A big AMEN on Heidi's. After all the BS Stuart and Heidi had to wade through to figure out what/where/when to do their own thing, they hit it on the head. World class cooking and not a single entree over $20 in a great neighboorhoo joint FTW.

Goodness! I love your show and reading your blog... I didn't realize you were so opinionated politically until now. Good for you! Now I like you even more! :)

The whole Sarah-Palin-could-very-well-be-POTUS scares the buh-geezus out of me! Let's hope the Dems can stiffen up the collective backbone and hammer the GOP hard on the important points/failings of the Prez/Veep offering of 2008.

On a whole other note, I just recently found your blog and your accounts of the Minneapolis food scene makes me want to visit! Looking forward to making it out there some day!

Neighborhood restaurants truly don't get much better than Heidi's. Now if only the Craftsman could be just as on target on a regular basis, it might start a trend.

You scared me there with that dinosaur quote. I didn't read closely enough to see you pointed it out as mythology. Good thing I took a moment away from huddling in a pool of my own terrified piddling to see what you put there. If that was what she really believed, and she was STILL getting the reaction she is, I would have had to move to Canada.

Hmmm. There is a Nostradameous quote regarding a female taking over the presidency in the west. It would start with the President dieing and her taking over office. I thought we were past that once Hillary was out of the running, but I guess not.
Another note....Pretzel Zimmern...hilarious. I have s shirt I need to send you....

McCain '08
(Palin '09)

As much as I want to believe it, the Lizards of Satan quote is a hoax:

http://unbearablebobness.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/08/governor-sarah-palin-quotes.html

Don't despair though, there are plenty of other quotes out there that are just as meaty, like how God helped build the oil pipeline. Because you know, he/she had the time.

True as truth gets: "You can put lipstick on a pig but, as distortions, lies and political spin-doctoring would have us believe otherwise, in the culinary world, it i still A PIG! Pork, Beacon, Pig-knuckle and pickled pig feet!

No amount of spin doctoring will ever change it Steve Schmitz.

I wish you would not comment on
a) economics
b) politics

Your naive comments on both distract from the fact that you have actually interesting opinions on food. Not to mention you've answered your own question on whether McCain is a genius for picking Palin by you spending half your entry bitching about her. I also don't understand why you would want to tick off part of your audience by such rants.

I don't read this blog for political opinion, and I don't care if you are democrat, republic, or an anarchist Andrew. With the incessant ads, yard signs, and omnipresent chatter on the tubes, how about giving us all a break on the Pres/Veep stakes. Stick to what you do : food.

Unlike Don't Vote It only Encourages Them, I applaud you for stating your political opinion. (Probably because I agree with you.) This is an important election with a lot at stake and I find it courageous when celebrities, personalities, etc come out with their views.

I didn't realize you were a snob besides a food critic. The fact that your candidate is not up by 10+ points in the polls and is sputtering with an idiot president, a poor economy, a creaky old man Repub nominee, and a hick Veep candidate, says something about B.O. Or maybe as you imply there are a lot of stupid people. Surprised you can see that well from your lofty elitist perch.

Andrew, you have obviously had a super sized glass of the Obama Kool-aid. Not all changes are good. Ask your accountant what Obama's tax plan, specifically small business and payroll tax increases, will do to your average restaurant. That is one of many things this empty suit is preaching. This man could be the lead in "How to Succeed in Politics Without Really Trying".

Andrew, please don't make fun of others religion and politics. It's not polite and distracts from the real reason we have been coming to your site.

wow....what a d**k...

I agree with zipity. You're a chef and a TV host. Get over yourself.

AZ--

I am glad that you FINALLY had an opportunity to eat Uncle Stewart Woodman's food...better late than never. The great part about eating at Heidi's in addition to the MANY reasons you blogged about, is that the menu changes from time-to-time. If you wait a couple of weeks and go back...its like you are eating at new restaurant.

BTW...I am ok with you talking about politics...at least you are not an anarchist!

