Where can someone go to get good fried chicken around the Twin Ports? KFC is absolutely terrible and I can’t think of any other place that has fried chicken.

Following up on a post from July 2010:

The Canal Park Brewing Co. has the beginnings of a website now, it is expected to open this summer, construction is underway and Wagner Zaun Architecture’s designs look like this:

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I’ve been having hot flashes. No, not that kind of hot flash. And if it were, I sure wouldn’t be writing about it here. I am talking about something more insidious: a societal hot flash.

Is anyone else losing patience with media references to “unseasonably warm” temperatures? This is a record-busting winter on all counts.

Case in point, Little Angie’s: “Opulent Ice House Coming Soon: December 9 Until Thaw!” High-end cocktails to be offered in a lounge made of ice blocks. But today I noticed the piled shards of melting ice scattered around the enclosure. They just couldn’t get the thing built.

For more ranting about the Duluth climate-change experience, including a couple of photos, please see my latest Nature of Modern Life blog post.

(And, yes, it would seem that the joke is on me. Winter is here today. Gone tomorrow? We’ll see.)

It seems like it’s high time somebody broke the pancake and french toast records at Uncle Loui’s. But who could manage such a feat … without blowing a hole in his or her innards, I mean? Will they stand forever and have to be “retired” as I believe the previous, pre-fire, records were?

Uncle Loui's Pancake and French toast eating records

• The sign is up at Tycoons Alehouse and Eatery and a New Year’s Eve opening is planned with Cry on Cue playing.
• The Zeitgeist Arts Café is opening for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. starting Jan. 1. Signature drinks including bloody Marys made with bacon-infused vodka will be available. In step with the brunch at the café is a new series of Saturday morning family movies at Zinema 2. The first one is 1979′s The Muppet Movie on Jan. 7 at 10:30 a.m.
• Ledge Rock Grille in Larsmont has a new Carribean menu on Thursday nights.
• The old Italian Village in West Duluth is now Gannucci’s Italian Market. It has expanded into the neighboring space and now includes a pizzeria. (See below.)

I drove down Tower Avenue in Superior today and saw the sign for Kenny Wong’s Oriental Express was gone! Instead, it says there is some sort of hibachi place coming soon.

Did Kenny Wong’s go out of business, or is it changing to a new format? They had some great food there, and as a former employee, I’d like to know what’s going on!

Duluth’s newest Mexican restaurant is in the Village Square Mall on Mountain Shadow Drive. Has anyone checked it out yet?

The rumor going around is that Tycoons Alehouse & Eatery is having a soft opening Dec. 1. Can anyone confirm or deny? Does anyone know when it will finally open? Inquiring minds want to know!

UPDATE: Tycoons opening date is still unknown.

The DNT ran a story today detailing a new mixed-use residential/commercial plan for the site of the former Woodland Middle School.  The developer bought the site from the school district in September. You may be familiar with the developer’s other projects like Boulder Ridge and Campus Park.

Currently the plan is to reuse the school building itself, and add one-to-three additional buildings. The student-focused housing would have 300 beds in mainly four bedroom units. If demand is high enough this could be increased to 1,000 beds. The retail aspect of the new development would include restaurants. The DNT story named  Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods as some potential additions.  A hotel is also being considered.

Sounds like the new development would open in Fall 2013 or 2014.

The full story can be found here.

What do you think about this plan? Is it a good idea? If not what would you propose? Personally, I think no matter where students go in high concentrations that residences in the same area will take a “not in my backyard” attitude. This development may not solve all the student housing issues, but it will alleviate it to some degree, and create jobs.

On the retail side what would you like to see at the site? A friend of mine would really like to see a Chipotle, Panera, or faster food pasta place. I would love to see more locally owned restaurants go in. Duluth Grill part 2?

Seeing the HOD post makes me wonder … what’s going on with the Hacienda del Sol?

The best Vietnamese restaurant in the City of Duluth is gone. (Thank goodness we still have Lan Chi’s in Superior.) (more…)

(Click the menu to see it in a larger, more readable format.)

