Each Friday, this list will track five of the best things Heavy Table’s writers, editors, and photographers have recently bitten or sipped. Have a suggestion for the Hot Five? Email editor@heavytable.com.
The Hot Five is a weekly feature created by the Heavy Table and supported by Shepherd Song Farm.
Mariscada at Sonora Grill
Call it India by way of Mexico. This incredibly rich, deeply flavored tomato and seafood stew is reminiscent of curry and comes with freshly made tortillas that recall paratha, plus coconut rice. This version of mariscada is rich with the taste of seafood without being fishy, and its shrimp are cooked properly — tender, not tough.
[Debuting on the Hot Five | Submitted by James Norton]
Mint Julep at Julep
Ever since learning how to make a proper mint julep from our Virginian roommate in Boston, we’ve been trying them in restaurants and bars, and nearly always finding them oversweet and disappointing. Madison’s newly opened Julep steps up to the plate and serves up a homer — the ice is beautifully crushed and scooped into a sphere, the bourbon flavor comes first, and while there’s definitely mint and sweetness, everything is in balance.
[Debuting on the Hot Five | Submitted from an Instagram post by James Norton]
Pork Sandwich at Tavern 4 & 5
The pork sandwich at Tavern 4 & 5 in Eden Prairie has a lot going on: tender, juicy pork tenderloin topped with a nutty Gruyere along with an apple-whiskey butter, spicy brown mustard, peppery arugula, and crisp onion straws. Sweet, savory, crisp, all on a soft French roll. Most satisfying, especially when you upgrade the side to the Tavern’s house tater tots.
[Debuting on the Hot Five | Submitted by Amy Rea]
Peking Duck (Three Tastes) at Peking Garden
The menu at St. Paul’s Peking Garden is a monstrous, dazzling, multi-faceted affair, but we were guided on our recent Green Line Checklist visit toward a clear highlight: the Peking Duck. For $31, you can have a whole duck prepared one of three ways: served with pancakes, greens, and hoisin (think moo shu); served as a stir fry over white rice; or served as a simple soup with greens. But for a mere $5 extra, you don’t have to choose — you can have your duck all three ways. Can and should. It turns a single enjoyable dish into a veritable feast. Although duck can be prepared in ways that render it overly fatty and / or cloyingly sweet, all of Peking Garden’s preparations are light and elegant.
[Last Week on the Hot Five: #1 | Submitted from an Instagram post by James Norton]
The Epi Baguette from Rustica Bakery
The epi is a baguette form well known to fans of classic bread, but rarely seen locally. It’s a wheat-stalk inspired collection of baguette chunks that can be torn off and treated like rolls. We found this at Seward Co-op’s Friendship store and thought it paired up beautifully with a soft, spreadable cheese.
[Debuting on the Hot Five | Submitted by James Norton]