7:30AM
This morning we rolled out of bed at 7:30am and made one of the 4 delicious premium roasted specialty coffees pictured below (the first of many gifts from Jeff). We had the Fazenda Pantano from Brazil... it was so smooth with flavors of chocolate, roasted hazelnuts, maple, and cedar! I would call it the 'Pinot Noir of Coffees'. It went perfectly with our poached eggs on english muffins.
11:30AM
Our next stop was at the Mall of America, where we ate lunch at Crave prior to seeing "The Hunger Games" at the AMC. (It was a fabulous movie that everyone should see, but I recommend reading the book first!)
Although I am usually one to avoid eating at chain restaurants due to their typically underwhelming "American" menu items, lack of fresh and unique ingredients, and over-priced meal options... I was thoroughly pleased with my first Crave experience. Our server was incredibly friendly and accommodating to our schedule (we only had about 40 minutes for lunch).
I ordered the Grilled Salmon Entree Salad, and my Fiance ordered the Flatbread Sandwich, which was one of their lunch specials. We both finished every last bite of our meals and left the restaurant feeling full and satisfied!
 |
| Turkey and prosciutto with avocado, tomato, lettuce and provolone cheese on naan bread. Served with seasoned fries and a pickle. ($12.95) |
 |
| Perfectly grilled Salmon on a bed of spring greens, spinach, candied walnuts, apple slices, and blue cheese. ($13.95)
We happened to have a $10 off 2 entrees gift card, compliments of Macy's, which made the experience even more worth it. Even if we hadn't had the $10.00 off coupon, I still think the prices are reasonable for the amount/quality of food served at Crave.
4:00PM
Our next stop was at The Olive Grove Olive Oil Company in Mendota Heights, MN. The Olive Grove is a specialty store carrying over 40 different types of olive oils and vinegars in an abundance of delicious and unique flavors, as well as artisan Italian pasta, sauces, mustards, olives, soaps, and more! Here is their website: http://www.theolivegroveoliveoil.com/contact.html
Perhaps the idea of tasting a plethora of EVOO and vinegar isn't your idea of a good time, but I was in heaven! I adore great olive oils for cooking and salad dressing, and to be able to sample so many unique varieties from different countries, as well as those infused with delicious herbs and spices, was a one-of-a-kind experience that no true Foodie should ever pass up!
Needless to say, we didn't leave the store empty handed. Here is what we bought:
Pictured on the left is a Tuscan Herb Extra Virgin Olive Oil (I think I could drink this straight out of the bottle, it's that good! I have a feeling I will find every opportunity to use this at home.
The bottle on the right is an 18 Year Aged Balsamic Vinegar. This will blow your mind! It is so incredibly thick, rich, sweetly smooth, and unlike any balsamic vinegar I've ever tasted (think liquid candy!). I can't describe it properly using the English Language... you simply MUST taste this yourself to know what I'm talking about!
Each bottle was 12.7 ounces and cost $15.00. This may seem pricey, but trust me, these gems are worth every penny!
8:00PM
Dinner reservations were made at Saffron Restaurant & Lounge (http://saffronmpls.com/) in the warehouse district of downtown Minneapolis. Saffron features contemporary Mediterranean and Middle Eastern tapas-style cuisine. We discovered the restaurant on Open Table, where we were able to narrow down the Minneapolis restaurants based on the kind of food we were looking to try.
The major selling point of this restaurant (aside from serving the cuisine we adore) was the fact that Saffron's Executive Chef Sameh Wadi battled Chef Morimoto on the Food Network show Iron Chef America in 2010! If you have ever watched this show, you know that Chef Morimoto wins most of these culinary battles, and he did beat Wadi by a 5 point margin, but the fact that Wadi appeared on such a show says a lot about his culinary expertise. Jeff and I knew we were in for a treat!
When we arrived at Saffron, we were greeted by our amazing server, who was extremely knowledgeable about the mixed drinks, wine, as well as all of the dishes on the menu. He was able to make a drink that Jeff loved based only on what Jeff told him he was in the mood for. It was fabulous! Our server also recommended a white wine to pair with the tapas we chose to share for dinner, and it was the perfect choice.
Now for the blow-your-mind culinary creations that graced our table and our palates:
Small Plates:
Fried Cauliflower - the best Jeff and I have ever had in our lives!!! So light and crispy, with sheep’s milk feta fondue and North African Tagine spices.
|
Fried Beef Kubbeh - bulgur shell stuffed with spiced beef and pine nuts
served with cucumber yogurt. Crispy with an amazing Exotic Blend spice mix that I loved!
Giant Beans - dressed in lemon, olive oil and dill. So unique and so good!
Gold & Red Beet Salad - with yogurt cheese, pistachio and honey. If there is ever a beet salad on a menu, 9 times out of 10, I will order it! I am in love with beets, and this didn't disappoint. It was a refreshing last bite before our main dish.
Large Plate:
Sauteed Parisian Gnocchi - with winter vegetables, soft herbs
and black truffle-taleggio cheese fondue. This rendered me speechless, as my eyes closed and I savored every bite!
For me, the sign of a great meal is one that I know I could never replicate at home. This last dish is exactly that... so intricately prepared with a flavor profile that you have never experienced anywhere before. Usually I'm pretty good at picking out certain spices used to create a dish, but I was at a loss here. The Gnocchi is nothing like that of my Italian ancestors, but light pillows or airy goodness. The root vegetables added an earthy sweetness and the shaved carrots and greens provided a lovely texture and flavor to round out the creaminess of the sauce. Again, this left Jeff and I speechless and mesmerized by the brilliance Chef Wadi exudes through his food.
Dessert!
This meal would never have been complete without trying one of their desserts...
Chocolate Ganache Cake - with hazelnut ice cream and orange sauce. Decadent!
Our server said that each and every dessert on their menu is popular, so, of course, we ended up with the Chocolate Ganache Cake. Taking yet another recommendation from our server, we also ordered a Muscat Dessert Wine to share. This little dessert wine took our chocolate experience to the next level... we were in awe and our tastebuds were in heaven!
10:00PM
Just before leaving, we inquired about the different spice combinations used to make the Fried Cauliflower and the Fried Beef Kubbeh (reproducing them at home would still be next to impossible!). Little did we know that we could purchase the exact spice mixes that Chef Wadi has created himself! We ended up going home with the Exotic Blend "Middle Eastern Spice" (used in the Fried Beef Kubbeh), as well as the Tagine "North African Spice" (used in the Fried Cauliflower).
Each of the spice blends range from $9.00 to $14.00 per 2 oz. tin. So excited to try them out!
The Next Morning...
I am still reminiscing about last night's meal and smiling :-) If you live in Minneapolis, or happen to be visiting, you must go to Saffron. You will not be disappointed. Make a reservation if at all possible. There was plenty of open seating at the bar until around 9:30pm (on a Saturday). The food speaks for itself, but the service was impeccable... I can't wait to go back!
Best Birthday Ever!!!
Librarian turned Foodie
Looks and sounds like you had a great birthday.
ReplyDelete