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.
Citrus Kombucha Cold-Pressed Coffee from Dunn Bros.
Three things that taste like summer shouldn’t necessarily taste great together. But they do. Trust me, they do. Shaken with a little agave syrup, the slightly sour kombucha and slightly bitter coffee meld into one bracing, refreshing summer pick-me-up.
[Debuting on the Hot Five | Submitted by Tricia Cornell]
Shrimp Salad at Eli’s Food & Cocktails
Eli’s on Hennepin has a long history, but it’s not generally a place I would seek out for a epicurean lunch. But I stand corrected. A beautifully balanced salad of the day featured large, tender, well-seasoned shrimp, ripe avocados, chopped tomatoes, and sliced ruby red grapefruit on a bed of bib lettuce, garnished with a lemon wedge and some croutons. A light vinaigrette and some fresh ground pepper enhanced the fresh ingredients. Bravo, Eli!
[Debuting on the Hot Five | Submitted by Brenda Johnson]
Skoll Och Hati Barrel-Aged Stout from HammerHeart Brewing
The Skoll Och Hati barrel-aged stout from HammerHeart is a full, robust stout with mild beechwood smoke. Though subtle is not exactly the Viking way, the smoke and sweet notes balance delicately, while the low carbonation adds to the viscosity. Woodford Reserve barrel aging ties the whole glass together nicely.
[Debuting on the Hot Five | Submitted by Paige Latham]
Farmer’s Brunch from The Copper Hen
The sweet-versus-savory breakfast dilemma is solved by the Farmer’s Brunch at The Copper Hen. Perfectly seasoned scrambled eggs, a root vegetable hash, creamed spinach and kale, and a stand-alone bread pudding — it’s everything we’ve ever wanted on a brunch plate all at once. We’ll be back for the bourbon breakfast cocktail!
[Debuting on the Hot Five | Submitted by Ruthie Young]
Old Fashioned with Old Scout Bourbon Upgrade at Marvel Bar
Rarely will I turn down a “is this expensive thing worth the money?” challenge, and so when the Marvel Bar menu offered the opportunity to try an $18 supercharged version of their Old Fashioned, I went for it. This is a beautiful sledgehammer of a drink: the first sip is pure high-octane bourbon, but as the massive, architecturally significant ice cube in the drink relaxes and melts, its citrus notes become more evident, along with the sweetness of the spirit. Reminiscent of a well-wrought mint julep in terms of how it evolves while you drink it, and worth every penny.
[Debuting on the Hot Five | Submitted by James Norton]