Readers: Win Heavy Table pint glasses
The Tap loves restaurant tips from readers, so we’re awarding two Heavy Table pint glasses to the best tipster each month. 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 Jason Walker at jason@heavytable.com. June’s winner: Jeannie Kenevan of St. Paul.
The Bachelor Farmer (opens late July)
50 2nd Ave N, Minneapolis | TheBachelorFarmer.com
On the PBS show New Scandinavian Cooking, three chefs create modern versions of classic Nordic fare to share with friends at program’s end. And every time, I swoon at the prospect of eating such high-quality Scandinavian food.
Queue up Paul Berglund for an Americanized version of that show.
Berglund (above) is chef at The Bachelor Farmer, a new restaurant opening in the Warehouse District later this month with an emphasis on high-quality, approachable Nordic cuisine.
The Tap was invited to a festive dinner recently at Berglund’s Minneapolis condo, where he and his wife, Kelli, hosted The Bachelor Farmer team to eat, drink, schmooze, and kick around ideas for the eventual menu. Owned by Gov. Mark Dayton’s sons, Eric (above right) and Andrew (above left), the restaurant and its downstairs counterpart, Marvel Bar, aims to bring a sophisticated kick of top-notch food and libations to a historic building near Target Field.
Over drinks by Pip Hanson (below), the cocktail fanatic recently of Cafe Maude who is head bartender at Marvel Bar and behind The Bachelor Farmer’s drink menu, the Daytons and Berglund outlined their vision for high-quality Scandinavian food using local ingredients.
“It’s in the spirit of the Nordic cuisines,” Berglund said of his evolving menu. “It’s not only Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, it’s Iceland and Finland and Greenland, but more than that, it’s just trying to be the best representation of the food that we’re getting in the door. A lot of that is Minnesota food, it’s Wisconsin food, it’s Iowa food. We share here in Minnesota a heritage with the Nordic region, so it’s kind of a celebration of that.”
To prepare for opening, the Bachelor Farmer team has been meeting on Sunday nights for weeks now: Paul and sous chef Kelsey Bergstrom provide a feast, general manager Nathan Rostance brings the wine, Hanson mixes drinks, and discussion ensues, all with the goal of getting the menu right for opening night.
“It’s been a great learning experience,” Berglund said. “It’s been great getting to know the people you’re working around, Eric, Andrew, Nathan, and Pip … I’d say that we’ve gotten a lot closer, from these dinners. That’s been wonderful. It’s also been a great learning experience for me and a creative experience developing the menu.”
The affable Berglund was chef at Oliveto Restaurant in Oakland, CA, before moving to Minneapolis to work first at Rustica and then Heartland, baking bread at each. Quickly earning a name locally, Berglund was referred to the Daytons during their chef search.
“Alex Roberts, of Alma, is a friend of mine and Andrew’s,” Eric Dayton said. “And he had been consulting on the kitchen and designing the kitchen, because we didn’t have a chef in place yet. So Paul was working at Heartland, and Lenny [Russo] passed Paul’s resume along to Alex, who passed it along to us. So we figured anyone who came to us via Lenny Russo and Alex Roberts was worth a serious look.”
The Bachelor Farmer will have a rooftop chef’s garden, and Berglund plans to liberally cook with what he grows, even yet this season. “I think tomatoes will come on next year, the lead time is too long this year, but we’re going to have little lettuces, plenty of herbs, cucumbers, beans, little baby carrots, peppers, kale.
“I think pickled beets are wonderful, and we’re going to try a couple of pickled vegetables with one of the dishes and see what we like. It’s a real classic Nordic dish, meatballs, mashed potatoes, lingonberries.”
The Daytons’ plan is ambitious — The Bachelor Farmer and Marvel Bar will share the historic building with a men’s clothing store — but their goal is not to stray from the laid-back neighborhood vibe.
“Both of us live close by and love the area,” Andrew Dayton said, “and we’re going to go out of our way to make this a place where people feel comfortable. I think the building will do that. It does offer a different restaurant experience. We’re trying to keep the real soul of the building and trying to preserve as much of the real patina that comes with 130 years, and the same with the ingredients.
“You don’t have to jerry-rig a great pickled beet just to do it right. It’ll speak for itself.”