Jalapeno Express has finally opened downtown in the space where Maya Mexican (and Grapevine Cafe, and Taj India, and Mr. Nick’s) used to be. My husband and I caught them in the middle of their “soft” opening and partook of a couple of burritos. Due to some confusion while we were ordering, we ended up with some extra food. I’m pleased to say that Duluth now officially has a legitimate answer to Chipotle. The chicken was good, the carnitas was good, and the al Pastor was terrific as well. We added some awesome cheese dip, chips and a rice drink called “horchata” (which was suggested by the staff). I work nearby, and I think I’ll be hitting them up for quick Mexican at least once or twice per week!

I usually feel a little guilty eating factory farmed meat shaped into mass-produced meals, but when they have Simpsons toys as the kid’s meal (or mid-thirty-year-old-man’s meal) toy, I am there.

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I’m a huge proponent of locally owned businesses. I feel that they generally do what they do better than their franchised competition. Because of this, I’m totally cool with paying a higher price.

I’ve been to Burrito Union probably close to a dozen times, so in no way am I staking any sort of claim, but I can count on more than one hand how many times I’ve placed an order, only to have it incorrectly made. Never anything to the point where I won’t eat it, but when I pay something like $2.25 extra for something like adobo sauce and I don’t get it, I have to ask why? Why would you forget to add a topping that costs between 20-25% of the cost of a customers burrito? Especially when its a delivery order. 

Again, this wouldn’t be such so bad if it were a one-time occurrence, but when the majority of experiences is like this, it really puts me off. I’m a real big fan of Tim and Rod’s other ventures and look forward to Tycoons, but I really hope service comes before ambiance.

Ten years ago, zero restaurants in Duluth served sushi.

City Pages did a cover story about Duluth culture in 2001 titled “Hey, we’re in Duluth.” Zak Sally, then bassist of the Duluth-based band Low, lamented Duluth’s lack of sushi in the article.

The singers get their fair share of the world on the road but say they miss sushi. If somebody opened a sushi bar in Duluth, Sally deadpans, the local news would run an item explaining what sushi is. Not that everyone in town is chafing at its limits.

Shortly after the article, sushi popped up in Duluth at the old Bennett’s restaurant (now Midi) and in Superior at the old Sakana (now Marlee’s Caribbean).

Today, sushi is on the menu at a handful of area restaurants:

Black Water Lounge (They still serve sushi, don’t they?)
China King Buffet (no website; opening announced on PDD here)
Hanabi Japanese Cuisine
Osaka Sushi Hibachi Steakhouse (no website; PDD reviews here)
Zen House (Duluth)
Zen House (Hermantown)

Discussion topic: Hanabi is clearly the best and China King Buffet is clearly the least expensive, right?

UPDATE: Commenters note that two grocery stores — Mt. Royal Fine Foods and Cub Foods — both sell sushi in Duluth.

I happily attended Oktoberfest this weekend.

It’s a vast improvement over last year. Last year, tents were huddled behind orange fencing, penning the whole event into a tiny space as if to say: it’s too cold to enjoy the outdoors. This year, the whole event is more spacious, with a central walkway between a food tent, a beer tent, a kettle corn tent, a tent for the MPR Current (can we get that up here yet?), an area for bean bag games and feats of strength and, of course, the dance tent.
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I don’t necessarily think this is the forum to rip into a local business, but I have to ask fellow PDDers about their experience with the quality of food and service at Clyde Iron Works. I’ve seen a couple great shows there — TBT earlier this summer, and Brandi Carlile last night. The venue itself is truly great, as is the building, but we have yet to have anything to eat there that didn’t leave us with a bad taste in our mouth, figuratively speaking.
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“>Vegan Black Metal Chef

Okay, kiddies, I expect to see this at the WFC!

A couple weeks ago, Vitta Pizza opened in Canal Park. It’s in the spot that Northern Lights Books used to be in, 307 Canal Park Drive. They cook the pizza in a wood-fired oven, and it’s pretty tasty.
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…I might have had this morning. At least, best per-dollar, with the awesomest staff: the Coney Island.

“On April 10th, 1921 Gus Saites, a Greek immigrant, had a few hundred dollars and an idea. He would head to Duluth from St. Paul and open a restaurant on East Superior Street in the bustling town of Duluth Minnesota. Nearly 90 years later this idea continues uninterrupted in the same location and under the same tin ceiling as on that spring day in ’21.”

