Letters to the Editor

Write a letter »

Read Letters »

March 2008


March 24, 2008

Breaking News: Minneapolis (Almost) Sweeps Beard Awards!

The James Beard Award nominees were released today, and, in a complete shocker, Minneapolis dominates the Best Chef Midwest category: Isaac Becker from 112 Eatery, Tim McKee from La Belle Vie, and Alex Roberts of Alma are all nominated, along with Milwaukee’s Adam Siegel and Kansas City’s Colby Garrelts. Read more »

Posted on Monday, March 24, 2008 in Dear Dara | Permalink | Comments (1)


March 21, 2008

Easter Brunch Reservation Roundup!

Want to have Easter brunch at the St. Paul Grill? Then you better have your reservation well in hand or wait till next year—they’re sold-out. Yup, Easter is hot upon us (it’s this Sunday, March 23!) and the hottest brunch reservations are filling up quick: St. Paul Grill, gone. Read more »

Posted on Friday, March 21, 2008 in Dear Dara | Permalink | Comments (0)


March 18, 2008

Best Cheap Lunches of the Metro, Part II

After eating in the skyways for a couple months now, I finally, finally found something to recommend: The top-secret South Indian buffet that Bombay Bistro runs in the back-of-the- middle-of-nowhere Medical Arts Building. Read more »

Posted on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 in Dear Dara | Permalink | Comments (0)


March 10, 2008

Marianne Miller

One of the most controversial opinions I’ve adopted since becoming a restaurant critic in Minnesota is this: I think Marianne Miller, the chef who opened and closed the wonderful, crazy Red—and then had a brief, spectacular, and then spectacularly messy exit from Bobino—is a home-grown genius, and an incredibly gifted chef. Read more »

Posted on Monday, March 10, 2008 in Dear Dara | Permalink | Comments (0)


March 6, 2008

Feeding Frenzy: Porter and Frye

When I saw that Porter & Frye had opened, on February 21, I started writing a blog post wondering if local critics would give Steven Brown and his crew the standard six weeks to get on their feet before reviewing them. Then I got sidelined wondering what I myself would do. Read more »

Posted on Thursday, March 6, 2008 in Dear Dara | Permalink | Comments (5)


About This Blog

Dear Dara is the place where Minnesota Monthly readers can interact with our dining critic and senior editor Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl. What makes her so special? She’s been reviewing restaurants and covering food and wine in the Twin Cities since 1995, most notably asCity Pages’ restaurant critic, but also for Gourmet, USA Today, Wine & Spirits, Bon Appetit, and Saveur. She’s been included in five editions of the Best Food Writing anthologies, and been nominated for seven James Beard Awards – though, to tell you the truth, most of the time the medals from her four wins are buried under a pile of chocolate wrappers at the back of her desk. This blog will be where she’ll answer your questions, (though probably not all of them), dish on her latest discoveries, reflect on breaking news, and generally bring the plate to the page.

Send your dining questions to Dara!  Email her at dmgrumdahl@minnesotamonthly.com.
 

Dara's Latest Restaurant Reviews:  

Best Burgers
Restaurant Alma

Porter & Frye
Nick and Eddie
Grand Café
Smalley's
Meritage
Strip Club