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
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.
Reposted by James Norton
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 year’s crop of home-grown pumpkins is in SERIOUS TROUBLE
October 29, 2025 at 6:31 PM
this year’s crop of home-grown pumpkins is in SERIOUS TROUBLE
the Scandinavians have rights we Americans haven’t even dreamed up yet
October 25, 2025 at 6:10 PM
the Scandinavians have rights we Americans haven’t even dreamed up yet
Cheers!! I swear that I have a functional sense of humor, it’s just that if you’re going to be playful with menu items, at least present something that’s crude in a fresh way!
Speaking of honest food talk- I love my @heavytable.com Friday newsletter especially when it starts a sushi restaurant review with, “It’s the year 2025; do we, as a society, still need a Double D roll? Or a “Screaming ‘O’” roll?
😂
😂
October 24, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Cheers!! I swear that I have a functional sense of humor, it’s just that if you’re going to be playful with menu items, at least present something that’s crude in a fresh way!
Reposted by James Norton
Just witnessed someone trying to fireb*mb Fletcher’s Ice Cream in NE. Saw a dude acting weird next to a parked car in front of the place. I walked by, heard a smash through my earbuds, smelled gasoline/kerosine. Turned around, snapped some photos instinctively. Thankfully they suck at molot*vs.
October 20, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Just witnessed someone trying to fireb*mb Fletcher’s Ice Cream in NE. Saw a dude acting weird next to a parked car in front of the place. I walked by, heard a smash through my earbuds, smelled gasoline/kerosine. Turned around, snapped some photos instinctively. Thankfully they suck at molot*vs.
I take for granted how all-around decent and basically tasty Cub doughnuts are. Cub was closed today so we grabbed doughnuts from Holiday instead. Instant compost. Absolutely inedible. Would love to know how they do it.
October 20, 2025 at 3:37 PM
I take for granted how all-around decent and basically tasty Cub doughnuts are. Cub was closed today so we grabbed doughnuts from Holiday instead. Instant compost. Absolutely inedible. Would love to know how they do it.
Reposted by James Norton
pleased to announce that there seems to be a passive-aggressive conflict roiling the august pages of Cooks Illustrated, Fall Harvest recipes edition. allow me to explain:
October 20, 2025 at 3:35 AM
pleased to announce that there seems to be a passive-aggressive conflict roiling the august pages of Cooks Illustrated, Fall Harvest recipes edition. allow me to explain:
Reposted by James Norton
Started watching Columbo. This may be the greatest show ever made. My prior Columbo experience outside of pop culture osmosis is Peter Falk in Wings Of Desire. Wenders told us the truth: he was an angel.
October 17, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Started watching Columbo. This may be the greatest show ever made. My prior Columbo experience outside of pop culture osmosis is Peter Falk in Wings Of Desire. Wenders told us the truth: he was an angel.
Reposted by James Norton
Reposted by James Norton
If you know some curious kids (or kids who you would like to encourage to be even more curious!) the excellent, formerly-on-MPR podcast Brains On! is back as an indie project. Check it out, back it if you can - they're great people doing tremendous work. brainson.supercast.com
Brains On! Universe
The Brains On Universe is all about celebrating the amazing minds of kids. We're also independent, which means YOU keep us going. Join Smarty Pass and get a bunch of great stuff, plus the warm, fuzzy ...
brainson.supercast.com
October 6, 2025 at 6:01 PM
If you know some curious kids (or kids who you would like to encourage to be even more curious!) the excellent, formerly-on-MPR podcast Brains On! is back as an indie project. Check it out, back it if you can - they're great people doing tremendous work. brainson.supercast.com
just incinerated an entire spatchcocked chicken far beyond the point of edibility, AMA
October 1, 2025 at 10:06 PM
just incinerated an entire spatchcocked chicken far beyond the point of edibility, AMA
Gotta put in a plug for Red Coral Coffee @ Okome House. Their salted caramel latte is subtle and so terrific - I’ve gotten quite jaded about coffee but this takes me right back to my “wow, a coffee drink is a TREAT” days. Just a charming place.
September 26, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Gotta put in a plug for Red Coral Coffee @ Okome House. Their salted caramel latte is subtle and so terrific - I’ve gotten quite jaded about coffee but this takes me right back to my “wow, a coffee drink is a TREAT” days. Just a charming place.
Reasonably sure that I just had the best fish and chips of my life here in Bayfield, Wisc. at Hoops Fish. The whitefish was swimming in Lake Superior this morning, now perfectly fried, firm and flaky and moist. Good lord.
September 22, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Reasonably sure that I just had the best fish and chips of my life here in Bayfield, Wisc. at Hoops Fish. The whitefish was swimming in Lake Superior this morning, now perfectly fried, firm and flaky and moist. Good lord.
Reposted by James Norton
“ill see you in valhalla” is not something i would ever say in memory of a friend. its something i would say to a $28 Hamburger
September 21, 2025 at 1:45 AM
“ill see you in valhalla” is not something i would ever say in memory of a friend. its something i would say to a $28 Hamburger
As an antidote to my highly annoyed sushi review in this morning’s newsletter: went to Saji-Ya in Saint Paul for lunch. Their sushi lunch special ($16, pictured below) was superb - simple, elegant, skillfully prepared. Nothing wacky, just capably executed standards. Loved it.
September 19, 2025 at 7:15 PM
As an antidote to my highly annoyed sushi review in this morning’s newsletter: went to Saji-Ya in Saint Paul for lunch. Their sushi lunch special ($16, pictured below) was superb - simple, elegant, skillfully prepared. Nothing wacky, just capably executed standards. Loved it.
Got out to Indian Kitchen in St. Paul last night. Long wait for food, world’s most forgettable name. Terrific, delicious dishes with subtle layers of spice. Clearly the kitchen takes its time because they’re doing it right. Will absolutely return!
September 19, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Got out to Indian Kitchen in St. Paul last night. Long wait for food, world’s most forgettable name. Terrific, delicious dishes with subtle layers of spice. Clearly the kitchen takes its time because they’re doing it right. Will absolutely return!
Biscuit Day at Casa Dilley-Norton. A pretty good day!!
September 17, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Biscuit Day at Casa Dilley-Norton. A pretty good day!!
If you haven’t watched “3 Days of the Condor,” tonight is the night to fire it up. One of the best thrillers of any era, just a crisp, streamlined adrenaline rush. RIP Robert Redford.
September 16, 2025 at 1:05 PM
If you haven’t watched “3 Days of the Condor,” tonight is the night to fire it up. One of the best thrillers of any era, just a crisp, streamlined adrenaline rush. RIP Robert Redford.
Reposted by James Norton
Everyone shut up now. It’s the Iron Chef corn battle.
September 16, 2025 at 3:48 AM
Everyone shut up now. It’s the Iron Chef corn battle.
I don't post much about Heavy Table because, frankly, I am tired out from editing and writing. But tomorrow's newsletter has a terrific interview with Ben Wu from Red Coral coffee, who is doing delicious work in Longfellow. Story by @jeannelakso.bsky.social, photos by Becca Dilley. 1/4
September 11, 2025 at 8:40 PM
I don't post much about Heavy Table because, frankly, I am tired out from editing and writing. But tomorrow's newsletter has a terrific interview with Ben Wu from Red Coral coffee, who is doing delicious work in Longfellow. Story by @jeannelakso.bsky.social, photos by Becca Dilley. 1/4