South Minneapolis Food Scene, Rockin’!

If you haven’t been to south Minneapolis as of late to catch any one of our fabulous neighborhood restaurants, you are missing out, my friends!  My small hood of south Minnie is exploding with great flavor, and with so many different styles of cuisine.  It’s surely one hood you’re going to want to spend more time in once you come just one time.
This past weekend, I was lucky enough to enjoy three back-to-back rockin’ food experiences.  While Restaurant Week seemed to be the talk of the town with over 40 restaurants opening their doors for a very inexpensive way to enjoy a 2 course, prix-fixe or luncheon entree, I totally seemed to miss that conversation and completely forget about the deals that were out there all week.  So with that, I made a reservation at one of my favorite neighborhood restaurants, Cafe Ena.  And, to my surprise when I walked in on Friday nite with my rese of 6 pp, the place was hopping.  With large parties organized in every corner and a wait out the door over an hour long, I was glad that my dear friend and owner, Erin, had made room for us.
Cafe Ena has always been a great spot to enjoy delicious fresh flavors and intriguing Latino infused cuisine, so I knew my clan would be in for some wonderful food.  However, this meal on Friday nite was one of THE most delicious meals I have ever had at the restaurant.  With the Restaurant Week menu in full swing, there were some wonderful deals on the three course menu, but my heart was set on getting our table to try everything so that we could all sample Ena’s good eats.  From the mouthwatering appetizers of stacked caprese salad, fresh piled high guacamole to the spicy shrimp caribe – we were off to a great start.  Fresh flavors exploding with every bite, made my taste buds want more.  As dinner approached the table all decided on completely different entrées.  Some of our meals included a spicy rubbed pork chop, sea scallops over risotto, pan seared grouper, Argentinian Bisteca to my delicate Tilapia fish dish.  Lightly placed over coconut risotto with a sweet but spicy mango salsa, the flavors of my meal made my eyes roll back into my head.  Everyone at the table oohhed and ahhed with delight over every single bit of their plates.  And, by the time dessert rolled around, we were all sure we’d eaten too much.  Yet, were tempted with Chef Hector’s cinnamon rolled deep fried churros left on a plate of hot chocolate dipping sauce.  OMG, heaven.
From every part of our meal – the greeting, our server Alberto’s impeccable service, to the wine recommendations, to the outstanding food – there was not one thing missing from our meal.  Outstanding and 5 stars from me!
As Saturday nite rolled into the picture, we surely thought we’d been spoiled so much by the prior nite’s dinner, that we found it almost impossible to head out again for a restaurant dinner.  Yet, when we took a look in the fridge – we thought, ‘Ah, why not?’.  And never wanting to head too far, we thought we’d stick to our same neighborhood area to find some food.  Remembering that we hadn’t been in to our friend and Minneapolis Chef, Scott P’s restaurant, Corner Table, in a while we decided to stop in.  Even as I thought the city had been exhausted with diners headed out for restaurant week for the past 5 days, I was sure that Saturday would be a bit more quiet in some of our neighborhood joints.  Boy was I wrong.  With a bar packed and the crew just cleaning up after a rush of folks headed out the door from an early dinner rush, our 8:30 timing couldn’t have been any better.  We managed to find a seat at a small table by the window.  I know I’ve said this a million times, but there is not a better place in Minneapolis for pork belly, so with that said…we were in the mood.  After perusing the menu and enjoying a delightful glass of Gruner Veltliner, we had decided not only on the pork belly appetizer, but two of the evening’s specials.
Even as pork belly was on our minds, it was the specials that we ordered that ended up changing my world by the time we left.  My husband’s dish – a fresh, creamy noodle concoction with fat slices of pancetta and fresh veges was outstanding, but until we dove straight into my Chicken + Waffles.
