Baby Shower Success!

Me and two friends threw a baby shower last weekend for our good friend Jill. It’s her first baby, and what do you know, she’s having a girl! She’s due on 7/19/2009 so we should be seeing that little tyke running around soon.

We decided to make a day of the event – which for anyone who knows us, is no surprise. First off, lunch at the house. Next up, mini golfing! Last, back to the house for pie, coffee and gifts.

The menu was outstanding: we made all of Jill’s favorite foods…

First Course: Cold Appetizers
Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Watermelon, Feta and Mint Salad

Second Course: Warm Bites
Grilled Turkey, Bacon, Blue Cheese Sandwiches
Lemony Grilled Asparagus with Goat Cheese

Served with Gloria Ferrer rose champagne toast and Virginique (a nonalcoholic “mocktail”)

Followed up by a little sweet snack of Coconut Macaroons

Dessert Course: Post Mini Golf Sweets
5 Layer Chocolate Pie (my mom’s recipe – the same one baked at The Rustic Inn Cafe & Betty’s Pies in northern MN)
Lemon Meringue Pie

Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps

This menu was created with my favorite partner in crime, Maxine. I wouldn’t be able to do nearly as much in the kitchen nor be as inspired to try new things if it weren’t for her.

We went shopping the day before and made quite a bit the day before, so you can plan ahead for this menu. We were able to make the cookies, pies, and the chicken for the noodle salad. Pretty much everything else we did the morning of the shower.

More photos if you

Up North on the Cooking Team!

The creative department of the advertising agency I work for just took a trip up to northern Minnesota right by Lutsen and Tofte on Lake Superior at Bluefin Bay. Friday – Sun. It was a blast! It was great to experience the area I grew up in with people who had never been there before. The lucky folks in my car got the low down on the local news in the area.

But to top it off, I got to be part of the Cooking Team for the weekend. Holla! We ate like queens and kings. Feeding 23 people for an entire weekend is no small feat. Thankfully there were 4 of us taking care of everyone.

A rundown on the menu:

Friday Dinner
Grilled BBQ rubbed Pork Chops
Grilled BBQ Chicken Breasts
Grilled Chile Pineapple
Greek Salad
Roasted Baby Red Potatoes with Garlic and Rosemary
Strawberry Whipped Cream Cake (holy motherload this was delicious)

Saturday Dinner
Grilled Steak with Roasted garlic and thyme butter
Grilled Lemon Dill Salmon
Roasted Vegetables
Israeli Couscous with Roasted Tomatoes and Olives (YUM)
Peach Brown Betty

Friday & Saturday Breakfasts
Scrambled Eggs
Potato Hash with jalapeno, onion, and garlic
Bacon
Fruit
Yogurt
Granola

Twin Cities Fresh Taste Festival

The Twin Cities Fresh Taste Festival is a community event that features organic and sustainable food & wine.

Sunday, August 17, 11 am – 5 pm
Nicollet Island Pavillion (40 Power Street, Minneapolis, MN see map)

From the Twin Cities Fresh Taste Festival site:

Join us at the inaugural Twin Cities Fresh Taste Festival, a day-long event to celebrate the best in organic, local and sustainable food products and wines.

Set on the beautiful picturesque banks of the Mississippi River at the Nicollet Island Pavilion, the festival will be filled with organic food and beverage vendors – from many outstanding local restaurants and food producers. Sample from 100 organic wines from national and international wineries. Plus, learn from local chefs as they prepare some of their best signature organic dishes.

Tickets:
$55 before day-of
$65 at the door

NOTE: you can receive $3.00 off a ticket with your Minnesota Public Radio Member Connect Card

Best of the Best Restaurant Week: 2/24/08 – 2/29/08

Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine announced this year’s first Restaurant Week which will take place starting this Sunday 2/24/08.

Participating restaurants in the Minneapolis area serve tasting menus during lunch and dinner throughout the week (although not all places offer both). Lunch menus range from $10-$30 and dinner menus are $30. Some restaurants also include a wine tasting flight to accompany the tasting menu.

Last year, I visited La Belle Vie during Restaurant Week and it was unbelievably phenomenal. Although we don’t intend to visit it again this time, I’m hoping there will be another Restaurant Week in March like last year.

Make reservations ASAP to get a table – they fill up fast!

Restaurants participating next week that I would recommend:

Azia Restaurant & Anemoni Sushi – they’re offering a sushi/sake menu in addition to regular menu options
menu | reservations | website

Cafe Barbette
Pip’s Plate review | menu | website

Cafe & Bar Lurcat
menu | reservations | website

Campiello – I’m not typically a fan of American Italian, but their menu looks pretty good
menu | reservations | website

Cosmos
menu | reservations | website

Herkimer Pub & Brewery
menu | website

La Belle Vie
menu | website

Masa – I’ll be hitting this up for lunch
menu | reservations | website

Otho Restaurant and Street Lounge – a new place downtown Minneapolis; the reviews on citysearch sound promising; I’ll be hitting this up for dinner
menu | website

Palomino – I’ll be hitting this up for lunch
menu | reservations | website

Red Stag Supperclub
menu | website

Saffron Restaurant & Lounge – Love love this place; I’ll be hitting this up for dinner
menu | website

Town Talk Diner
menu | Pip’s Plate review | website

Vincent
menu | reservations | website

You can see all of the participating restaurants and their menus at the MSP Mag’s website.