Title Boxing

Jab jab cross, jab jab cross! 

Today was my first boxing class.  What a good cross body workout.  My husband bought the groupon deal for a month of unlimited classes at Title Boxing in Woodbury, and they offer the first class free for all new students so I attended tonight's class with him.  The class consisted of calisthenics to start out with, then moved on to throwing punches at the punching bag, and finished with an ab workout.  It was fun to wrap my hands and put on the boxing gloves.  It was also fun to punch the bag...I guess I have a punching bag somewhere.  One of those really random purchases that you think you'll actually use.  Riiiiiiight.  You know what I'm talking about.  Anyway, I really liked the class.  It was high energy and fast paced.  I'm a huge fan of classes because it keeps my brain occupied and the hour always seems to pass quicker than if I was making up my own workout in the gym.  While I'm not sure if Title Boxing has the best business plan, I just truly liked the boxing workout.   I highly recommend it.  And I highly recommend checking out any specialized studio in general (yoga, cycling, cross fit).  A lot of them offer the first class for free so you can see if you are actually interested before you fork out money and are committed. 

Rosa Mexicano

Time for happy hour! This is always one of the highlights of my month. Hanging out with my extended family, catching up, eating good food, downing some good drinks.   Today we went to Rosa Mexicano in downtown Minneapolis. 

Their claim to fame is their fresh guacamole.  It's prepared fresh for you, at your table.  They use avocados, cilantro, jalapenos, salt, and tomatoes.  While it is a little on the chunky side, it is delicious.  And the chips are also excellent.  The guac is unlimited servings during happy hour.  We may have had 3 bowl-fulls for 5 people :P

 They also have excellent drinks.  Sangria and margaritas are only $5 during happy hour (4pm - 6pm).  They have appetizers and other cocktails on special as well for happy hour.  I had a margarita and a mojito.  Definitely hit the spot.

 I think my favorite thing at this restaurant was the pork tacos.  The pork is perfectly braised and pulled apart.  It's also served with grilled pineapple in a skillet.  They make their own tortillas.  I actually decided to forgo the tortillas and just mix in the left over guac with the pork and pineapple.  What. A. Perfect. Combo.  Yum.

It was a wonderful place to hang out and the service was great.  I ordered the kahlua espresso flan to bring home to my husband.  I would include a picture, but it didn't exactly travel well...  But I can attest that it was totally delicious. 

Check out their menu at www.rosamexicano.com

They even have gluten-free menu!

Otters Saloon

Karaoke, drinks, fun.  It's that simple.  Otters saloon is one of many bars to hit in Northeast Minneapolis.  It's pretty much a hole in the wall bar that only serves frozen pizza, beer, and liquor.  You definitely don't go there for the food, you go for the karaoke!  They have a huge list of songs to choose from and real talent, thankfully, is not necessary.  It's just a great place to let loose and have a fun time.  It's typically packed on a Saturday night with a full line-up of patrons sharing their vocals on our favorite songs.

I had my first karoake experience here on Saturday night.  My sister and I decided to challenge ourselves and do something totally unexpected.  We threw down with "Lose Yourself" by Eminem.  This is actually one of my anthems before races to mind me to seize the moment, give it my all, and don't hold back because you never know if you'll get a chance to achieve your goal.  It seemed appropriate and hopefully brought up my "cool" factor with my younger siblings a little bit.

I recommend this bar.  It was really fun.  They also have some fun deals and events throughout the week.  And they have TVs to feature our favorite sporting events.

Check out their website at http://www.otterssaloon.com/

Beer Dabbler

You might have guessed by now that I choose to forget that beer is generally not gluten-free.  I like the taste of beer and truly enjoy the huge variety of beers available, the start-up/small business mentality of craft breweries, the creativity and ingenuity that goes into brewing craft beers, and the pure geniusness of combining three of my favorite flavors in this world:  dark beer, coffee, and chocolate.  So no, I will not be giving up beer. 

Now on to Beer Dabbler business!

First of all, let's talk attire and supplies.  This year we really stepped up our game with the snack necklaces.

