Category: Minnesota

There was a pizza place called Black Sheep that I heard had amazing pizza. I was not able to visit the restaurant in the city during my short trip to Minneapolis. However, to my surprise they had a location inside the airport. I was excited that I was going to be able to check them out before I flew out.

• 

• 

• 

I did not have enough time to order a pizza. However, their meatballs sounded wonderful. They cook them in the coal fire oven, which created a char on the outside of the meatball. It also made them sizzle when they came out.

• 

• 

The meatballs had onions and peppers inside that added great flavor to the meat. They covered the meatballs in their homemade marinara sauce, which had a sweet taste. They sprinkled Pecorino Romano cheese on top and it melted nicely into the sauce.

The meatballs were slightly dense because they were filled with tender meat rather than a ton of fillings. They were extremely moist even with being cooked in the hot oven.

I had to get a drink to wash down these meatballs. I ordered the Sriracha Mary. This was a traditional Bloody Mary mixed with sriracha chili-garlic sauce. The drink was very large.

It was not spicy when it first hit my lips. However, as soon as I swallowed it I could feel the heat in my throat. It was one of the hottest Bloody Mary’s that I have had in a long time.

My quick visit was worth it so I could try Black Sheep. I would like to come back to Minneapolis to visit their main location because I was to try their pizza. Visit them at www.blacksheeppizza.com

Enjoy!

T

While visiting Minneapolis I heard about an old school tiki bar that was a must visit. With a name like Psycho Suzi I could not wait to check this place out.

As soon as I walked up to the building I was greeted by a wooden tiki statue. I knew I was in for fun experience.

• 

• 

I followed signs for the tiki bar. I was passing an assortment of tiki statues, Easter Island statues, tropical plants, and even wicker chairs for photo ops.

• 

• 

• 

• 

They have an entire menu filled with classic tiki cocktails. They all come in fancy ceramic tiki glasses (all of which are available in their gift shop). It was hard to narrow down which one I wanted to try.

After reading through each one I decided to try the Native’s Cruse. This cocktail was full of rum, passion fruit juice, coconut, and citrus juices. It came in a huge glass, almost like a fish bowl, complete with a little tropical umbrella.

Thank goodness it came with a straw because there was no way I could drink from the cup itself.

The flavor of the drink was great. It was strong from the rum, but the passion fruit was the main ingredient I could taste. The coconut flavor came more as an after taste.

I had a sweet tooth while I was there. I checked out their dessert menu. I ordered an ice cream sundae. I thought that would be fun. It too came out in a tiki glass. This one was plastic though. The creamy ice cream was covered in chocolate syrup. It was really good. It made me feel like a kid again.

Psycho Suzi’s was a fun place that transports you to another place. Check them out at www.psychosuzis.com

Enjoy!

T

I heard about a little neighborhood bar that was popular in Minneapolis called The 1029 Bar.

• 

• 

I popped in for a quick drink just to see what it was all about. I did not get anything special, just a vodka tonic.

It is a popular place among local police officers. There are badges all over the walls. They are from all over the country. It was fun to look and see where they were from.

• 

• 

I got to speaking to some of the locals and they gave me a few suggestions of other places to check out.

I was also excited that they had a popcorn machine. I love popcorn. It is my favorite snack. When they popped fresh stuff, the aroma filled up the bar. I ended up eating 3 bowls of the fresh popcorn.

They had a menu of bar food that included lobster rolls.  I was not hungry while I was there, however the food did look tasty.

This was a nice little pit stop for a quick drink. Check them out at www.the1029bar.com

Enjoy!

T

Many cities across the US are famous for certain foods or dishes. Philadelphia has cheesesteaks, Nashville has hot chicken, Chicago has deep dish pizza. In Minneapolis they are famous for the Jucy Lucy. I had never had one of these specialties, so when I visited the city I had to make sure I stopped by Matt’s Bar. They are famously known as the home of the original Jucy Lucy.

• 

• 

For those who are not familiar with the Jucy Lucy, it is a cheeseburger. But not an ordinary cheeseburger. They take two beef patties and put the cheese in the middle of the patties. This way when you take a bite the cheese oozes out.

Naturally Matt’s Bar is famous and when I got there a line was already forming.

