Readers: Win The Secret Atlas of North Coast Food
The Tap loves restaurant tips from readers, so we’re awarding a copy of “The Secret Atlas of North Coast Food” to the best tipster of July and August. 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.
The Warming House winter food truck (opens in December)
Food trucks thrive in the summer months when foot traffic is heavy and Minnesotans frolic with panicked abandon before the dead hand of winter clutches at their throats once again. Most trucks and carts shut down as the leaves drop from the trees. But — and it’s entertaining to consider this as the temperature hovers around 90 degrees Fahrenheit — what if there were food trucks in the winter, too?
First-time food entrepreneur Zachary Stafford hopes to use his background in social media and Internet marketing to launch a cold-weather food truck called The Warming House.
The Warming House will specialize in European-style drinking chocolate, essentially a chocolate ganache served warm. A three ounce serving is typical — “It’s not a lot,” says Stafford, “but you don’t need a lot because it’s so rich and thick and creamy.”
Stafford, who has launched a website for his venture and is currently meeting with the Saint Croix Chocolate Company about a possible collaboration, is testing out recipes and playing with ideas including marshmallow skewers (think Bloody Marys), “rimmed” drinking chocolate (think margaritas), and a coconut milk version of the beverage.
He cites a New York chocolate shop called MarieBelle as an early inspiration for The Warming House. “MarieBelle blew my mind,” Stafford recalls. “I had literally never heard of drinking chocolate before. I’m usually an espresso-type person … or whiskey. I’ll go for the shot over the beer or the bigger glass of anything. I had some of their chocolate, and it was just amazing. Not just the taste, but they even had some cayenne or something in it — I just wasn’t expecting that kick at the end. It’s always stuck with me.”
Stafford says that his first planned event is this December, but that he hopes to have some soft launches and informal tastings before that.
“The winter’s so long,” he says, looking forward to what he hopes will be his busy season. “If we have to be out in the weather, why not enjoy it in a communal way? If you’re miserable but you’re miserable with a lot of other people and you’re drinking something delicious, it can crystallize into this beautiful moment in time.”
Tin Bins in Stillwater (now open)
2325 Endicott St, St. Paul
We checked in with Sherri Hopfe of the newly opened Tin Bins in Stillwater, which offers a grand patio view of the St. Croix River from the Commander Grain Elevator Building and, she was excited to note, keg wines. She and co-owner Mike McGuire also run the Dock Cafe, but she says: “It’s more casual than the Dock Cafe, more like a coffee shop or cafe, with pastries, sandwiches, salads, and such things.”
The restaurant is developing a picnic service that will allow people to call ahead and order. “We’ll pack baskets up that they can take to Teddy Bear Park or down by the river,” she says.
“The history of the building certainly makes the coffee shop unique,” she adds. “It’s been around since 1904.”
— Interview conducted by Joshua Page
NOW OPEN
- The Hideout, 3301 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis
- Sakana Sushi & Asian Bistro, 4345 Nathan Ln, Suite O, Plymouth.
- Tin Bins, near the corner of Main and Nelson Streets, Commander Grain Elevator, Stillwater
- Sandcastle, 4955 Nokomis Pkwy W, Minneapolis | Our review.
- Marin, 901 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis
- The Buttered Tin, 237 7th St E, St. Paul | Our interview.
- Egg and Pie Diner, 222 N Chestnut St, Chaska | 612.227.6999 | Our review.
- Terzo Vino Bar, 2221 W 50th St, Minneapolis | Our review.
- North 45°, 1313 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis | 612.332.6000.
- Verdant Teahouse, 2111 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis | 612.284.7032 | Our interview.
- Black Sea, 1581 E County Rd E, White Bear Lake
- Sawatdee, 13300 Technology Dr, Eden Prairie
- Ariana Kebob and Gyro Bistro, 7115 Cedar Lake Rd, Saint Louis Park | 952.546.8000
- French Corner Bistro & Bakery, 1200 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis | 612.743.8811
- Mason’s Restaurant Barre, 528 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis | 612.516.3344
- Haiku Japanese Bistro, 754 Highway 110, St. Paul | 651.340.1888 | our review
- Pig Ate My Pizza, 4154 W Broadway Ave, Robbinsdale | 763.535.1131 | Our review.
CLOSED / CLOSING:
- Peter’s Grill, 114 S 8th St, Minneapolis
- Buster’s on 28th, 4204 S 28th Ave, Minneapolis | Temporary closure due to fire.
- Uchu, 4130 Berkshire Ln N, Plymouth
- Johnny Tequila’s Drinking Taco, 430 N 1st Ave, Minneapolis
- Lucy’s, 3025 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis
- Birdhouse, 2517 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis
COMING UP:
Minneapolis
- My Burger, 213 Oak St SE, Minneapolis. 2013
- Baldy’s BBQ, 1501 SE University Ave., Minneapolis | 2013
- Ideal Diner, 1314 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis | Opens July, pending inspection
- La Fresca, 4750 Grand Ave S, Minneapolis | Opens October
- Town Hall Lanes, 5019 34th Ave S, Minneapolis | Opens July 19
- Izzy’s Ice Cream, 1100 2nd St S, Minneapolis | Opens summer 2013.
- Keen Eye Coffee, 2803 E 38th St, Minneapolis | Opens Summer
- Lake & Irving, 1513 W Lake St, Minneapolis | Opens August.
- La Loma Tamales, old Tensuke Sushi spot in Medical Arts Building, Minneapolis, 825 Nicollet Mall
- Ling & Louie’s Kitchen, 9th St and Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis
- The Tangiers, 116 1st Ave N, Minneapolis | 612.599.2651. Opens August 2013.
- The Nicollet Diner, 1428 Nicollet Ave S, Minneapolis.
- Tiny Diner, 1014 E 38th St, Minneapolis | 612.822.6302
- Unnamed Gastrotruck restaurant, 2400 University Ave NE, Minneapolis. Opens in 2013.
- Rocky and Shem’s Ice Cream Shoppe, 56th St and Chicago Ave, Minneapolis. Opens in 2013.
- Loose-Wiles Freehouse, 701 Washington Ave N, Minneapolis. Opens September.
- Kitty’s Corner Cafe, 806 Washington Ave SE, Minneapolis
St. Paul
- Urban Growler Brewing Company 2325 Endicott St, St. Paul | Opens this winter
- Bang Brewing, 2320 Capp Rd, St. Paul. Opens in 2013.
- French Meadow, 1662 Grand Ave, St. Paul. Opens in 2013.
- Burning Brothers Brewery, 1750 Thomas Ave, St. Paul.
Greater Twin Cities Area
- Tin Whiskers Brewing Co., Roseville. 2013.
- Travail and The Rookery, Robbinsdale. Fall 2013.
- Hammerheart Brewing, 7785 Lake Dr, Lino Lakes. Opens in 2013. | 651.964.2160
- Osaka Seafood and Steakhouse, Woodbury Lakes, Woodbury. Opens in 2013.
- Punch Pizza, City Centre Dr, Woodbury. Opens 2013.
- Crooked Pint Ale House, Apple Valley; another location possible at 40th St and Lyndale Ave.
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.
Readers: Win Pint Glasses
The Tap loves restaurant tips from readers, so we’re awarding a copy of “The Secret Atlas of North Coast Food” to the best tipster of July and August. 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.