All Hail the Beer God

Michael Agnew (of A Perfect Pint) recently became Minnesota’s first Certified Cicerone. In a nutshell, he’s an independently certified beer sommelier, a title obtained after a four-hour exam with a 250 question written section, a 12 beer tasting section, and a demonstration. Presumably the beer tasting section comes at the end of the test.

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20.21 Does it Up Oscar-Style

20.21 is offering a Governors Ball-inspired Oscars tasting menu to celebrate creator Wolfgang Puck’s central role in designing the Academy Award banquet; the three-course meal costs $20.21. It’s available for lunch, and at the bar and lounge, through Saturday, February 28. One particularly appetizing highlight: Slow Braised Asian Spiced Short Ribs with Dal Lentils and […]

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Yep, It’s a Depression

Mississippi Market is offering a free class on Feb. 18 (registration required) for how to “shop for natural, organic foods without breaking the bank.” You even get coupons! Meanwhile, Seward Co-op is teaching the art of raising chickens to would-be urban farmers on Feb. 19 and Mar. 12. And at the Bloomington Haskell’s? A free […]

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Feb. 17 Morning Roundup

A Strib writer pens the obit for the nightlife of Uptown using a bunch of anecdotes and not much data, our own Katie Cannon files a nice series of photos of Roseville’s Chianti Grill for Metromix, Chowhound regulars deem the newly opened Cheeky Monkey tasty (with a few nitpicks), and MN Beer reports that Sierra […]

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Feb. 16 Morning Roundup

Meritage will be open on Monday, May 11 to serve Springsteen fans (Chef Russell Klein is a big fan), We Got Served checks out the increasingly bustling Blue Door Pub in St. Paul, Rachel suggests that you reserve your uber-romantic booth or tatami room right now for Valentine’s Day 2010, and Iggers talks up the […]

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2009 James Beard Foundation Awards Nominations

Those who follow the gastronomic equivalent of the Oscars may find the following piece of information interesting: the 2009 James Beard Foundation Awards semifinalists have been posted. A few Upper Midwestern rising (or shining) stars to consider… OUTSTANDING RESTAURATEUR Larry D’Amico and Richard D’Amico, D’Amico & Partners, Minneapolis OUTSTANDING RESTAURANT Lucia’s Restaurant, Minneapolis BEST NEW […]

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