Camacho Watcho

My first thought was “coal fired…really?” But I was willing to go for it since it was a place I hadn’t tried and we were meeting some friends for dinner who had picked the place. These friends are Warehouse District lovers through and through and I don’t blame them. With markets, restaurants and coffee shops continuing to open, the Warehouse District has dramatically changed in the four years that I’ve lived downtown.

But back to pizza. Black Sheep Coal Fired Pizza just recently opened on the October 20th on the 600 block of Washington Avenue. Walking in the building, you turn directly to right and then enter the restaurant down a short flight of stairs. My first impression was great. There were plenty of dark wood tables and booths in the two good sized eating spaces. The selection of tap beer looked plentiful (Surly on tap, for you Surly lovers) and the kitchen was bustling.

We sat down and studied the menu. There were appetizers (meatballs, roasted veggies and salads) in the $6-$7 range and two sizes of pizza (12″ or 16″). There is a short list of pizzas with pre-determined toppings and there is the option to choose your own toppings from an extensive list of ingredients (from Kalamata olives to fennel to clams). We decided to go with two salads, one large pizza and one small pizza for four people. This was a good size order, as I was definitely hungry. In the future for a light appetite for two, I might go with one salad and one 12″ pizza.

While we waited for our pizza I took in our surroundings. My initial impression remained in tact with the exception of one thing – the kitchen. It just lacked personality. It was just white and, well, blah. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t need a colorfully tiled pizza oven to do it for me but I would prefer not to look over and see a white drop-ceiling with a couple tiles punched up and the duct work showing (not artfully showing like you see in lofts). And unfortunately from the booths in the side room, you don’t get much of an impression of the kitchen except for the tops of the cooks’ heads and ceiling. On the plus side, it was definitely bustling and the food coming out of it looked great.

Back to the food…Our spinach salad with blue cheese arrived and we dug in. This was definitely a great salad – fresh spinach leaves, cherry tomatoes, creamy blue cheese and good sized blue cheese crumbles. (The Kalamata olives in the picture are from our friends’ house salad…how can you not like olives?) We didn’t try the house salad, but it looked like Andy and Sarah enjoyed it as well.

Pizza was up next. Unfortunately there was some confusion with our order (first we got someone else’s order and then one of our pizzas was wrong), but we weren’t in a hurry, so it wasn’t really an issue to wait 7 minutes for the pizza to be remade. Our first pizza arrived and it looked good. This was a 12″ oyster mushroom, smoked mozzarella and rosemary pizza. I was very happy with this pizza, especially the fresh rosemary! The next pizza was a 16″ cheese and sausage pizza, again another good tasting pizza. We were very pleased.

So, you might be wondering about the crust, sauce and cheese – I know that’s what I like to hear about when I read about pizza. I’ll start with the crust. It’s crisp but chewy in the center with the slightest hint of a sweet, sourdough flavor – a flavor that is definitely alright by me. There is one choice of sauce, which is crushed tomatoes. Again, another great choice, although I would have liked to have had a slight bit more. The cheese? This was my least favorite. It tasted pretty good, but it managed to congeal a bit even though we ate the pizza quickly. I prefer the fresh, gooey mozzarella that stretches into a steaming string as you try to separate your slice from the rest of the pizza. But, overall Black Sheep’s pizza is nicely done and the bill for the four of us (because I know you’re curious) for two pizzas, two salads, two glasses of wine and two beers was $52 before tip – not too bad.

As we were leaving, Jordan (the owner) asked us if we’d like to see the oven. He took the time to explain why he chose coal, rather than wood, to fire the oven (it has to do with the consistency of heat and even cooking temperatures, rather than the taste it produces) and gave us a short history of coal-fired pizza ovens in New York. I love that he took the time for us, even as he and his cooks were juggling pizzas in and out of the oven.

Overall I enjoyed Black Sheep Coal Fired Pizza. Pizza Nea is still #1 in my downtown pizza ranking, but Black Sheep has secured a solid #2 spot for me.

Black Sheep Coal Fired Pizza
600 Washington Ave. N
Minneapolis, MN
612.342.2625

Although Local D’Lish has been providing locally sourced foods to the Warehouse District neighborhood for over a month, today was their Grand Opening Event. I had a chance to stop by to taste many of the goodies that they carry. I know it might sound corny, but I can’t help saying that the flavors were simply “d’lish”!


