Recent content from Rick Nelson
Meet the master of design for more than 50 Twin Cities restaurants
David Shea's impact on the way Twin Cities restaurants look is unparalleled.
7 Twin Cities restaurants where women run the show
City Afrique At her warm and welcoming restaurant, chef Bea Karngar serves generous portions of the flavorful, hearty stews of her native Liberia, with an…
These 3 Minneapolis restaurants are flying high with new chefs in the kitchen
Star chefs are putting their own stamp on Seven, Corner Table and Sanctuary.
In praise of vegetables as a chef's inspiration
Jeremy Fox, a leading voice in plant-based cooking, shares his ideas in an inspiring new cookbook.
Two new St. Paul restaurants offer a side of history on the menu
Holman's Table and Waldmann Brewery & Wurstery take full advantage of the city's fertile past, with winning results.
New macaron shop at Mall of America makes for a perfect cookie break
A 23-year-old Anoka native recently opened Macarons by Maddie Lu.
10 projects that will change the look of the Twin Cities
These projects, in various stages of the completion pipeline, should elevate the Twin Cities' architectural profile in the not-so-distant future.
10 under-the-radar restaurants to try right now in the Twin Cities
Caught in a restaurant rut? Consider working these 10 under-the-radar establishments into your rotation.
Top chef feeds sick Minnesotans — and his soul — at nonprofit Open Arms
After years of running top-rated restaurants, chef Seth Bixby Daugherty has landed his ultimate job.
From ramen to chowder, 7 must-eat soups at Twin Cities restaurants
Winter isn't over just yet. Here is some help in staying warm.
Here's how to make shakshuka, the egg dish with the awesome name
It's called shakshuka, and saying this easy-to-prepare dish (shack-shoo-kuh) is as much fun as eating it.
St. Paul's new Salty Tart serves up impeccable, yet easygoing breakfast and lunch
Star pastry chef Michelle Gayer hits a home run in Lowertown.
St. Paul's Octo Fishbar is the perfect seafood restaurant for our times
Review: Twin Cities foodies are fortunate to be living in the Tim McKee era.
10 new Twin Cities restaurants you should know about
The restaurant scene is bustling with recent openings, including a hot bakery and a vegetarian restaurant in Uptown.
Chefs gather at NFL's 'Party with a Purpose'
The hunger relief fundraiser in St. Paul drew luminaries as varied as former Viking Ben Leber and Cara Mund, 2018 Miss America.
3 terrific brunch spots in the Twin Cities
Plan your weekend with Esker Grove, the Lexington and Martina.
Dining with strangers: Communal tables catch on at Minnesota restaurants
After a (very) slow start, Twin Citians seem to be catching up with the way the rest of the world dines.
25 reasons why you should eat in the Minneapolis skyway
Many skyway restaurants will be open longer hours to feed the Super Bowl frenzy.
Taste of the NFL founder excited to bring Super Bowl fundraiser back home
Wayne Kostroski is staging his 27th edition of the Super Bowl's super-fundraiser, the Taste of the NFL.
Chefs and restaurateurs brace for Super Bowl in the Twin Cities
Chefs and restaurateurs aren't quite sure what to expect.
12 Super Bowl-inspired restaurant events that you can take advantage of
While it's true that many Super Bowl events are geared for out-of-towners, there are plenty of restaurant-driven occasions for visitors — and locals — to enjoy. Here's a list.
Doughnuts today, ramen tomorrow: Twin Cities restaurants change it up
From Monello to Mucci's, more local hot spots are experimenting with the restaurant within a restaurant trend.
Take a seat at the kitchen counter at these 3 Minneapolis restaurants
Corner Table Owners Thomas Boemer and Nick Rancone made an inspired decision when they recruited Borough vet Karyn Tomlinson to run their kitchen. Tomlinson’s work…
What's on the menu for 2018? Check out these food trends
According to food trend forecasts, popped cassava chips, maple, shakshuka and activated charcoal are on the menu for 2018.
8 trends that rocked the Twin Cities restaurant scene in 2017
Brunch service was as hot as ever, while doughnut shops and vegan-friendly restaurants boomed.
Top 10 Twin Cities dishes of the year
Restaurant critic Rick Nelson looks back at 2017's most impressive fare, one dish at a time.
Let's eat: The most anticipated Twin Cities restaurants of 2018
It'll be another big year for restaurant openings, including a new spot by the owners of Revival.
Saying goodbye: More than 60 restaurants closed this year in the Twin Cities
The past 12 months could easily be branded the Year of the Closed Restaurant.
Trailblazer of the Year: Tim McKee remains one of Minnesota's most daring chefs
Minnesota’s first James Beard award-winning chef had a headline-grabbing year. In the span of 12 months, he left his role as vice president of culinary…
Titan of the Year: Kim Bartmann expanded her empire to almost a dozen restaurants
You think you had a busy year? Try being Kim Bartmann. The influential and innovative restaurateur remade her Third Bird — first into
Instagram's best friend: Why Minneapolis' Lynhall is the best-designed restaurant of the year
Upon opening, this new restaurant near Lyn-Lake instantly became a favorite of local Instagrammers.
Restaurant of the Year: Young Joni is true original in northeast Minneapolis
When a gifted pizzamaker combines her Korean background with a fascination for hearth cooking, a one-of-a-kind dining experience follows.
Chef of the Year: Gavin Kaysen's standard-setting ways continue with Wayzata's Bellecour
The talent behind Spoon and Stable introduced spectacular French bistro fare – and an equally spectacular bakery – to downtown Wayzata.
The Grand Cafe in Minneapolis lives up to its name
At the revamped south Minneapolis eatery, chefs Jamie Malone and Alan Hlebaen are cooking like no one else in the Twin Cities.
