Chowhound's Latest » Midwest

Good Day Cafe, Bad Day Bar

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:42:23 GMT

They recently started dinner service, it probably has something to do with that.

Chain restaurants...enough said

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:31:28 GMT

Since moving from the Lindstrom area to St. Paul I have become something of a chain restaurant hater. When I moved to St. Paul, I was more than happy to say goodbye to Applebees, Perkins and the like. However, the other day I found myself craving the sour cream dip (for waffle fries) at Champps. Now let me tell you...I was appalled! I'm just curious if anyone else has a particular chain restaurant menu item they find particularly delicious. I also have uncontrollable cravings for McDonalds fries...but that's another post :) Or, perhaps, someone has a particular chain restaurant that really bugs them? I think my most hated chain restaurants would have to be Perkins, Baker's Square and Applebees. I just don't think these restaurants excel in anything. I can't remember ever eating anything decent and I almost always walk away wishing I had just slapped something together at home. Thoughts?

San Marzano tomatoes [MSP]

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:09:57 GMT

Wow - you are way more industrious than me! I really do think the tomatoes make all the difference. I make the same pasta sauce recipe every couple weeks and one day I used San Marzano tomatoes and it tasted like a completely different recipe - much more flavorful.

Authentic Chinese in Kansas City MO

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:05:35 GMT

No China town per se. Several Asian markets throughout town. Most Chinese restaurants will have a "hidden menu" that features traditional dishes. All 3 of my Chinese language teachers have eaten at a number of the Chinese restaurants throughout the metro. None of them liked any of the food. They all come from diverse parts of China. North, South and Taiwan. My Chinese cooking class instructor and her husband recommended Lucky Wok's spare ribs. I thought they were OK at best. Maybe an acquired taste. Your best bet. Find a Chinese transplant and get a home cooked meal.

Minneapolis / St. Paul: Reception Venue

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:04:52 GMT

I'm also planning my wedding reception and I have gotten several recommendations for Solera. I have yet to check it out so I'm really not sure on prices...

Bachelorette party...dinner ideas in Minneapolis

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:00:49 GMT

Hi everyone, I am beginning to plot my bachelorette party and I was thinking maybe you all might have some ideas of where to go for dinner. Ideally I would like the restaurant to be in the vicinity of a variety of bar options so we don't have to go far to get the party started :) So...I was thinking maybe downtown Minneapolis or Uptown - though I am not super familiar with the offerings of Uptown (I'm a St. Paul girl). I like most food with the exception of sushi. I would appreciate any bar suggestions as well. Thanks!

Szechuan peppercorns - where to purchase in MSP/STP area?

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:45:04 GMT

Penzey's carries the dried Szechuan peppercorns. They have three locations in the Twin Cities. www.penzeys.com

MSP: Best Reuben Sandwich

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:41:20 GMT

jfood, Seven is kind of a trendy place, but the food is definitely not bad. I had my birthday this past Spring at the steakhouse (the 1st floor is a steakhouse, the top floor is sushi/cocktail bar) and it was definitely one of my favorite places.

Where to eat in America?

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:04:55 GMT

Can you narrow that down? I-80 is the second longest interstate in the country and runs the entire width from New York to California. Unless you're going to spend a week or more to drive the entire thing, it would be helpful to know which state(s) you'll be traveliling in. There are regional differences even within the various parts of the Midwest, and what I'd recommend for Illinois will be very different from someone's recommendations for Iowa or Ohio.

Anthony Bourdain - 11/7 at U of M Theatre (and possibe Ann Arbor restaurant suggestions)

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:43:26 GMT

I'd go with eve!

MSP-Celebration location needed

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:40:57 GMT

http://www.macalester.edu/alumnihouse/meetings.html

Shopping trip to St,louis.

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:01:30 GMT

So now you made my mouth water and am putting Carl's on my list,while I love corn beef my friend doe's not, hopefully they'll have some turkey sand's??for her,and now will definetly extend our stay to 2 day's.

sushi making class in the Detroit metro area?

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:25:40 GMT

Keep an eye on Rec & Ed (Community Recreation and Education) classes in Ann Arbor. They don't have one going for Fall 2009, but I notice that in the scrolling pictures there is one obviously showing a sushi class. You could call or e-mail and see if they were planning one for spring semester. http://reced.aaps.k12.mi.us/reced.adultenrichment/life_enrichment

Good Eats In Milwaukee?