Ingredients:

• meat sticks
• string cheese
• salted nut rolls
• pretzels - regular, chocolate covered, peanut butter covered, cheesy pretzel crisps
• fruit snacks
• chicken nuggets.  Yes.
• random other snack food

We made our necklaces, packed on as many layers as we could, and went to the fair grounds where the Beer Dabbler was held this year.

Unfortunately it was super freezing cold out.  The beer was freezing in the cups and in the keg lines.  I really applaud the brewers for their ingenuity, though.  Knowing how cold it was going to be, some of the brewers offered hot beers.  The one I tried was a hot chocolate milk stout from Badger Hill and it was divine.   My brothers told me this morning that they tried a hot rhubarb infused beer.  I love the creativity.  The other stand out of the night was Pure hard cider.  I didn't get around to many brewers because it was just too darn cold for me.  My sister, husband, and I took off around 5:30 to go warm up.

Unfortunately we also don't have many pictures from the event either because our phones didn't work in the cold or we just couldn't justify taking off our gloves to capture the moment.  We were just trying to survive the moment.

In sum, I applaud the creativity and variety of the beers at the dabbler, but I feel that the execution was a bust.  With nowhere to go inside and warm up, the cold was just too unbearable to stick it out for 4 hours and get around to all the desired breweries.  I'll have to just go to the summer one instead. 

Healthy Twist on Old Favorites

Sweet Potato Fries

Ingredients:
Sweet potatoes
Avocado or olive oil
Sea salt

1.  Peel the skin off of the sweet potato(s).
2.  Cut the sweet potato into the shape of fries.  Make sure they aren't too thick.
3.  Drizzle a little oil on the fries and make sure evenly coated.  Don't drench them though.
4.  Sprinkle sea salt and any other desired seasoning.
5.  Spread the fries evenly on a baking sheet.
6.  Broil the fries until the edges are a brown and crispy.

Seriously.  That easy.  Start to finish is only about 10-15 minutes.  This is way healthier than what you'd find in the freezer aisle.  Definitely more fresh.  And probably the same time commitment.

Superfood Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp raw cocoa powder
2 tsp coconut sugar
2 tsp maca
1 tsp cinnamon
pinch of salt
pinch of cayenne pepper
pinch of ginger
1 cup almond milk

1.  Mix all dry ingredients together
2.  Heat almond milk over the stove top (do not exceed 118 degrees)
3.  Once the milk is heated, whisk in the dry ingredients.

If you like a little chili with your chocolate, this is for you.  The flavor profile is so rich and intricate.  It's a serious winter treat.  It's not super sweet so you many need to add a little honey or more coconut sugar than the recipe calls for.  I like this recipe especially because it's an excellent mix of healthy food.

Almond milk packs a calcium punch - much more than regular milk.
Maca helps to cope with stress and stabilizes mood and energy
Cocoa powder is rich in magnesium and enhances physical and mental well-being
Cinnamon aides digestion
Ginger lowers blood pressure
Cayenne reduces inflammation and boosts the immune system

I also got this recipe from the same blog as yesterday's post - http://www.mynewroots.org

So....this would probably be amazing if you added a little Baileys.  Just sayin'. 

Bread!

After coming back from Arizona, I have a bit of the winter blues.  Time for more baking and comfort food!  My friend was kind enough to send me this bread recipe from an amazing blog.  I'm having fun exploring the blog and getting ideas for new and creative recipes.  Best thing about this bread:  I already have most of these ingredients so I can just whip it up!  

It's super healthy, gluten-free, easy, and tasty!

The Life-Changing Loaf of Bread
Makes 1 loaf

1 cup sunflower seeds
½ cup flax seeds
½ cup hazelnuts or almonds
1 ½ cups rolled oats
2 Tbsp. chia seeds
4 Tbsp. psyllium seed husks (3 Tbsp. if using psyllium husk powder)
1 tsp. fine grain sea salt
1 Tbsp. pure maple syrup (for sugar-free diets, use a pinch of stevia)
3 Tbsp. coconut oil or ghee, melted
1 ½ cups water

In a loaf pan, combine all dry ingredients. Whisk maple syrup, oil and water together in a separate bowl. Add mixture to the dry ingredients and combine until everything is completely soaked and dough becomes very thick, adding 1-2 teaspoons water if dough is too thick to stir. Smooth top and let sit at room temperature for at least 2 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Bake bread for 20 minutes, then remove bread from loaf pan, place it upside down, directly on a rack, and bake for another 30-40 minutes (it should sound hollow when tapped). 

