Take off…to the great white North.
By
Where the women are strong, the men good looking and the children above average
It has long been a tradition in New Orleans to abandon the city when the dog days of summer arrive. Something to do with the steamy oppressiveness brought on by the high of 110 and the low of 86. I recently took myself a much deserved trip to visit my girl in Minnesota. So this entry will be about what I found up there…since there isn’t a Minnesota based blog for Hungry?Thirsty?
As soon as I got off the plane I was whisked away to Matt’s on Cedar St. faster than you can say Ya’…sure…you betcha! You might remember this place from Man vs. Food and it is just as delicious as he makes out. Their signature sandwich is the Juicy Lucy which is in essence two patties of meat pinched together around a lump of Velveeta. 
When it comes to the table the cheese oozes out in a molten dairy flow after the first delicious bite. One order of fries is good enough for a table of four. And they, of course, offer some of the finest in local beers such as Leinenkugel’s and Grain Belt. Good deal, yah!
And if you’re there at the right time of year (this time) you simply cannot overlook the festivals for amazing food opportunities. The Minnesota Renaissance Festival is in Shakopee and offers Turkey Legs, Gyros, Scotch Eggs, Mead, Pickles, and so much more.
The Minnesota State Faire is off the hook with “Australian” Potatoes (potatoes sliced long and flat and then deep fried), Big Fat Bacon (honking slice of bacon on a stick), Pickle Dogs (pickle spear slathered in cream cheese wrapped in Pastrami) Hot Dish on a stick (casserole on a stick), Bratwurst Mit Kraut, the ubiquitous Cheese Curds, buckets full of homemade style chocolate chip cookies, buffalo and elk burgers and so much more! So much to eat and drink. I was all over this place like a Mack truck on a near-sighted deer! Most items seem to run around six bucks.
http://www.mnstatefair.org/find/food/
http://www.renaissancefest.com/MRF/
Next time we’ll explore the delights of Chippewa Falls and then back to New Orleans for Absinthe!!
