Asal Bee’s first Minnesota cafe is now open in Burnsville

Just in time for Ramadan, Minnesota’s first Asal Bee Cafe is now open at 14001 Grand Av. in Burnsville.

Named for the Arabic word for honey, the locally owned cafe specializes in all the ways honey makes life sweeter. Smoothies, tea, coffee, ice cream and other refreshers make good use of the sweet stuff. A pastry case is stocked with cheesecakes, layer cakes, honeycomb bread and more. There are dessert tacos, too. Also on the menu are savory sandwiches, and several varieties of the signature honey are available for purchase.

Asal Bee was founded in 2004 as a small Yemeni honey shop and in 2016 expanded to the United States. Its first stateside retail store opened in 2021 in Dearborn, Mich., and the cafes followed three years later. Asal Bee Burnsville has expanded hours for the holy month, opening at 10 a.m. until midnight on weekdays and until 2 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Dream Chicken has replaced Caja fried chicken inside Graze food hall in Minneapolis. The newest stand comes from Travail Collective, owners of the food hall and makers of Dream Creamery ice cream and smash burgers. On the menu are seven varieties of dressed-up fried chicken sandwiches from banh mi to Caesar salad as well as nuggets, strips and sides like Texas toast and waffle fries. Graze is at 520 N. 4th St., Mpls., grazenorthloop.com.

Victor’s 1959 Cafe has been serving Cuban comforts for more than 25 years from a tiny space (3756 Grand Av. S., Mpls.) that’s become a beloved neighborhood institution. Now, its owner is ready to hand over the reins to a new generation.

Niki Stavrou founded the restaurant in 1999 and turned the onetime gas station into a thriving breakfast and lunch business. The diminutive restaurant is known for its booths and tables scrawled with graffiti from years of diners. During the summer, the seating doubles with a floral-lined patio.

The Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal reported that the new owners are Minnesota-based Quraishi Real Estate. Stavrou has assured fans that the new owners are eager to carry on Victor’s traditions and retain its staff — and that she is looking forward to a well-earned retirement.

The return comes after the pop-up Sushi by Baaska ended its planned kitchen residency ahead of schedule after controversial Instagram posts made by Bar Brava’s owner Dan Rice surfaced.

The new food menu will be created by chef Axel Pineda, who was half the culinary team behind the Torsk pop-up.

Sushi by Baaska has returned to its pop-up model, with upcoming sold-out events at Picnic in Linden Hills.

After a brief closure for a refresh, the Hewing Hotel in Minneapolis’ North Loop (300 N. Washington Av.) is reopening its common areas, rooms and restaurant. Tullibee has a whole new menu from newly appointed culinary director Nathan Kim.

According to a news release, the kitchen will still make great use of open-flame cooking and serve a menu “centered on ‘Lakes and Woods’ sophistication with a fresh international influence.” Sample dishes include celery root skewers, Iberico pork ribs and beef tartare with a Jucy Lucy twist.