Comings and Goings
By Andrew Zimmern
Sorry for the delayed posting but it’s been a busy week or two of travel. I did Nightline (it aired last Tuesday night, check it out at abcnews.com) and recording some Iron Chef America episodes in NYC (judging, not cooking). Nightline, like the Fallon show on NBC, has gotten sooooo much better over the last year; it’s not even a semblance of its former self. I would say much of this has to do with the new crew and the hard work of a great group of reporters and producers. I am biased, but John Berman and the Beard Award winning producer Sarah Rosenberg are doing some great stuff. Not to mention the new focus on food at Nightline has me feeling all warm and fuzzy.
Check out Kramarczuk’s website and and learn about the first annual Kielbasa Festival. Tickets go on sale Aug. 1 at Kramarczuk’s for $10, but only a limited supply will be available. The event will be held in the parking lot next to Kramarczuk's in Minneapolis at 215 East Hennepin Avenue on Friday, Sept. 10, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 11, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
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Last week I blogged about the deadly nature of a downtown restaurant opening. Well the day after I sent in that blog I got an e-mail that Tom Pham is opening a “Wondrous” restaurant and closing Azia and Caterpillar Lounge. Good luck, Tom. I hate to sound cynical, but isn’t that what was tried in the old Tiburon space? You know, the restaurant whose name I can’t even remember? Pham is rolling the dice in a big way.
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On Sunday, August 29, 2010 at 3:00 p.m., at Tangletown Gardens Farm, California chefs Dana Younkin, of San Francisco’s famed Boulevard restaurant, and Ryan Childs, from the legendary Chez Panisse in Berkeley, are cooking up a farm dinner that promises to be a winner. Tickets are $180 and can be purchased from Tangletown Gardens. 5353 Nicollet Ave., Mpls., 612-822-4769 or send an email to info@tangletowngardens.com.
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So, I was walking through the airport the other day and saw a new Surdyk’s kiosk called Surdyk’s Flights.
They are calling it an upscale casual bar/restaurant and retail market. I don’t know about you, but I’m psyched about this kind of shop at our airport. I see them everywhere else and I use them all the time. I would rather walk onto a plane with a wedge of salami and some cheese than eat a meal onboard that was cooked by an institutional food service company. Wouldn’t you? Another bonus: Passengers are already through airport security, so they can purchase bottles of wine to go, a service previously unavailable to travelers. Check it out in the Main Concourse.
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This will be a blast for sure.
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Totally agree on airplane food. I nearly always bring my own.
Kramarczuk's fest is a great idea.
Posted by: jane on July 30, 2010 at 12:33 PM
I would have to think Surdyk's would make a killing with that if they play it right. Airlines won't allow you to drink your own stuff (at least in coach).
A flask of booze hidden in a Danielle Steele book cover? $20 for the book, $10 refills?
Posted by: kevin s. on July 30, 2010 at 1:54 PM
Speaking of Comings and Goings, does anyone know what will go into the space at 48th and Chicago where the Chicago Deli and a short-lived Scottish restaurant was? Also, what's happening with Heidi's now that they've torn down the block at 50th and Bryant?
Posted by: Erin on August 2, 2010 at 2:29 PM
Erin, that space at 48th and Chicago will become a second Town Hall Brewery soon.
Posted by: JF on August 4, 2010 at 9:28 AM
I'm excited that we'll be able to have Steven Brown and Stewart Woodman's food again, as both of their restaurants will be opening in the near future!
Posted by: Geri Wolf on August 4, 2010 at 3:19 PM
Thom Pham closing azia is the biggest mistake since Tiburon.
Remember the caption: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it?
I went to azia specifically because I cannot stand the overpriced eateries in DT.
Yet he moved across the street from block e? The failure of Hennepin?
Dumb Move Thom. Very Dumb indeed!
Posted by: Doug Hodder on August 14, 2010 at 2:33 AM