Recent content from Nicole Hvidsten

Travail Collective quietly opens ice cream and burger shop in northeast Mpls.
Plus there's a kickoff for the State Fair, Thai New Year celebrations and more.

As the growing season slowly starts, look to Twin Cities area farmers markets
With nearly 70 markets, try to mix things up to support farmers and makers across the metro.
Restaurant news: Revival Smoked Meats opens this week in Minneapolis
Plus 6 other restaurant openings you should know about.

5 Minnesota breweries are among the best in the world
Regional beers won three gold and three bronze medals at the World Beer Cup.

The 5 best things we ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Taste team members share the highlights of their weekly dining experiences.

Grill kits, visiting chefs and river cruises: Book your summer fun now
If you're seeking culinary adventures, it pays to plan ahead.

Getting kids comfortable in the kitchen is the best Mother's Day gift of all
Three recipes that young chefs can make with just a little help from an adult.

Restaurant roll call: The latest openings and closings in the Twin Cities
What's open, what's closed and what's still to come in the Twin Cities and beyond.

The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
The Taste team shares the highlights of weekly dining experiences.

Take and bake or dining in, 21 ideas for Mother's Day brunch in the Twin Cities
Let local restaurants step in for Mother's Day, with dine-in or take-and-bake options.

5 things to put on your Twin Cities culinary calendar
From sipping bubbles and planting trees to Cinco de Mayo and supporting Ukraine, there's something for all tastes.

The 5 best things we ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Our food writers share the highlights of their weekly dining experiences.

4 upcoming Twin Cities area food events for your culinary calendar
From cooking classes to a pizza party, it's not difficult to find something to do.

Longtime Saint Dinette chef will help lead Ann Kim's Minneapolis restaurants
In other restaurant news, Dumpling in Minneapolis is closing and new chefs and downtown restaurants.

7 restaurant openings or reopenings to watch in the Twin Cities metro area
From salads and sandwiches to Burnt Chicken and Filipino food, there's a lot happening in the dining scene.

23 Twin Cities area restaurants offering take-and-bake Easter dinners
Take a holiday off and let local chefs do the cooking for you.

Spring into brunch season with these 8 recipes for a range of palates
From salads to egg bakes, brunch can be as varied as a cook wants it to be. Just don't forget dessert.

The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Our food writers share the highlights of their weekly dining experiences.

Turn to the Instant Pot to help take the pressure off of mealtime planning
Once you get the courage to take it out of the box, the multicooker can be a cook's best friend.
6 upcoming Twin Cities food events for your calendar
From cocktails to inventive dinners, it's going to be a tasty spring.

The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Our food writers share the highlights of their weekly dining experiences.

7 ways to raise a glass to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in the Twin Cities
From coffee and cocktails to ice cream, it's your lucky day.

28 fish fry options in the Twin Cities metro area for Lent
If your Lenten ritual includes weekly fried fish, there is no shortage of options.

The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Taste team members share highlights of their weekly dining experiences.

Minnesota women brewers create bond, beer ahead of International Women's Day
This year's result is In All Places, available for a limited time in local liquor stores and restaurants.

Avoiding Russian vodka? Try these 20 Minnesota-made vodkas instead
Russia doesn't have a monopoly on tasty vodkas.

4 openings (or reopenings) in the Twin Cities area you should know about
Plus, Sen Yai Sen Lek and Dipped & Debris to close in Minneapolis.

The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Taste team members share highlights of their weekly dining experiences.

The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
The Taste team shares the highlights of their weekly dining experiences.

Minneapolis' Union Hmong Kitchen launches CSR — community-supported restaurant — program
"These last few years have been hard," said chef-owner Yia Vang.

The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Taste team members share the highlights of their weekly dining experiences.

10 Super Bowl party recipes from the Star Tribune archives that will make you the MVP
From Cincinnati chili to DIY crackers and bloody Mary mix, these recipes are sure to impress both diehard football fans and those who are all about the snacks.

13 places to celebrate Valentine's Day in the Twin Cities area
Whether you're celebrating early, late or right on the day, there are plenty of options that range from sweet treats to sipping celebrations.

The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Taste team members share the highlights of their weekly dining experiences.

Minnesotans take Tater Tot Hot Dish personally
There are plenty of opinions to go around when it comes to the unofficial state dish. But times and tastes are changing.

