I was excited to have an impromptu brunch with my friend Lisa when we both happened to be in Woodbury at the same time and I was even more excited when she suggested The New Woodbury Cafe since I had not been there yet.
Minnesota Food
Pazzaluna Urban Italian | Saint Paul, Minnesota
StandardEvery 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to I had absolutely no idea (still don’t exactly remember the name and while the singing was beautiful I hated the outdated message that a woman is going to fall in love with a man who doesn’t love her back and “sacrifice herself” for his happiness…), but by 11am that morning I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.
Graze Provisions + Libations| North Loop Minneapolis
StandardI was so excited to hear that there was another food hall that opened and that this one was in the North Loop and the perfect distance for an after work dinner! Graze Provisions + Libations has some super cute outdoor spaces that I’m excited to try when it’s not subzero temps and has quite a bit of sections of seating; sitting areas, private dining tables, hi tops, bar seating, and family style dining. Basically any vibe you’re looking for you can find.
They have a couple bars areas and also Honey & Rye where you can get some bakery items or coffee, but we’re going to focus on the food!
Kokapelli Deli | Downtown Minneapolis
StandardIf you’re like me it takes a really good reason for me to drag my butt out of the warmth of our office to go somewhere for lunch during the winter. Kokapelli Deli is good reason.
Keys Cafe & Bakery | Woodbury, Minnesota
StandardWhile anyone who follows me on Instagram has probably figured out that I’ve become a regular at Not Justa Cafe’s Sunday Brunch, we were on a bit of a time crunch and trying to stay near boyfriend’s house. With the demise/closing of the Perkins a couple months ago we were at a loss until we remembered Key’s Cafe & Bakery and how everytime we drive by it we say, “we should go there.” Well, mission finally completed.
Flagsmash | La Doña Cerveceria Minneapolis
StandardMeister’s Bar and Grill | Stillwater, Minnesota
StandardMeister’s Bar and Grill in Stillwater has been a tradition of boyfriend’s family for as long as he can remember. When we were out and about in Stillwater, it seemed like the perfect dinner stop.
Best Cheese Curds In Minnesota | National Cheese Curd Day
StandardToday is a day that will live in infamy..annually. Cheese is life and there is literally no food I love more than cheese curds. I probably have reviewed or took photos of cheese curds more than anything else in the history of Hipster Hack so I am going to properly document National Cheese Curd Day by sharing them all in one post for your viewing (and drooling) pleasure. Continue reading
Tony Jaros Burger Dive | Northeast Minneapolis
StandardBurger Dive is the new name of the kitchen operation at Tony Jaros Rivergarden, similar to how Smack Shack runs the kitchen at 1029 (another Northeast gem), Smack Shack chef, Josh Thoma partnered with chef Nick O’Leary (Borough, Coup d-etat, and Travail) to rejuvenate the food at this classic Northeast dive bars.
You can read the full Tony Jaros Rivergarden Hipster Hack HERE. It also looks like a second Burger Dive location will be opening up in Rosedale Center’s second attempt at a Food Hall so stay tuned there! Continue reading
MN Nice Cream | Northeast Minneapolis
StandardI’ve been staring at photos from MN Nice Cream on Instagram for, well, YEARS and I’ve passed it driving more times than I can count so when my sister went to the new Stillwater location before I got there and rubbed it in my face, it was game on! Luckily, during our annual brewery crawl this year we started at MN Nice’s nextdoor neighbor, Able Seedhouse + Brewery giving me the perfect opportunity!