Krik's Picks

Here's my first recipe post for 2010. I've written before about a United Way project that I do with a co-worker at Land O'Lakes . She has a 'cabin' on Big Island on Lake Minnetonka. We auction a happy hour as part of the United Way campaign. The winning bidders for our 2010 event paid the highest we've ever raised. Woo-hoo! It's bitter cold outside, and hard to think about a balmy summer day sipping cocktails on a deck overlooking Lake Minnetonka and enjoying appetisers. But I tried my first new recipe for the group. Both components of the appetiser are from celebrity chefs on the Food Network. The grilled polenta is from Bobby Flay and the mushroom ragout is from Emeril Lagasse . Grilled Polenta 8 cups chicken stock or water 2 cups polenta 2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt 1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley leaves, plus more for garnish 1/4 cup olive oil Salt and freshly ground pepper G...

My Yelp post on minibar pretty much covers the food. This post will answer the question: Why was I there in the first place? It also will share several photos and a short video. As you may know, minibar is touted as the most difficult reservation to get in Washington, DC. There are only 6 seats and 2 seatings per evening. They open reservations exactly one month in advance, and they recommend calling on the day that you want your reservation. Which, I didn't do. I had a hard time deciding to even seek a reservation. It's expensive. And the whole concept of a 27 course tasting menu that features very unusual flavor combinations and preparation techiques honestly sounded a little daunting. So for my mid-January trip to DC, I didn't make the call until a few days later than the recommended one-month advance. Actually, at first I was sort of relieved when I was told that both seatings were full for that evening. I just made a reservation at Cafe Atlantico and put my name on...

It was a damp and dreary night. We'd been to a hockey game (indoors, thankfully) to watch our niece play. (Her team lost, boohoo.) The January rain fell on mounds of ice-covered snow, and the streets were slick and strewn with slushy puddles. When we walked into the Loring Kitchen & Bar , it was like entering a sanctuary from winter. We had 7:30 reservations, and we were quite surprised to see so many open tables when we walked in. We had tried to get last minute reservations a week earlier, and were told that the only opening they had was at 4:30 p.m. So I expected the place to be packed. Maybe everyone was too intimidated by the bad weather. (Maybe everyone was on their way to New Orleans to watch the Vikings in the play-off.) There was a steady stream of people in and out during the evening. But at no time were all the tables full. While waiting for my sister-in-law and her husband to arrive, my wife and I ordered drinks. They have a nice line up of signature cocktails. My w...

Once, I don't remember how long ago, I had an espresso at a sidewalk table outside of Le Bon Cafe. The cafe is right on Capitol Hill. So on my most recent trip to DC, when I had some time between meetings, I decided to walk over there for coffee and to read the paper. When I got inside, some of the breakfast food looked interesting. So instead of just coffee, I had a mid-morning breakfast. You can click here to read my review of the food on Yelp. Some of the other reviewers were put off by unfriendly, or at least inattentive service. Didn't bother me. I didn't go in there to make a new BFF. Maybe I'm just a sucker for this kind of place. Quaint. Little. Maybe a little quirky. I liked the background music, and I got to sit in the front bay window. So I would recommend it, and I'll probably go back again someday.

Late in 2009, I announced a 'brand extension' and started a Krik's Picks profile on Yelp . At the time, I wondered how I would integrate my Yelp posts with my blog. I've only been doing Yelp for a couple weeks now. But I think Krik's Picks on Yelp will take the place of my 'Kwik Pick' reviews that I started a while ago. So here's what I'm going to try. When I post a review on Yelp, I'll just post a photo and brief item on the blog with a link to the Yelp review. I don't know if that will make a difference to anyone. Most of the time, I think I'm just talking to myself on this blog. But if I have any readers, and if any of you have an opinion about this approach, feel free to let me know. So click here to read about the birthday celebration that we had for my son at Benihana in Golden Valley, MN. Here's the photo.

My wife and I didn’t plan to have dinner on New Years Eve at Players Grill . In fact, we thought we'd be celebrating New Years with friends at their home in Wayzata, MN. But circumstances conspired to change our plans. Our daughter, who was due to deliver her first child on Jan. 5, called us on Wednesday evening, Dec. 30, to tell us that she was in labor and ... it was time to come! We were ready for bed, but being compulsive planners, we were already packed. So we threw our bags in the car and hit the road. It was 10:45 p.m. Our goal was to arrive in Chicago in time for the birth of our grandchild. Well, we didn't quite make it. Trey David was born at 4:58 a.m. on Dec. 31. We arrived at the hospital at 5:30 a.m. So we found ourselves in Chicago (actually north Chicago suburbs) on New Years Eve. Our son-in-law's parents live there. We connected later in the day at the hospital and decided to have dinner together for New Years Eve. After driving all night, and with only a co...