James Norton
@jrnorton.bsky.social
Editor of Heavy Table (@heavytable.com), author of Lake Superior Flavors, generally in pursuit of tacos. Writes The Cookbook Test every Sunday morning: (https://thecookbooktest.substack.com)
Reposted by James Norton
Mi Sant throwing it down from the top rope.
January 25, 2026 at 3:21 PM
Mi Sant throwing it down from the top rope.
Got outside tonight to meet neighbors and hold a candle for Alex Pretti. Everybody was grieving; everybody was angry; everybody agreed that solidarity was the only thing that was going to get us through this. "We can't let them make us turn inward," is a quote that stuck with me.
January 25, 2026 at 2:33 AM
Got outside tonight to meet neighbors and hold a candle for Alex Pretti. Everybody was grieving; everybody was angry; everybody agreed that solidarity was the only thing that was going to get us through this. "We can't let them make us turn inward," is a quote that stuck with me.
Reposted by James Norton
I spoke to families at risk of deportation to understand how they've experienced the last 8 weeks of the federal siege on Minnesota minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/23/8...
8 weeks under siege in Minnesota • Minnesota Reformer
Frank has a hard time explaining to his 8-year-old daughter why they rarely leave their home in the Twin Cities. Why she can’t go to school, and why he can’t work. “The only thing we tell her is that ...
minnesotareformer.com
January 23, 2026 at 5:41 PM
I spoke to families at risk of deportation to understand how they've experienced the last 8 weeks of the federal siege on Minnesota minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/23/8...
Reposted by James Norton
Today's newsletter is free for everyone. Read "A Storm on East Lake Street" by @tangledupinfood.bsky.social , and more: heavytable.substack.com/p/a-storm-on...
A Storm on East Lake Street
The Tap for January 23, 2026
heavytable.substack.com
January 23, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Today's newsletter is free for everyone. Read "A Storm on East Lake Street" by @tangledupinfood.bsky.social , and more: heavytable.substack.com/p/a-storm-on...
Reposted by James Norton
this message to minneapolis from comedian zach woods is profane and also wonderful
January 22, 2026 at 10:46 PM
this message to minneapolis from comedian zach woods is profane and also wonderful
Reposted by James Norton
There are 20 semifinalists for Best Chef Midwest, an 8-state region. A bunch of cities have 1. A couple have 2. Minneapolis has 4, and they can all be visited within a 1.8-mile stroll. Not that I recommend combining them into a single night, but it's amazing to have so much talent in proximity.
January 22, 2026 at 2:23 AM
There are 20 semifinalists for Best Chef Midwest, an 8-state region. A bunch of cities have 1. A couple have 2. Minneapolis has 4, and they can all be visited within a 1.8-mile stroll. Not that I recommend combining them into a single night, but it's amazing to have so much talent in proximity.
Reposted by James Norton
Giving this a bump - there’s been a ton of interest which is great! I hope you’re able to make it tomorrow, and support a local Lake Street business!
It’s happening! @visitlakestreet.com is helping to organize a series of cash mob events to support small local businesses - first one is next week! Sign up for updates and to be notified of which Lake Street business we’ll be eating at! eventbrite.com/e/you-belong-here-cash-mob-tickets-1980574633043
January 20, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Giving this a bump - there’s been a ton of interest which is great! I hope you’re able to make it tomorrow, and support a local Lake Street business!
Reposted by James Norton
Minneapolis/Saint Paul neighborhoods are everything that people pretend small towns are. The local library has a “block party kit” you can take out to shut down your block. You walk to your local stores & you know the barista’s name. Neighbors take care of each other
Many Americans are terrible neighbors to each other, and that is why MN is striking everyone as extraordinary activism... when they are telling us that it is not. They're good neighbors!
It's no wonder that "being a shitty neighbor" is the hallmark of our domestic politics and our foreign policy.
It's no wonder that "being a shitty neighbor" is the hallmark of our domestic politics and our foreign policy.