The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
The Taste team shares the highlights of their weekly dining experiences.

The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Our food writers share the highlights of their weekly dining experiences.

The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Our food writers share the highlights of their weekly dining experiences.

COVID concerns force Twin Cities restaurants to cut holiday season short
A typically festive New Year's Eve turned into another blow for restaurants as they temporarily closed.

7 cocktail recipes that add a twist to your New Year's celebration
The night doesn't have to be all about bubbly. Try a tropical punch, espresso martinis or another new concoction.
6 appetizer recipes that will make your party the tastiest
Delicious doesn't always have to mean complex.

Our best Minnesota dining experiences of 2021
From old favorites to new places, dining out had a deeper meaning after a rocky 2020. Our food writers share their best moments.

The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities this year
The Taste team recounts their favorite meal of the year, from takeout to a communal spread.

5 Twin Cities restaurants and chefs who survived 2020 to thrive in 2021
After a crippling 2020, these restaurants and makers forged ahead, only to re-emerge.

The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Our food writers share the highlights of their weekly dining experiences.

Gingerbread Wonderland is the Norway House's sweet holiday tradition
Bakers of all ages were elbow-deep in royal icing and candy for this annual event.

Minnesota-born musician bakes — and Instagrams — his way through bestselling cookbook
Barrett Radziun is determined to make every recipe in Claire Saffitz's "Dessert Person," and he's almost there.

The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Our food writers share the highlights of their weekly dining experiences.

Our 15 top cookbooks of the year cover everything from easy dinners to baking challenges
The picks are suitable for gift-giving, but you might want to keep them for yourself.

The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Our food writers share the highlights of their weekly dining experiences.

2021 Holiday Gift Guide: Find local treasures for everyone in your life
We went in search of Minnesota and Midwest items to find not-so-obvious treasures to surprise and delight.

The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities suburbs this week
Our food writers share the highlights of their weekly dining experiences.

4 tasty events in the Twin Cities area to kick off the holiday season
From State Fair food and lights to holiday traditions, here are some fun ways to get into the spirit.

The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Our food writers share the highlights of their weekly dining experiences.

The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Our food writers share the highlights of their weekly dining experiences.

Baking, celebrating and beer: 4 events in the Twin Cities for your November calendar
Family-friendly celebrations include Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights.

The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Our food writers share the highlights of their weekly dining experiences.

6 tasty ways to celebrate Halloween in the Twin Cities
Choose your own adventures, from kid-friendly events to special cocktails and milkshakes.

6 recipes that will put fright into your Halloween night
From a kid-friendly dinner and blondies to cocktails and crostini, make the holiday fun for everyone.

The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Our food writers share the highlights of their weekly dining experiences.

The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Our food writers share the highlights of their weekly dining experiences.

5 food and drink events in the Twin Cities for your weekend calendar
From celebrating fall to haunted restaurants, October is a busy month.

Minnesota's Waiting Child: Ronald, 11, is fearless and funny
Ronald, 11, is caring and witty. When you're with Ronald, you can expect him to sing, dance, play pranks and make jokes. He describes himself…
The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
The Taste team shares the highlights of their weekly dining experiences.

The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
The Taste team shares the favorites of their weekly dining experiences.
The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Taste editor Nicole Hvidsten and food writer Sharyn Jackson share the favorites of their weekly dining experiences.

5 events at Twin Cities restaurants to put on your calendar
From three-course dinners to Christmas celebrations, there's no shortage of activities.

5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Taste editor Nicole Hvidsten and food writer Sharyn Jackson highlight the favorites of their weekly dining experiences.

6 Minnesota breweries named among best in nation
Medal winners abounded at the Great American Beer Festival.

Beer here: 5 Twin Cities-area beer events to check out this weekend
There's plenty of news on tap at local breweries.
![An exterior of MN BBQ's distinctive building on Lowry St. NE. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com Travail's entry on the barbec](https://chorus.stimg.co/22834837/ows_6163bd0d_657c_421e_968c_9ae8220b0d31.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Minnesota Barbecue says it's 'packing up the smoker' in Minneapolis
Copperfield Neighborhood Diner & Bar has opened in Mendota Heights.

Get a taste of the State Fair at these Twin Cities area restaurants
If you're not going to the Great Minnesota Get-Together this year, here's where to get cheese curds, funnel cakes and more.