From lobster to scallops to a double-patty cheeseburger, here's a rundown of my dining diary from the past seven days. What were your top eats of the week? Share the details in the comments section.
Dutch baby at In Bloom
"It's kind of a cross between a pancake and popover," said our server. When the combination involves two of my very favorite things, how was I not going to order it? At brunch, chef Thomas Boemer skillfully utilizes the intense heat of his kitchen's showy, wood-burning hearth – and sturdy cast iron pans -- to fashion these gorgeous, puffed-up pancakes ($12 and $13). I love how the edges become thin and crisped, yet the rest of the golden pancakes remain tender and oh-so eggy. Turns out, they're an ideal vehicle for a wide range of brunch-friendly add-ons (kudos on that thick, tender slab of ham), and the black salt flourish is a swell touch. Truly, this is a seriously impressive way to brunch. 928 W. 7th St., St. Paul, 651-237-9630
Lobster toast at Martina
Forget about yoga. In my mind, the only reasonable response to last Saturday's miserable weather was brunch. Specifically, brunch at Martina, where chef/owner Daniel del Prado knows exactly how to flip foul moods: by spooning succulent poached lobster over grilled bread ($25), laying on cool tarragon and celery leaf accents (del Prado has a way with using herbs to brighten his cooking) and ending with a cheery fried egg and a rich, buttery sauce. The portions are easily shareable, but be advised: it's difficult to be generous when the dish is this delicious. He's also serving one of the Twin Cities' great side dishes: steamed potatoes that are piped into a churros-like homage ($9) to the crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside juxtaposition found in the very best French fries. 4312 Upton Av. S., Mpls., 612-922-9913
Lobster roll at Restoration Hardware
The Twin Cities' most dramatic new dining environment spreads itself out across the roof of a chain furniture store. In Chicago, New York, West Palm Beach and now, Edina, Restoration Hardware has been incorporating grand dining spaces into the company's similarly grand retail showrooms. At 69th and France – that's the southwest corner of Southdale's vast parking lot, beneath a thermometer-shaped water tower – RH has built a lavish, glass-covered pavilion that recalls the era of great Victorian greenhouses (hello, Como Park) a made-for-people-watching environment that boasts a splashing fountain and enough boxwood to trick out the garden of "Downton Abbey" Dowager House. Come winter, these sun-soaked tables will provide the ultimate in Seasonal Affective Disorder therapy. Post-sunset, illumination comes via crystal chandeliers. Many, many crystal chandeliers, piled on in the way that a sports bar decks itself out in oversize flat-screen TVs. As for the food, it's glossy editions of straight-up country club fare, with prices to match. My favorite was a $30 lobster roll (what can I say, it was a lobster kind of week), one that wisely chose the straight-and-narrow path, just a pleasantly uncomplicated lobster salad (tickled with hints of Old Bay seasoning and plenty of chives), liberally spooned over a split, butter-drenched slab of grilled brioche. A plate with three jumbo, buttery chocolate chip cookies – each packed with tons of bitter dark chocolate that played nicely against a sea salt garnish – proved to be a fine $10 dessert. The service? Splendid. 6801 France Av. S., Edina, 952-206-6307
Brooklyn Masterwork Burger at the Brooklyn
