A small crowd gathered in downtown Minneapolis Tuesday to watch the installation of Star Bar's flashy new sign. The restaurant is the latest project from the Placemaker Hospitality Group, led by restaurateur Kim Bartmann.
Star Bar will be the restaurant and wine bar inside Hotel Indigo (618 2nd Av. S., starbarbistrompls.com). There will be two different spaces: One will be French-influenced, serving breakfast and lunch; the other will be happy hour and dinner. Expect a summer opening.
The group just opened Pinoli in Uptown, inside the former Amore Victoria, and other restaurants include Book Club, Cafe Barbette, Tiny Diner, Gigi's and Pat's Tap.
Indigenous Food Labs Market debuts at Midtown Global Market
The new Indigenous Food Lab Market will have its grand opening on June 1. The market has a tea bar, hot meals prepared to order and Dakota opened-faced čhoǧíŋyapi sandwiches, which is described like a sope — the thick masa griddled base. All foods are made without any post-colonial ingredients, making it naturally gluten- and dairy-free.
Additionally there are pantry items, frozen game (elk, venison and bison), plus whitefish and trout. Shelves are stocked with products from Indigenous makers and include maple syrup, wild rice, corn, honey, beans and more.
It's the newest business venture from the Sean Sherman-led NATIFS — North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems — a nonprofit dedicated to re-establishing Native foodways and addressing economic and health crisis affecting Indigenous communities.
The Indigenous Food Lab Market is open Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and will serve hot food Tue.-Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. in the Midtown Global Market (920 E. Lake St., Mpls., natifs.org/ifl-market).
"This is planting a seed for what is possible for Indigenous food access in the future: our first market is just the beginning," Sherman said in a statement. More Indigenous Food Lab Markets are expected to roll out nationally.