I'm usually a fan, but your last entry was sickening to read. I'm done with your ego and show. The Obama tax plan in unaffordable to restaurant owners. Get a clue. You just turned off half of your fans.

Andrew is a chef, TV host, writer and a person with an a wide variety of informed opinions born out expereince BUT he is also a citizen of the country who has a responsibility to participate in its democracy.

Who do you think you are going around telling Andrew OR ANY OTHER CITIZEN the can or cannot express their political views. Are we living in a tyranny?

We should be thankful that we have someone who is obviously so much smarter than 50% of this country to lead us. Andrew, did you ever think of running for office? You are already quite adept at making things up. (long lines at Cossetta's during RNC). Were you with Hillary when she was ducking bullets on the tarmac?

Now I like you even less! :)

Ugh, I'm saddened by Lucia's allowance of animals. I like dogs, sure, however I'm super allergic to them and now have to say good-bye to dinner at Lucia's. I will be so unhappy if other restaurants follow suit.

Andrew,
This is it. I am done with you officially.
You can't help but stick you politics into food. I will be working to ensure that every sponsor you have on the Food Network knows what an extremist you are.
I can not believe that I even liked you anymore, you fat slob hack.

I'm sure Andrew will miss your support, especially when some posters here don't even know what network Bizzare Foods run on. (Randie K, post what Food Network says to you when you call). Do you base your friendships on people's political ideology? Is that one of the first questions you ask on a date?

"Say, let me ask you this. Do you watch Keith or Bill at 7:00? No really, Countdown or the Factor."

This thread is absolutely amazing to me. A person has a political opinion and gets skewered for having it and letting it be known. So much for that stupid idea about free speech. What did those guys in the funny wigs know anyway? I'm amazed by the lack of people's respect for people who have opinions that differ from theirs. It's like a part of their mind that just isn't turned on.

AZ: Glad you enjoyed Heidi's. Great restaurant. I'd love to see someone take over Zander and replicate it. My only complaint ever is that I sometimes feel a little crunched as the tables are so close together. But really, that is a not even that bad as I can look at other people's food and see what they ordered.

Your political comments have been destroyed in two posts on this blog - http://www.fraterslibertas.com/

Oh the threats.... oh the drama.... oh the outrage...

Can't stand just a little bit of political opinion can you?

Are you 3rd grader on the playground? Grow up and act like adults.

I hate to tell you, FOOD is POLITICS.

Political commentary is fine Andrew, but at least be sure you are using stories and facts that are true, instead of known hoaxes, propaganda and half-stories

It only makes you sound like a fool or worse, a raving lunatic.

Robby baby--I would have responded sooner, but my third grade class just finished with recess. AZ was not there today, though. Must have left early for lunch with the second graders.

Oh the horror!... the brutality!... the inhumanity of man toward man!... when will the criticism of our most beloved but much lipstick besmirched deity end!

Will we ever be calmed and our hearts full again?

Does anyone believe this feigned self-righteous outrage?

My friends, let’s all just calm down here regarding Mr. Zimmern’s political opinion. I think we can all agree as Americans that we have more that unites us than divides us. I’m not sure you all know this, but I was a prisoner of war for a time, and I did not endure torture to have political opinion—no matter how misguided—repressed in the country I grew to love so much.

My friends, your future Vice President is a heck of a woman, and I selected her based on my gut feeling, not the Viagra-induced tingle in my loins. Her views, while some on the left might claim are extreme, are right in line with white ultra-conservative Christian America with incomes over $250,000 per household—clearly a majority. Further, Mr. Zimmern—with the exception of her claims of saying “no” to the “Bridge to Nowhere,” no to massive pork barrel spending and her instigating an Alaskan natural gas pipeline project, and her implication that she actually sold a plane on eBay, and, I suppose, her support of abstinence-only sex education—I defy you to find any statement the future Vice President Palin has recently uttered that is dishonest, incongruent or inconsistent.