Let cool completely before slicing.

http://www.mynewroots.org/site/2013/02/the-life-changing-loaf-of-bread/ 

Here are the changes I made to the recipe:  

• 1 tbsp cinnamon

•  I didn't have enough sunflower seeds so I substituted for 1/2 cup amaranth 1/2 cup various nuts
• I didn't have psyllium seed husks so I just didn't put it in
• 1 tsp vanilla
• I also decided to heat up a frozen banana and mash it and mix it in

So here's the deal.  I think this is delicious, but it doesn't have much structural integrity.  I'm hoping if I let it cool completely and refrigerate it, that'll help.  I put a little syrup on it and that was good.  Once it's a little more firm I intend to keep the nut idea going and put peanut butter on top. 

Restaurant Week - February 23-28

I am happy to announce that Minneapolis/St. Paul's first restaurant week of the year is fast approaching!  If you have not participated in this joyous event or don't even know what it is, I would be happy to inform you.

You know those restaurants that are just too expensive to justify spending the money on?  Well they are precisely why you should participate in restaurant week.  Here's the deal:  some of the top, upscale restaurants in the Metro create an abbreviated menu and offer their amazing food at affordable prices.  Lunches range from $10-20 and dinners range from $15-$30.  This is usually a deep discount from their normal prices.  Included in the price is an appetizer, entree, and dessert to choose from.  This is a great way to check out the restaurant and enjoy the food without breaking the bank.

The first restaurant week experience I had was at Oceanaire.  I would probably not eat here under normal circumstances due to the price, but we decided to check it out during restaurant week last year.  I got the crab cakes for my appetizer, the swordfish for my entree, and the peach cobbler for my dessert.  Everything was completely amazing.  The restaurants generally have 2-4 items in each category to choose from.  You can also order anything else you want from the menu, but the appetizer, entree, and dessert are generally big enough portions to fill you up.

I highly recommend participating in restaurant week.  And I highly recommend getting reservations well in advance of when you want to go out.  These places fill up super quick and it's tough to get in even with a week's notice.  Check out the list of participating restaurants at this link. http://mspmag.com/Contests-And-Promotions/Folder/Restaurant-Week/ As it gets closer to restaurant week, the restaurants will start posting their menus to help you decide which ones to target.  But like I said, you might not want to wait that long to make a reservation.  I suppose you can always make a few reservations and cancel once you see the posted menus and decide on one, though.  

Again, I love this event and it's a must-do for me and my husband.

Bon apetit!
 

Wine and Canvas

I LOVE creating things.  It gives me such a high.  Last year for my birthday, my sister purchased tickets to a wine and canvas event.  I hadn't heard of it before, but was excited to do something creative with her.  It's really a genius idea.   A local artist teaches you step by step how to paint a picture as you eat food and drink wine at a great restaurant.  I've actually done this twice now.  If I had more free wall space, I'd do it more often!

Here's the deal: you go to their website, select a painting that you want to paint, go to the hosting restaurant, order some food and wine, sit down at your station, take instruction from the artist, and paint an awesome picture!  They have all of the supplies - canvas, paint, brushes, water.  It's $35 and takes about 3 hours.

Here are the two pictures I painted:

Check out their website at http://www.wineandcanvas.com/minneapolis-mn/16-minneapolis-mn/112-home.html and sign up for a picture.  The calendar/painting selection is updated once a month on the 20th of the month.  Spots fill up quickly so get on the ball to schedule the event.  This is such an excellent outing with friends, coworkers, family, or a date!  No talent is necessary because the artist breaks it down step by step, stroke by stroke.  They tell you which brush size to use, which color to use, and walk around and give one on one instruction as well.  The finished product usually turns out great and it's so rewarding to have painted something worthy of hanging on your wall! 

They also have cookies and canvas for kids!

Tip:  Don't over think or overwork your painting.  Just go and have fun and trust your brush strokes.  Remember, you are going step by step so it really doesn't come together until the very end. 

