Heavy Table
@heavytable.com
An in-depth weekly culinary newsletter covering the Upper Midwest since 2009. Back us on Substack (https://heavytable.substack.com) to start getting the Tap, Churn, Hearth, and Tulip and Schooner.
Zen Box Izakaya is closing Nov. 22 after 21 years in business, citing road construction and the pending sale of its building.
October 31, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Zen Box Izakaya is closing Nov. 22 after 21 years in business, citing road construction and the pending sale of its building.
Tomorrow in the newsletter: Chi-Chi's 2.0. Huge buzz! Surprisingly challenging reservations! Can this reanimated dinosaur survive in a modern environment absolutely stuffed with terrific Mexican and Mexican-inspired dining?
October 30, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Tomorrow in the newsletter: Chi-Chi's 2.0. Huge buzz! Surprisingly challenging reservations! Can this reanimated dinosaur survive in a modern environment absolutely stuffed with terrific Mexican and Mexican-inspired dining?
This week in the newsletter: how AI "art" resembles dodgy suburban sushi; also, some excellent deli-style sandwiches. Also: Maybe a trip to Flavortown?!
September 17, 2025 at 1:39 PM
This week in the newsletter: how AI "art" resembles dodgy suburban sushi; also, some excellent deli-style sandwiches. Also: Maybe a trip to Flavortown?!
Live for our subscribers (free and paid): Nathan Wold's mini-documentary on Mrs. Dessert and Kumpir, a border-straddling wonderland of Middle Eastern sweets with a world food twist. heavytable.substack.com/p/video-rose...
September 10, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Live for our subscribers (free and paid): Nathan Wold's mini-documentary on Mrs. Dessert and Kumpir, a border-straddling wonderland of Middle Eastern sweets with a world food twist. heavytable.substack.com/p/video-rose...
Tomorrow morning! All subscribers! Chef Leonard Anderson of Tongue in Cheek in Saint Paul talks about how he bounced back from a bout with cancer that took his sense of taste.
August 28, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Tomorrow morning! All subscribers! Chef Leonard Anderson of Tongue in Cheek in Saint Paul talks about how he bounced back from a bout with cancer that took his sense of taste.
“The scorpion was chewy,” reports John Garland.
August 21, 2025 at 8:34 PM
“The scorpion was chewy,” reports John Garland.
Fair gauntlet: RUN. 55+ items eaten or otherwise consumed. We ate a scorpion lollipop, cheese curds mixed with funnel cake, jalapeño doughnuts and God knows what else. Full report in the newsletter tomorrow 7am. Cheers!!
August 21, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Fair gauntlet: RUN. 55+ items eaten or otherwise consumed. We ate a scorpion lollipop, cheese curds mixed with funnel cake, jalapeño doughnuts and God knows what else. Full report in the newsletter tomorrow 7am. Cheers!!
We'll be out in force tomorrow eating and drinking … oh, I dunno, let's say 50-70 different things at the Minnesota State Fair. Celebrating 15 years of this insanity, folks! Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more...
August 20, 2025 at 8:15 PM
We'll be out in force tomorrow eating and drinking … oh, I dunno, let's say 50-70 different things at the Minnesota State Fair. Celebrating 15 years of this insanity, folks! Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more...
Here's a little teaser video for today's longer-form feature on Kinzo Udon in Stadium Village. Video by the talented Nathan Wold; if you'd like to get Heavy Table's four culinary newsletters plus the occasional video feature, subscribe to the magazine: heavytable.substack.com
August 8, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Here's a little teaser video for today's longer-form feature on Kinzo Udon in Stadium Village. Video by the talented Nathan Wold; if you'd like to get Heavy Table's four culinary newsletters plus the occasional video feature, subscribe to the magazine: heavytable.substack.com
Tomorrow's newsletter: We roadtrip to Stockholm, Wisc. for some of the world's best pies. (That's not a claim we make lightly, they're really top-notch.) Featuring writing by @amyrea.bsky.social and photos plus video by Nathan Wold.
July 31, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Tomorrow's newsletter: We roadtrip to Stockholm, Wisc. for some of the world's best pies. (That's not a claim we make lightly, they're really top-notch.) Featuring writing by @amyrea.bsky.social and photos plus video by Nathan Wold.
More background on the restaurant and others along East Lake Street from our Checklist series, too: heavytable.com/east-lake-ch...
June 3, 2025 at 5:43 PM
More background on the restaurant and others along East Lake Street from our Checklist series, too: heavytable.com/east-lake-ch...
As Las Cuatro Milpas on East Lake Street is besieged by ICE and other assisting police agencies, the story of the restaurant: heavytable.com/lake-street-...
June 3, 2025 at 5:34 PM
As Las Cuatro Milpas on East Lake Street is besieged by ICE and other assisting police agencies, the story of the restaurant: heavytable.com/lake-street-...
Today in the newsletter: There's a not-entirely-impressed torch-wielding online mob on the trail of Hey Y'all Tipsy Taco Bar, so we checked it out. Plus! A massive downtown Fargo food crawl. heavytable.substack.com/p/a-taste-of...
May 30, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Today in the newsletter: There's a not-entirely-impressed torch-wielding online mob on the trail of Hey Y'all Tipsy Taco Bar, so we checked it out. Plus! A massive downtown Fargo food crawl. heavytable.substack.com/p/a-taste-of...
Third: We get up to the North Side of Minneapolis to visit with Dancing Bear Chocolate, an artful bakery with a business plan that won't quit. And we present a sponsored look at the Broders' mini-empire at 42, with art by WACSO and words by M.C. Cronin.
May 22, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Third: We get up to the North Side of Minneapolis to visit with Dancing Bear Chocolate, an artful bakery with a business plan that won't quit. And we present a sponsored look at the Broders' mini-empire at 42, with art by WACSO and words by M.C. Cronin.
