Minnesota delivers Last April, Food Network's Alton Brown (and a TV crew) began a motorcycle trip from Louisiana to the source of the Mississippi River, vowing to eat at "family joints." The results now are in a book, "Feasting on Asphalt: The River Run" (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, $27.50). The Minnesota chapter is called, natch, "The Lutefisk Express," in honor of their grand finale meal at Itasca. But along the way, he ate at the Great Alma Fishing Float at Alma, Wis., home of "the strangest breakfast we encountered on road"; ate piroshki at the Russian Tea House in St. Paul, calling it "the best dish of the entire trip"; ate a chili omelette at Mickey's Diner in St. Paul ("can't believe my eyes"); got tattooed at Bob's Java Hut in Minneapolis (a skull and silverware), and feasted at the Nordic Inn in Crosby, Minn., "quite possibly the strangest place I've ever been in my life." Who knew Minnesota would provide so many extreme experiences?
Minnesota delivers
Bunches of brunches The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum has several groaning boards on deck. This Sunday is its Family Easter Bunny Brunch with seatings at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., serving fruits, ham and chicken, potatoes and assorted breads and desserts. Cost for adults and ages 8 and older, $17.95 for members, $20.95 for nonmembers; ages 4 to 7, $9.95. For reservations, call 612-624-7173.
On March 29 and 30, the Sugarbush Pancake Brunch features brunch from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and maple syrup tours continuously from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. All-you-can-eat pancakes, two sausage links and beverages are $8 for members and $9 for nonmember adults and ages 8 and older; ages 4 to 7, $4.50 members or $5.50 nonmembers. Buy tickets in the Great Hall until 1 p.m.
The Mother's Day Brunch on May 11 will have seatings at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. No menu details yet, only "an exquisite array of delicious spring brunch fare." Cost is $17.95 for members, $20.95 for nonmembers, $9.95 for ages 4 to 7. For reservations, call 612-624-7173.
Locabloggers Bread bakers Brett Laidlaw and Mary Eckmeier made a reputation by selling the terrific loaves of their home business, Real Bread, at the Midtown Farmers Market in Minneapolis. Now Laidlaw has a blog devoted to local and seasonal foods, called Trout Caviar. The photographs are great, and the text is far more than the usual chit-chat of some bloggers, offering in-depth "here's what I did" for those who just can't read enough about a topic. Check it out at troutcaviar.blogspot.com/
The 23rd installment of the beer fest will take place Oct. 12 at Boom Island Park in Minneapolis.