Phoenix, AZ

I may have been "made in Minnesota", but I was made for Arizona.  I feel like for at least four months out of the year in Minnesota, I'm just in survival mode.  But in Arizona, I can thrive and really feel alive.  I thankfully was able to spend this last weekend in Phoenix visiting my grandparents, uncle, and cousins.  It was 75 and sunny the whole time and I could not have been happier or more content.

Since my grandparents live in Phoenix and my mom grew up there, I've been there several times.  I've hiked the grand canyon, spent a few weeks in Sedona, and spent a few weekends in Phoenix at my grandparents' house.  But this weekend was different than all of the others.  We stayed at a resort in Scottsdale and just visited with family throughout the weekend instead of living with them.  We had the most amazing trip.  If you find yourself in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, I highly recommend the following:

Gordon Biersch
Gordon Biersch is a brew pub with several locations throughout Phoenix.  They have a great selection of beers as well as excellent food.  During a previous visit, I ate here and had the pizza.  This time I had the ahi tuna salad.  I've heard their burgers are epic.  I also had a flight of beer.  It's really the best way to go.  I love variety.

The Yardhouse
I went to the Yardhouse and had the extreme pleasure of sitting out on the patio here all day.  They have over 100 beers on tap!!!!!!  You can do a flight or order a pint of whatever you like.  They have such a variety of styles and flavors.  If you like beer, this is for sure a must.  They also have fantastic cocktails.

Angel's Trumpet
Angel's Trumpet is a fantastic restaurant near downtown Phoenix.  The restaurant has indoor seating that opens up to an outdoor patio.  It cools off quite a bit at night so they have several heaters on hand for the patio.  They have several beers on tap to choose from which pair wonderfully with the menu items.  I ordered the butternut squash/pork belly pizza and my husband ordered the beef brisket tacos with mango chutney and guac.  Sooooo delicious.  My only issue with this place is that we waited forever to get seated because we had a party of 10.  They are extremely popular, even for a late dinner so it's hard for a large party to get seated in a timely manner.  But the food is soooo worth it.  They also have excellent poutine and burgers.  

The Deuce
The Deuce is an eclectic bar in Phoenix.  It's basically a huge warehouse with a bunch of games set up.  They have boxing, bags, a number of different things set up around the warehouse that you can play for free.  They also have expertly concocted cocktails. 

Scottsdale farmers market
I ended up going here alone and I was completely giddy and almost teary eyed from joy the entire time I was here.  I LOOOOOVE farmers markets.  It was better than any one I had been to in Minnesota.  They had a ton of produce, baked goods, meals, and just anything and everything you would hope for at a farmers market.  I had tamales, flourless chocolate cake, white chocolate peanut butter, hummus, fruit.... so many amazing creations.  Located in Old Town Scottsdale on Saturdays from 8am to 1pm, this is an absolute must do.  Great prices and a ton of variety, I can't wait to go back.

Cartel
Coffee!!!!!!  What I like about this place is that they brew their own coffee and then they have some creative ways of brewing it. I did the V60 which is hand brewed and run through a strainer.  It was great.

Bootleggers
Meat.  I am a true carnivore.  Bootleggers is a smokehouse just north of Phoenix.  This is also a must do.  I had the best beef brisket sandwich of my life, ribs, and brisket/butternut squash chili, moonshine, and some very fun and tasty cocktails.  This was by far my favorite restaurant of the trip.

Echo Canyon
Echo canyon was just re-opened for hikers.  It's on the east side of Phoenix and boasts one of the highest peaks in the city.  This is a strenuous hike and is really more of a rock climbing adventure than anything.  It's as if there was a rock slide down the side of the mountain and you are climbing the boulders to the top.  We did see young kids doing this and I was really impressed.  It does require some mental stamina and guts to complete.  We started around 3:45 and hit the summit around 5.  We took some fun pictures and then worked our way down.  We finished at the perfect time to see the sun set.  I can't imagine a more perfect sunset - at the end of the trail, you look through a beautiful rock formation to the Phoenix skyline and the sun setting right behind it.  Seriously.

