HOOOOOOOO-kay…
So I did some processing…AND some pinching…and I’m back to tell you more about my amazingly wonderful fantabulous trip to Minneapolis last week! And well, since it’s Wednesday, of COURSE today is going to focus on the food! 😀
Be sure to head on over to Peas & Crayons to see if anyone else’s eats even COMPARES to mine this week! And be sure to leave Jenn a little love for all that she does to host our weekly foodie showdown celebration each week! 😉
After arriving in Minneapolis and FINALLY getting a chance to meet Seth face-to-face after emailing for months, Frank, my driver, took me to meet the rest of the Yoplait crew! Once there, I made small talk with some of the ladies, got all makeup-ed, and threw down a glass of liquid courage (aka, white wine…thank you Tanya!) before my VIDEOTAPED interview.
After the interview, there were various shots the videographer set up for me…working at the computer, walking around downtown…if I was half as cool, I’d say I was like totally Carrie Bradshaw, but I’m sure this little country girl more resembled Felicity Porter…let’s just hope my hair looked a bit better! 😉
Afterwards, I did a lightning fast hotel check in/wardrobe change (we’re talking like 7 minutes here people!), snapped a pic of my welcome “gift” (a few snacks, a notebook, and an itinerary for the next day’s events…again, thank you Tanya!) and met everyone for dinner at one of BEST restaurants in Minneapolis, 112 Eatery.
Conversation was definitely NOT lost during our two-hour dinner…especially after a bottle of un-oaked Chardonnay (my favorite) was poured for the table. As for dinner, we had a sampling of appetizers and sides to go along with our individual entrees…and of course in a place like this you HAVE to order dessert!
I ordered the roasted halibut topped with pickled fennel, watercress, and a pistachio cream sauce and it was JUST as delicious as the wedding halibut…I think I just found my new favorite thing to order out! As for the sides, apps, and desserts, there were PLENTY more that went around the table (#foodcoma), but these were my favorites…
Clockwise from top:
Fresh ricotta with white truffle honey and toasted baguette (I could eat this every day for the rest of my life!), caramel budino spiked with Maker’s Mark (holy yum!), roasted carrots with honey and pecorino (I seriously could have eaten a plate of these for dessert!), strawberry rhubarb tart (sweet perfection), and seared scallops served over oyster mushrooms (DIED and GONE to HEV-NNNN!)
In fact, let’s get another look at those scallops, shall we?
Sara would have KILLED for these!
After dinner, we walked back to the hotel and said our good-byes until the morning…and then I carried my overfull tummy down to the hotel gym to walk off my foodbaby!
Nothing like having a mini YMCA all to yourself at 10:30 at night! 😀
Course, I would have barfed had I played on any of the equipment only had the capacity to take a little leisurely stroll on one of the treadmills, but it was still nice to have some quiet time to myself. Anyone else like a walk after a big meal?
The next day was JAM-PACKED with activity…ten hours to be exact! And now that I think about it, it’s going to take far longer than this post (or your attention spans) can handle, so I’m going to skip it for now and move on to some tequila!
I mean DINNER!!
Sadly, Brianne had to leave that night to make her flight, but since Katie and I didn’t fly out till the morning, we decided to head down to Rosa Mexicano for dinner. We shared a VAT of some of the freshest guacamole I’ve ever tasted (at a restaurant) and each ordered a simple margarita…tequila, agave, and lime! #yum
For the record, guacamole should ALWAYS be chunky!
In true blogger fashion, Katie and I jabbered the night away, but we DID manage to fill our bellies with more than just chips, dip, and liquor…
After a day of basically eating non-stop, I was ready for something veggie-filled and fresh so at the recommendation of our waiter, I ordered the off-the-menu veggie enchiladas with mushrooms and spinach…unfortunately, I couldn’t really tell you how they tasted since they were drowning in red sauce, baaaaa-ut, I’ve had worse…and HEY, at least they were pretty! 😉
Honestly, I wish I’d gotten Katie’s duck tacos…or at LEAST a picture of them! She let me steal a bite and they were SO good…not at all the greasy consistency I’ve experienced with duck in the past!
Do you have a favorite thing you like to order at a restaurant?
What is the last place you traveled to?
Those scallops may just be the best ones I’ve ever laid my two bright blue eyes on! YUM
Funny enough, the last place I traveled was Minneapolis! haha 🙂 It sounds like you had an amazing trip!!!
Heather, that looks like quite a trip! I’m with you on the guacamole…chunky it is! Will we get to see the interview? Have a great day!
I hope so! I’ve been told they’re going to share the video with us once it goes through all the editing…hopefully I’ll be able to either post it on the blog or at least share a link! I’m anxious to see it too! 🙂
YUM! I’m with you on a walk after a big meal. If I try to sit down and relax, I just feel like I’m going to explode, at least a little walk helps aid digestion. 😉
I can’t wait to hear more about your trip!!
