@JDeRusha wants you to join Team Hunger, @France44Cheese revives the apple-honey-cheese sandwich (so good!), @TroutCaviar finds sheep sorrel at a new location, @AsherBMiller reminds of the last Open Field event this summer, @GrovelandTap welcomes its soon-to-be neighbor, Scusi, and @CTKitchenTable seeks volunteers to pick veggies this weekend for the next @TourdeFarm event.
It’s not clear that 20.21, the Wolfgang Puck-controlled restaurant in the Walker Art Center, needed any more elegance or luxury, but, there you have it: They’ve added a simple but chic new patio lounge. The roughly 30-person dining area includes room for a bar area and overlooks either the Hennepin / Lyndale / highway traffic tangle (less charitable reading) or the Basilica of St. Mary and the Downtown Minneapolis skyline (more charitable reading).
Last night’s press event showed off the space under ideal conditions: It was 80 degrees and slightly breezy with a 100 percent change of exquisitely made Asian-themed appetizers and small, colorful, nicely balanced cocktails. Shumai topped with red peppers (and sitting atop mild but flavorful mustard) were a particular treat. Chef Asher Miller (below) was available for mingling when he wasn’t racing around his kitchen, appeasing the demands of a busy dining room.
Last year, Gastro Non Grata added their own gourmet spin to Northeast Minneapolis’ Art-a-Whirl weekend with a modest party in the Modern Cafe’s parking lot. This year, they returned with an even bigger event, with double the bands, even more pork, and Fulton Beer pouring their IPA for the crowd.

Official Gastro Non Grata belt buckle. Cold, hard service industry cred. Soleil Ho / Heavy Table

Band line-up for the day. Soleil Ho / Heavy Table

The beginnings of the Pabst Blue Ribbon mural on the wall behind the Modern Cafe. Soleil Ho / Heavy Table

The Modern's 16-foot concrete block barbecue pit, built especially for the event. Soleil Ho / Heavy Table

Jeff Mitchell and Craig Drehmel interviewed by MPLS.TV. Soleil Ho / Heavy Table

Gastro's freak flags flew at the merchandise table. Soleil Ho / Heavy Table

Carnitas taco with Raleigh's salsa and all the fixin's. Soleil Ho / Heavy Table

The bouncer was contractually obligated to stay in that exact spot for all 9 hours. Soleil Ho / Heavy Table

A mess of tacos. Pork was from Six Point Ranch and served with queso fresco and pinto beans. Soleil Ho / Heavy Table

Mitchell sitting on the extra merchandise. The day quickly began to deteriorate from this point forward. Soleil Ho / Heavy Table

International Espionage, your neighborhood purveyors of spy rock. Exceeded everyone's expectations of costumed musicians. Soleil Ho / Heavy Table

This guy just showed up and interpretive danced his way into all of our hearts. Soleil Ho / Heavy Table

Cokewolf just screamed at us a lot. Soleil Ho / Heavy Table

It turns out that the PBR was growing tentacles? Soleil Ho / Heavy Table

Aaron Landry / Heavy Table
Today for lunch, Sea Salt Eatery — the casual seafood stand located in Minneapolis’ Minnehaha Park — reopened after a winter hiatus.

Aaron Landry / Heavy Table
Last autumn, Heavy Table photographer Becca Dilley teamed up with Heavy Table contributor Sarah McGee and took a remarkable series of photos at a Wisconsin cranberry bog. The shots, featuring a model immersed in and / or surrounded by ripe floating berries, are a remarkable (heck, probably unique) intersection of fashion photography and Upper Midwestern food culture. You can see more shots — including a dramatic cranberry fairy princess photo — over at Becca’s blog. You can also read our story about cranberry pollination — again, featuring Becca’s photos from the Wetherby Cranberry Company of Warrens, Wisconsin.

Katie Cannon / Heavy Table
Whether it’s butternut, hubbard, or plain ol’ pumpkins you crave, winter squash are at the ready at local farmers markets. Unsure which squash to buy or how to prepare them? Remember Tammy Wong’s tips for navigating the farmers market, including her advice to ask vendors about their vegetables and how to prepare them. In addition, look for winter squash recipes on the Heavy Table in the upcoming weeks.













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