Squaw Peak
There are many paths to hike in this area.  From the trailhead, there are a bunch of different routes to take.  All have excellent views of the surrounding area.  This is really more of a hike than a rock climbing adventure which was nice.  But my quads were still blown afterward :P


I also had the pleasure of touring Luke Air Force Base and watching the F16s take off and land, laying out at the pool at our resort, test driving motorcycles, spending quality time with my grandparents, and eating a wonderfully crafted dinner with my brothers, husband, and cousins.

I could not have planned a better trip if I had tried.  Truly what I needed.  I need to starting plotting my next escape to visit my old friend, the sun.

Marin

One of the newest additions to downtown Minneapolis' restaurant scene is Marin.  Finally, a restaurant that gives me confidence that I am actually eating a healthy meal.

I went to Marin for happy hour with my family.  What I was impressed by first was the menu which includes not only interesting food options, but nutrition information as well! Caloric content as well as gluten free and vegan indicators are included for each item on the menu. 

These are the happy hour deals:  $2 off wine by the glass, tap beer, and well drinks.  They also have $5 flatbreads. Happy hour runs each weekday from 3-6pm. 
 
I actually ordered from the dinner menu.  The dinner menu features salads, small plates, flat breads, sides, and entrees.  The prices are actually really reasonable for this upscale restaurant with generous portions and delicious food.  I definitely want to go back; there are so many amazing and unique things to try!

I ended up ordering a salad for dinner which was delicious.  They really take nutrition into account which is a breath of fresh air.  It was packed with veggies and olives and the dressing was served on the side.  For a salad, it was quite filling which I appreciated.  Others in my party ordered flatbreads, the hummus and pita plate, grilled asparagus.  All got rave reviews.  It appears that this menu changes frequently which adds some fun mystery to it.  I would also like to point out the fun cocktails, smoothies, and natural refreshments drinks on the menu.

I highly recommend Marin and look forward to going back myself.  This is really the first restaurant I've found where the chef makes the meal as healthy as possible.  
 
Check out their website at www.marinrestaurant.com/

Butternut Squash - Orange is the new White

Butternut squash is probably my favorite food right now.  It's been fun to experiment with different ways to prepare it.  I've also been enjoying looking up new ideas for recipes on pinterest.  It's a healthy comfort food that works well with so many different seasonings that help boost its flavor profile.  Check out two new easy recipes for butternut squash below. 

Here is my "recipe" for mashed butternut squash:

Ingredients:  apple, onion, butternut squash, butter, pure maple syrup, seasoning (cumin, nutmeg, cinnamon, curry, salt).

1.  Wash the squash, cut it in half, spray with Pam and sprinkle salt, and lay face down on a pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour.

2.  Cut up an apple and an onion and saute in butter.  Season with curry, cinnamon, nutmeg, cumin, and a little salt.

3.  When the squash is done baking, scrape off the skin and either mash the remaining squash or put into a food processor.  Add more of the seasonings to taste and a little pure maple syrup.

4.  Blend with the apple and onion that you sauteed.

5.  Enjoy!  This seriously beats mashed potatoes any day.  I love the mix of sweet and savory in this recipe.  Way healthier than mashed potatoes with milk, sour cream, and butter. 

Note:  for a little healthier version, instead of sauteing the apples and onions, put them in a food processor until they are quite fine.  Then add the squash and seasoning and blend all together. This eliminates the butter all together.

Butternut Squash Muffins

Ingredients:
3/4 cup pureed butternut squash
1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
3 eggs
1 Tablespoon clarified butter or coconut oil, melted
1.5 cup blanched almond flour
1/3 teaspoon sea salt
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2.  In a food processor or with a mixer, combine puree, honey or maple syrup, clarified butter or coconut oil and eggs. Combine well.

3. Add seasonings and baking soda. Combine again until smooth.

4.  Stir in almond flour until no lumps remain.

5.  Evenly distribute batter amongst oiled or paper lined muffin pan.

6.  Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until muffins are completely set and a knife or toothpick comes out clean.

