Heavy Table Hot Five: May 26-June 1

hotfive-flames

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.

shepherd-song-green-keyline

Tricia Cornell / Heavy Table

1-new - one - hot fiveBrisket Bowl from Gastrotruck
Those of you who crave lighter fare when the summer heat hits, avert your eyes. If, however, you think summer means nothing more than a long series of opportunities to consume smoked and grilled meats, track down Gastrotruck. The brisket has a deep, dark flavor and just enough sauce. Order it as a sandwich or a bowl (with brown rice). Either way, you get generous, well-considered sides, like baby arugula and a potato-and-green bean salad with a whole lot going on. (Veggie lovers, if you’re still reading, Gastrotruck does make a mean black bean burger, also available as a bowl.)
[Debuting on the Hot Five | Submitted by Tricia Cornell]

James Norton / Heavy Table

2-new - two - hot five Traditional Steak Pasty at Lands End Pasty Company
This week we met with 15 food artisans for half-hour interviews and sampling sessions as part of our first Heavy Table Listening Session at Lakewinds Food Co-op. Interview #1 was Pete Jacobson of Lands End Pasty Company, and he arrived with a still-warm steak, potato, onion, and rutabaga hand pie that we dove into for breakfast. Like the best of its kind, this pasty was stick-to-the-ribs hearty, well-seasoned but not overly salty, and covered in a crust that was tough but tasty, and durable but not leathery or bulletproof.
[Debuting on the Hot Five | Submitted by James Norton]

James Norton / Heavy Table

3-new - three hot fiveSorghum Caramels from French Broad Chocolate Lounge
Asheville, N.C. is a bit of a drive, but we found ourselves there last week as a planned vacation to Barcelona became an impromptu road trip from Miami to Minnesota. While taking in the local scenery, we ended up at a chocolate and ice cream shop called French Broad Chocolate Lounge (named after the river, not a type of person) — and it turns out the founder, Jael Rattigan, originally hails from Minneapolis, which brings us full circle. The shop’s product is fantastic. The elevated but straightforward ice cream flavors rival those of Jeni’s, and the chocolate is luscious and full-flavored. We tried chocolates filled with caramel made from locally grown sorghum molasses, and they were rich, velvety bombs of caramelized sugar and chocolate intensity.
[Debuting on the Hot Five | Submitted by James Norton]

Paige Didora / Heavy Table

4-new four hot fiveDagos at Dusty’s Bar
Dusty’s is an easy-to-miss dive bar in the shadow of the Grain Belt complex. It serves food from a scratch kitchen, and its dagos — in St. Paul, generally a cheesy, saucy, patty-shaped-meatball sandwich; here more a pork-based hamburger — are flavorful and addictive. Try the classic, with caramelized onions and peppers, or the California, with lettuce and tomato ($8 each, sides $1).
[Debuting on the Hot Five | Submitted by Paige Didora]

Brianna Stachowki / Heavy Table

5-new -five ’Tuckey-Style Old Fashioned at The Lexington
The ’Tuckey-Style ($12), as the name suggests, is the classic without a twist: Wild Turkey 101 bourbon, house bitters, and orange zest. This critical recipe tweak resulted in a near-perfect drink: an appropriate level of alcoholic heat, classic orange oil aromatics, and a truncated finish that doesn’t overstay its welcome on the palate.
[Debuting on the Hot Five | Submitted from a review by Paige Didora]

One Comment

  1. Sacco & Vanzetti

    Why is it that Minnesotans don’t seem to get that the word “dago” is an ethnic slur, and deeply fucking offensive?

Comments are closed.