Burger Jones Yes Once Again

What else would one do on a beautiful summer's eve but enjoy a burger and a beverage, preferable an Appletini, on the patio of Burger Jones.

My advise to Burger Jones Do Not Do Specials that sound like another famous burger.

I have been to this restaurant several times and never once have I had a bad experience, until last night. This will teach me not to jump at the specials that sounds so good.

I know your just waiting to find out what it is...well wait no longer. The Special was the Burger Jones version of the Juicy Lucy, but not really. The description was..burger filled with mozzarella cheese (which has no taste) covered with pesto (I think) on ciabatta garlic bread...sounds good. My first taste was...Oh.. too salty, then the burger would not stay on the bread and then there was too much garlic...and then a mess.

This was not a good idea! BJ has great burgers which they do not need to improve on.

There is an old adage "If it is not broken do not try to reinvent the burger"

I know this will not stop me from going back again but it will be the tried and true shroom burger.

One last mention, the onion rings tasteless...if it wasn't for the dipping sauce there would be no flavor at all.

It must be getting late or I'm just cranky, which I am sure you can tell from the above.

Stay tuned, I just know there will be something good this weekend or at least one can hope!

Ta Ta

Red Lobster now this is lunch

Sometimes we need to pay a visit to the chain restaurants to see how they do things. This weekend I went to Red Lobster with a friend for lunch. Yes the menu is huge and covers almost everything seafood and they do it well.

The cheesy biscuits are beyond words...you can just eat these and have a very tasty meal but oh those calories. Once you have a biscuit the menu is your oyster, anything from walleye to pasta covered with shrimp or lobster or crab...Yum. With the main dish comes a salad either house or Caesar both good choices.

Before I forget a lunch is not a lunch without a cocktail or two in this case it was one very large Margarita...and let me tell you they did not skimp on the tequila. Yep another afternoon on the couch!

It was all good!

Before I close I need to make mention of one more stop that I made with PHM, where you say? well it was to Costco.

A meal is not a meal unless there is a little sweet to finish it off. Well, there was nothing at The Cooper so off to Costco for a very berry yogurt. Such a bargain for a $1.69 and yes it was huge..

Peg when are you going to Weight Watchers...that will be another story

Bye for now or until my next food venture!

The Cooper (West End)

I am not sure why restaurants cannot do better for lunch. Yesterday I went to The Cooper, not really having any great expectations, just a nice place to go for lunch. The menu covers all the bases, but it is the same old thing. Why can't they take a sandwich and bring it to the next level, add something...think outside the box.

I looked at the menu and my choices consisted of sandwich or salad or burger, which is fine but nothing special. I ended up ordering a Ruben which was OK, but nothing to write home about.

If most restaurants can do such a wonderful job for dinner, in most cases becoming very inventive, why can't the same principle be followed for the noon time meal?

The Cooper is a very pretty place not for lunch but maybe for a pint and a chat.

I must be is a bad mood, I hardly ever bash a restaurant. In this case I am not bashing the restaurant but restaurants in general.

I better quit while I am ahead....Ta Ta

Il Gatto (The Cat)

The month of August has been a very social month for me. I never realized how many of my friends were born in this month...quit surprising.

I had the good fortune to get together with some former co-workers and enjoy a get together at Il Gatto (the old Figlo). Needless to say getting together with old friends is the best but the food also needs to be mentioned.

The dining room is large but not so noisy that you can't hold a conversation without yelling. The menu is not huge but covers all the basics, something for everybody. Also to be mentioned, there is a special for every night except Friday.

Of course every get together must start with a Martini...the names are terrific IE pussification to twigs & berries all delish. Myself and Blythe had the special, chicken saltimbocca with salad and a bottle of wine...are you ready $29.00 for 2. Michele ordered the spinach pizza and Rachel had the ravioli...as each bite was taken all your heard was Yum!

This time dessert was not to be missed (diet can wait till tomorrow). Our waitress Brittany, knew there were 3 b'days at the table, so along with the cheesecake came a surprise dessert. The cheesecake was good but the spumoni was fantastic. My mouth is salivating just talking about the desserts.

Il Gatto can be found at:
Calhoun Square
3001 Hennepin Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55408

For the Martinis alone it is worth the trip. Go have a bottle of wine and pizza and have a good time.

Ta Ta for now..Peggy

Sweet Retreat Cupcake Boutique

There is a place in the 50th and France area called Sweet Retreat Cupcake Boutique, it is the closest thing to heaven that I have ever tasted.

You walk in the front door and the smell of the delicious little treats just waft through the air. The next thing you will see is a showcase full of the best tasting cupcakes you can imagine. They are not big but the flavor is huge, but light. The frosting is so creamy and just the right touch for what is underneath.

Can you tell that I am in love with the cupcake. I am not alone, I brought them to work as a treat for my favorite co-worker, by bff PHM loves these things..need I say more.

There is a flavor to meet everybody's taste buds from red velvet to peanut butter, it is yours to make the choice. I guarantee that you will be back for more.

Take my advise and make the trip. OMG I am salivating just talking about them.

Maybe I'll see you there soon!

Just in case the address is 5013 France Ave South

Sauce/West End

When there is nothing to do on a Saturday afternoon... how about shopping and a nice lunch...its called exploring to some people.

PHM and myself went exploring to the West End, the new shopping area off of 394. The area is new with a few stores, a giant movie theater and several restaurants. Our first stop was a store called Love Culture, a rather hip low priced store aimed more for juniors than anything else. To my amazement, I found the costume jewelry dept OMG I thought I died and was surrounded by shiny baubles. For about $35.00 I had 3 necklace chains and one animal print bracelet..not a bad haul. Needless to say, one can work up quite the appetite looking for bargains. Off to find a treat.