NOW OPEN
- Kinsen, 1300 Lagoon Ave, Minneapolis | 612.367.4595 | kinsennoodlesandbar.com
- :D-SPOT, 705 Century Ave N, Suite B, Maplewood | 651.730.7768 | Our take
- Asia Bistro, 10060 City Walk Dr, Woodbury | 651.788.9108 | asiabistrowoodbury.com
- RedRossa Italian Grille, 1901 Killebrew Dr, Bloomington | 952.814.2910 | redrossa.com
- Element Pizza, 96 Broadway St NE, Minneapolis | 612.379.3028
- Catalina’s, 2301 37th Pl, Columbia Heights | 612-695-7531
- Muddy Waters Bar and Eatery, 2933 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis | 612.872.2232 | muddywatersmpls.com
- Wilde Roast Cafe, 65 Main St SE, Minneapolis. Now open in new location. | 612.331.4544 | wilderoastcafe.com
- Pandolfi, 3904 W 50th St, Edina | 612.801.7567 | Find it on Facebook
- American Grill, 3752 Nicollet Ave S, Minneapolis
- Mill Valley Kitchen, 3900 Excelsior Blvd, St. Louis Park | 952.358.2000 | millvalleykitchen.com
- Gather, 1750 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis | 612.253.3410 | walkerart.org/gather
- Turtle Bread, 4205 E 34th St, Minneapolis. | turtlebread.com
- Wise Acre Eatery, 5401 Nicollet Ave S, Minneapolis | 612.822.4769 | wiseacreeatery.com
- Blue Point, 4400 W 78th St, Bloomington | 952.767.9711 | bluepointrestaurantandbar.com
- Las Tortillas Mexican Restaurant, 15051 Crestone Ave, Rosemount | 651.332.2200 | lastortillas.net
- Republic, 221 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis | 612.338.6146 | republicmn.com
- Bread & Pickle, 4135 W Lake Harriet Parkway, Minneapolis | 612.767.9009 | breadandpickle.com
- Crave, 825 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis | 612.332.1133 | craveamerica.com
- Las Teresita’s Mexican Grill, 5748 34th Ave S, Minneapolis | 612.727.1791
- Candy Alley, 4813 Chicago Ave S, Minneapolis | 612.354.3881 | candyalley.com
- The Nook, 492 Hamline Ave S, St. Paul (reopen again after fire) | 651.698.4347 | Our take
- The Lowry Cafe, 2207 Lowry Ave N, Minneapolis | 612.284.7087 | Find it on Facebook
- Bullfrog Cajun Bar, 1111 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis | 612.339.0638 | Find it on Facebook
- Wuollet Bakery, 200 S 6th St. (U.S. Bank Plaza skyway), Minneapolis | www.wuollet.com
- Morgan’s New World Tavern, 14201 Nicollet Ave, Burnsville | 952.435.2100 | Find it on Facebook
- Burger Jones,1617 County Road 42, Burnsville | 952.885.2289 | burgerjones.com
- ALM Corner Cafe, 3301 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis | 612.781.3526 | Find it on Facebook
- Pacific Islander Cuisine, 920 E Lake St #114, Minneapolis (Midtown Global Market) | 612.874.0944 | Find it on Facebook
CLOSED / CLOSING:
- Soul Daddy, Mall of America, Bloomington
- Cake Eater Bakery, 2929 East 25th St, Minneapolis. Closes July 10. | cakeeaterbakery.com
- Urban Harvest, 2311 18th Ave NE, Minneapolis
- Jun Bo, 7717 Nicollet Ave S, Richfield
- Totino’s Italian Kitchen, 2535 Highway 10 NE, Mounds View
- Hong’s Kitchen, 3752 Nicollet Ave S, Minneapolis
- The Inn, 89 S 10th St, Minneapolis
- Sunnyside Up Cafe, 2702 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis
- Cloggy’s Tavern, 5404 34th Ave S, Minneapolis
- Pizza Mafia, 2447 W 7th St, St. Paul
COMING UP:
- Viva Brazil, 913 W Lake St, Minneapolis | 612.871.4239 | Find it on Facebook
- Little Szechuan, 5377 16th St, Shops at West End, St. Louis Park. Opens early July. | littleszechuan.com
- Blue Ox Coffee Company, 3740 Chicago Ave S, Minneapolis. Opens in early July. | 612.825.6650 | blueoxcoffeecompany.com
- Palumbo’s Pizzeria, 454 Snelling Ave S, St Paul. Opens in early July. | 651.698.0020 | Find it on Facebook
- The Bachelor Farmer, 50 2nd Ave N, Minneapolis. Opens in late July. | TheBachelorFarmer.com
- El Loro Mexican Restaurant, 5689 Blaine Ave, Inver Grove Heights. Opens in July.