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:10:07 GMT

Milwhawkeye- Do you know anything about Abu's? The last time I was back in Milwaukee I walked by and noticed their redesign (which I didn't like) and also noticed that I couldn't see their grill anymore. The best part of their schwarma was that it was nice and crispy around the edges from grilling it over hot coals. Do they still do this? Abu's was one of my favorite places when I lived in Milwaukee but I don't want to "throw away a visit meal" and realize everything I loved about Abu's has changed.

St. Louis without a car

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:39:39 GMT

I grew up in STL and the title of this thread made me uncomfortable (and I've lived car-free for 20 years since then)

[MSP] - Trader's Joes - Minnetonka

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:43:33 GMT

They also are open from 8 am-9 pm 7 days a week. The Maple Grove store is following suit.

MSP New Szechuan restaurant where China Jen (Roseville) was - anyone tried it?

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:39:17 GMT

I was over at the Fedex/Kinkos in the strip mall off Snelling across from the Roseville SuperTarget (same mall that Outback Steakhouse is in) when I noticed that there's a new Szechuan restaurant in the spot where China Jen used to be. It wasn't quite dinner time yet but I was curious and stopped by the restaurant and got a take out menu. The decor has been done up a notch compared to the bare bones look that China Jen used to sport with more subdued lighting and some new paint schemes. To my surprise, the menu looked like it mirrored some of the items that Little Szechuan and Tea House in Saint Paul have - cumin flavored lamb, dan dan noodles, some of the cold appetizers that Little Szechuan offers as well as a myriad of other authentic looking dishes. I don't know how long this restaurant has been open as I seem to recall that China Jen closed sometime this summer (??) but am curious as to whether any Chowhounds have given this new restaurant a try and how it stacks up to the plethora of Szechuan places that seem to have sprung up in the last 24 months or so.

Saint Paul- Cherokee Tavern

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:55:53 GMT

thanx, folks!

Delivery of something besides pizza or chinese in Des Moines

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:46:02 GMT

Jason's Deli good food. You can order online. http://www.jasonsdeli.com/restaurants/ia/west-des-moines/50266/dia

[Wichita] Thai-Lao Cafe a winner!

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:10:33 GMT

>>>I was curious about the Lao aspect and most of the dishes listed seemed to be Thai. However, I quickly remembered that Laos is the NE neighbor of Thailand and shares a linguistic and cultural branch of the Thai tree, Lao is a Tai language variant, and the food in Laos, or some at least, has much in common with NE Thai food, Issan in particular, I believe. ^Thank you for sharing your experience with us and I realize that your post isn't a recent one, but I just wanted to clarify that Lao people are not a branch of the Thai tree. According to linguists, both Lao and Thai languages belong to the Tai language family. Tai and Thai are two separate things and so please don't get those two words mixed up. We are Lao, not Thai. In addition, the foods in Issan region of Thailand came from Laos and not the other way around. Just because many chowhounders on here have been to Thailand before Laos does not mean that the dishes originated in that same order as your exposure to the cuisines of those two countries. For example, many people in the U.S. have only tried sushi prepared in the U.S., but this doesn't mean that Japanese sushi originated in the U.S. You experienced Larb for the first time in either Thailand or the U.S., but Larb actually originated in Laos. Larb/Lahb/Laap is a traditional Lao dish that spread to Thailand from Laos. People in Thailand also enjoy eating Lao foods. The two countries are neighbors after all. Anyway, in Lao cuisine our Larb dish can be made with beef, chicken, pork, fish or whatever protein element you prefer. It's called Larb because in our Lao language, "Larb" means fortune and prosperity. The traditional way to eat Larb in Lao cuisine is to serve it with Lao sticky rice and some fresh vegetables on the side. It's considered kind of an insult to Lao people when our dishes are mistakenly referred to as Thai just because of the foreigners lack of knowledge regarding the differences between Lao cuisine and Thai cuisine. We understand that Westerners are more familiar with Thai cuisine and that it makes the disctinction more blurred considering that most Thai restaurants also serve Lao dishes on their menu. So visit Laos and you will learn about our cuisine and realize how much the people in the Issan region of Thailand have in common with their ancestors in Laos as far as Lao dishes in Issan are concerned.

Vettes....great pub in the St. Charles, MO area

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:02:22 GMT

Vettes is low key, yet has great pub food at reasonable prices and friendly staff. Took my Irish cousins there and they said it reminded them of an Irish pub.