And to my friends in the Twin Cities, I had a wonderful time at the Xcel Center. It sure looked nice with all the banners. As President, I pledge to return and try out this Uncle Stewart place—I think I own a home nearby, or did at one time. It sounds like a true, American diner, although I would hope they take Mr. Zimmern’s suggestion (his only sane one) and install some cushions. While I am rigorous as ever—and no plans to tip over in office—my rear end has certainly seen better days.

Andrew,

I read your "food & dining" blog because I am interested in your "taste" not your political opinions.

Your comments on the GOP ticket were inappropriate and unprofessional. Your readers appreciate that you share your culinary expertise. Don't fail them by bastardizing your journalistic integrity.

I am certain that you worked hard at building a following. Why gamble 50 percent of your audience on one blog entry?

You need to either learn how to contain your emotions for professional purposes or leverage the remaining 50 percent of your readers for your new career in politics.

Matt

PS Ease up on the name dropping, it makes you look desperate.

My friends, let’s all just calm down here regarding Mr. Zimmern’s political opinion. I think we can all agree as Americans that we have more that unites us than divides us. I’m not sure you all know this, but I was a community organizer for a time, and I did not endure Michelle to have political opinion—no matter how misguided—repressed in the country I grew to love so much.

My friends, your future Vice President is a heck of a lying underachiever, and I selected him based on my gut feeling, not the Noxzema-induced tingle in my loins. His views, while some on the right might claim are extreme, are right in line with ultra-Socialist Black Liberation Theology Americans with incomes over $250,000 per household—clearly a majority. Further, Mr. Zimmern—with the exception of his claims of not being a deceitful plagiarist, of inflating his IQ and class rankings, and his denial of being a short-fused, nasty fellow —I defy you to find any statement the future Vice President Biden has recently uttered that is dishonest, incongruent or inconsistent.

And to my friends in the Denver, I had a wonderful time at the Pepsi Center. It sure looked nice with all the banners. As President, I pledge to return to the glory days of Jimmy Carter—I think I can own a home nearby, if Tony Rezko will give me a hand again. It sounds like a true, American dream, although I would hope they take Mr. Zimmern’s suggestion and help elect me to the Presidency, so I may begin the grand task of disarming this country, and redistributing it’s wealth in an arbitrary and capricious way.

Don't think I a gullible enough to think McCain actually posted the message above, however, it does provide an excellent opportunity to show how out of touch and delusional the Senator is living inside the D.C. beltway and never having received anything but a governmental check on payday.

1) Slightly more than 250,000 Americans report to the IRS that they have an adjusted annual income of more than $250,000 a year. That's 2% of the population Senator. 2% of the population is NOT a majority.

2) Only roughly 31% of Americans when asked by polling organizations (plus or minus the margin of error) consider themselves to be Republicans and less than a majority of Republicans consider themselves to be "ultra-conservative Christians" THUS they too are NOT a majority of the American population.

Yes, it is true that Sarah Palin is a extremist ultra-conservative creationist Christian but she does not in any way represent a majority of the American publics views in this or any election for the past 75 years in America.

And you, Senator McCain are a war-hawk (as Pat Buchanan says, who makes Dick Cheney look like Gandhi) and your hawkish war stance does not represent the majority view of American voters today.

And don't forget Sarah Palin doesn't believe in global warming (whaaaa?!).

As for people having a problem with you discussing your own political opinion on your own blog (graciously sponsored by MSP Mag), well that's just silly.

Did you read Dan Savage yesterday?

"I believe that it's a choice teenagers should be able to make for themselves—with input from their families whenever possible—and, so it seems, does the GOP's VP nominee. Sarah Palin is pleased that her daughter made the decision—on her own—to keep the baby.

"But Sarah Palin doesn't believe that other girls should be able to make their own decisions. Sarah Palin believes abortion should be illegal in almost every instance—including rape and incest. So Bristol Palin is being celebrated for making a choice that Sarah Palin would like to take away from all other American women. Apparently, today's GOP believes that choice is a special right reserved for the wayward daughters of Republican elected officials.