I waited patiently for my seat. It gave me an opportunity to watch them cook the burgers on the flattop. I could not wait to order mine.

• 

• 

• 

The wait was not as long as I thought it would be. I got a seat at their bar, which of course I prefer for better and faster service.

I placed my order for their Jucy Lucy. Plus I got fries on the side. While I waited I got a Mike’s Hard Black Cherry Lemonade. I had never had this flavor before. It was both sweet and tart.

My burger came out all wrapped up. It was like opening a Christmas present. It was super hot. I could smell the grilled onions that were on top.

• 

• 

• 

I got ready to take a bite. I knew the cheese would be pipping hot inside so I made sure not to burn my lips.

The burger was so juicy.

The meat had a great grilled flavor. The cheese was creamy and each bite was loaded with cheese. It was exactly what I hoped for.

It did not take me long to scarf down this famous burger. Once I finished I knew why they always have a line to get one.

There may be other places to get a Jucy Lucy around Minneapolis but a stop to Matt’s Bar first is a must. And make sure you bring cash because that is all they take.

Visit their website at www.mattsbar.com

Enjoy!

T

I have really enjoyed visiting local breweries lately in my travels. My stop in Minneapolis was no exception. It was highly recommended that I check out Surly Brewing Co.

• 

• 

• 

I got my stamp at the door and I was ready to go.

They were absolutely packed when I was there. They have tons of seating inside, whether at the bar or at one of their long picnic tables.

Plus, they have a huge outside seating area with lots of fun outdoor games to play. It was the perfect weather to be outside and enjoy the sun before the harsh Minnesota winter arrives.

• 

• 

• 

They have an enormous selection of beers to choose from. No matter what your tastes are, you will find something to satisfy your taste buds.

I went for two sour beers. Sour beers are unique and hard to find. There is something about that punch of sour taste that I really enjoy. It’s almost like a piece of sour candy.

The first sour was the Signal Process. This had a hint of strawberry flavor. It really was like sour candy with w hint of sweetness.

The second sour was the Pentagram. This had a sour cherry taste. It made my lips pucker when I first took a sip, but I got use to the taste.

To help enjoy these beers I ordered a few things from their menu. Their kitchen was really buzzing the day I was there. I started off with the Aki’s Breadhaus Pretzel. This was a large fresh made pretzel. It was piping hot when it came out. The dough they used was sweet and kind of light in texture.

They served a spicy ale mustard on the side, which was a little tangy. They also served a side of homemade pimento cheese. I am not a big fan of pimento cheese but this one was tasty. It was creamy and not as sour as other ones I have tried. It was really good spread on the pretzel. I certainly did not expect that.

I also got a plate of their pierogies. They were filled with potato and gruyere cheese. They popped them in the deep fryer briefly so that the outside got crispy. The combination of potato and cheese was rich and creamy.

They served a horseradish crème fraiche on the plate. The heat from the horseradish added a unique taste to the pierogies that was calmed down by the creamy cheese.

I would definitely stop by Surly Brewing Co again on a visit to Minneapolis. Their pizza and Polish kielbasa looked really popular among the other guests. Plus they have so many other beers to choose from.

Check them out at www.surlybrewing.com

Come by for a beer or catch a movie on their lawn at night.

Enjoy!

T

I recently visited Minneapolis for the first time. I was really excited to explore the beautiful city and to eat and drink my way around town.

I started off my day by visiting Angel Food Bakery. As soon as I got to the door I could smell the fresh donuts.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

They had a large assortment of unique flavors and combinations.

• 

• 

• 

I went for two different ones. The Maple Bacon was calling me. It was a yeast donut with fresh, creamy maple icing. Then they put two slices of crispy bacon on top. It was the perfect blend of sweet and salty. Bacon always seems to go with everything.

The other one I got was called the Dough-napart. It was a donut and croissant combination. It was much heavier than the other donut. It had a great sweet glaze covering the outside. It actually reminded me more of a fritter. It was sweet and had a slight cinnamon taste to me. It was the perfect option for sharing because if all the layers.

They have so many donut options to choose from. I only scratched the surface. Check out their offering at www.angelfoodmn.com and stop in to buy a dozen.

Enjoy!

T