Oh wow looks like you had a great time! All those dishes at the restaurant..um yum!!
The last place I went was L.A. in March..I cannot wait to go to Rome in September though! I always order really different things when I go out, stuff that I wouldn’t normally be able to make at home.
I do the same thing when it comes to ordering out…I figure it’s more of a treat that way! And the more exotic sounding the better! 😉
Ohhhh ROME!!! I really need to get a frickin’ passport!
I LOVE walks after a big meal! But yes, running or any strengthening would make me b*** too haha 🙂
Those scallops….HEAVEN! Speaking of – if there is a seafood choice on the menu, I ALWAYS order seafood!
I’m sure the #foodcoma was totallllyyyyyyyy worth it! 🙂
Baguette with ricotta and honey and truffle something or other and sparkles and unicorns and whatever else was in that delight, needs to get into my face NOW. Please & thanks.
Oh yes…it was definitely heavy on the sparkles and unicorn. White truffle honey, aka nectar of the frickin’ GODS!!! 😉
Oh my god, that guacamole…I’m so obsessed with guac right now. And yes, it absolutely needs to be chunky! Everything looks totally food-coma worthy 😉
Oh wow that halibut sounds amazing! As does everything else but that sticks out most for me! Love halibut! I also love that you went to the gym after dinner and wine! Way to go girl! I would have headed straight to bed! Ha! Looks like a delicious trip!
I think I normally would have crashed right after dinner, but with traveling and all the sights and sounds, I just had such a hard time winding down for the night…and to think, I did all of that on like 3 hours of sleep! 😯
I’m so with you on the walk after a meal….it just gets everything moving and makes you feel so much better! Annnnd, I’m in heaven looking at all your eats! Literally, starving now! The scallops ~ perfect sear!
You can never go wrong with Mexican food, especially when it includes guac and margaritas! 😉
Mmmm I love chunky guac! Keeping that place in mind for when Dave and I explore the city…hopefully this weekend! Next time you’re here we have to hang though! 😉
For sure! I wish I had had more time! I can definitely see another trip in my future…actually, I’m kinda considering going to HLS this year. Are you going?
oh yes, guac MUST be chunky. I don’t trust a smooth guacamole as far as I can fling it. Though I’m usually far too hungry to fling it. Must eat all the avocados!!!!
Everything you ate looks so amazing. Seriously? White truffle honey? I’m jealous!
xx Kait
I know! I’m seriously convinced now that you could drizzle white truffle honey on a STICK and I would eat it! So.damn.GOOD! 😉
i. love. mpls. period. 🙂 so glad you had a good time!
That’s a bummer the enchilada wasn’t that good… but at least the guac made up for it. And your meal at 112 Eatery looks spectacular! I would have been all over that ricotta with truffle honey.
I often order fish at restaurants, especially if it’s arctic char, salmon or trout! But I also love getting game like bison and elk.
Oh yeah, I’ve seen enough salmon on your blog to know you’re a lover of the seafood as well! 😉 I need to try arctic char! And I really want to try more gamey meats like elk…or ostrich! I saw that on Chopped the other day and was totally intrigued!
I love to walk after a big meal. This sounds like too much fun, and your meals as always look to die for!
Okay, am I definitely convinced now that you had a good time. 😉 Although everything looks wonderful I am particular jealous of the scallops and honey roasted carrots (amazing!).
Ewwwwh, do you hate pureed Guacamole just as much as I do? It looks more like smoothie than a sauce. And don’t let me start on Salsa, what people do puree Salsa? If it’s not chunky it’s not going on my plate.
I know, right?! If you were supposed to DRINK it, it would not come served with chips! Lol Preach on sistah!
Last place I travelled to was Hawaii and it seems like a distant memory being that it was in January and it is now the middle of winter and I so want another warm tropical holiday.
All those eats look amazing!! Especially the Budini, which I’ve never heard of but it sounds and looks delicious 😉
I had never heard of it either…in fact, I Googled it right after we left the restaurant to see exactly what it was! Lol
Ohhhh, Hawaii! How fun! I’ve never been, but it’s definitely at the top of my list of places to visit!
Some great looking eats there! Scallops may have to be my favourite form of seafood! I love staying at hotels with gyms in which they are (mostly) unoccupied. So glad I came across this blog, I think most days next week will involve pancake creations from here! Cheers!
Aww, thank you so much Arman! You’ll have to let me know which ones you try and what you think! 🙂
PS, I would die in a land without seafood…scallops, oysters, shrimp, halibut, swordfish…obviously I was a shark in another life! Lol
what an awesome experience friend. YOu needed that little getaway and you did such a great job with pics, etc. Personally, i would have gone to just sample and maybe steal those duck tacos. um, whoa
Sounds like a great trip and the food looks awesome!!
Even if it is prepared in its most basic avocado/lime/salt form, guacamole should ALWAYS be chunky. 😉
[There was too much else going on for me to focus on any other authentic commentary. Except that I, too, like walks after a big meal.]