- Claddagh Coffee, 458 W 7th, St. Paul. Opens in July. | 612.940.9805 | Find it on Facebook
- Maeve’s Cafe, 300 13th Ave NE, Minneapolis | 612.379.1033 | Find it on Facebook
- Pat’s Tap, 3510 Nicollet Ave S, Minneapolis. Opens this summer. | 612.822.8216 | Find it on Facebook
- Ansari’s Mediterranean Grill, 1960 Rahn Cliff Ct, Eagan. Set to re-open this summer. | 651.452.0999 | ansarisgrill.com
- Andale Taqueria y Mercado, 7700 Nicollet Ave S, Richfield. Opens this summer.
- Adagio Cafe, 5001 Penn Ave S, Minneapolis. Opens this summer. | Find it on Facebook
- Fasika, University Ave and Dale St, St. Paul (new Frogtown Square) . Opens this summer. | fasika.com
- The Lowry, 2112 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis. Opens in July. | blueplaterestaurantcompany.com
- Urban Bean, 2401 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis. Opens late July / early August. | urbanbeancoffee.com
- Humble Pie, 822 W 36th St., Minneapolis. Kim Bartmann’s revamp of Gigi’s. Coming this summer. | 612.825.0818
- Rosa Mexicano, 6th St and Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis (in City Center next to Fogo de Chao). Opens late August. | rosamexicano.com
- Chilango Cantina, 212 E Seventh St, St. Paul. Opens this summer.
- Zen Box Izakaya, 225 Portland Ave S, Minneapolis. Opens in August. | zen-box.com
- Pig & Fiddle, 3808 W 50th St, Minneapolis. Opens late August / early September
- Eat Street Social, 26th St and Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis. Opens this summer.
- Cranky’s Bicycle Bar, E Lake St, Minneapolis. | Find it on Facebook
- La Crepe Nanou, Huey’s 24 / 7 Diner, The Wine Loft, Shops at West End, St. Louis Park. Opening this fall. | lacrepenanou.com | hueys247diner.com | thewineloft.net
- Pittsburgh Blue, 3200 Galleria (former Kozy’s), Edina. Opens this fall. |pittsburghbluesteak.com
- Mesa Pizza, 1440 W Lake St, Minneapolis. Opens this fall. | mesapizzamn.com
- Mi Sinaloa, 3801 Chicago Ave S, Minneapolis
- Mojo Monkey Doughnuts, 7th St W, St. Paul
- Crooked Pint Ale House, 501 Washington Ave S, Minneapolis
- Still-unnamed “Montreal-style” deli, 1930 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis (former Auriga). Opens in early fall.
- Stout’s Pub, 1611 Larpenteur, Falcon Heights. Opens this fall.
- Toppers, 1154 Grand Ave, St. Paul; 702 Washington Ave SE, Minneapolis | toppers.com
- Five Guys, 230 7th St, St. Paul | fiveguys.com
- YO!Sushi | Company says five metro locations coming, first in Minneapolis in 2011 | yosushi.com
The Tap is The Heavy Table’s guide to area restaurant openings, closings, and other major events. The Tap is compiled by Heavy Table writer Jason Walker, and will be published biweekly. If you already subscribe to our newsletter, look for an emailed version of The Tap every other week — otherwise, you can find it on the website on alternating Tuesdays.
If you’ve got tips for The Tap, please email Jason Walker at jason@heavytable.com. Follow The Tap on Twitter at @jasonwalkermpls.
I am so looking forward to this place. I hope it lives up to the hype I’ve created for it in my mind.
Also, so sad that Cloggy’s closed.
We made reservations at Opentable.com for 6.30 and arrived at 6.15 to check-in with the hostess. we wanted to visit the much praised Marvel Bar and told to be sure to be back for our 6.30 time slot as the restaurant was very busy, we seated ourselves in the bar. We dutifully ordered those Woodhill Cheetos and our drinks. Alas, service of drinks was so painfully slow, we asked our young attentive server to bring them upstairs so that we might claim our table, The drinks were of quality, I loved the iceberg size cube in my Old Fashioned. Strangely, when we ordered a second round at the dinner table our guests could not have a refill of Dewar’s scotch as the ‘upstairs’ bar had none, ‘just two remaining shots of Johnny Walker Red’ to offer for blended scotch whisky.
Our server, Johanna from Seattle, delightful, sent from Central Casting for this Nordic themed diner?
The menu, brief and to the point but no fish for an entree. We enjoyed grav laks and meatballs, each 100% preparations and presentations as skillful as any at the late Jean Georges’.
Dessert offering, not big in Norway failed in that there was no Risengrot (rice pudding) traditional dish, topped with syltetoy (jam) makes it delicious.
The warm and courtly proprietor Eric was working the floor, stopped by our table, we told him how we enjoyed dinner but how we missed Dewars and rice pudding, he promised us they would work on that.
A good spot for a casual enteratining in an ‘Ole and Lena shop Ikea’ setting.