She toasted a baguette in the skillet and gave it a healthy spread of horseradish mayo then thin sliced the leftover venison (see previous post). I caramelized some thick cuts of sweet onion and we assembled with shavings of cheese and some of Jeremy's homemade pickles.
Leftovers - 8.9/10
Dinner on the patio with some friends.
We met up with Jeremy and Amanda for a little teamwork dinner. They included a sous vide venison roast caramelized with a blow torch. We included my Pixar style ratatouille and her new zucchini salad. Of course the food was excellent and the day was beautiful, but in the end it's...
Dinner with friends 10/10
We've got a new supplier of tubular meats in our neighborhood! Dave's Popcorn is out and Milk Jam is in. In 14 years in the neighborhood I'd never visited Dave's Popcorn and always kind of wondered how it was surviving. Had a lovely time on one of their picnic benches on a beautiful day.
The all beef dogs were satisfying with a nice pop when you bit in and a great flavor. The highlight though, was the buns. Firm with a great bite, they hold the toppings and are perfectly proportioned to the fillings. Excited to try all the offerings. CC only.
Just glad you're here/10
On a stick
Standing on the "Veranda" listening to music and watching the evening
Priceless/10
Normally I start with the pictures and then move into the descriptions but I feel like on this occasion I will be better served by immediate descriptions and an initial review.
Going to the MN State Fair - Happy/10
I was a little shocked when she stopped at the French Meadow building. It's not a place I would normally stop or expect her to. Turns out she heard that they were doing "Earth Wings" and we just happened to trip over it first. Fresh cauliflower pieces dipped in a seasoned batter, deep-fried and smothered in organic sesame BBQ sauce. Vegan and gluten-free. The sauce was good but I wanted them to be more crispy
Trying new things/10
Pronto Pup Some say the corn dog is better, I say at the State Fair there is only one.
∞/10
Corn Roast. The poor girl was standing there holding this gloriously caramelized (apparently everyone else thought it was burnt) corn and I happily freed her from the burden.
Sweeeeeet/10
Big Fat Bacon, on a stick, enough said.
She wished we had gone back/10
TURDUCKEN SAUSAGE They call it a blend of turkey, duck and chicken served on a fennel bun and accompanied by a side of Giggles’ sweet and saucy relish.
I called it Meh/10
The Blue Barn Iron Range Pierogies with Horseradish sauce and a Strawberry Mint Fro-Le made with frozen strawberry lemonade and fresh mint, "adults only." The pierogies had a nice bite and the horseradish sauce was mild.
Just a little interlude/10
Beef kabob at Mickey's Grill and Kabobs is located behind the giant slide and across from the Agricultural building. She noticed it after getting some fries and on our way to the skyride. It sat in the back of her mind for the rest of the evening and, after catching some music, was our last stop of the day.
Perfect desert/10
Typical dinner for us. We gave the pork chops a quick marinade and on to the grill. I wanted to make rice with onions and broth and was welcomed with a perfectly savory version of our favorite side dish. We backed it up with a salad of greens, olives tomatoes, and peppers.
Who says you need to go out for good food - 8.8/10
On the last morning of an excellent weekend in IA we took a stroll to St. Kilda for breakfast and totally didn't regret it. We each tried different things, Including Nate and his $13.00 "toast". I suspect that they call it toast to freak out the old guard in an Iowa town that anyone would pay that much. The reality (in the bottom picture) was a mound of heirloom tomatoes, a perfect poached egg, and a beautiful smattering of other bits and pieces. My huevos rancheros and her salmon were similarly ample and delicious. They're a trendy modern restaurant in a sexy warehouse space and they emphasize their farm fresh and sustainable ethos. This ethos was in extra evidence in that they don't have straws, which would normally not be a problem, but are almost required in a Bloody Mary, which is what I had. All in all we liked it and it should get a better score.
St Kilda's - 8.0/10 (get paper straws for the Bloody Marys)
Needed a quick bite before heading out for the afternoon. I was given a couple slices of bread to toast in a skillet and she started slicing veggies and sorting greens and herbs. The protein was smoked steak and sliced chorizo. I decided to chunk up the remainder of the cucumber on the side.
Easy, satisfying, quick - 7.9/10
We've taken to tossing pasta together with whatever we have and calling it dinner. I was puttering around the kitchen and decided to start boiling water for pasta with no real idea where it was headed. As she came in the door I was just finishing prepping some Brussels sprouts and carrots to go into the pot for the last minute. She excitedly asked what was for dinner and what she could do? I gave her the rundown and she suggested some Tuna and finish it with some Tobiko butter. A lovely and satisfying dinner was born.
To teamwork - 7.9/10