Teddy Hobbins

Grumpy's Cuban: Messing with a good thing

​The Cuban sandwich can and should be a thing of beauty. First, a traditional version leverages two kinds of pork (usually shredded shoulder and sweet ham), so you're already in amazing shape before you get to ingredient number three. What makes the sandwich really interesting is the play on flavors from pairing sweet and succulent pork with fragrant mustard, sweet, crunchy pickles, and tangy Swiss cheese. Needless to say it's an interesting sandwich and bar favorite. That is, unless someone tries to mess with a good thing.

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Teddy Hobbins

Readers help us locate a good Chicago beef at Chris and Rob's

​Once again our readers have come to the rescue! A few weeks ago, after a particularly disappointing Chicago/Italian beef experience, we reached out to our readers to find better options to satiate our salty, beefy, and spicy cravings. Thankfully, you rose to the occasion.

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Teddy Hobbins

Mayslack's "The Original" beef sandwich

​You can't open a menu at Mayslack's in Northeast Minneapolis without being hit over the head with the phrase "Nobody Beats Our Meat." Cheeky. Mayslack's has the tradition and story to back up such a claim--a classic bar founded by an old-school Polish wrestler who created a cult-like following for his beef sandwiches--but is the sandwich really that good?

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Teddy Hobbins

Franklin Street's Siebenhaler

​ The lovely folks at the Franklin Street Bakery, a longtime staple in the City of Lakes, have recently taken their talents to Edina (next to the Convention Grill), and the people there couldn't be any luckier. The Edina location is as fresh out of the oven as one of their flaky croissants, but there's no need for seasoning here--this place is ready to roll right out of the gate, and it all starts with their tasty bread.

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Teddy Hobbins

The giardiniera-stuffed classic Chicago Beef at Uncle Franky's

​What do Philly, Miami, and Chicago have in common? They, unlike the Twin Cities, all have well-known signature sandwiches. Though we may not have a signature, we do have a stack of dives, bars, and diners trying to perfect these delights--but the question of who has the best of each is pretty hard to answer. At least it is in one sitting. But we figured starting with Uncle Franky's, a well-known Dinkytown hole serving cheap but delicious Chicago and Philly-style fare, would be a good start.

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Teddy Hobbins

Seward Co-op's Turkey Pepper Melt

​Co-op delis are crucial time savers, and there may not be a finer one than the Seward Co-op. It's summer, and as you scramble from activity to activity you struggle to find time to keep the fridge stocked and stomach full. Thankfully, a quick stop by the deli can help you achieve both tasks. Here's one of the best sandwiches you'll find for an on-the-run meal.

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Teddy Hobbins

Gourmet Gallery's Braised Beef Sandwich

​ It might be summer, but school is most definitely in session. At least it is at the Gourmet Gallery at the Art Institutes International Minnesota. The gallery is essentially a classroom disguised as a restaurant, where culinary students learn how to run an eatery from the front of the house to the back. Service--even takeout--is a bit rough around the edges, but the food is solid and the prices can't be beat.

Despite the risk, I decided to order the braised beef sandwich ($7.00) in the heart of summer, but the gamble was rewarded.

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Teddy Hobbins

Birchwood Cafe's Black Bean Quinoa Burger

​There are plenty of neighborhood gems hidden in just about every corner of our fine food city, and the Birchwood Café in the Seward neighborhood may be one of the finest. Their dedication to fresh, seasonal food and a strong commitment to local and sustainable ingredients creates serious appeal in our forward-thinking food community, but eventually that philosophy needs to add up to flavor. Thankfully, the Birchwood brings plenty to the table.

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Teddy Hobbins

Butter Bakery's big biscuit sandwich

​I wouldn't label the Butter Bakery biscuit sandwich as the "Breakfast of Champions," but I will admit that it takes a champion's appetite to plow through this breakfast behemoth.

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Teddy Hobbins

C & G's Smoked BBQ Beef Brisket

​When it comes to cooking, low and slow is the way to go. It's easy to love a good braise in our neck of the woods, and many restaurants in the metro have the technique down. Smoking may be the summertime equivalent of braising, yet the restaurants that can claim smokehouse fame are surprisingly fewer in number.

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