Green Room adds color to Waconia dining scene

The dining scene in Waconia, the lakeside town-now-suburb in Carver County, is no longer just about Nancy's Landing, thanks to the addition of the Green Room (140 W. Main St., 952-442-3353). Chef Keven Kvalsten, formerly chef de cuisine at Corner Table in Minneapolis, packed his knives and moved west to launch the 45-seat bistro. The former Breadboard Cafe, its walls now green, serves lunch and dinner (and beer and wine) Monday through Saturday. At noon, the menu is sandwiches and salads; at dinnertime Kvalsten offers a $35 three-course tasting menu along with a half-dozen entrees (seared salmon with a cucumber-dill salad, roasted leg of lamb with English pea risotto), all under $17. "People have been crazy for the meatloaf," said Kvalsten with a laugh. "Last week I got a $5 tip and a hug."

Healthful eating

Debbie Johnson, owner of the new Golden Chalice Restaurant & Gallery (7810 Market Blvd., Chanhassen, 952-934-4101), is certainly setting herself apart from her competition. "To the best of my knowledge, this is the world's first 100 percent gluten-free and diabetic-friendly restaurant," she said. Parts of the menu focus on raw and/or vegan fare -- cucumber gazpacho, spaghetti squash tossed with basil pesto -- while others concentrate on sushi-grade grilled fish and organic, grass-fed beef. "There are so many people out there with special dietary needs," said Johnson. "We want to be there for them." Dinner is served Monday through Saturday. Lunch is coming soon.

On newsstands now

Yep, that's Stewart Woodman, chef and co-owner of Five Restaurant & Street Lounge (2917 Bryant Av. S., Minneapolis, 612-827-5555), one of 10 smiling faces gracing the "Best New Chefs" cover of the July issue of Food & Wine. Woodman made the cut, said F&W, "Because after training at top restaurants from Vancouver to Manhattan, he's serving flawless modern-American food in Minneapolis." Check out Woodman's recipe for seared scallops and corn cakes at www.foodandwine.com. The magazine also gives top props to La Belle Vie (510 Groveland Av., Minneapolis, 612-874-6440), including its wine list as one of 2006's best new rosters.

RICK NELSON