By ANDREW DAVID BAKER
As Interstate 394 leaves the metro area and turns into Hwy. 12, you feel the grasp of urban life slowly release its hold. Before long, the road becomes a country thoroughfare, with just enough red-and-white barns, neat rows of corn and stately willows to set the stage for a delicious day of foodie-themed exploring in several small towns.
Making all or most of the stops on the journey requires a day trip. Pack a picnic or assemble one along the way. Spread out your al fresco meal at one of the parks in the Three Rivers Regional Parks District (www.threeriversparks .org). During the journey, keep a lookout for produce stands and farmers markets that offer additional bounty. For the ultimate escape from the city, spend the night at a unique bed-and-breakfast inn.
Editor's note: Hwy. 12 is currently under construction at 6th Avenue N. just before Maple Plain. To reach the destinations on this itinerary, follow the marked 5-mile detour to rejoin Hwy. 12.
THREE CROWS CAFE AND COFFEE HOUSE
Delano
Start the day with breakfast at this eatery on the banks of the Crow River in downtown Delano. Be sure to try the paper-thin Swedish pancakes and lingonberry sauce, "smash" browns (boiled potatoes that are flattened and browned), and homemade country-style sausage patties. A few outdoor tables provide riverside dining, but the real action is inside. A Saturday jam session begins at 10 a.m. and keeps the crowd -- a mix of families, bicyclists at their refueling stop and solo diners using the WiFi -- tapping their toes and applauding. Owner Gina Coburn makes sure the cafe is buzzing with a lively concert series. Special Friday dinners start Sept. 10.
225 N. River St., Delano, Minn.; 763-972-3399; www.thethreecrows.com; opens at 7 a.m. Mon.-Sat.; closes at 9 or 9:30 p.m. most Thursdays and Saturdays, and 6 p.m. other nights; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sun. WOODLAND HILL WINERY
Delano
A brief jaunt off Hwy. 12 leads to Woodland Hill Winery, where Mike and Katie Dickerman have created an enticing tasting room, the perfect spot to cool off on a hot day. For a $5 tasting fee you can sample whites, roses and reds. For an extra buck try Vinny's Red, named for the resident golden retriever. The Dickermans age the wine in barrels that are specially crafted of oak from Minnesota, France and Appalachia in order to bring out the muted notes of the Marquette grape. The winery holds frequent events, including appetizer parties and an annual grape stomp.
731 County Road 30 SE., Delano, Minn.; 763-972-4000; www.woodlandhillwinery. com; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wed.-Sat.; noon to 7 p.m. Sun. DAN AND BECKY'S MARKET
Cokato
This is the kind of place that city dwellers wish would open just down the block: a compact store packed with farm fresh products and a carefully chosen selection of pantry essentials -- a wholesome interpretation of the old-fashioned general store. Located on Dan and Becky Bravinder's 10-acre farm, the market is a source for their free-range chickens and eggs as well as naturally raised and cured pork products from Pastures A Plenty, fresh local produce, Minnesota cheeses and a dazzling assortment of grains and legumes. Don't go home without a jar of their maple syrup, extracted from trees in Dassel.
5636 Oliver Av. SW., Cokato, Minn.; 1-320-286-3076; 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mon.-Sat. LEVANDOWSKI POTTERY
Dassel
The colors of the earth, field and sky find a home in the pottery of Aron and Jena Levandowski, and their bowls and platters are ideal for serving the fruits and vegetables you pick up on your trip. The couple started by displaying a few shelves of their wares in St. Paul seven years ago, and have been successful enough to build a soon-to-open studio next to their home, where the pottery is made. Jena prefers to shape pieces like small trays and berry bowls. She creates her own stamps to make whimsical impressions in the clay or uses the outline of a real leaf or the rough texture of bark to make designs. Aron likes the challenge of large thrown urns, which require a bit of architectural planning because they are actually several pieces fused together.
510 Parker Av. W., Dassel, Minn.; 1-320-275-9298; www.levandowskipottery.com; open on select days and by appointment. NATURE'S NEST ORGANIC FARM AND BED AND BREAKFAST
Montrose
As a landscape designer, Cathy Rose was accustomed to helping people create space in their yards where they could get away, so it was only natural that she fashion the ultimate retreat at her organic farm. The main house offers a bedroom and a suite, each with private bath. For those who really want an unplugged experience, a log cabin sits in the middle of a nearby prairie landscape. It's sparse on modernity (no electricity or running water), but well-equipped with quiet, rustic charm. Rose's garden bounty finds its way onto breakfast plates -- scrambled eggs may be flavored with garlic and oregano from her farm and garnished with edible flowers. If the comfortable setting doesn't make you feel relaxed, slip into the twin outdoor bathtubs for a soak under the stars.
$95-$135 per night; 5412 Brighton Av. SE., Montrose, Minn.; 763-972-6891; www.naturesnestfarm.com.
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