The Cash Diet

With the recent floods in the Midwest and gas prices through the roof, you are going to see your food prices creep up. The floods have swelled the cost of corn to an all time high and it's going to effect the price of meat and all other mass produced products that contain corn or corn additives (try and find more than 3 things in your cupboard that don't have a corn product in them such as Corn syrup etc. - if you can do it, then you are a better eater, then I). 

So why am I going off on something you likely already realize? Well, to try and offer a few solutions. Since I really only need to feed myself, which is just about the most inefficient way to purchase food,  I try and use a few tricks:

1. Hit the Farmer's Market or get on board with a CSA. You typically get fresh, healthy food here that hasn't been treated with all sorts of chemicals etc. You miss the retail mark ups and everything is grown local so your shipping costs are wiped out. Plus, you'll get to try new things. I think I'll hit the Melon Vine Farm in Grantsburg on the way to the cabin this weekend, and maybe hit the dairy co-op for my dairy needs - The Burnett County Co-op has incredible cheese -http://www.burnettdairy.com/

2.) Tear up your back yard. That's right, use a little bit of good old fashioned elbow grease and plant and herb or salad garden in the corner of your yard - or just purchase some large terra cotta planters. I'm going with a hybrid this year. I' should have all my herbs (Basil, thyme, oregano and parsley) in the ground yet this week. I'm hoping to get tomatoes and peppers in the ground soon too. It's a fun hobby, rewarding and super cheap.

3.) Change up the routine. Americans love them some red meat. With the cost of corn sky rocketing, you can plan on seeing an increase in the price of beef. To avoid the pinch try ordering in bulk direct from the producer, or reduce read meat from your diet. Try looking for new recipes that are packed with non-animal based proteins. If you've got a huge hankering for some beef then purchase it in bulk when it is on sale and freeze it for later use. I just loaded up on Thousand Hills grass-fed ground beef at the Linden Hills co-op when it was on sale the other day. Saved a buck a pound and will have enough to get me through the next few weeks no problem. Burgers, tacos and pasta with e sweet smell of savings and none of the additives.

Just because food prices are increasing doesn't mean you need to buy the lowest common denominator. Try finding new and innovative ways to cook with your local bounty. Rely on yourself to grow more sustainable and healthy foods, and look for new ways to freshen up your diet, especially with all the fun summer produce that is popping up.

Happy Eating,

-Teddy

W.A. After the Frost

This past Tuesday, with the sun out and the weather warm I decided I would enjoy my usual Tuesday night dinner with my girlfriend at W.A. Frost http://www.wafrost.com/home.html. The biggest reason I decided to cross the river was Frost's A+ Patio which is best enjoyed once the weather becomes tolerable. It is simply the perfect outdoor dining experience and since it was the first truly nice day I had seen in quite some time, I jumped on the opportunity. The air became a bit chill as the night grew on but a perfect spot next to the charmingly warm fire took care of the bite in the air. Frost has a truly compelling bar menu as it relates to both food and cocktails. I rolled the dice on a Modelo with Tabasco, lime and worcestershire. I think if you would have lost the worcestershire I would have been fine, but it was a bit too much. A quick change to a simple micro brew EPA from Portland was a great fix. Jessica and I decided to order the Duck and Pork bratwurst and the BLT and split the two. We had the fries to accompany the brat and I had the mixed greens with the BLT. First of all the fries were outrageous, meaty and crispy, to put it simple: Perfect. The Brat was totally out of the park - the duck raised the big brat flavor to a new level and the sweet pork stood up well to the flavorful duck . It was accompanied with pickled onions, a Guinness reduction ans a nice roasted corn salsa. It was a big flavor that mingles well with a smooth EPA. The BLT was good, but not great. I loved the Bib lettuce accompaniment, I'm always a huge fan of fried eggs on just about any sandwich, and the Sriracha mayo provided an much needed bite to the profile. The biggest short falling was the bread, which was a simple toasted white variety akin to Wonder - we all know the bread is the foundation of a good sandwich and it just fell short. That being said there were about five other items on their bar menu that I would have ordered on any other night and my allegiance to a BLT just won through. I'll have to find a good night to go back, but as I look outside at the snow on April 26th, I realize that may be a few days away.

The best part about Frost is their patio. They pour great cocktails, have exceptional service and the environment is second to none in the state. I highly recommend heading over to enjoy this little slice of serenity whenever possible. Just call ahead for outdoor reservations on the traditional dining nights. I promise it will be well worth it.

I'm off to tear into my first crack at pulled pork. Hopefully that will help get the chill out of my bones. Spring in MN can be cruel...

