Dawn Brodey

The chariot of the dining bicyclist.

Dare we say it -- summer has finally arrived -- and as it does, increased numbers of weather-weary Twin Citians are taking to their bicycles and hitting the town. They pedal the Lakes, the Grand Rounds, the Greenway, or any of the many urban bike lanes. It is for good reason that we are regularly voted among the most bike-friendly cities in the country.

But bike-friendly isn't the only feather in our cap -- we are also regularly voted among the best cities for foodies. So why not combine the two?

A few weeks ago Hot Dish brought you a course for your courses -- a bike-friendly route with recommended stops for appetizers, dinner and dessert. Beginning and ending in Minneapolis, the 10-mile course was a big hit.

Now Hot Dish pedals East and presents a course for your courses in St. Paul. This seven-mile route hits some of Saint Paul's classic locations and new favorites -- and burns a lot of calories along the way.

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One of New York's premier craft breweries is paying the Twin Cities a little visit in a BIG way. The week of June 17-23, the crafty folks behind Brooklyn Brewery are picking up their neighborhood and dropping it off in the Twin Cities for a week of premier beer and tomfoodery in the form of a celebration that they call Mash.
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David McCrindle

A glorious pasty from an underground lair at Potter's Pasties brick and mortar store

It was a particularly overcast day in the middle of a week of consecutive overcast days when we decided to stop by Potter's Pasties new brick-and-mortar location on Como Avenue. for a taste of their traditional tasty hand pies, the official food of depressing weather. The store is the latest in a welcome and growing trend of popular food trucks (Foxy Falafel, Smack Shack, and World Street Kitchen) that have expanded their business by adding year-round, all-hours, sit-down versions of their mobile restaurants. But it was clear from the moment we parked and started poking around that Potter's is aiming to do things a little differently.
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One, Two, Three Sushi is expanding their Minneapolis reach with two new locations

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Emily Utne

Northbound Brewpub now serving brunch, filling growlers

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Dawn Brodey

The chariot of the dining bicyclist.

The Twin Cities is regularly voted among the most bike-friendly metro areas in the country. Bicycling.com currently has us in the #1 spot although we regularly swap the prestigious ranking for second place with Portland, Oregon.

Similarly, publications such as Travel and Leisure also have the Twin Cities and Portland sharing top spots for best cities for foodies.

The situation has us asking two big questions: One, how do we get rid of Portland; and two, how do we best pair our Cities' tremendous and unique opportunities to bike and eat out?

Biking to dinner can be a trick. Does the establishment have a bike rack? Will my helmet hair and wrinkled right cuff solicit snubs from the other diners? Do they serve Surly?

Well, Hot Dish cooked up a sample course for your courses: a scenic, bike-friendly, 10-mile loop with recommended stops for beer, apps, dinner, and, since you've earned it, dessert. On your next date night, why not ditch a couple of wheels and take this road less traveled.

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Dawn Brodey

The Nightingale in the arena they know best. Night.

When Nightingale opened last October, the Whitter Neighborhood rejoiced. So did all of the hungry night owls in Uptown who finally found a really good kitchen that is open until 1 a.m. And not just good, the food and atmosphere have been very well-reviewed by everyone, including our own Emily Weiss.

The new local hot spot now has a long winter under its belt; just opened the patio, and will be introducing a Sunday brunch starting... well, right now. But that's not all that's new. Hot Dish checks in with Nightingale co-owner Carrie McCabe-Johnston to get all the details on what's cookin'.

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David McCrindle

Succulent slabs: Smoke in the Pit delivers bold, true barbecue in Powderhorn

After a months-long hiatus to make the move from its former East Lake Street location, Dwight Alexander's fabulous Smoke in the Pit is now open in Powderhorn near the intersection of 38th & Chicago Avenue. The modest space contains a kitchen, single restroom for customers, and a small waiting area filled with the intoxicating, hunger pang-inducing scent of smoked meat. More »