Terrific couple of newsletters tomorrow. Four quick highlights here: First, in the Hearth, author Wendy Makoons Geniusz harvests, breads, and bakes dandelions, inspired by Ojibwe culinary practice. Second: A killer plate of Ginger Beef Rice Noodle Salad.
May 22, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Terrific couple of newsletters tomorrow. Four quick highlights here: First, in the Hearth, author Wendy Makoons Geniusz harvests, breads, and bakes dandelions, inspired by Ojibwe culinary practice. Second: A killer plate of Ginger Beef Rice Noodle Salad.
Hell of a newsletter today with a big rundown on the flavors of HmongTown in Saint Paul - words by @amyrea.bsky.social and photos by @tangledupinfood.bsky.social - check it out here: heavytable.substack.com/p/kinsleys-a...
May 16, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Hell of a newsletter today with a big rundown on the flavors of HmongTown in Saint Paul - words by @amyrea.bsky.social and photos by @tangledupinfood.bsky.social - check it out here: heavytable.substack.com/p/kinsleys-a...
Especially fun update in tomorrow's newsletter: a Saint Paul cat cafe report, wherein we review the drinks, the pastries, and the cats. Possibly mostly the cats. Cheers to @amyrea.bsky.social and Joshua Feist for this one.
April 24, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Especially fun update in tomorrow's newsletter: a Saint Paul cat cafe report, wherein we review the drinks, the pastries, and the cats. Possibly mostly the cats. Cheers to @amyrea.bsky.social and Joshua Feist for this one.
Now posted and free for everyone: The Green Line Checklist visits King Cajun, Ishita Ramen, Peking Garden, Master Noodle, and Black Hart of Saint Paul. heavytable.substack.com/p/green-line...
April 18, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Now posted and free for everyone: The Green Line Checklist visits King Cajun, Ishita Ramen, Peking Garden, Master Noodle, and Black Hart of Saint Paul. heavytable.substack.com/p/green-line...
Behold, the $135, six-foot-long, nearly infinitely fattening Saint Paul Saints Land of 10,000 Calories hot dog, as reviewed and (almost completely) eaten by @eliradtke17.bsky.social and friends. heavytable.com/hot-dog-hell...
April 11, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Behold, the $135, six-foot-long, nearly infinitely fattening Saint Paul Saints Land of 10,000 Calories hot dog, as reviewed and (almost completely) eaten by @eliradtke17.bsky.social and friends. heavytable.com/hot-dog-hell...
A shout out to bakehouse/Honey & Rye for a remarkably good key lime mini pie (bottom left.) Salty graham cracker crust balanced the sweetness and citrus really well. bakehouse is doing a 3.14.25 Pi(e) Day event from 7am-4pm or until they sell out… which was around 10:15am last year.
March 11, 2025 at 4:27 PM
A shout out to bakehouse/Honey & Rye for a remarkably good key lime mini pie (bottom left.) Salty graham cracker crust balanced the sweetness and citrus really well. bakehouse is doing a 3.14.25 Pi(e) Day event from 7am-4pm or until they sell out… which was around 10:15am last year.
Green Curry and Crispy Chicken Rice were equally excellent, with the curry having all the heat, earthiness, and seasoned depth you want, without any of the excessive sweetness that sometimes spoils this dish. The chicken was a textural delight, and served with a lovely habanero-powered sauce.
February 28, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Green Curry and Crispy Chicken Rice were equally excellent, with the curry having all the heat, earthiness, and seasoned depth you want, without any of the excessive sweetness that sometimes spoils this dish. The chicken was a textural delight, and served with a lovely habanero-powered sauce.
We like to save our food raves for the articles, but our meal at Basil Cafe in Saint Paul last night was so good it qualifies as an emergency. Superb pad Thai - balanced funk / sour / sweet and perfectly cooked chewy noodles, and a heavenly tom kha with a Jupiter-sized citrus kick.
February 28, 2025 at 1:56 PM
We like to save our food raves for the articles, but our meal at Basil Cafe in Saint Paul last night was so good it qualifies as an emergency. Superb pad Thai - balanced funk / sour / sweet and perfectly cooked chewy noodles, and a heavenly tom kha with a Jupiter-sized citrus kick.
Brief thread about the Union Hmong Kitchen catered "Feast" meal. We sprung for it this past weekend for a rented house gathering of 15 guests, and it ended up at around $95/person, all costs inclusive. For catering/private cheffing, one of the best experiences we've had. 1/2
February 25, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Brief thread about the Union Hmong Kitchen catered "Feast" meal. We sprung for it this past weekend for a rented house gathering of 15 guests, and it ended up at around $95/person, all costs inclusive. For catering/private cheffing, one of the best experiences we've had. 1/2
A killer edition of the Tulip and Schooner newsletter coming tomorrow at noon: a deep dive with Minnesota distiller Jace Marti about Black Frost Blended Rye and Bourbon, and a deep dive into sake making in at Moto-i in Minneapolis. Subscribe to read it all: heavytable.substack.com
February 13, 2025 at 5:53 PM
A killer edition of the Tulip and Schooner newsletter coming tomorrow at noon: a deep dive with Minnesota distiller Jace Marti about Black Frost Blended Rye and Bourbon, and a deep dive into sake making in at Moto-i in Minneapolis. Subscribe to read it all: heavytable.substack.com
Star Tribune has published a well-reported look at the chilling impact of ICE raids on life and commerce on East Lake Street and beyond. (Illustration from our East Lake Checklist, by WACSO.)
February 7, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Star Tribune has published a well-reported look at the chilling impact of ICE raids on life and commerce on East Lake Street and beyond. (Illustration from our East Lake Checklist, by WACSO.)