"The GOP has poured hundreds of millions of dollars into abstinence "education" programs during the Bush years. I believe this enormous investment of public funds begs the obvious question: Is our children abstaining? Sarah Palin's aren't. Despite this massive outlay on the part of the American taxpayer and the example set by her Christian parents, Bristol Palin became sexually active while still in high school. Excuse me, but if abstinence education can't keep the daughter of the evangelical governor of Alaska off the cock, what hope is there for the daughters—and some of the sons—of average Americans?

"Another special right: When it comes to respecting your family's privacy, Palin and the GOP see no need. They want to micromanage the most intimate aspects of your private life. And if their own kids fail to live up to the standards that Palin and the GOP seek to impose on your family, well, that's a private matter between the Palins, their daughter, their God, and the thousands of screaming imbeciles in elephant hats waving McCain/Palin signs on the floor of the Republican National Convention."

RE: Posted by: Robb | September 11, 2008 at 02:10 PM

Robb, I don't think any of us are guilty of underestimating your gullibility....In fact, it may well be impossible to do so...

See, I thought the review of Heidi's fit well with the review of Sarah.... both choices are a pain in the ass. That said, I'd take a good meal over poor leadership any day.

If you don't want to watch Bizarre Foods, so be it. But to not do so because AZ is stating views you may disagree with ridiculous. If you’re going to base your entertainment viewing habits on politics, what are you going to watch as a conservative? Fox News? Movies with Jon Voight and Ron Silver prominently involved? Let’s face it, there’s not exactly a plethora of conservative entertainers out there today.

Yes Annie, there does appear to be a lack of conservatives in Hollywood. It's almost like they are afraid to speak out with their views. Almost like they are afraid they will be harmed professionally and socially if they deviate from the Party Line. Almost as if there is a "blacklist" or something similar. Strange, isn't it? That must warm the cockles of your "everybody has the right to express their views without fear" heart, right?

The so-called Party-line in L.A. stopped Arnold. The so-called blacklist never stopped Ronald Reagan from being a B-actor and Republican President. Never stopped Clint Eastwood from running for Mayor as a Republican. Never stopped Charlton Heston from becoming the head of the NRA. The so-called Hollywood blacklist never stopped Bruce Willis or James Woods or Tom Selleck or Pat Sajak and of course don't forget the Grand Daddy of all right-wing Orange County Republican's: Bob Hope.

Oh yeah, these guys were harmed professionally and socially because they deviated from the Party Line. Right.

And let's not forget what the actual real "blacklist" did to people whose political views where actually not tolerated and went against the official Party Line.

There is so much spin and lies from the right-wing extremists about Liberal media and Hollywood who then turn around and falsely accuse, threaten and bully people who express their political opinions in public. Just like here on this blog.

Wow, I have a headache. What Andrew said was emotional and irrationale so I can see why people are worked up. However, I read some of these posts and they are just as extreme on the opposite end of the spectrum. This is why so many of us who consider ourselves in the middle to be so disgusted with politics. Many things are gray but when both sides spew forth rhetoric and name calling, it gets very old. Frankly, I like both candidates and feel that we are in a much better position than we were in either of the last two elections. That being said, to put the focus back on food, even if a pig wears lipstick, it still tastes darn good.

Thanks for proving my point Robb-o! All the names you mentioned only really showed their true political beliefs when they became too valuable to marginalize. The only thing Hollywood loves more than nanny-state Marxist/Communism is money. For every one of those giants you listed, how many thousands of others kept their beliefs to themselves out of abject fear for their careers, or did not, and suffered the consequences. You might want to Google "Orson Bean blacklist" and see what he has to say about this subject. Bean was blacklisted by the Hollywood movie studios in the 1950s for his outspokenly Liberal views, and he says it's WORSE now in Hollywood for conservatives than it was then for liberals. But you don't seem to be one who lets "Inconvenient Truths" get in your way...

