Local chefs will cook at James Beard house

Last update: May 10, 2006 - 2:40 PM

Two Minneapolis chefs will debut at the James Beard House in New York City this summer. June 26 will be the big night for Auriga chef and co-owner Doug Flicker, and Stewart and Heidi Woodman of Five Restaurant & Street Lounge will take their turn in the spotlight July 26. (For both evenings, reservations are available at 1-212-627-2308 or www.jamesbeard.org.) A third Minnesotan, Christian Ticarro, chef of the Canyon Grille in Coon Rapids, headlined at the Beard on March 18.

On the town

Spend a memorable evening next Thursday and raise cash for Open Arms of Minnesota, the nonprofit group that provides meals to Twin Cities residents with HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, ALS and breast cancer. The evening includes cocktails and appetizers at the Woman's Club of Minneapolis, dinner (via limousine) at one of 38 restaurants (including D'Amico Cucina, Vincent and Bacio) and dessert and live South African music at the Woman's Club. A limited number of tickets ($200) remain; call 763-553-1215 or go to www.openarmsmn.org.

In other news

The Loring Grill and Urban Wildlife in downtown Minneapolis have gone dark. Sidney's in Edina and Minnetonka, the last links in the upscale pizza chain, have served their final apple-pie pizzas. Perhaps it was the heavy duty competition from Chipotle, because El Burrito, the 10-year old downtown Minneapolis burrito favorite, has closed its doors.

And chocolate lovers, take note: Maud Borup, the legendary 99-year-old chocolatier, has closed its two Twin Cities stores, on Grand Avenue in St. Paul and in Calhoun Square in Minneapolis. The chocolates are still available at www.maudborup.com or through catalogs available at 612-781-2106.

Cocktails are now being served at Sapor Cafe & Bar (428 Washington Av. N., Minneapolis).

A true sign of spring: The enchanting beer garden at the Black Forest Inn (1 E. 26th St., Minneapolis) has opened for the season.

RICK NELSON