Spicy chipotle salsa from the Salsa Lady, decadent orange chocolate from River Chocolate Company, and the spicy barbecue sauce from Spooky’s were among my favorite of the samples. I can’t forget, however, the very tasty and unique aebleskivers from Aunt Else’s Aebleskiver. Warm doughnut-like pastries with an apple baked inside…wow!

Last week I also had a chance to check out their dairy and meat products as I was doing a little grocery shopping in preparation of some friends coming to dinner. I had gone to the store and wasn’t happy with the bone-in skin-on chicken that was available, so I decided to go to D’Lish. I was very pleased with the selection of sausage, beef and poultry and I went home with a whole chicken to use for dinner and a couple meals to follow. Although it does cost a bit more to buy local, it pays off in flavor and you can use the leftovers for many things. The first night I made lemon, sage and garlic roast chicken, then the leftover chicken went into stuffed green peppers and the rest was put to use for chicken stock. Buying local is definitely worth it!

In cooperation with the Mill City Farmer’s Market, D’Lish will also be the site for the Winter’s Food Market. Be sure to check it out on the third Saturday of every month from 10am-2pm.

Local D’Lish
208 N. 1st St.
Minneapolis, MN
612.886.3047

After making a date to grab lunch with a friend who works in St. Paul, I did some research to get some options. I could have picked one of my usual favorites in St. Paul, but I wanted to try someplace new and I was very pleased to find several great options. After deliberating, the one that had my attention was the Barbary Fig.

Unlike many businesses on Grand Avenue, the Barbary Fig is nestled in a two-story house with a large patio out front. As it was cold out, however, we forewent eating outside and instead were led upstairs to the dining room where we sat in a table by the window. The first thing I noticed was the crowd, or lack thereof. This was my first visit, so I’m not sure if it does not usually gather much of a lunch crowd, but I have to admit that I was a little disappointed. Looking on the bright side, however, it ensured excellent service.

We settled into our table and took in the surroundings. The tables and chairs are all very dark wood and are contrasted beautifully by the colorful walls, ceiling and napkins. But wait, I don’t mean colorful in a generic way…colorful to the Barbary Fig means that the walls and ceiling are painted in bright yellows and oranges and that the napkins are the most brilliant shade of purple you can imagine. But somehow this does not seem overdone and the effect puts an instant smile on your face.

Barbary Fig’s lunch menu is small, but has wonderful flavor combinations that reflect its Moroccan roots. I immediately decided what I wanted to order and then promptly changed my mind once I heard the special. Tender chicken stewed in a custard sauce with tumeric and cinnamon, wrapped in flaky phyllo and topped with sauteed bell peppers and zucchini and a pear, apricot and fig chutney. I had to have it. And when it arrived, I savored each crunchy, sweet and cinnamony bite.

My friend’s order, which was on the lunch menu, was also flavorful and delicious. It was a combination of sausage, egg, and peppers that resembled a breakfast scramble (and you know how much I love a good breakfast scramble). Let’s just say that we did not leave a bit of food on our plates.

Overall I really enjoyed the Barbary Fig and look forward to returning sometime to try out their dinner menu and the patio. Although it did lack a lunch crowd, the service and the food were fantastic. In the midst of the bustle of Grand Avenue, the Barbary Fig is a colorful retreat for the senses.

Barbary Fig
720 Grand Avenue
St. Paul, MN
651.290.2085

Last Saturday night after seeing “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist” at the Grandview Theater in St. Paul, Kyle and I were hungry. Just down on Grand Avenue a short distance was Khyber Pass Cafe, a perfect place for a late night dinner. I really had no expectations for Khyber Pass, as I had never had Afghani food, but I was looking forward to it.

Walking in, I was instantly impressed with the crowd. It was about 9:00 on a Saturday night and most of the tables were filled (always a good sign). We waited just a few minutes and then were shown to a table in the larger dining area. I sat and then looked around to take it all in. Khyber Pass’s decor has a very traditional, yet at the same time, contemporary feeling. Painted a creamy white, the walls are adorned beautifully with a row of colorful photographs from Afghanistan near the tables and another row of abstract, colorful paintings further up near the ceiling (unfortunately my picture doesn’t capture this well). Hanging from the ceiling and the back wall are traditional woven rugs and women’s dresses. The decoration is subtle, yet distinct, and it creates a wonderful sense of balance.


