This week in the Tap: Five Watt coffee goes into the packaged coffee beverage business, Brasserie Zentral celebrates asparagus, and Mon Petit Chéri hosts a Dumpling pop-up.
The Tap is a biweekly feature created by the Heavy Table and supported by Shepherd Song Farm. “We raise 100 percent grass-fed lambs & goats traditionally, humanely, and sustainably.”
The Tap is the metro area’s comprehensive restaurant buzz roundup, so if you see a new or newly shuttered restaurant, or anything that’s “coming soon,” email Tap editor James Norton at editor@heavytable.com.
Five Watt Coffee (launching Big Watt brand)
3745 Nicollet Ave S, Minneapolis
Five Watt, the acclaimed Kingfield coffee shop, is branching out. You’ll soon be able to get the shop’s Circuit Blender cold-press coffee in local restaurants and markets. Owners Caleb Garn and Lee Carter have teamed up with Jason Westplate, Alex Gese, and Shawn Person to create Big Watt, the company behind the expansion. The team hopes cans of Circuit Blender will be available in stores within the next couple of months.
Big Watt is also kegging Circuit Blender. Heyday in Uptown Minneapolis will soon boast the cold brew on tap, and other restaurants are interested in offering the smooth, fully loaded coffee.
The Big Watt team plans to offer flavored versions of cold press (in cans and kegs) in the near future.
Garn told us that Five Watt’s success, in its first year, has made it possible to launch the new company. “We had the idea [for Big Watt] early on, but we’ve been able to do it earlier than expected because of how well things have gone with the shop.” Finding the right partners was also a major motivation for launching the next phase. “Everybody brings their own strong, dynamic component that complements the group extremely well,” Carn said. “I’m super stoked for the future.” — Joshua Page
Brasserie Zentral (Celebrating Spargel Fest in May)
505 Marquette Ave S, Minneapolis
The German celebration of asparagus has gotten one restaurant closer to becoming a serious local trend; after years of Spargelfest at The Black Forest, the just-turned-a-year Brasserie Zentral is jumping on board and offering asparagus-themed dishes throughout May.
From the press release:
Menu items are available a la carte, and will rotate through the entire month of May. They will include items such as: White Asparagus Cream Soup with Hazelnuts; Butter Braised AAA White Asparagus with Scrambled Eggs and Osetra Caviar; Chicken Breast in Asparagus Lattice with Morel Mushrooms and Sauce Supreme; Potato Gnocchi with Asparagus & Rock Shrimp, Rabbit Loin with Grilled Asparagus Salad; and White Asparagus Ice Cream with Grilled Strawberries and Aged Balsamic.
Dumpling (Pop Up at Mon Petit Chéri Bakery)
2401 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis
From the press release:
Local catering team and local farmer’s market stand Dumpling will be serving up a small menu featuring hot bowls of ramen, panned fried gyoza, bánh mì sandwiches, and more at neighborhood bakery Mon Petit Cheri on May 1, 2015, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. There will be gluten free and vegetarian options available.
NOW OPEN
- Nighthawks, 3753 Nicollet Ave S, Minneapolis
- 56 Brewing, 3134 California St NE, Minneapolis
- Tamarack Tap Room, 8418 Tamarack Village, Woodbury
- Sidhe Brewing Company, 990 Payne Ave, St. Paul
- Grand Rounds Brewing Company, 4 3rd St SW, Rochester | April 15, 2015
- Breaking Bread Cafe, 1210 West Broadway, Minneapolis
- Cafe Racer Kitchen, 2929 E 25th St, Minneapolis | Our review
- Revival, 4257 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis | Our roundtable review
- Blackstone Bistro, 3808 Grand Way, St. Louis Park
- Emmett’s Public House, 695 Grand Ave, St. Paul (former Dixie’s on Grand party room)
- Vellee Deli, Baker Center at 109 S 7th St, Minneapolis
- Wabasha Brewing Company, 429 Wabasha St S, St. Paul