January 18, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Minneapolis/Saint Paul neighborhoods are everything that people pretend small towns are. The local library has a “block party kit” you can take out to shut down your block. You walk to your local stores & you know the barista’s name. Neighbors take care of each other
Reposted by James Norton
Lastly, visit the “Take a Culinary Tour” area in the Food + Drink section of @exploreminnesota.bsky.social where me and @jrnorton.bsky.social wrote about the many different international cuisines one can experience in Minnesota that also need your support: www.exploreminnesota.com/things-to-do...
Minnesota's Best Food and Drink
www.exploreminnesota.com
January 18, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Lastly, visit the “Take a Culinary Tour” area in the Food + Drink section of @exploreminnesota.bsky.social where me and @jrnorton.bsky.social wrote about the many different international cuisines one can experience in Minnesota that also need your support: www.exploreminnesota.com/things-to-do...
Reposted by James Norton
Reposted by James Norton
This is not comprehensive, but it’s as good a list as I’ve seen (thanks to @jrnorton.bsky.social for pointing it out). That is a lot of people out of work, well done ICE
bringmethenews.com/minnesota-li...
bringmethenews.com/minnesota-li...
List of Twin Cities events canceled and businesses closed in response to ongoing ICE presence
Twin Cities businesses have been put in a difficult position by the massive federal presence.
bringmethenews.com
January 16, 2026 at 10:47 PM
This is not comprehensive, but it’s as good a list as I’ve seen (thanks to @jrnorton.bsky.social for pointing it out). That is a lot of people out of work, well done ICE
bringmethenews.com/minnesota-li...
bringmethenews.com/minnesota-li...
I got out to Galapagos Restaurant on East Lake Street for lunch and they were incredibly welcoming (and the food was great.) If I could, I'd go to 10 of these places a day; in lieu of that, maybe this?
This week we're calling for reader-submitted Hot Five briefs about food and drink from immigrant-run restaurants, food trucks, and markets. We're casting a wide net to support these cornerstone businesses. heavytable.substack.com/p/hot-five-c...
Hot Five: Call for Community Submissions
We're looking for our readers to help us tell stories of food, drink, and immigration this week.
heavytable.substack.com
January 13, 2026 at 7:10 PM
I got out to Galapagos Restaurant on East Lake Street for lunch and they were incredibly welcoming (and the food was great.) If I could, I'd go to 10 of these places a day; in lieu of that, maybe this?
Reposted by James Norton
Condé Nast forgot to renew the trademark for Gourmet and so a group of journalists grabbed it and are relaunching the food magazine as a worker-owned co-op. Love it. [gourmetmagazine.net]
Gourmet Magazine
Gourmet is a worker-owned publication about food and the people who make and consume it.
gourmetmagazine.net
January 13, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Condé Nast forgot to renew the trademark for Gourmet and so a group of journalists grabbed it and are relaunching the food magazine as a worker-owned co-op. Love it. [gourmetmagazine.net]
Reposted by James Norton
Meritage is opening a stand-alone steak frites restaurant in the to-be-announced future - in the meantime, the restaurant is offering a series of steak frites prix-fixe nights Jan. 14, 21, and 27.
January 6, 2026 at 10:08 PM
Meritage is opening a stand-alone steak frites restaurant in the to-be-announced future - in the meantime, the restaurant is offering a series of steak frites prix-fixe nights Jan. 14, 21, and 27.
daaaaaaamn you, St. Paul!
In the newsletter: The full details on the cult-followed neighborhood bakery's plans for moving to larger and St. Paul-ier pastures in the coming months.
🍰 Savory Bakehouse is moving to St. Paul
Savory Bakehouse's social media posts are usually full of good news: In-progress previews of what they're dreaming up for the upcoming weekend; photos of golden-brown items fresh out of the oven; snap...
www.longfellowwhatever.com
December 14, 2025 at 9:16 PM
daaaaaaamn you, St. Paul!
Reposted by James Norton
Jfc. Senator John Hoffman reports ICE took the owners of crumbs and coffee in BP this morning and left the building unlocked with money on the counter.
