Heavy Table Hot Five: April 21-27

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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.

shepherd-song-banner-ad-horiz-3The Hot Five is a weekly feature created by the Heavy Table and supported by Shepherd Song Farm.

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Becca Dilley / Heavy Table
Becca Dilley / Heavy Table

1-new - onePork Gyro from The Naughty Greek
Our list of top three gyro places has long contained Gyropolis, Filfillah, and The Best Steak House (University) in that order, but with the ascent of The Naughty Greek in St. Paul and a recent lackluster visit to Filfillah, we’ve re-ordered it: It’s now Gyropolis, The Naughty Greek, and The Best Steakhouse. What makes the Naughty Greek gyro so good? Perfectly charred, flavorful, and not-too-fatty shreds of meat, a surprising but delightful sprinkling of herbed shoestring French fries inside the gyro itself, and a really good wrapper. The supple, flavorful, delicious pita isn’t made in house. but it is actually as impressive as if it were — we asked about it, and the owner freely confessed that it was “resurrected” through an application of herbs, oil, and heat.
[Debuting on the Hot Five | Submitted by James Norton]

Brenda Johnson / Heavy Table
Brenda Johnson / Heavy Table

2-new - twoPurple Rain Smoothie at Crisp & Green
Crisp & Green’s Purple Rain Smoothie (in honor of Prince, may he RIP) contains banana, blueberries, strawberries, apple, and unflavored pea protein. This flavorful and filling smoothie is a good fit for a breakfast on the go or even a quick lunch (it clocks in at 310 calories). The texture is smooth (not gritty like some fresh-fruit smoothies), and the flavor an ideal balance of sweet and tart. Bonus: If you’re focused on consuming maximum polyphenols, this is your beverage!
[Debuting on the Hot Five | Submitted by Brenda Johnson]

Becca Dilley / Heavy Table
Becca Dilley / Heavy Table

3-new - threePot de Creme at Bar Brigade
Pot de Creme so easily goes wrong — too sugary, too bland, too rubbery and puddinglike. The stuff at Bar Brigade is first rate: exceedingly creamy, sweet without being excessively sugary, and touched with the firm hand of legitimate cocoa flavor that makes a dessert ravishingly interesting. As dessert concepts go, this is a simple one, but it’s a classic for a reason.
[Debuting on the Hot Five | Submitted by James Norton]

Becca Dilley / Heavy Table
Becca Dilley / Heavy Table

4-new fourMeatball Sandwich at Geno’s
It’s not a sexy sandwich, but the meatball roll or hoagie at Geno’s is made with the right components — a bright marinara, light but rich meatballs, enough melted cheese to cover but not smother, and a properly toasted bun. It’s inhalable magic. At $10 on a roll or $12 on a hoagie, it’s a little pricey on the face of it, but the flavor justifies the outlay.
[Debuting on the Hot Five | Submitted from a review by James Norton]

 

Brenda Johnson / Heavy Table
Brenda Johnson / Heavy Table

5-new -five Chocolate Macaron at Patrick’s Bakery
I’ve never been a huge fan of macarons. Most of the time they are far too sweet. It’s the magical colors that draw me in … but they rarely taste as magical as they look. The macarons at Patrick’s Bakery feature not just wonderful colors but gargantuan size — easily double the size of a typical macaron. The chocolate variety was not overly sweet and was dusted with cocoa powder, which neutralized a bit more of the sugar. The texture and taste were perfect. Each bite was chewy yet crispy and creamy.
[Debuting on the Hot Five | Submitted by Brenda Johnson]