7.  Cool 10-15 minutes in the pan (especially important if you’re using a silicon one) and remove to a cooling rack.

I just took these out of the oven and they are fantastic.  I didn't put in all of the syrup and I added nutmeg.  I think these would be even more amazing if I had honey butter.  I think these will make a great addition to breakfast as they are mostly eggs, veggies, and nuts.  Add some sausage and a side of apple and that's a perfect breakfast for me!  Maybe next time I'll add some pureed apples to the muffins and omit even more of the syrup. My husband - who generally appreciates more mainstream tastes - liked these too!

Rock Bottom Brewery

While Rock Bottom Brewery is kind of a run of the mill brew pub, I do enjoy going there for a drink and a bite.  If you find yourself in Downtown Minneapolis on Hennepin Avenue and need a reasonably placed restaurant with good food and good beer, check out Rock Bottom Brewery.  I've been here several times and have enjoyed each dining experience.  My favorite food item on the Rock Bottom menu is for sure the fish tacos.  I've also had the pulled pork sandwich and the avocado chicken sandwich which were both delicious. 

 

There are still several items on the menu I'd love to try.   Hm...I'm definitely thinking this chocolate stout cupcake falls into that category. 

My favorite reason to go to Rock Bottom is that they brew a coconut chai stout in the winter that is definitely on my top ten list of beers.  They have growlers of their beer for sale so if you find one you like, you can bring it home!

Also checkout Rock Bottom Brewery in the Minneapolis airport.

Edgerton Bakery

The Edgerton Roll.  <sigh>

Many a Sunday morning has begun with my family gathered around the table enjoying what is probably the best cinnamon roll ever.  This fried cinnamon roll with maple/brown sugar/crack/mystery frosting would absolutely make the list of top 10 donuts in the metro if this bakery was located in the Metro.  You have to travel to Edgerton, MN (Southwest MN) for this scrumptious treat.  My grandparents happen to live in that area so they still supply us with these famous rolls every once in a while.  Those conversations seem to go something like this:

(Dad) Do you guys want some Edgerton Rolls?

(sister) NOOOOOOOO

(brother)  Yep.

(other brother) Yes!

(me) I want one...  ugh.

(Dad) Just one dozen?

(me) No!  Just one

(Dad)  You know they don't sell them that way.  You are getting a dozen.

(me) <sigh>

Upon receipt, I tuck them deep into the deep freeze. They sit in my freezer taunting me. Unfortunately I prefer to eat them frozen anyway so this isn't much of a barrier to giving in and devouring it. That's why they go in the deep freeze.  I have to let it thaw for a couple minutes before I can eat it.  By that time I have snapped out of my hypnosis and can tuck it back into the freezer.    I can only imagine how many miles I'd have to run to burn off those calories. But sometimes I  grab one out of the freezer and allow myself a whiff of the divine scent of fried sugar... and then I get to lick the frosting remnants from my fingers after I place it back in the wrapping... but I digress.

If you plan a road trip to the Edgerton Bakery, and I highly recommend that you do, call ahead to reserve your bounty.  One does not simply walk into the bakery and purchase an Edgerton roll.  These fly off the shelf.  If they even make it to the shelf. 

I honestly have no idea what else this bakery makes.  Dedicating all of the bakery's resources to making "the Edgerton Roll" seems like a solid business plan to me. 

You are welcome. 

Bull Run Coffee Bar

I've been enjoying a weekend of coffee dates!  My brother was passing through the Cities this morning so I figured I'd kill two birds with one stone by seeing him and crossing a coffee shop off the top 10 list.  I keep talking about this list.  Check it out at http://blogs.citypages.com/food/2011/12/top_10_coffeehouses_twin_cities.php. 

Yesterday I wrote about Cahoots.  I guess I got my lists mixed up.  That was on the list of top 5 late-night coffee shops in St. Paul, not the top 10 coffeehouses in the Twin Cities.  Regardless, worth visiting for sure.

We traveled to Uptown and checked out Bull Run Coffee Bar on Lyndale.  The hipsters know their coffee.  I started with the Boone's Beard: vanilla, coriander, espresso, almond milk, and black Hawaiian sea salt.  That was absolutely delicious.  They also have five other specialties on their menu in addition to all the normal coffee drinks you would expect from a coffee shop.  They also have an assortment of baked goods.  My husband had the chocolate croissant and reported that while there wasn't enough chocolate in it for his taste, the actual croissant was one of the best he's had. 