I was settled in and ready to explore the menu. We were wanting a light meal, so we decided to go for the cilantro chutney and then the vegetarian combination plate of eggplant, lentils and potatoes to share. The cilantro chutney arrived quickly and was tangy and delicious. Soon after we received our vegetarian plate and I was pleasantly surprised that it was served with a tomato, onion and cucumber salad. I had expected some spiciness to the food, but found that this was not the case at all. Instead, the flavors were mellow but rich. This subtlety in flavors paired with the zippy tomato, onion and cucumber salad was really quite good. Overall I really enjoyed Khyber Pass and I look forward to another visit.

Oh, and by the way, “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist” is a fantastic movie. It’s short, funny and has a great soundtrack (obviously). Thank you to my friend Jeff at The Scorecard Review for talking us out of our previous movie choice!

Kyber Pass Cafe
1571 Grand Avenue
St. Paul, MN
651.690.0505

Saturday night Kyle and I had dinner plans with my in-laws. We wanted to take them somewhere fun with good food, so we decided on El Mesón, a Spanish-Caribbean restaurant in south Minneapolis. We had been there a few times before and had always loved it. Unfortunately, this visit did not live up to our previous experiences.

I love the atmosphere inside El Mesón. It is very cozy and it has a fun vibe. The decor is interesting as well. With rooftops structures at the top of the walls and archways with booths housed inside, it makes you feel like you are eating in a dimly lit courtyard in someone’s backyard. I just love that feeling!

We were seated and then greeted by our server right away. Drinks were the first order of business. It was a bit surprising to find out that they don’t serve any beer. I know they used to sell beer, so I’m not quite sure why they have taken off their menu. Their only alcoholic drinks are sangria or wine. With those as our options, we decided to go with the sangria. Now, I’m not usually a picky drinker, but I was a bit disappointed with the sangria. To be more specific, it tasted very watered down. Sangria is usually such a fun drink to enjoy. It’s so colorful and festive, not to mention yummy, with the dry wine mixed with sugar and fruit. But this sangria was none of the above. The wine was weak and it had no sweetness to it, and the only fruit that was added were tiny, diced apples. Yes, apples are delicious, but it could have used more variety.

Our food experience was a little better. The menu features many rice dishes, lots of seafood, and several beef and pork dishes. Everything sounded so good; it was definitely hard to choose. We started with calamari with an artichoke lemon aioli. This definitely was up to par. The calamari was tender and the aioli was tart and perfect. For my entree I ordered one of the specials – sea bass. The sea bass, tomatoes and red onion were cooked in a banana leaf and served with a side of rice and an heirloom tomato and avocado salad. The flavors were really good, but unfortunately my sea bass was not prepared well. It was a little rubbery and not all that enjoyable. However, the tomatoes, onion and sauce that it was cooked with were very flavorful and I really enjoyed the rice and salad as well. Kyle ordered the asado, as it was promised to be the best pork dish served in the Twin Cities. He did seem to enjoy it quite a bit and he finished every last morsel on his plate.

Overall, I have mixed reviews for this visit to El Mesón. Since I have been there a few times before, I know that this is not the typical experience, or at least I hope that the quality has not declined as of recent. Is it still a fun place to go? Yes. Is it a great restaurant with high-quality food and drink? The jury is still out on that one.

El Mesón
3450 Lyndale Avenue
Minneapolis, MN
612.822.8062

I’m crossing my fingers that this is my last day of being sick, so hopefully I’ll actually write tomorrow. Until then, I’ve included some pictures from our visit to the Walker Sculpture Gardens this past weekend. Enjoy!

To view more photos, click here.

I know this is old hat to many of you, but I just wanted to share my excitement that Maxwell’s is back! It seems unbelieveable that just seven months ago, Maxwell’s was shut down due to a fire that started on the third floor in a storage area (as reported by Ed here), where there were a few apartments as well. It saddened so many regulars who loved Maxwell’s and even prompted a facebook group to be started “Mourning Maxwell’s Pub – We Must Rebuild!”

I’ve read some great reviews on Maxwell’s re-opening including this one from We Got Served, but I had to go myself to see what the new Maxwell’s was all about. It was lovely to see the sign lit up again and walking through the door was just like old times. Everything looks the same, with the exception of the two new pictures above the bar and the new (and improved) bathrooms.

We ordered pints of Summit and then just sat and relaxed. I’m looking forward to more Thursday nights at Maxwell’s. It is so good to be back!

Living in a large(r) city like Minneapolis has made me take coffee shops for granted. There is a Caribou on almost every corner, and where there isn’t a Caribou I’m sure Starbucks or Dunn Bros. is near. In addition to these larger chains there are also smaller coffee shops that survive in the busy, on-the-go coffee take-out world that we live in.