11 food and drink vendors that put the dazzle in Holidazzle
Beyond the mini-doughnuts, deep-fried cheese curds and roasted nuts, Holidazzle offers plenty of out-of-the-box nosh and beverage talent.
We have a winner in this year's Holiday Cookie Contest
Let's bake: Here are the five best recipes from our Holiday Cookie Contest.
Here are 8 steps to cookie-baking success
Foolproof cookies are just eight easy-to-follow tips away.
'Splendid Table' host offers ultimate Thanksgiving turkey
This recipe from Lynne Rossetto Kasper is definitely a contender for the "ultimate" title.
Take a closer look at remade Nicollet Mall in Mpls.
After $50 million and 28 disruptive months of construction, the barriers have finally come down on Nicollet Mall, marking its third remake in a half-century.
Make those last-minute reservations for Thanksgiving
Cosmos One of the region’s most beautiful dining venues is serving a three-course Thanksgiving a la carte dinner from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Expect…
A new Indian cookbook, just in time for Thanksgiving
Use this just-released cookbook to incorporate lively Indian flavors and traditions into your holiday menu.
Three Twin Cities chefs offer favorite recipes for Thanksgiving side dishes
Chefs from three leading Twin Cities restaurants take a fresh Thanksgiving table approach to carrots, sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts.
St. Paul's Bar Brigade is a neighborhood charmer with a French accent
Tiny, comfortable, affordable, likable and loud, Bar Brigade isn't aiming for game-changing.
New cookbook uncovers chef's roots: 'I am a New Englander'
Boston chef Matt Jennings has a new, gotta-have cookbook, and he's coming to the Twin Cities this week.
Muffuletta, a St. Paul dining favorite, to close after a 40-year run
The first restaurant opened by dining powerhouse Parasole will close on Nov. 11.
New York City Ballet brings iconic Jerome Robbins piece to Minneapolis
An atmospheric Jerome Robbins piece from 1970 is one of five works New York City Ballet Moves is bringing to Northrop auditorium.
510 Lounge gets remake worthy of fabled Minneapolis address
510 Lounge, formerly La Belle Vie, brings one of the Twin Cities' great dining beauties back to life, beautifully.
New Minneapolis library is stunning inside and out
North Minneapolis has a new library, nearly two decades in the making, and it's as beautiful as it is functional.
Tiny Tenant in Minneapolis serves big ambitions, 6 courses at a time
Six courses. Fifty bucks. Four chefs. Few frills. Fun ensues.
Sweetland Orchard's oh, so refreshing ciders
Gretchen Perbix strolls among the 2,000 trees in the rambling orchard that she and her husband, Mike, purchased seven years ago. She rattles off the…
Lucia's Restaurant, an Uptown dining landmark, to close
The 32-year-old farm-to-table pioneer will end its "really great run" on Oct. 14.
Restaurant critic Rick Nelson revisits Twin Cities favorites
Five restaurants and four bakeries in the Twin Cities continue to impress, even when experienced through a newcomer's perspective.
Next step for Minneapolis 4-star chef Paul Berglund: Guiding 3 hot restaurants
Former Bachelor Farmer chef is new culinary director at Young Joni, Pizzeria Lola and Hello Pizza.
Surly Brewing replacing its second-floor Brewer's Table with pizza joint
The brewery announces its new concept for the second-floor space above the massive beer hall.
Start your ovens: Holiday cookie contest opens at Star Tribune
Our 15th annual holiday contest is now underway, and we need your recipes.
Pillsbury Hall, U's second-oldest building, is in line for $36M in TLC
After years of failing to make the cut, the beloved building at the University of Minnesota finally is on the shortlist for renovation funding.
3 spots to eat near farmers markets in the Twin Cities
Time for some Sunday morning farmers market shopping. Then, brunch.
Where is the good food at the Mall of America?
The megamall should use its 25th birthday to rethink its food-and-drink options.
Coastal Seafoods buyer looks back on bringing fresh fish to Midwest
As Tim Lauer starts enjoying his well-earned retirement, the 32-year Coastal Seafoods veteran takes a look back at his influential career.
New cookbook revives Lincoln Del, reveals a few culinary secrets
The famed Jewish deli comes back to life in a remembrance-filled cookbook, written by the founders' granddaughter.
A critic's 12 must-eat, tried-and-true dishes at State Fair
The new fair foods get all the attention, but these tried-and-true standbys are a treat every year.
6 Twin Cities chefs dish on their favorite State Fair foods
Sameh Wadi of World Street Kitchen goes for the smoked turkey leg, but it's what he smuggles in to enjoy with it that's noteworthy: "Every year when I walk in I think, 'Is this going to be the year that they bust me?' "
Where are there more great pizza farms near the Twin Cities?
Want to find even more great pizza farms near the Twin Cities? Restaurant critic Rick Nelson offers his picks as he answers readers' questions.
In Wayzata, a four-star French bistro from star chef Gavin Kaysen
REVIEW: At Bellecour, Gavin Kaysen pays homage to his mentors, to the benefit of diners.
3 Twin Cities chefs share tips on how to make the most of summer's tomatoes
How many ways can you prepare a summer tomato? We find out from three Twin Cities chefs.
10 reasons why Lynhall in Minneapolis is casual dining's new role model
REVIEW: Innovative, flavor-conscious and surprisingly affordable, the stylish Lynhall pushes all the right fast-casual buttons.
How innovative restaurants revitalize neglected Twin Cities neighborhoods
Restaurants as catalysts for both urban and suburban revitalization is a national trend linked, in part, to the internet.
What's new at Twin Cities farmers markets? Try these 5 food products
Looking for new and innovative food products? They're at the farmers market.
Legendary Lexington returns with well-rendered classics from a top-shelf chef
The old-but-new supper club is back after sitting dormant since mid-2013.
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