On the Town with Andrew Zimmern
In addition to being a food writer, Andrew Zimmern is also the host of the Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern. Globetrotting the world over, there are probably few foods that he would wrinkle his nose at; but nestled in his hometown of Minneapolis with his family, he easily shared a few of his special haunts with Cooking Light magazine recently.
How would you spend the perfect afternoon in your city? I’d head to Lake Calhoun for sailing, followed by a stroll through the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, then dinner at La Belle Vie. The food is stunning, and the chef’s emphasis on local ingredients ensures the cuisine is firmly rooted in Minnesota. I’d end the day by listening to live music at First Avenue, where hometown favorite Prince played regularly in the 1980s.
What’s the first place you take an out-of-town visitor and why? For food, I adore Restaurant Alma. It’s modern Mediterranean, fancy, but also kid-friendly. For a day out, my wife and I love to go to one of the apple orchards where you can pick your own; our favorite is Deardorff’s in Waconia, about 30 miles outside of the city. The Honeycrisps here are especially wonderful, and they were developed in Minnesota.
What’s the one best thing to eat here? A lot of restaurants embrace the idea of using local suppliers whenever possible. I especially like Clancy’s Meats in the Linden Hills neighborhood for its homemade salume (Italian cured sausage) and commitment to local farms.
Photo from The Travel Channel.