Kansas hounds: Bierocks?

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:06:16 GMT

I was surprised to see a discussion of these pop up. I have a similar story--great grandparents traveled with their family from Russia in 1906 and ended up in Kansas. I'm sure there are all kinds of variations in recipes, the type I make is heavier on the onions, cabbage. One hint if anybody wants to make these (and you should) is to make sure the seams are down against the cookie sheet (lots less leakage as they cook).

What can I get in Dayton, OH I can't find in LA?

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:15:18 GMT

Der Dutchman does a very good job recreating the food of the Amish , but their bread pudding is to die for. Id suggest a trip to Jungle Jim's for the experience and if you have room to carry a few items back to LA.

Cashew Chicken in Springfield, Missouri

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:27:10 GMT

I grew up in Springfield, MO too. Since I have been able to eat solid food, I have been eating cashew chicken three to four times a week. It is that good! Now that I have moved to Indiana, I can't find it anywhere. I literally crave this stuff! I have attempted to recreate this dish using recipes from various websites online, but it is never quite the same. I did find a pretty good recipe though from allrecipes.com. It claims to be the Leong's secret recipe. On another Springfield note... To Andy's and Mexican Villa: I miss you!!!

Sherry Vinegar [Detroit area]

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:22:30 GMT

Good vinegar bottles available at R. Hirt Jr. Another great read on Vinegar is done by our own MothersKitchen. http://motherskitchen.blogspot.com/2008/08/i-love-my-mother.html and http://motherskitchen.blogspot.com/search?q=vinegar

Barrio St Paul

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:17:03 GMT

Enjoy - The guac is very good. Dishes that I'm looking forward to eating again include the crab soup, the black bean and chicken tostada, and the steak taco. I've enjoyed a wide variety of drinks as well. I'd agree with Laura that the drink style is less sweet and that is a plus! Specifically I enjoy the Pedrote and the trinity on the rocks. I've never done the tequila sampling, but it looks amazing. I would caution you to be aware of the clock if you want to see the puck drop. I've had great service there. However, I've also had average service there. You might want to order quickly or let your server know you are heading to the wild game. (depending on how much time you have) The food comes out of the kitchen and a nice quick pace. The first or second time I was there we had problems getting our server to acknowledge the table as a whole. So she'd get another beer for one person and then come back and take an order from another without asking the whole party of 8 if we were all set or starving or thirsty.

New Restaurants in TULSA -- eleven short yet succulent reviews

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:24:50 GMT

I also appreciate the reviews. Villa Ravenna is my new favorite restaurant, although I would like to see some more regional specialties.

Slingers? [St. Louis]

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:48:21 GMT

Over easy. I fall pretty solidly into the Scrambled = Not a Slinger camp.

Detroit and Michigan traditions?

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:27:33 GMT

Kola's Food Factory in Riverview has Muskrat on the menu....anyone up for a small road trip?

Country Club Plaza (KC) eats

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:06:46 GMT

I think many, if not most of the restaurants on the plaza are open until 11 PM or midnight on the weekends. You should be ok. The Classic Cup is a nice breakfast place. For vegetarian you want Eden Alley. http://www.edenalley.com/ With the weather in the 60-70's this weekend, I am sure the plaza will be a great time.

Foodie Survival in Dayton, OH

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:38:33 GMT

Don Pablo's? Really? There are a few Mexican restaurants in Dayton that I feel have better menu selection and food than that chain. I've always liked Las Piramides, and there a couple of small places, La Taqueria Mixteca on Third Street in East Dayton and Taco Loco on Burkhardt that are pretty authentic. Meadowlark is very good, but they're kind of hidden. For their sake, I hope they move to a more advantageous location because they're one of the truly unique dining experiences in the Dayton area.

MSP - Where to find Un-Salted Shaoxing Rice Wine

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:40:31 GMT

The place I buy mine is from a Asian grocery on Eat Street, i.e. Nicollet avenue. I can't tell you the name of the grocery, but it is on the west side of the street on the northern end of the street. It shares a parking lot with Hudson map company. It is one of the groceries that has been there the longest and has an in house herbalist / pharmacist. The non salted version is cleverly hidden among the salted brands, usually on the bottom shelf.

Brains in St. Louis?

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:39:07 GMT

wow

Tasting menu, Columbus?

