#82 - Try 50 New Restaurants

8. The Liffey, St. Paul - A post-Swarm option for us since we didn't get to the game early enough to go before (Friday night games in the SNOW are definitely not fun!) Since it was a post-game "event" night (or maybe the main kitchen was closed) we were only able to order off of a small menu - not as cool but that's alright. The food wasn't anything spectacularly amazing. We got a few items and shared them all to get a little taste of everything. The atmosphere was nice but it was actually pretty empty/dead for a Friday night.

#82 - Try 50 New Restaurants

7. Mancini’s, St. Paul - Another pre-Swarm game dinner. We went a little higher class this time I ordered the chicken (go BRAVO STICKER) with a baked potato. The bread - amazingly goodly buttery delicious. AND I saw JM hanging on the wall (thanks for showing me Andie) AND we got to sit near a senator with an incredible HOT (and when I say HOT I mean HOT) sweater. Golf themed with the entire golfer depicted on the sweater. Wow.

#82 - Try 50 New Restaurants

6. Tom Reid’s Hockey City Pub, St. Paul - Well. Since we go to all the Swarm games (since we ARE season ticket holders) we decided to try a different restaurant before each game - and this week it was Tom Reid’s. Hmm…well this was the start of a really tipsy evening. When we got into the restaurant we found a both (it was overrun with Vulcans!) and it took a really long time to get service. There was a small menu (maybe it was an event menu?) so I just ordered a burger. Nothing too exciting. I would much rather eat at McGovern’s.

#82 - Try 50 New Restaurants

5. Zelo, Minneapolis - We went to eat a REALLY quick dinner here before watching Spring Awakening at the Orpheum. The food was very good. Since we were in such a hurry we started by sharing the Bruschetta Sampler - Avocado, Wild Mushroom, and Roasted Sweet Peppers and Mozarella. So tasty. My favorite was, of course, the Avocado. We then shared a Wood Grilled Chicken and Artichoke Flatbread and a Molinari Sicilian Sausage Pizza. Both were extremely tasty and hit the spot.

#82 - Try 50 New Restaurants

4. Black Sea Restaurant, St. Paul - Character. This place has great Character. From the owner cleaning the tables, taking the ordering, making the food, and serving the food….it doesn’t get much better. It was a busy place…with only 7 tables in the place seating was hard to come by. Luckily people were about to leave right as we arrived. We sat and were squished in once everyone arrived. Appetizers - Sarma (cabbage rolls, olives, feta, tomatoes) and Hummus with pitas. I ordered the Tavuk Doner (rotisserie chicken gyro). It was SO delicious. Jill and Amy had orange tea and Iskender Kebabs (beef/lamb gyros), Kat had Acili Kofte Kebab (spicy Turkish meatballs) with Turkish coffee after dinner and Andie had Tavuk Sis Kebab (marinated chicken kebab). Everybody enjoyed their food. After dinner we of course couldn’t pass ice cream by so we went to the Grand Old Creamery. Ice cream was of course delicious (Peppermint BonBon and Chocolate Fudge Brownie) but my favorite part was the waffle cone. Wow was that tasty.

#82 - Try 50 New Restaurants

3. The Buffet @ Mystic Lake Casino, Shakopee - Holy crapload of food. I literally cannot breathe right now. Dessert section….nothing to write home about. We pretty much left most of it sitting on the table. I'm not sure I would necessarily go again unless we had a coupon or discount or something of that sort. (P.S. I HATE the smokiness in Mystic...blah!)

#82 - Try 50 New Restaurants

2. Panino Brothers, Apple Valley - Good. Recommended. HUGE servings. We decided to go here for dinner after looking through our dining club cards (a coupon never hurts!) Jill and I each got different ones and then split them. There were definitely leftovers from this meal.

#82 - Try 50 New Restaurants

1. Skywaters, Minneapolis - Special meal prepared by executive chef. Very fun (and I ate an Orchid!)

See more detailed description HERE!

#85 - Get tipsy with good company

The FIRST completed task! WOO HOO! Last night we (Andie, Kat, Jim, Amy, Greg, Janet, Jill and I) went out for the dinner I won at the Matt Blair Celebrity Golf Tournament auction. We got a four-course meal made especially for us by the executive chef at SkyWaters in the Minneapolis Hilton. We brought 4 bottles of our own wine (as wine service was included in the meal) and drank them all over the course of our meal. And then had another drink after the meal (Limon and Diet). The meal was absolutely amazing. So delicious (read the other blog for more descriptions!)

First course: Casaba Melon Carpaccio Salad,

Second course: Plantain Soup with Chicken Confit,

Palate Cleanser: Raspberry Sorbet,

Third course: Grilled New Zealand Lamb Chops,

Fourth course: Mocha Creme Brulee and Pistachio Cake Duo.

Eating the Orchids! After dinner we headed to Brits for a drink (another Limon and Diet). We soon decided there was no good eye candy and headed over to The Local (which was PACKED!!). There I had a Lemon Drop Shot and a Raspberry Kamikaze. Delicious but by that point I was pretty well lit already!

When we finally decided to leave the bar (WAY before bar close) Taco Bell was on my mind. We exited on 50 to go through the drive-thru and then someone had an epiphany. Honey Mustard Dressing from Perkins. YUMMY! We immediately made a U-Turn and headed to Perkins for more laughs and some delicious turkey sandwiches with a crapload of honey mustard. Umm Umm GOOD!

My task was definitely complete. Check on the TIPSY and Check on the Good Company!