Okay, let's continue because blowhards like you Zipity cannot admit to your supercilious errors.

Hollywood has produced more public and prominent Republican candidates and leaders in their party than the Democrats or Liberals have in the past 30 years. Reagan, Schwarzenegger, Heston, Eastwood, Fred Thompson were never blacklist from working or excluded from social circles, nor were they penalized for running for political office.

This is the very Inconvenient truth you fail to recognize.

Despite your so-called black list and allegations of liberal and left control the only time when the blacklist was imposed formally on the industry was when it was used against the left or people considered Communist by, not only Joseph McCarthy, but studio titans who wanted to impose control over labor and the creative rights of intellectual property.

You won't let any truth get in the way of your right-wing lies, spin-doctoring, and feigned self-righteous indignation.

Wow Robb-o, you must know Reagan, Schwarzenegger, Heston, Eastwood, and Fred Thompson personally, since you are apparently privy to any possible instance of them being dropped for consideration in a particular role over the course of their careers. Either that or you move in the rarified air occupied by the movers and shakers who make/cast movies/TV in Hollywood, and have personal knowledge of them never taking the lack of commitment to the Liberal Orthodoxy into consideration in their day to day workings. I bow to your obviously greatly more informed opinion.....

Getting back to the food.... I have a couple of comments on the items brought up here in particular and a general question. Believe it or not, I'm not trying to troll but, just in case, I'm donning my fire-proof suit to avoid the singing I may receive...

First - I'm a little bummed about dogs in restaurants - particularly a favorite like Lucia's wine bar. Admittedly, I'm not a pet owner. But I don't understand why people think that dogs (service dogs excepted) need to go everywhere they do.

Second - I'm glad that others have had great meals at Heidi's. I have not. I've been there twice and the food has been perfectly fine but not what I would call exceptional. (I've been just as happy - if not more - with the food at Blackbird two doors down.) But the service both times has really been laughable. Perhaps it's just been bad luck for me, but Heidi's is not place I'll be trying to go back for. (I know you don't mind - that's more space for those of you who love it.)

And this brings me to a general concern about this blog. I can't believe that I, a mere mortal, will consistently get the same level of service (and food) as AZ gets. I'm not offended by it - if nothing else, I assume AZ is friendly on a personal basis with many of the chefs he talks about - but it makes me take everything that is said with a grain of salt. Even if AZ doesn't personally know the chef/GM/etc., it's likely that the front of house knows him.

While I support EVERYONE'S right to freedom of speech, what's up with all the name calling?????

Ooooooo it's hot in here!

I am with you 100% on the Palin/McCain rant and your right to speak it. "Satan Lizards" Are you freaking kidding me?!!?

I am also all for a Brasa on Grand (although it probably means my cholesterol levels will skyrocket).

I am super against dogs in restaurants. Don't force your dogs on others, people. You might love them but we don't.

That is all.

seems you ran afoul of the conservatroll message board grafitti gang.

This is a blog about chow isn't it? AZ are you getting the message?

Dear Andrew,

Wow, I thought your blog was about food. I will assume you had imbided a generous quantity of wine when you posted this blog, for it seems quite out of character.

Please stick to food issues, this is your forte. You are not Keith Obermann.

Respectfully,

Steve

Dudes & Dudettes--

I am going to difuse this political time bomb right now.

WE ARE ALL AMERICANS.

Yes, I know it sounds simple, but its true. People who vote Republican and Democrat, or any other party, are your relatives, neighbors, colleagues, etc.

So why are you so angry with someone having an opinion different than yours? I can understand your passion for your beliefs, but when you start with the name calling, it really doesn't SOLVE anything. You always attract more bees with honey than with vineagar.

Just realize that these "crazy people", who may be voting differently than you, may actually win the election. And if they do, we have an OBLIGATION to work with them to solve all the problems that we have.

So there you go...now let's talk about important stuff...like FOOD!!!!

God Bless America