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:09:26 GMT

Sage American Bistro located North Campus of OSU-every Wed at 8:30pm they have seven people at the bar for 7 courses with wine paring for $77.00.

MSP: L'Ecosse

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:28:36 GMT

They must have gotten the idea from the D'Amicos, who bastardized Lurçat into "Luhr-caught."

Buying a goose in the Twin Cities

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:09:38 GMT

Okay, here goes: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/665042

Thanksgiving Dinner in Detroit Area

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:55:05 GMT

I'm looking for a good place to get a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner in the Detroit area. There will be 4 of us, all adults. Do you have any tried and true favorites? We've been to Giulio & Sons in the Hyatt in Dearborn but were thinking about something different. Has anyone been to -- Weber's Lily's Seafood Fox Hills in Plymouth Dearborn Inn Anything else that you've tried and liked? Thank you!

Pork belly in Columbus,ohio

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:45:37 GMT

if you are craving the pork buns like at the ssam bar, dont forget any credible chinese place around columbus can make them too (char siu bao). meaning, i like chang's restaurants and those are a signature, but lets not over hype it - ha. please report back after you use the cookbook!

Share some good farmer's markets in Cleveland

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:38:29 GMT

on the far westside try penton's farm market. great pies and all things amish: Penton's Farm Market 44905 N Ridge Rd, Amherst, OH (440) 282-5486‎ here is a wonderful list of a gazillion other lorain county farmers markets: http://www.loraincounty.com/FarmMarkets/

Washington Ave Market, St Louis

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:37:12 GMT

I am pretty sure it is this- <> FOTD

Looking for local Tofu in NE Ohio.

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:44:13 GMT

Asian Supermarkets usuallly carry freshly made tofu. Tink Holl on E. 36th off of Payne Ave. in Cleveland makes Tofu at their store. Some of the others may as well, or if they don't, likely sell it. Not sure if you have any signifacantly sized Asian Supermarkets in the Akron/Canton Area?

Thanksgiving - but not traditional dinner near KC airport

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:45:01 GMT

another idea would be to go by Briarcliff Village. It's on the way depending on where you live or a short detour. There is The Cafe, Trezo Mare and Piropos. All excellent choices!

RIP Rafals-Detroit Eastern Market

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:38:54 GMT

this is a bummer - Though I do my best to shop local, I get all of my spices from http://www.worldspice.com -- excellent customer service and "old school", no credit cards necessary!

Pewaukee, WI --Piano BLU

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:57:09 GMT

We have ate there on two occasions. Both times the food was good but as you noted a little expensive. It's worth trying. If I remember correctly , I had tuna one time and it was very good. Seared just right and rare. The view of the lake is nice. When we dined they had a band coming in later. I think they usually have live music on the weekends around 9 pm.

One Day and night in KC

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:50:56 GMT

If you want good fried chicken, go to Popeyes. And KC has Popeyes.

Question about Zingerman's Sandwiches in Plum Market [West Bloomfield, MI]

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:45:52 GMT

My favorite sandwich in the world is a Reuben, sans Russian dressing. I like mine just with sauerkraut and mustard. I might need to try one of these Plum Market Reuben's! Thanks for your reply david.

Victor's 1959 Cafe (MSP) - Is Jfood missing something?

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:20:58 GMT

I ate there a few times and was never really impressed. The nadir may have been when my friend asked for lemon for her water, and the server brought over a little plastic condiment-cup of bottled lemon juice. (I know ReaLemon, or its generic equivalent, when I taste it...) Oh wait. The nadir was actually the very last time I was there. My friend and I were lingering over coffee for a few minutes after breakfast. (I know, tiny place, few tables, not nice to hog a table. We were wrapping up the conversation.) This big guy, I don't know his role there, strode over, leaned over our table, and barked "Get out." We thought he was kidding. He most assuredly was not. I've never experienced that kind of jaw-dropping rudeness from restaurant staff before or since.

Williamston, Brighton, MI after soccer

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:05:04 GMT

Thanks all. We're off to the state finals on Sat. and we celebrated at the Red Cedar Grill. Had the "big one" an overly large appetizer platter which will feed us lunch tomorrow too. Delicious, especially the crab cakes!

MSP: looking for magic hat beer

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:39:26 GMT

took a 6-pack of the #9 and one of the howl, the howl reminds me of the leinie's fireside nut brown