- Prairie Dogs, 610 W Lake St, Minneapolis | Our review and Our visit to the Prairie Dogs pop-up
- Shag Sushi, 730 Washington Ave N, Minneapolis
- Tinto Cocina + Cantina, 901 W Lake St, Minneapolis
CLOSED / CLOSING:
- Pairings in Minnetonka
- El Burrito Mercado (Midtown Global Market location)
- Umbria Pizza in Eden Prairie
- School II Bistro in Chanhassen
- Bars Bakery (both locations)
- Campus Pizza
- Curry ’n’ Noodles | Our review
- Modern Cafe
- Twisted Fork | Our review
- Nye’s Polonaise Room (closing 2015)
COMING UP:
Minneapolis
- Able Seedhouse and Brewery, 1121 Quincy St NE, Minneapolis | Winter 2015
- Lakes and Legends Brewing Company, 1368 Lasalle Ave, Minneapolis | Summer 2015
- Q Fanatic, South Metro, Minneapolis | Summer 2015 (second location)
- DiNoko’s Pizzeria, 42nd Ave and 45th St, Minneapolis | Summer 2015
- Eggy’s Diner, LPM Apartments, 1369 Spruce Pl, Minneapolis | Summer 2015
- Bryn Mawr Brewing, 225 Thomas Ave N, Minneapolis | Winter 2015
- Eastside, 301 Washington Ave S, Minneapolis | August 2015
- Monello and Constantine, Hotel Ivy 201 S 11th St, Minneapolis | June 2015
- 4 Bells, 1610 Harmon Place, Minneapolis | Summer 2015
- La Ceiba Bistro, 3500 Bloomington Ave S, Minneapolis | 2015
- Seward Co-op Creamery Neighborhood Cafe, 2601 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis | July 2015
- Parella, Calhoun Square | July 2015
- Hi-Lo Diner (working name), 4020 E Lake St, Minneapolis | Summer or Autumn of 2015
- Tattersall Distilling | Summer 2015
- St. Genevieve, 5003 Bryant Ave S, Minneapolis | Mid-2015
- Il Foro, City Center, Minneapolis | June 2015
- Seward Co-op Friendship Store, 317 38th St E | Summer 2015
- Upton43, 4312 Upton Ave, Minneapolis | September 2015
- Urban Forage Winery and Cider House, 3016 E Lake St, Minneapolis | Fall 2015
- Lost Falls Distillery, 1915 E 22nd St, Minneapolis | Early 2015
- Bradstreet Neighborhood Craftshouse, 1930 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis | Early 2015
- The Herbivorous Butcher, Minneapolis | Late Spring 2015
- Pizzeria Lola concept TBD, 165 13th Ave NE, Minneapolis | 2015
- The Bachelor Farmer Cafe Project To Be Named, 200 N 1st St, Minneapolis | 2015
St. Paul
- Lake Monster Brewing, 550 Vandalia St, St. Paul | 2015
- Ox Cart Ale House, 255 E. Sixth St., St. Paul | Summer 2015
- Bad Weather Brewing, 414 7th St W, St. Paul | 2015
- Colossal Cafe (third location) 1342 Grand Ave, St. Paul | April 2015
- Big River Pizza, Lofts at Farmers Market, St. Paul | June 2015
- Como Dockside Lakeside Pavilion, Como Park, St. Paul | May 2015
- Heirloom, Marshall and Cretin, St. Paul | June 2015
- Workhorse Coffee Bar, 2399 University Ave, St. Paul | Early 2015
- 11 Wells Millwright Cocktail Room, Historic Hamm Building, St. Paul | Spring 2015
- Lexington (new ownership), 1096 Grand Ave, St. Paul | Spring 2015
- Saint Dinette, 280 E 5th St, St. Paul | Early 2015
Greater Twin Cities Area and Beyond
- St. Croix Brewing Company, 114 Chestnut St E, Stillwater | 2015
- Valhalla Nordic Smoke and Ale House, 310 Stillwater Rd, Willernie | May 2015
- Angry Inch Brewing, 20841 Holyoke Ave, Lakeville | July 2015
- Ruscello, Minnetonka | October 2015
- 10K Brewing, Bank Block on Second and Main, Anoka | July 2015
- Gogi Bros. House, Shady Oak Retail Center, Eden Prairie | Spring 2015
- Crêpe and Cake, Plymouth | March 2015
- Gator’s Grilled Cheese Emporium, 955 E Sheridan, Ely | Spring 2015
- The King and I Thai (reopening), 760 Highway 110, Mendota Heights | 2015
- Wicked Wort Brewing Co., 4165-4175 W Broadway, Robbinsdale | Fall 2015
- Belle Vinez Winery, River Falls, Wis. | May 2015
The Tap is the Heavy Table’s guide to area restaurant openings, closings, and other major events. The Tap is compiled and published biweekly by the Heavy Table. If you have tips for The Tap, please email James Norton at editor@heavytable.com.
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