.
Prairie Dogs Bacon and S’more Milkshake
Today was the big reveal of all the vendors at the new U.S. Bank stadium and I was happy to see that Prairie Dogs will be sharing their fantastic hot dogs with the crowds at the Vikings games. Since I’m not a big football fan, and I do love their family-friendly Lyn/Lake restaurant, I’ll be stopping by there later this week to partake of a classic dog with a milkshake dessert. Did you know that there are milkshakes with bacon and a s’more and Sebastian Joe’s ice cream on the menu? Well, ya do now.
