Dawn Brodey

The chariot of the dining bicyclist.

The Twin Cities are regularly voted among the most bike-friendly 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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It's time to slap on some short pants and fire up those grills. The warm weather has arrived and we're ready to celebrate with something charred to perfection. This weekend, May 18 and 19, Minnesota Monthly Magazine will host their second annual Grillfest at The Depot in downtown Minneapolis from 1 - 5 p.m. There will be live music, cooking demos, tons of samples, beer and wine. In anticipation of the event, Chef Peter Botcher, the main sausage man at Butcher and the Boar was kind enough to share a taste of what's in store.More »

E. Katie Holm

Eggs over subterranean hash at Birdhouse on Hennepin, one of the restaurants on our list that still has reservations on Mother's Day

Did Mother's Day sneak up on you this year? Still want to make good with mom, but worried you missed the reservation window of opportunity? There are a few spots available at mom-approved restaurants around town and if you can't make it for the early shift remember that Sunday night dinner is usually an easy time to get a table. More »

Courtesy of the Herkimer

Herkimer's outdoor sports stadium.

For over 13 years, The Herkimer has been serving up more than just beer and food - they have also sponsored a variety of sports leagues from kickball to bean bags.

Caroline O'Halloran, social media and marketing manager for Herkimer, tells us their roster also includes volleyball, softball, hockey, dodge ball, and shuffleboard.

See also:
Herkimer: Best happy hour in town?

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Sasha Landskov

Don Saunders's foodie favorite will reopen later this year with a new concept

Culturally and historically, we think of spring as the time for rebirth, renewal, and re-emergence, but apparently in the Twin Cities restaurant world there's a burgeoning movement to make fall the season for cleaning out the cobwebs and debuting new concepts. 

See also:
Best Restaurant for Romance - 2013: The Kenwood

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While it still barely feels like spring, there continues to be more promise that warm days are on the horizon. Psycho Suzi's just announced that it is ready to debut its new, expanded patio with a slew of new tiki drinks this Friday.

See also:
Top 5 places to eat along the Mississippi: A dining guide for river rats
Top 5 patio bars: Minneapolis and St. Paul

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While the weather predictors may still be claiming that the cooler temperatures aren't going anywhere, the team behind Harbor View Cafe, on the shores of Lake Pepin, is moving along with spring. The restaurant, like their locally sourced food, is seasonal. They've been teasing fans with pictures of glistening glassware, buttercream frosting, giant slices of pie, and fat boxes of elephant garlic. If there is anything we're ready for, it's a new season to begin.More »

Let the good times roll! Mardi Gras is upon us. It's time to break out the beads and the king cake. While we might not have many things in common with our friends in the state at the other end of the Mississippi, there is one spot where you can get your red beans and rice fix this Tuesday.
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Tony Nelson

Ribs at Ted Cook's: Finger-lickin' good

Last week we have a run-down of some of the best wings around town, but if you're looking for something other than sauce-slathered chicken (okay, there's some more of that on this list too) to serve at your game-day party, plenty of restaurants are offering their catering services over the busy weekend, including a few that don't usually do big quantities all packaged to go.More »

Kelly Moritz

German riesling is a surprisingly satisfying winter sipper

Von Schleinitz Riesling 2008
Kings Wine Bar
$9/glass, $27/bottle

What else is there to do when faced with layers of sheer ice on every walking surface but granny-shuffle into the nearest neighborhood bar for some liquid relief? If that local watering hole happens to be the decidedly undivey Kings Wine Bar, it would be downright criminal not to settle in with something from the vine. With winds whipping subzero chills just out the window, make the unconventional choice to eschew those full, jammy reds for a riesling. The von Schleinitz 2008 Riesling peeks through the palate like the sun through heavy clouds and will become your new chilly-day go-to.

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