After my first drink, I decided just to get regular coffee.  I was very happily surprised that it was on the house since I had already purchased something!  Free coffee refills....regardless of what you ordered to drink the first time!  Sometimes it's the little things that make all the difference...  I think this will be a very enjoyable journey.  And added bonus:  coffee dates are way cheaper than lunch, dinner, or happy hour dates!

Cahoots Coffee Shop

I just started drinking coffee this past October; I don't know why.  I guess it took that long to finally get used to the bitterness of coffee.  Now that I know I like it, I have a goal of visiting all of the coffee shops on the City Pages list of top 10 coffeehouses in the Twin Cities.  I was planning a get together with some friends and figured this would be the perfect time to start attacking the top 10 list.   I picked Cahoots because it best suited our geographical needs. 

The five us us (and two babies) met at Cahoots on the corner of Snelling and Selby in St. Paul this morning.  I got there early to vet it out (in case Cahoots was busy or had a weird vibe, I was going to wave the white flag and retreat to the familiar Starbucks across the street).  I tried the house dark roast since that seems to be my favorite at other places.  It was delicious and definitely hit the spot.  Cahoots also has a variety of fun lattes:  egg nog, mocha mint, lavendar white mocha, etc.  They also have Turkish coffee.  I had never seen this on a menu and didn't even know what it was.  Apparently Turkish coffee refers to a method of preparing coffee.  Ground coffee is boiled in a pot and then served in a cup where the grounds are allowed to settle.  It's thick and really packs a punch.  It's served in a small tea cup.  I LOVED it.  I love trying new things, especially when a place has a specialty.  I highly recommend this if you truly enjoy the taste of coffee or if you are just looking for a strong caffeine boost.  And can I just say, somebody needs to make a porter or a stout beer with this.  I can't think of a better marriage of flavors to enjoy. 

 

Cahoots also offers a small menu.  They have baked goods, a hummus plate, and a few other items to enjoy while you sip their delicious coffee.  Two of my friends ordered the quiche and reported it was good and had a little spicy kick.  Another friend had the chili which was also good. 

Overall verdict:  I will absolutely go back.  I loved the unique coffee items on the menu and it was very cute and quaint.  My friends and I ended up spending about 4 hours there and enjoyed our time.  I'm glad we gave this a shot instead of retreating to Starbucks! 

Beer Dabbler Tool Kit

On January 25th, over 150 micro breweries will gather at the state fair grounds and invite us hearty Minnesotans to sample their beer.  All of it.  Outside in the cold.  This is known as the Beer Dabbler.  In addition to the insane variety of craft beer to try, gourmet food trucks and live bands will also be featured.  My family and I intend to be there.  And I intend to survive the Beer Dabbler.  If you are planning to go, consider the Beer Dabbler toolkit:

Snack Necklace
          
           
 
In case you get overly excited about the hundreds of beers to try and you forget to visit the food trucks, it is pretty clutch to have some carbs and protein hanging around your neck to snack on as you drink. Call it "beer tasting chic". Every serious dabbler has one.  These pictures are my inspiration this year.  Last year we just did regular pretzel necklaces.  I think we can step it up a notch this year.  You'll have to check back on January 26 to see what we came up with.

Fake mustache - added warmth.   

Water bottle - obviously.

Thermos - It's cold outside.  Bring some coffee, tea, or hot chocolate to help stay warm.

Full snow gear - Toe warmers, hand warmers, hats, gloves, snow pants, boots.  Just make sure you can figure out all the layers while in the port-a-johns.

Pouch for tasting cup - It's really hard to hold onto a small tasting glass with ginormous padded gloves... Extra glasses cost $5. 

Smart phone with voice command - You'll need to dictate which are your favorite beers so you can find them again.

Tasting strategy - You just can't try every single one of the beers.  I don't even think the 4 hours allotted is enough time anyway.  Maybe target certain breweries or styles of beer so you don't go rogue and have too much.  I'm going to only hit the porters and maybe some stouts.

Book a cab in advance or arrange for a ride home.  Unfortunately since it's at the fair grounds, there isn't a convenient restaurant or place to walk to to sober up.