Yep, I said.  Chicken + Waffles.  And you know of my recent experience with Ms. Gladys, Knight’s Chicken + Waffles.  I’m going to have to say, that Chef Scott’s Minnesota version of this southern recipe is one that had me licking every inch of my plate – wanting more!  The chicken was crispy on the outside, not like the Midnight Train, but yikes, do I say this?  “Better”.  The outside, seasoned perfectly with a juicy, sublime chicken breast waiting to be enjoyed. The waffle, just as it was in Atlanta, but with teeny browned florets of cauliflower and a heavy balsamic reduction just slightly drizzled over the plate – my mouth was in heaven.  I mean, seriously.  Look out ATL, here comes MN’s Chicken + Waffles, baby! Unbelievable.  And once again, a fabulous experience of food, wine and great friends.
Lastly, I cannot pass up talking about the third and final south Minneapolis eatery that made my Trifecta of Good Eats for the weekend a perfect topper.  Patisserie 46, located on the corner of 46th and S Grand Ave – incidentally, right across the street from Cafe Ena.  Sundays for us are a ‘breakfast out’ kind of morning.  I’m always in need of a good coffee and a little something to nibble on before I ‘officially’ start my day, even if it is my day off.  While I’d heard many good things about this new bakery, I couldn’t wait to form my own opinion on this new hot spot.  I was beginning to wonder if Cafe Ena would rule the roost over on that tri corner, knowing from experience that the King’s Wine Bar across the street was a disastrous answer to anything food or wine in my hood.  And because I have been dying for a new Sunday morning joint, I had my fingers crossed on this one.
Fingers crossed?  What was I thinking?  These peeps need no ‘luck’ to help them out.  Our experience, again, a home run.  At 11am, the place was jam packed.  From families, couples, old folks, young folks, church goers, to hung-overs – the place was a zoo.  Yet, with the fabulous service of our new friend Erin, our server, our entire experience was a treat.  She carefully explained each pastry to us with details as to the recipe, ingredients and more.  It was almost impossible to not try everything on the shelf once she was done with us.  From their fresh made ice creams to everything in the window, it was more than tempting to spend the day there eating!  But instead, we were good and chose just a few things.  One, the Quiche Lorraine – wow.  I’m a big, big fan of quiche and I always thought my mom made the best, but…well, Patisserie 46’s was a close tie with my mom’s!   Creamy, lite and very flavorful – everything you want your quiche to be.  With a plate full of lovely cinnamon rolled pastries and croissants galore, our favorite came in the tiniest package.  
The Canelé. I’m not sure I want to say more, saving them ALL for myself!  Erin explained the brown little trinket, as being prepared from a very old French recipe.  With a dark crispy outside, she said the crinkled looking pastry was baked in a clay pot brushed with beeswax.  Yet, the inside was an eggy, spongy, rum soaked cake.  With that description, we HAD to try it.  And, can I tell you?  Words cannot possibly describe the explosion of flavor that my mouth experienced when biting into this little niblet.  A bit crunchy on the outside yes, but the inside – soft, and melted in my mouth like a buttered rum cloud.  The look on both of our faces looked like we both needed a cigarette after taking just one bite.  If one could describe food in terms of euphoria and ecstasy, this was a good way to start.  Ridiculously delightful.  And to boot, my latte was fabulous.  I’m a picky coffee drinker, so saying that the coffee is good is a big step for me.  Overall, just a wonderful experience and a great way to start our easy-going, relaxing Sunday.
So there you have it.  Three FABULOUS restaurant experiences in South Minneapolis.  I’m picky with my eats and I have to say, it’s almost impossible to walk away with three back-to-back immaculate food experiences.  It’s rare that I find two in a row, but three?  A Trifecta of Goodness.  I’m feeling so lucky, I may just play the lottery this week.
Moral of the story ~ Check out MY hood.  South Minneapolis.  It’s taking over the Twin Cities Food Scene.  With now, so many to choose from – I don’t even have to get in my car anymore to enjoy spectacular food.  I think I’ll just start walking to keep burning all this great food off!
Cheers and Enjoy!