Baby it's cold outside(msp)

[mitch cumstein]

and that means it is time for cassoulet....Who has the best? I am looking at Meritage and Vincent, the usual suspects, any hidden gems I should know about?

[The Dairy Queen]

Haven't tried it, but it's on the menu at Porter and Frye in Minneapolis. Also, at Red Stag.

~TDQ

[jfood]

TDQ

The Cassoulet at Red Stag is not something jfood would recommend.

[Foureyes137]

It is something I would recommend with a caveat that when they had it on the menu previously it was inconsistent due to them using different proteins depending upon what was available.

This is no longer the case, had it two nights ago and it was fantastic.

[The Dairy Queen]

Funny, I had remembered a discussion of Red Stag's cassoulet and was surprised when it wasn't in this thread...

Grand Cafe in Minneapolis also has it on the menu. (Haven't tried it.)

~TDQ

[Foureyes137]

Yeah. It wasn't back on their menu until last week. A little late in the cold season if you ask me.

[AnnyM]

I had an excellent cassoulet at Cafe Levain in October during a Sunday night dinner - topped with crispy pork belly. I don't know if it's on the regular menu, but I really enjoyed it.

[jfood]

whats the story with the chef at Levain. jfood heard that the new chef post adam also left. any truth to that rumor or fact?

[mitch cumstein]

Not sure about the chef, they had one man(kid) on the line last night. I started with the frog legs which were the high point of the meal, with a bit too stiff aioli, and finished with the Ribeye, which was pan roasted to a good mr, and served with pretty tasty fries, not the typical super skinny frites. My wife had french onion soup which was pretty good, great development of the sweetness in the onions, and then finished with the short rib, which was pretty dry, as if it didn't rest or cool in the liquid. It was only a decent meal, and it's too bad, it is so close to my house, I'm not dying to return.

[keithinmpls]

+1 on the excellent cassoulet at Cafe Levain. I tried it back in December - then it was served with a magnificent pheasant confit. It was all I could do to refrain from licking the sauce off the plate after I had scraped every little bit off with my silverware. If it's still on the menu, you should put down whatever you are doing right now and go order it.

[churchka]

I've had some fantastic cassoulet from Corner Table in the past. Not sure if it is on their current menu, but highly recommended if it is.

[rjayasuriya]

Meritage cassoulet gets my vote.

[jfood]

get an order of frites as well to dip in the cassoulet.

[gooey middle]

If you're familiar with Eli's Food & Cocktails (1225 Hennepin Ave, MPLS), then you know that while their menu is good, their "specials board" is where it's at. One glorious week last winter, they ran cassoulet as their entree special. If you're fortunate enough to be there when they're serving it, get it. The ingredients were commonplace, but the flavors were outstanding. Fair warning, though, your portion will not be big enough!

[jfood]

Meritage has the best cassoulet jfood has tried. Tremendous portion, beautiful flavors and a beautiful room. Blows the others away.

[bill1jan]

Lenny Russo at Heartland usually has some form of cassoulet on the menu all winter. We dined there last Saturday night and had a great version with wild boar.

[BigSal]

I have enjoyed the cassoulet at Heartland as well. As a matter of fact, I enjoyed it so much I had to go back there to eat it again the next week. It was a rich, unctuous bowl of hearty goodness. The first time I tried it, it was topped with a bit of crispy pork belly and the second time a crispy pheasant leg. I liked the cassoulet at Vincent, but I preferred the one at the Heartland much more. The Vincent version almost seemed like there were separate components mixed together, whereas the the Heartland version had everything melded together. Yum!

[jfood]

Sal

jfood had both the Heartland and the Meritage in the same week. As good as the Heartland was, you should also try the Meritage. If you truly are "Big" the portion size at Meritage is much larger and the flavors are superb.

[BigSal]

Thanks jfood. I will definitely have to give it a try.

[BigSal]

jfood,

My response is long overdue, but thank you for the cassoulet recommendation at Meritage. It was not only big in size, but also in taste. The crispy duck leg on top was delicious, as was the delicately flavored garlic sausage and perfectly cooked beans.

[jfood]

:-))

Glkad you liked it. Heading to MSP today to have fun in the snow. looks like hotel or take out tonight. blech

[LauraB]

I had excellent cassoulet at the Strip Club earlier this month. I also stole a bit of cassoulet from a friend at Heartland at the end of last winter. I am not sure which would win - but I can tell you that I would happily eat both again. (The friend I stole the bite from at Heartland said it was about on par with Meritage. I have not actually tried Meritage myself.)