There are several restaurants to choose from. We walked to the Cooper, very big a nice sitting area outside but a brunch menu. On to Ringo nice menu but it was the dinner menu and a little expensive. There is the old standby Crave, but we have already been to this one, not ready for a repeat.

So where do we end up you ask, a very cute place called Sauce. They are having a special till the middle of September. You can order a pizza, a salad for two and two glasses of wine all for $20.00. Surprisingly you can order any pizza on the menu or any of about 6 salads and yes any wine off the menu. One suggestion stay away from the Classic Caesar unless you like a dressing that is more vinegar then anything else.

Looking around it is a casual atmosphere, prices are good and a nice selection from pizza to pasta..just sit and enjoy a glass or two of the Chianti and chat awhile.

I would recommend to spend a couple of hours exploring the West End and then take in one of the restaurants, there is bound to be one that will meet your budget and taste-buds.

The West End is not finished yet, looks like there are still more stores and restaurents ready to open soon.

Thats it for now....

One More Bday Celebration

Last night I had the good fortune to be invited to a Happy Hour with former co-workers, which took place at the Loring Kitchen. The Kitchen is located at 1359 Willow Street across from Loring Park

I will admit that I have been there a few times in the past and was not excited to go back, but never say never. The happy hour is terrific and even better when there are several people to share the menu treats.

Let me start by saying there is a selection of martinis and reasonably priced at $6.00. I had the Lemon Drop, fantastic, just keep them coming...there were blue martinis IE with blue cheese stuffed olives (get it blue martini)and of course wine and beer.

The food menu has many good selections. The Loring Burger was yummy, the pizzas prove to be a tasty morsel, in particular the sausage...YUM.

Surprisingly enough there was a selection of fries, from what I remember (don't read anything into that) the regular fries and zucchini were quit the treat.

Yes, I would certainly recommend the Loring Kitchen for a happy hour. A little added treat...when the weather cools down they have an open patio... what could be better then sipping a cocktail while looking across at Loring Park.

Bye for now or at least till the next treat passes my lips, and you will be the next to know!!!!!

Sea Salt

For the second week of Birthday celebration I had the opportunity to go to Sea Salt located in Minnehaha park right near the falls.

I have been trying to go to this restaurant for about 2 years, either the line was too long or it was closed (only open during the summer). I had no idea what to expect as far as food, I knew it was going to be seafood but that was it. I think the first visit can be a little undaunting,everything is on a black board but it does take awhile to go thru.

The choices were made and the po'boy was the selection of the day. I tried the catfish and PHM had the same with some sort of fried fish. PHM also added an order of calamari which was good but I think the breading could be lighter. The po'boy was large with a big piece of fish on top,taste was good and very fresh. With the atmosphere being so nice any food would be good. This is such a great place for neighborhood people, bikers and walkers alike. It is the type of place that you can do with or without a friend very casual and unpretentious.

I would love to know if the menu is the same for day and or evening. I guess it will give me a reason to go back and check it out.

When you visit, do not miss the opportunity to visit the falls they are only footsteps away. It is a very tranquil atmosphere within a big city...almost like Central Park is good old N.Y.C.

bye bye till the next morsel passes my lips

Burger Jones over and over and over

Just a quick mention of my favorite burger joint. Where does one go when one has a craving for a burger, well of course it is Burger Jones. To tell you the truth not sure if it is the burger or the wonderful $3.00 happy hour appletinis..just soooo good.

Anybody that has not tried this place you need to go you will not be sorry.

Can't wait for the next tini and burger!!!!!!!!!!

Cafeteria Uptown - 2nd visit

It is the day of my Birthday and I am going to the Twins game with a friend. So needless to say Brunch/breakfast was the first order of the day...Where should we go? such an easy question.

Drove by Cafeteria took a look, the downstairs looked so inviting, it was just the choice of the day.

There is not just a breakfast menu but a brunch menu as well, one cannot have too many menus can one. Between the 2 choices I am sure there is something for everybody.

It's Sunday so a Bloody Mary is first on my list and again just delectable. The eggs Benedict was terrific. It is not the usual English muffin cut in two and an egg on each..No this was a rather large thick slice of bread, with ham and eggs topped with hollandaise sauce..simply mouthwatering.

My fellow foodie had Southern Fried Chicken on a waffle. How can I say, this so is wrong on so many levels, these 2 things are just not a match. But who am I to judge somebody else's taste buds...when i looked over the only things left on the plate were the bones (uck). I guess it must have been good.

I will predict there will be one more visit. There is something on the menu that I have been craving for a long time and I will have to try..stay tuned for the next visit as I satisfy my craving.

Cafeteria Uptown

I must be getting old to be visiting the same restaurant twice in one week..it is just unheard of...but I did and yes I am getting older..Happy Birthday to me!

After a movie on a very nice summers afternoon was the first visit. Needless to say it was sheer curiosity with all the press this place is getting. The atmosphere is so alive and the idea of a glass elevator on Lake Street..wait am I still talking about Minneapolis! The elevator will take you to the rooftop where you can just kick back while sipping a martini or libation of choice and simply relax.

As usual I must try the burger when ever I go to a new place...I have to try the burger, if the burgers are good then everything else will follow...did not necessarily hold true it was only OK. The Bloody Mary was delish!!!!

I will comment on the fact that the servers coming out with the food had no idea what table they were supposed to be serving. The food would go to 2 or 3 table till they got it right. Nobody at the front of the bar would realize this but from where I was sitting I had a bird's eye view. I am sure this will improve with time.

Next visit to follow!