Morton, on the other hand, is a small town and home to 15,000 people. Four years ago the only decent place to get a cup of coffee was either McDonald’s or the gas station. Enter Katie Vandenberg. She recognized a need for caffeine in a cozy environment and she pounced on it. She bought an old Victorian house near the library and opened a coffee shop in February 2005. It turned out that this is exactly what this small town needed – a place with character and a warm environment to chat with friends while kids play in the yard. A place to bring your laptop and or book and relax with a cup of coffee. She’s also added great food like homemade buttery scones (my favorite are the cranberry – yum!) and granola to complement the Fair Trade Coffee that is served. Eli’s is a great addition to Morton and I enjoy going there when I’m in town.


Places like Eli’s make me think about my community a bit more. More specifically, the small businesses that add character to our community. I don’t think that we need to completely give up going Caribou and Dunn Bros. (note: I’m not a fan of Starbucks), but I will try to look for smaller coffee shops and frequent them more often. For example, the one pictured above on Lake Street in South Minneapolis – Blue Moon Coffee Cafe. It’s a great, casual atmosphere for reading and relaxing. So next time you need a cup of joe, consider driving past that chain cafe and stop in a coffee shop with character.

Eli’s Coffee
205 W. Jefferson Street
Morton, IL
309.263.0507

Blue Moon Coffee Cafe
3822 E. Lake Street
Minneapolis, MN
612.721.9230

One of my favorite lunch spots is Cecil’s Deli in Highland Park, St. Paul. I love this place! We happened upon Cecil’s several years ago after my dad (who lives out of state) got a recommendation from someone about a restaurant that serves the BEST rueben in the Twin Cites. Although he wasn’t sure of any other details, he came to visit us with his mission…to find that rueben. Since that time, we have eaten there many times and we have taken many friends and family to Cecil’s. And let me tell you…it never disappoints.

Although Cecil’s is not much to look at (it is located in the back grocery/deli) and the service is nothing short of interesting (there is one main guy who runs the show and then just has a bunch of runners to help him), the food is just too good to miss. My favorites are the veggie rueben, turkey rueben and their Philadelphia beef and cheese. I do need to try their breakfast sometime, but I just crave their sandwiches so much that I haven’t gotten around to it. I know, it amazing to think that I would give up a chance to eat eggs in order to eat their sandwiches. That must tell you something!

This past Sunday was a Cecil’s kind of day. It was rainy and cold and we were really hungry. We hit Cecil’s and it was packed! Luckily we only had a short wait before we got a table. A hot cup of mushroom, barley and beef soup and a turkey rueben later and, suddenly, all was right with the world again. Such a perfect way to warm up on a cold, rainy day.

Cecil’s Deli
651 South Cleveland
St. Paul, MN
651.698.0334

After reading a quick blurb about the new Nepalanese restaurant in South Minneapolis, I knew I had to try it. So even though I had plans to make dinner and have a low-key night at home on Friday, I quickly changed the plans and convinced Kyle that we had to go. And off we went to Himalayan Restaurant.

Driving up to the small building with a simple red awning stating “Himalayan Restaurant” I was a little skeptical. I was skeptical until I walked and experienced the fantastic aroma of the food. Then I knew I was in the right place. We placed our order quickly – vegetarian momos, chicken tikka masala, bhanta aaloo (eggplant and potatoes), and naan.

While we waited for our order, we had a chance to look around the restaurant. There are several booths along one wall and then 10 or so tables in the main area. We sat and watched as every table quickly filled and then a small line formed to wait for tables. I was impressed, as it was fairly early on a Friday evening. And I was really glad that I was hungry early on a Friday night, otherwise I would have had to wait for a table with the tempting smell surrounding me. That would have been really tough!

Our food arrived a short time later and we dug in. To sum up Himalayan’s food in one word, it would be “fresh”. From the veggies inside our momos to the cilantro that topped the eggplant, everything tasted just so light and simple. I loved the veggie momos; they were filled with sauteed greens and served with a tangy tomato cilantro sauce. Besides the momos, the star of our meal was the bhanta aaloo. I just loved the way the eggplant and potatoes blended with the spices.

It was definitely a great meal – I will only do two things differently next time I go. First, I would definitely go for the 3-rated spice level (note that the spice levels were Minnesota-spiciness). And second, I will definitely get the full order of veggie momos. Three momos were just not enough for me!

Himalyan Restaurant
2401 E. Franklin Ave.
Minneapolis, MN
612.332.0880