I had the veggie omelet; Kate had the french toast, and we both enjoyed the cook/waiter’s company; he was friendly and outgoing to some newbies. And we ate like kings for $5 each.

I’ve never been there in daylight before; it’s a gem of downtown. And 90 years? Wow!

I’m looking to spend a weekend in Ashland. This is what I know to do so far:

1. Stare at the beautiful bay.

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There’s only 5 performances left of Renegade Theater Company’s production of REASONS TO BE PRETTY. The show has been dubbed “A high-impact drama with a superb cast” by the Duluth News Tribune, “A must-see performance” by Oeuvre Magazine and “Better than a kick in the junk” by Jody Kujawa. That’s some serious high-praise, guys.

So if you haven’t seen it yet, what are you waiting for? That’s not rhetorical. Seriously, what are you waiting for? There’s only five shows left! Well, how about if we give you one more reason to see it?

When you either call the box office (218-336-1414) or show up to purchase tickets, use the codeword and get your tickets for ONLY $5!   Yeah, you heard us right. This offer is good for ANY of the remaining performances. It doesn’t matter if there are 2 people in your party or 20, the tickets are $5 EACH. But only if you use the codeword.

What is the codeword? It’s the url of THIS WEBSITE.

And from now until June 18th at the Zeitgeist Arts Cafe you can get a “Pretty Cosmo” for only $5 and receive 10% off your food bill if you show them your program from the production.

Hope to see you there!

This is the final week to have lunch at the View Restaurant in Duluth’s Secondary Technical Center. The photo above is the view from my table last week. The View has kind of been one of Duluth’s little semi-secret treasures — the food is great, the prices are very affordable and the view is similar to the old Buena Vista Restaurant … but slightly to the west.

The restaurant is run by culinary arts instructor Glenn D’Amour, former chef at Grandma’s and Kamloops. Table service and food preparation is provided by Duluth high-school students in the culinary arts program.

Because the STC/Central campus will be closing as part of the Duluth School District’s Long-range Facilities Plan, the program and restaurant will be moving to East High School in the Fall. No more view.

If you want to check it out, you need to call for a reservation, pre-order your food and be ready to be seated in the thin window of noon to 12:05 p.m. Reservations are taken at (218) 336-8975 ext. 4054. The restaurant is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday — then it’s done for the semester; and done completely at this location.

View website | Spring 2011 Newsletter and Menu

Has anyone tried the new food truck on Central Entrance serving oriental food?

19 years ago today there was a fire…. The rest is history!

The season opens Memorial Weekend Sunday, May 29th with JFT Party Band bringing down the house!

www.tomsburneddowncafe.com (view this website at your own risk it is WICKED GOOD)

Fire at Tom's 5/19/1992

I’ve heard the Maya Mexican Restaurant at 220 W. Superior St. has been closed for a few weeks. It was indeed locked up today during the lunch hours.

One block up and one block over, the former Chef Yee’s location has a sign promising a new Oriental restaurant.

Andrew Zimmern’s Favorite Midwestern Hamburgers

#8 – Anchor Bar, Superior, Wisconsin
A superb bar burger, ground fresh from Angus chuck, and it’s the only place I have ever seen a full griddle of burgers manned at the lunch rush by a cook with a full cigarette of ash hanging out of his mouth and he never missed a beat. The clientele could care less as long as the burgers stay this good and the beer is cold.
413 Tower Ave, Superior, WI 54880-1048. (715) 394-9747

By popular demand, we chose Big Daddy’s Burgers as the next location in our “Breakfast in Duluth” series. Because it’s located next to Arthur’s Formal Wear in the Piedmont Plaza, we considered renting tuxedos so we’d look good while scarfing down our omelets, but unfortunately that wasn’t in the budget, so we kept our regular clothes on and, as usual, looked like a couple of fools.
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Annual Asian Cultural Show: ImaginAsian Hosted by UMD’s Asian Pacific American Student Association. Join us in a night of Asian arts, cultural performance, and delicious Asian cuisine. Admission: $10 (admission includes dinner and a show). For more information, please contact Hli Vang at 218-726-6335 or at vangh@d.umn.edu

UMD Kirby Ballroom
Saturday, April 30th
6:00 p.m.

Charley’s Subs is opened in the Mall. I always appreciate a new business, even if it’s a franchise. Where is the best sub sandwich in town?