5-8 Tavern and Grill | Maplewood, MN

Last week it was national cheese curd day, which is not a day I was prepared to miss.

You can see proof of my cheese curd obsession here.

I was super confused when I asked boyfriend where there were good cheese curds to try close to us in the East Metro and he suggested we go to 5-8 Tavern and Grill…Yes, it’s official, I was [last Thursday] years old when I discovered that 5-8 had more than just the Minneapolis location… (they actually have FOUR locations 🤦 ).

**Spoiler Alert: the cheese curds were amazing and I will definitely be visiting the 5-8 Maplewood location again!

Wild Boar Bar and Grill | Oakdale, Minnesota

I’ve been trying (and failing quite a bit) this summer to eat low carb so when I determine it’s a cheat meal there is really only one thing I crave: a sandwich.

While trying to find a new place to go near Woodbury that had a club sandwich on the menu boyfriend found Wild Boar Bar & Grill. Funnily enough, we didn’t realize until we were almost there that this happened to be the same place we had passed signs for multiple times already thanks to the current 494/94 ramp detours and had kept commenting that we needed to come back to try it haha.

Richie’s Cheese Curd Tacos | Guest Blogger

Hello Hipster Hack followers, I’m Ashley and you may remember me from my many, many appearances here since I am Tara’s biggest supporter, and a fellow food lover. (Although I’m the sister that enjoys creating fun foods, while Tara’s the one that enjoys traveling to find it). Continue reading

Pazzaluna Urban Italian | Saint Paul, Minnesota

Every year my mom treats my sisters, grandma and myself to dinner and a play. This year we wanted to switch it up from our usual go-tos; the Orpheum and the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre. I was excited to try out the Ordway for 2 reasons: 1. the seating actually allowed me to have leg room! This is a rare feat at 5’10. In fact last year two women behind me where talking rudely about me, because they couldn’t easily see around me…I’m sorry for existing? Pay for better seats next time? and 2. it meant we got to try a new restaurant!

I will readily admit that when my coworkers asked me what play we were going to I had absolutely no idea (still don’t exactly remember the name and while the singing was beautiful I hated the outdated message that a woman is going to fall in love with a man who doesn’t love her back and “sacrifice herself” for his happiness…), but by 11am that morning I already had two dishes picked out at Pazzaluna Urban Italian … priorities.

Vali-Hi Drive-In | Lake Elmo, Minnesota

I lucked out growing up near Vali-Hi Drive-In. It was literally only a 10 minute drive for me unlike many people who have to make the drive in a destination, it was pretty standard for my friends and I to go and watch a couple movies and then rush home before curfew.

Minnesota State Fair 2019 | Saint Paul, Minnesota

I went into the Minnesota State Fair with an ambitious list of new foods and drafted my line-up of three other people willing to help; Noelle, Lisa & Tom…as you probably already guessed, we did not make it all the way through the list haha. The hard part about new fair foods is that it doesn’t take into account all of your Minnesota State Fair food staples OR the copious amount of beer you’re going to be drinking.

I think we made a valiant effort and secretly am thankful of the rain that swept in around 5pm so that we had a legitimate reason to leave with our mission incomplete.

6 hours. 11 foods. 6-ish beers. Minnesota State Fair ✓
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Cold Front Ice Cream | Saint Paul, Minnesota

We discovered Cold Front Ice Cream while visiting their next door neighbor, The Nook.

I was in love with them the moment I read their savage sign out front and knew it wouldn’t matter how full we were after dinner, because we were definitely going in there to support this locally owned establishment.
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The Nook | Saint Paul, Minnesota

I’m almost embarrassed to say this was my first time eating at The Nook in Saint Paul considering for 3 years I lived a mere 5 blocks away. In my defense, I was a regular at Shamrocks on West 7th, which is owned by the same people and has most of the same menu items! My favorite coworker happy hours started at Shamrocks and proceeded up Randolph. Literally, the best happy hour route there is in Saint Paul.

I’m happy to have finally corrected this wrong and luckily, because we went on a Thursday night, the wait (which was my previous deterrent, since it has a reputation for being pretty long) was only 20 minutes!

Surly Brewing Co. | National Beer Day

It’s National Beer Day and long past due for me to come out of semi hiatus, so it made perfect sense for me to finally share my review of the Surly Brewing Tap Room! Continue reading

Minnesota State Fair 2015

I usually can’t decide what I love more about the Minnesota State Fair; people watching or the food.

With the last weekend of the fair starting today, I wanted to make sure you had my list of fair favorites and new must trys!

*Pro Tip: It’s important to go to the fair with friends and family who are willing to share. The goal is to try everything and that’s just not possible for your wallet or your stomach if you’re not going into it with a team mentality. Continue reading

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Hipster Hack

Food & Drink spots throughout the Twin Cities (Minneapolis + St. Paul) and Minnesota.

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