Pistachio caramel cupcake at Groundswell
I wandered into Groundswell in search of one last taste of the holiday season: a spritz cookie-flavored latte. The seasonal (and indulgent) mix of creamy coffee and rich almond syrup made in-house is hanging around through January. Then, because I was already transported back to the heyday of the holiday season, meaning that the January food reset could be left by the wayside, I thought why not indulge in a cupcake?
Groundswell, on the corner of Hamline and Thomas avenues in St. Paul's Hamline-Midway neighborhood, has been a wonderful coffee shop, bakery and cafe since opening in 2009. It's also my reigning favorite stop for cupcakes. The pastry case empties quickly, so it's an excellent excuse to have cake for breakfast. The flavor of the month is pistachio caramel ($3.75). Plush, airy cakes are studded with meaty little nuts, adding a slightly savory edge to the base while the buttercream topping is fluffy, just-sweet-enough heaven. The whole business is squiggled with a thread of salty, buttery caramel. Clearly, way better than the average person's toaster pastry breakfast/dessert. (Joy Summers)
1340 W. Thomas Av., St. Paul, 651-645-6466, groundswellmn.com. Open 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Tue.-Sun.

Pizza croissant at Nouvelle Brewing
A few weeks ago, I grabbed one last pizza from Pig Ate My Pizza, the Robbinsdale pizzeria that the Travail Collective closed at the end of the year. This week, the collective opened Nouvelle Brewing in its place, and yes, pizza is still on the menu (plain cheese and the Bay of Pigs, a Cuban sandwich-inspired pie). But there's also something new for pizza lovers — the pizza croissant.
This is one of those where-have-you-been-all-my-life inventions that make perfect sense once you're introduced to them. And it's exactly what it sounds like: flaky pastry coiled into a nest around a little stack of pepperoni and cheese. Red sauce comes on the side for dipping. The whole thing is sprinkled with snowy Parmesan shreds and the former PAMP's familiar and unmistakable seasoning blend of black pepper and fennel pollen. For sad fans of the cult-favorite pizzeria, the $9 pizza croissant might redeem the changeover.
Get an entree while you're at it. They're predictably delicious and as rich and decadent as anything Travail touches. Pork belly with electric green curry ($16) for lettuce wraps was a highlight, as was a smothered roasted chicken leg ($15) in an outrageous Parmesan cream sauce I would drink if I could. (Sharyn Jackson)
4124 W. Broadway, Robbinsdale, 763-537-7267, nouvellebrewing.com. Open 3-9 p.m. Wed.-Fri., noon-9 p.m. Sat.-Sun.

Bánh mì from United Noodles
Wandering into United Noodles, I was dreaming of the days when the Minneapolis grocery store had a deli that made steaming bowls filled with rich flavors. Instead, I opened the door of this hidden treasure to find a man encased in a small plexiglass stand, diligently making fresh bánh mì ($5.99). Nabbing a just-made, still warm sandwich right inside the door makes it a perfect stop for a quick lunch or dinner for those looking for an easy COVID-cautious takeout option.