It’s Fresh Forkin’ Friday, and I don’t know about you, but I’ve had
some spectacular food for cheap this week. One memorable night at
Solera, we left the table unable to pick a singular favorite bite. (Was
it the pumpkin seed romesco with the crispy squash? The smoked salmon
with white asparagus? The sobrasada drizzled with membrillo honey?)
We’ve heard reports of packed restaurants and happy diners, so we’re
counting this one as a win-win. If you happened to miss out on the
awesomeness of Restaurant Week, you still have a chance to reap the
rewards. A few places have decided to carry the RW menu and deal
through the end of the month: D’Amico Cucina, Masa, Campiello, Cafe Lurcat, and La Belle Vie. Wouldn’t it be great if a couple more jumped on board?

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Pastrami Tommy’s in open in Oakdale. The signature hot sandwich features “hand selected naval cut pastrami” served on rye with mustard and swiss. And then there’s owner Tom Eytcheson’s secret Russian dressing! During the grand opening celebration on the 16th, diners get free coffee/soda with purchase.

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The West End project in St. Louis Park seems to be moving right along, and Kieran Folliard will be opening a pub named Cooper (a nod to both the old theater and the term for barrel-making in Ireland) in the development. Wonder how much Jameson they can sell to the Costco set? I’m betting tons.

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A tipster sent me to 46th and Grand in south Minneapolis, across from Cafe Ena. Artfully done posters say Kings Wine Coffee Food coming soon. Rumor in the neighborhood puts the owner as a first-time restaurateur who plans on a wine bar atmosphere with small plates/tapas.

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Marianne Miller’s cute Saga Hill Cooking School has moved down the block and changed into Grande Cru Events. The new space is warm and gorgeous and fully decked. I can’t wait to see what that chick’s cooking up next, her vibe is so needed “west of the river.”

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Have you seen this site? And the AZ tatoo on this guy’s leg?

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Economic worries plaguing you? The St. Paul Hotel has just the thing. It’s hosting a Rejuvenation Tea next Saturday, March 14, at 3 p.m. The five-course tea menu will include some mini-spa treatments. A little chair massage, a little wax dip, and a little buttermilk biscuit with rose petal jam, and you’ll feel like you really are destined for the good life. The $35 ticket includes tax and gratuity.

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Weekly Dish will be live at the Minneapolis Home & Garden Show show this weekend! Stop by, and give Steph and I the hey-ho. We’ll be talking about how to live through a kitchen remodel (been there, done that, ate Easy Mac) and naming our favorite food books and snacky appetizers.