What does one eat for the Ides of March? Caesar salad? Liver with fava beans and a nice chianti? If revenge is a dish best served cold (and raw) maybe a litte steak tartare, carpaccio, or just sushi for the semi-committed. In antiquity, the Roman calendar began with March and the Ides marked a few celebrations. Sometimes it involved the sacrifice of a sheep, sometimes it included an old man dressed in animal skins who was thusly beaten and driven from the city. Good times. But here in the modern world, we’re still in Lent, have St. Patty’s Day encroaching, and are quite culinarily lacking in mutton innovations. So in the great American tradition, let’s blend: lobster linguini with an Irish cheddar sauce should be just the ticket to keep those pesky soothsayers away.

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CLOSES

Joe’s Garage , the Loring Park rooftop-patio pioneer, is closing next week for good. The hot news is that Butcher & The Boar’s Jack Riebel and team will be partnering up with owner Joe Kaplan to assist in a total overhaul and reconcepting of the space. Look here for more details next week, but don’t look for a full-service situation, the plan is to make this a casual and fun neighborhood watering hole with a kitchen that serves good food.

OPENS

Just in time for the ballyhoo … Morrissey’s Irish Pub has thrown open the doors in Uptown. Don’t expect a lot of food, they’re still building the tracks as the train rolls in, but there’s plenty of beer.

The Radisson Blu opens today at the Mall of America and that includes the swank new version of the FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar. Paul Lynch is cooking his Minnesota focused menu, he intends to keep on keeping on with his hardwood smoking and grilling, but he’s clearly raised the bar with some things like bison bone marrow, lamb fritters, and a more serious list of cocktails.

Crave has opened a little work-day’s cafe/deli on the Normandale Office campus in Bloomington. Soups, sandwiches, tacos, breakfast, you know the drill.

Harbor View Cafe has officially opened for the season!! Spring WILL come, I swear. The Great River Road, which you should use to get there,  is celebrating 75 years this year. Head down for the weekend, but remember, no rezzies, no credit cards.

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Have you voted for one of the locals in Food & Wine’s Peoeple’s Choice for Best New Chef? Last view said Missouri was kicking our butt, get out and vote!

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In other news, get green this weekend.

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