December 13, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Jfc. Senator John Hoffman reports ICE took the owners of crumbs and coffee in BP this morning and left the building unlocked with money on the counter.
Reposted by James Norton
“I had to teach a lesson on asparagus, an ingredient I couldn’t care less about but apparently was good for SEO.”
sorry about your cookies
this is probably TMI
sohla.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 5:35 PM
“I had to teach a lesson on asparagus, an ingredient I couldn’t care less about but apparently was good for SEO.”
Reposted by James Norton
thinking of her today
November 27, 2025 at 3:07 PM
thinking of her today
Reposted by James Norton
cleanse + gm
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYgq...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYgq...
Drum & Bass On The Bike - IRELAND
YouTube video by Dom Whiting
www.youtube.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:26 PM
cleanse + gm
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYgq...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYgq...
Reposted by James Norton
ANUBIS: (presses button with paw) [guilty]
OSIRIS: im sorry he does this when he's hungry
ANUBIS: (button) [guilty] [bad] [food]
OSIRIS: you already ate
ANUBIS: (button) [bad] [bad] [bad]
OSIRIS: he's right though we weighed your heart against the feather and its not looking good
OSIRIS: im sorry he does this when he's hungry
ANUBIS: (button) [guilty] [bad] [food]
OSIRIS: you already ate
ANUBIS: (button) [bad] [bad] [bad]
OSIRIS: he's right though we weighed your heart against the feather and its not looking good
November 2, 2025 at 12:23 PM
ANUBIS: (presses button with paw) [guilty]
OSIRIS: im sorry he does this when he's hungry
ANUBIS: (button) [guilty] [bad] [food]
OSIRIS: you already ate
ANUBIS: (button) [bad] [bad] [bad]
OSIRIS: he's right though we weighed your heart against the feather and its not looking good
OSIRIS: im sorry he does this when he's hungry
ANUBIS: (button) [guilty] [bad] [food]
OSIRIS: you already ate
ANUBIS: (button) [bad] [bad] [bad]
OSIRIS: he's right though we weighed your heart against the feather and its not looking good
Reposted by James Norton
I wrote about doing 24 hours of eating and drinking in Wausau and Stevens Point, Wisc. - everything from potato vodka and ginseng whiskey at Great Northern distilling to creme brûlée French toast at Era Cafe to killer sandwiches at Main Grain Bakery: heavytable.substack.com/p/24-hours-i...
24 Hours in Wausau-Stevens Point and YaiGu Hot Bowls
The Churn for November 14, 2025
heavytable.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:45 PM
I wrote about doing 24 hours of eating and drinking in Wausau and Stevens Point, Wisc. - everything from potato vodka and ginseng whiskey at Great Northern distilling to creme brûlée French toast at Era Cafe to killer sandwiches at Main Grain Bakery: heavytable.substack.com/p/24-hours-i...
Just bought a staggering amount of top tier Midwestern meat and cheese at Eastside Food Co-op for a book talk tonight at the Gaylord Public Library at 6pm. STAGGERING. It's all gonna be good, but cracking into a new vintage of Rush Creak Reserve is always a highlight.
November 6, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Just bought a staggering amount of top tier Midwestern meat and cheese at Eastside Food Co-op for a book talk tonight at the Gaylord Public Library at 6pm. STAGGERING. It's all gonna be good, but cracking into a new vintage of Rush Creak Reserve is always a highlight.
Tasting notes: Door County Coffee cherry pie coffee - shockingly, SHOCKINGLY restrained. Bit of cherry comes through w/ cream and sugar. Palatable. American Ginseng Whiskey from Great Northern: real herbal bite / brightness to it. Almost "pre-bittered." The perfect cocktail case must exist.
November 6, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Tasting notes: Door County Coffee cherry pie coffee - shockingly, SHOCKINGLY restrained. Bit of cherry comes through w/ cream and sugar. Palatable. American Ginseng Whiskey from Great Northern: real herbal bite / brightness to it. Almost "pre-bittered." The perfect cocktail case must exist.