Those waiting for Dunkin' Donuts to jump on the doughnut craze that seems to have gripped the Twin Cities, keep waiting. The East Coast-based doughnut behemoth operates more than 7,000 locations and may be expanding faster than the average American waistline -- fueled by a recent $500 million cash infusion -- but the company is currently eyeballing Colorado, New Mexico and Louisiana.
Until then, check out the far better product at one of the area's deep-fried newcomers, including the Donut Cooperative (2929 E. 25th St., Mpls., 612-516-3626, www.thedonutcooperative.com) and Mojo Monkey Donuts (1169 W. 7th St., St. Paul, 651-224-0142, www.mojomonkey.biz).
Lutefisk, revisited
Get a last gasp of Christmas on Wednesday at Jax Cafe (1928 University Av. NE., Mpls., 612-789-7297, www.jaxcafe.com). The venerable northeast Minneapolis restaurant is pulling down its extensive yuletide decorations, and to mark the occasion the kitchen is offering two specials: a prime rib dinner (with soup or salad, au gratin potatoes and bread pudding with caramel sauce) for $30.95, or a lutefisk dinner (served with horseradish cream sauce, vegetables, Yukon gold potatoes and buttered lefse) for $17.95. As part of the post-season spirit, the bar will be serving Tom & Jerrys and candy cane martinis.
Sea Change (806 S. 2nd St., Mpls., www.seachangempls.com) is also getting into the one-more-taste-of-Christmas act with a Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner (a traditional Italian Christmas Eve meal) on Monday.
Chefs Tim McKee and Jamie Malone will prepare a four-course, family-style meal, including salt-baked whole striped bass, egg yolk-brandade ravioli, a smoked sardine salad and oysters. Sommelier Bill Summerville will provide wine pairings. Cost is $85 per person; reservations at 612-225-6499.
Closed
Bummer: Amici Pizza and Bistro in northeast Minneapolis quietly closed its doors last weekend.
