Courtesy of Confluence Hotel
How do Minnesotans eat, indulge, and get together to celebrate spring? Let us count the ways.
Eat the Season
Find early-spring produce, baked goods, eggs, and more at these indoor farmers markets that keep a spirit of cultivation alive even in early March.
Mill City Farmers Market
March 21; April 4 and 18
Mill City Museum, Minneapolis
millcityfarmersmarket.org
Minneapolis Farmers Market
March 21; April 4, 11, 18, and 25-26
Minneapolis Farmers Market, Minneapolis
mplsfarmersmarket.com
Rochester Farmers Market
March 21; April 4 and 18
Crawford Hall at Graham Park, Rochester
rochfarmmkt.org
St. Paul Indoor Farmers’ Market
March 14-15 and 21-22; April 4-5 and 18-19
Prince Street, St. Paul
stpaulfarmersmarket.com
Winona Farmers Market
March 14 and 28; April 11 and 25
Morrison Annex at the Polish Museum, Winona
winonafarmersmarket.org
Elk River Indoor Farmers Market
April 2
Elk River YMCA, Elk River
elkrivermn.gov
Courtesy of Rochester Farmers Market
Early Risers
What are some of the earliest edibles we can grow here in the frigid north? Watch for these wild plants and garden- or farm-cultivated crops to start sprouting now.
To Forage
- Dandelions’ nutritious greens can be eaten as a salad or cooked like spinach.
- Ramps grow in wooded areas and lend a garlicky bite to veggie dishes and pasta.
- Wild ginger roots can be dug up as soon as the ground thaws.
- Watch for fiddlehead ferns in low, wet areas along marshes or streams.
To Grow
- Asparagus, a perennial that’s planted in the fall, starts emerging from the ground in mid-spring.
- Harvest tart rhubarb, another perennial, starting in late April.
- Plant hardy, cool-season greens like spinach, kale, and lettuce as soon as your soil is workable (or start them indoors), so you can begin harvesting just a few weeks later.
Make a Portabella Mushroom Melt
Courtesy of The Buttered Tin
Chefs Alicia Hinze and Phil Dvorak, the creative minds behind The Buttered Tin, share their recipe for a make-at-home sandwich that stars early-spring ingredients like mushrooms, spinach, and asparagus. Make a batch of Spinach Artichoke Spread first—and use the leftovers on crackers, bagels, or anywhere else you please.
Spinach Artichoke Spread
1 pound artichoke hearts
2 ½ ounces chopped spinach
6 ounces thinly sliced onion
2 garlic cloves
12 ounces cream cheese
4 ounces shaved or shredded parmesan
4 ounces mayonnaise
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 teaspoons kosher salt
½ teaspoon white pepper
Blend the cream cheese, garlic, and half of the parmesan in a food processor until smooth. Transfer to a mixing bowl and whisk in the mayo. Add strained artichoke hearts, onions, the remaining parmesan, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Fold with a spatula until incorporated.
Portabella Mushroom Melt Sandwich
2 slices multigrain wheat bread
2 slices provolone cheese
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
4 ounces Spinach Artichoke Spread (recipe above)
6 ounces asparagus spears
6 ounces sliced Portabella mushroom caps
6 ounces Roma tomatoes, sliced lengthwise
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon Kosher salt
Toss veggies in olive oil and spread evenly on a sheet pan. Sprinkle with salt and bake at 425 Fahrenheit for 12 minutes. Let cool. Spread the butter on both slices of bread, and place them butter side down in a pan over medium heat. Place one slice of provolone on each slice of bread. Spread artichoke spread on bottom slice and layer veggies on top. Once the bread is toasted and the provolone is melted, put the sandwich halves together and serve.
Pack a Picnic
Gather up a basket of sandwiches, cheese and crackers, and other finger foods, and head to one of these picturesque spots for your first al fresco dining experience of the year. Everything tastes better in the fresh air, right?
Chambers Grove Park, Duluth. Vibe check? Picnic tables, trails, fruit trees.
Irvine Park, St. Paul. Vibe check? Urban, shade, fountain.
Lake Harriet, Minneapolis. Vibe check? Bandshell, snack stand, paddleboarding.
Minneopa State Park, Mankato. Vibe check? Bison, waterfall, prairie.
Photo by Cindy Carlsson
Outdoor Sips
Visit one of these patios with a glass of beer or wine, and soak up some vitamin D while you catch up with friends.
The BKYD at the Confluence Hotel, Hastings
Brit’s Pub, Minneapolis
Forager Brewery, Rochester
Ursa Minor Brewing, Duluth
W.A. Frost and Company, St. Paul
Courtesy of Brit's Pub
Come Together
Faith and folklore systems around the world observe spring milestones—from the equinox to Easter—with all kinds of colorful traditions and gatherings. Learn about a new-to-you tradition this year at one of these celebrations of rebirth.
Observe the spring equinox, one of two days each year when there’s an equal amount of daylight and darkness, at a sunrise hike in Duluth. March 20, 7 a.m., Lakewalk Plaza, Duluth; duluthmn.gov
Minneapolis’ Basilica of St. Mary offers several options for observing Easter Mass, including a sunrise service and traditional masses featuring a full choir, organ, and procession. April 5, mary.org
To ring in the Iranian New Year, Nowruz, gather in Edina for a Chaharshanbeh Soori party the night before. The local Iranian community welcomes friends and neighbors for an evening of bonfires (to burn away the old year), traditional foods and games, and togetherness. March 17, southcornelia.org
Here, Fishy
There’s perhaps no greater event for bringing Minnesotans together than the spring fishing opener. Bait shops and boat launches are busy, with state waterways seeing more than half a million anglers take to the lakes, rivers, and streams for walleye, bass, pike, and more. Gov. Tim Walz hosts the 78th annual Governor’s Fishing Opener on the St. Croix River in Stillwater on May 8-9. Official opener is May 9; dnr.state.mn.us
Food & Wine Experience
Eat, drink, and be merry at Minnesota Monthly’s 31st annual Food & Wine Experience, which returns to Target Field with iconic skyline views and delicious bites March 13-15. Here are some fest highlights you won’t want to miss:
- Wines from J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, Dancing Dragonfly Winery, Parley Lake Winery, and more
- An interactive Build-a-Beanie station from Love Your Melon, where guests can customize a cozy hat
- Food from beloved local spots like Boketto, Cafe Latte, CRAVE, Earl Giles, The Oceanaire Seafood Room, and more
- A photo booth for keepsake pics
- A wine raffle featuring more than 50 bottles each day of the festival
- CBD and THC vendors like Daizy’s Social Soda, Gigli, and Granny’s Edibles
- Spirits from Cedar Ridge Distillery, Prairie Organic Spirits, Crater Lake Spirits, Dapper Barons, and more
Photo by Darin Kamnetz
