The Novice Griller..

One thing I’m not….. is a grill master.

Grilling seems like a challenge to me… and sometimes a complete accidental success.

Like that time I totally forgot to turn down the heat and somehow pulled out the steaks at precisely the right second.

Hmm. Accident or genius?

Experimenting with the grill may be my new thing this summer.

When Blue Diamond sent over the new Sriracha Almonds to try, not only did I devour an entire tin to myself; grilling, shrimp and experimenting seemed appropriate.

I attempted to “entrust” then grill up some shrimp!

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While the flavor was there, my technique could use some work!

But hey, that’s what experimenting is for.

Have you tried the Sriracha Almonds yet?

This post is sponsored by Blue Diamond.

City of Crudo

I had to explain “hanger” to someone.

Hungry + Angry.

I’m quite certain I did not make this up. It is a term floating out there in the food universe.

A certain someone, upon receiving a possibly snarky comment from me, will ask if I am hangry…. if I’ve eaten yet that day…

And while hanger has nothing really to do with the below, it seemed a semi decent segway.

I mean, if I ever have a hangry episode, I know where I can go to cure it.

Monello.

Go to Monello.

Monello recently opened in Minneapolis and we were lucky enough to be invited to a soft opening. We spent the evening ordering half the menu, sharing plates and critiquing between the four of us.  Though might I say, no critique was necessary.

The plating was beautiful, the flavors precise and divine. The service on point and beyond.

I’m still dying over the Sea Bass Crudo.

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I consider going to get this crudo at least 4 days of the week. I could eat crudo at every meal. And Minneapolis is getting its fair share of crudo restaurants these days. Monello does it right.

I am not kidding when I said we ordered half the menu.

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We loved it so much, we went back just a week later…. And ordered the other half of the menu.

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There may be literally only two items we haven’t tried? I say, someone go back with me for those two dishes 🙂

Have you been yet?

In a Blink

Blink and everything is different.

Things you’ve imagined, applied for, worked to achieve. A long drawn out path it seems…. and then you blink.

That which you dreamed, sweated over and stressed…. happened.

Do you ever feel that way? Something that seemed so far off, whatever it may have been… and all of a sudden it is here.

You’ve gone from shaking your fists at neurotic drivers, to walking 20 minutes to work every day.

It amazed me today, walking home, watching the river…. how fast things change.

And some changes call for celebratory dinners.

You could not find a better place than Borough to celebrate anything! It was the best meal I have had in a long time. I’ve heard rave reviews, but had yet to go.

I am ready to go back.

The potato leek soup was perfect and from now on I will need to top dishes with quail eggs…. (have I mentioned I normally hate eggs?)

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The Sweetbreads. My first time actually.

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AND that octopus was perfect. After so many disappointing octopus dishes lately, this one was a welcome treat.

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The duck with the Taleggio grits.

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Amazing. I further cleaned this plate.

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The dessert was beautiful. I’m not a sweets person…. but when celebrating… 🙂

How do you celebrate change?