Happy Eating,

-Teddy

Holy Shish! It's Been a While

OK, so I haven't posted in a while. However, make no mistake, I am no less obsessed with food today, it's just that I've been busy, so have a heart. So I love good food and I love cheap food - cheap eats if you will. I'm going to make it more of a point to write about the cheap eats I love. There is nothing better then rounding out a prefect day on the go, filled with fun activities, then to hit a quick spot where you can get a quick, exciting meal and get on to the next event. Enter Grand Avenue in St. Paul and Shish Mediterranean cafe. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and specialize in Mediterranean and middle eastern dishes. I love their food! The first time I hit Shish I had to have the chicken shawarma http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawarma . I fell in love with shawarma when I was studying on the Gold Coast in Australia where it is a common street food. One huge culinary component I feel is missing from this city is a tremendous culture of street food, but that is for another post. The shwarma was warm, spicy and balanced with tender, spicy chicken and the crunch of a few onions and crisp lettuce. Mix that in with a cool hint of cucumber sauce and you have a great meal on the go, although I woulkd have loved some sweet chili sauce! The second time (OK serious nod to Shish simply based on the fact that I ate there twice in 2 weeks) I at there I had a burger that was celebrated with a Med feeling and style. Take a nicely grilled burger, (OK, maybe it was a bit dry - let's up the fat content people, my BMI is just fine!) top it with good quality feta, grilled tomatoes and onions, a light and earthy hummus add a dollop of Tzatziki and you've got a serious meal and a community of flavors that has all the comforts of a good old burger and all the flash and excitement of middle eastern cuisine. The fries were outrageous too. They were perfectly crisp, well salted and had a hint of curry in the finish. Head over to Grand just past Macalaster and before Snelling if you are looking for a good on-the-go lunch in St. Paul. Oh and by the way. It's straight up cheap!

Happy Eating,

-Teddy

CSA Time

Wanted everyone to know there is no better time to look into a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) crop share then right now. I'm trying to figure out the best way for me to get into one right now, as I am just one mouth to feed. Hopefully the roommates will realize the benefits of eating outside of the realm of Chipotle and microwavable cuisine. My parents have done this the past few years and you get some great stuff out of it. And of course it supports the local Ag communities around the city. It's fresh produce, grown with sustainable practices, and since you don;'t know what you are getting until it shows up, it can be down right exciting. Wow, I am obsessed with food. Take a look at the following link to learn more about local CSAs .

http://www.mda.state.mn.us/food/minnesotagrown/qlist-csa.htm

Happy Eating,

-Teddy

Healthy Gourmet

I think all of you who like to eat well and eat light might enjoy this. It turns out some of our favorite and most celebrated local chef's are turning out menus that are low calorie, yet flavorful and just plain imaginative. Now I can't say I've sampled these particular menus but a quick glance at a chef bio would make me believe that these guys wouldn't compromise their craft for a low calorie count. Check out Minnesota MonthlyMagazine (one of my favorite local mags) for more details http://www.minnesotamonthly.com/ . If any one tries any of the listed items let me know your thoughts.

Happy Eating,

-Teddy

A Sauce for All You Easter Lamb Lovers

I know many of you will likely be serving lamb for the upcoming Easter feast and wanted to give you a nice quick sauce with a Greek influence that could spice up the normal holiday meal. I would recommend this if you are grilling, roiling or roasting. Although braised lamb is delicious, the braising liquid should serve as a substantial enough sauce.

This cool garlicky sauce helps to balance out the big flavors of lamb and really compliments a number of lamb dishes. It would be great on homemade Gyros.

Here it is and it's so simple:

Serves 6 to 8

1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt . Dannon or any other plain variety would work too.

The juice of half a lemon

1/2 tsp spoon of minced garlic

Salt & pepper to taste.

Simply mix all of the ingredients well. Use a juicing device to juice the lemon, or juice over a spoon to catch any of the seeds. A quick whisk will make the sauce nice and smooth. I divided my original recipe by two for this post because the full version makes almost an entire bowl, which is a lot.

Happy Eating,

- Teddy

Little Plates at Cafe Maude - Literally

Now, I know what you are thinking, I'm about to bash the size of the portions. You will not be subject to that rant here. I am well aware of the obesity-friendly portions that are often served in our hibernation-friendly state, but I thought the portion sizes at Cafe Maude http://www.cafemaude.com/ were just fine. That is not my knock. My knock on Maude isn't the service either. I've seen many a review where the critic eludes to the host, service and reservation policy (seriously, just hop on http://www.opentable.com/start.aspx?m=46 or go late on a non-traditional dining night and you'll be able to get in - not so TR-Sat) as rude. Not here. Nope, I've always had a good service experience there.

So here's my knock: The plates are too small. Literally. The dishes, dude. I get that they are an a la carte service. But if I order a side with my entree, where the am I supposed to put it? I recently enjoyed a meal at Maude with several friends. I had the lamb skewers which were awesome - it was great to integrate currants into my diet again after subjecting my system to the typical colon blocking, Minnesotan winter fare . My girlfriend had the Moroccan chicken which was well prepared and very well seasoned - spices/flavor penetrated beyond the skin and was well integrated through the flesh. Here's the issue though. You plop half a chicken (bone in nonetheless!) down on a small plate and where do you put the sides you had to order? Our dinner for six quickly tuned into a dodge ball game of french fries, asparagus and braised greens. Simply put, on the shell prawns and bone in chicken on a tiny plate leaves no room for sides ,let alone any sort of surface to navigate the bones with silver or clean a prawn. I would recommend getting bread plates for the sides, but that would leave zero room on the table if you are normal and enjoy wine/a cocktail with dinner. A water glass, wine glass, entree plates, side plates, and a plate for each individual diner to harbor the side leaves no room whatsoever. The best answer is to get some people you are really comfortable with and be ready to laugh if a french fry rolls onto your neighbors dish or your brother accidentally shovels some asparagus onto your dress pants.

I will say that I've enjoyed my food at Cafe Maude the two times I have dined there (although the warm flat bread I had the first time featured a Goliath portion of dense, flavorless, cold romesco), but solving the table clutter would make this place exceptional in my book. Until then you can catch me every so often at this neighborhood cafe stuffing my face as quickly as possible so we can make room for all the other small plates.

Happy Eating

-Teddy