Minneapolis / St. Paul Food Blog

​Who you rooting for this Sunday? Are you going with the Midwestern pride or the underdog approach? Looking for some good recipes? We're all over it. Don't know where to go watch it? Here's some ideas . Wondering what team would win if we judged them not by athletic prowess but by their hometown's signature sandwiches? We've got some words on that too. And while you're waiting for your deep fat fryer to heat up and those pigs in a blanket to get warm, here's some more of our favorite Hot Dish posts from the last week:

• How low can you go? We make some low-brow Valentine's Day suggestions.
• Just how much of a carnivore is the Lynx's Lindsay Whalen?
• Valentine's Day and more Valentine's Day.
• "Big in Japan" or not, we're wary, very very wary, of fish balls.
• Colossal Cafe's biscuit sandwich earns a coveted "killer" rating.

Have a great weekend, everyone, and Go Saints!

​As a countdown to the Best of the Twin Cities 2010, coming this spring, Hot Dish is serving up a hundred of our favorite local dishes. Send your own nominations to hotdish @citypages.com.

BaronBob.com

​Has it come to this? Several websites are selling the "WineRack," a sports bra that offers to not only give your boobs a boost, but also tote 25 ounces of your favorite beverage.

A drinking tube (with convenient on/off valve) can be routed from the bra to your lips, and the deflated polyurethane bladders can be filled with air -- excellent practice for the inevitable breathalyzer later that night -- to maintain the full and bouncy look long after you've demolished that Long Island.

While I appreciate the economy of being able to BYOB to places that charge top dollar for alcohol (I shudder to think what a Grain Belt will cost at Target Field this April), I see a couple of pitfalls already, leakage and "buttery nipple" comments being the least of them. Besides, aren't sports bras notorious for giving an unfortunate uni-boob shape? Ladies, would you buy/wear this?

​Farmers' market baked goods fave Cocoa & Fig is putting down some roots. The Strib's Rick Nelson reports that a permanent location in the Gaviidae Common skyway will swing open its doors for business next Wed., Feb. 10.

What to look forward to:

... quiche and breakfast pastries, including muffins, scones and their fabulous cream cheese-Nutella brioche.

At lunch, the menu will switch to tarts, galettes, macaroons, cookies and brownie-like bouchons. Look for eye-catching cupcakes and 6-inch three-layer cakes made in a variety of flavors, from almond cake with caramel buttercream to chocolate with coffee-mocha icing, plus a popular item from the C&F catering menu: dessert "shooters" in 2-oz. shot glasses, including triple chocolate mousse and Key lime pie.

Cocoa & Fig is partnering with Bull Run Roasting Co. for its coffee.

​Aperitif has opened in Woodbury, a slick, 270-seat eatery serving Mediterranean-American fare: pizzas, pastas, steak, salad, and more. The PiPress pointed out the restaurant's "nice touches": "There's hand sanitizer by the front door, flatbread straight from the wood burning oven for everyone, and free house-purified water." Hmm...we'll have to go see for ourselves.

Aperitif, 772 Bielenberg Dr., Woodbury, 651-578-3000, aperitifrestaurant.com. Dinner daily. Prices $5 to $28.

​When deciding where to take my great friend Claudia out for her 30th Birthday, I instantly figured it out: What could possibly more memorable than a night at La Belle Vie? Due to twitter addictiveness, I made sure to check in on Foursquare half way into our meal. Moments later, Tim McKee showed up at our table (insert girly squeal here!) I made sure he would be available for a quick picture on our way out. He is CLEARLY uncomfortable in front of the camera, but I think it turned out quiet well.

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Is there a more American spectacle than the Superbowl? It has scantily clad women dancing, athletic men slapping each other's butts, blaring rock music, and lots and lots of commercialism. It is also our second biggest food consumption day next to Thanksgiving. If we have an original national holiday, this weekend is it.

In order to do my part I've created a baked wing recipe that I guarantee is as good as deep fried. I'm so sure of you will like them that if you make these wings and don't think they are as good as deep fried, take a picture of you and your wings and send it to me and I'll give you your very own copy of City Pages for FREE! I'm that sure. (pr@cookingfordads.net)

twodolla/Flickr

Jucy Lucy from Matt's Bar.

​Are you a Matt's Bar Jucy Lucy type or do you prefer your Jucy to come with an "i," from the 5-8 Club ? Like 'em both? It's time to pick sides. The Travel Channel wants to know. The network's coming to town next week to film an episode for its new "Food Wars" show slated to debut next month.

They'll be filming Mon., Feb. 8 at the 5-8 and Tues., Feb. 9 at Matt's throughout the day. Then, on Wed., Feb. 10, there will be a cook-off between the two at the Cardinal Tavern at 5 p.m. (taping starts at 3:30). The channel's seeking superfans of the burgers to chat up at all three events.

"Food Wars" pits two variations of a regional specialty against one another. In addition to Ju(i)cy Lucys, the show will compare Italian beef in Chicago, buffalo wings in Buffalo, and barbecue in Texas, among others.

The show premieres Tues., March 9. Here's a little more about it, including a sneak peek.

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Your friends at Leinenkugel want you to have a kick-a** Super Bowl Sunday. So much so that they have created a few recipes to ease those "I wish I was watching the Vikes" blues.

PS: I want the Beer Cheese Spread, right now
Check it:

Bethany Dick

​As a countdown to the Best of the Twin Cities 2010, coming this spring, Hot Dish is serving up a hundred of our favorite local dishes. Send your own nominations to hotdish @citypages.com.