One of the granola’s that I am addicted to is made right in St Paul. It is called Bliss made by Bliss Gourmet Foods Company in St Paul. You can get this granola at Golden Fig Fine Foods  on Grand Avenue in St Paul. The owner of Golden Fig, Laurie Crowell, is an amazing resource for products made in St Paul and Minnesota. If it’s delicious and made in the 651 area code you can usually find it at the Golden Fig.

My favorite Bliss Granola is Butterscotch Pecan. It is crunchy, chewy and sweet with a toasty hint of pecans, all in one mouthful. I think one of the reasons I love it so much is it is salty.  I am crazy for any mouthful that can successfully give me a salty and sweet hit in one bite. The base of the granola is organic whole grain oats with coconut, olive oil, organic sunflower and sesame seeds, brown sugar, Minnesota maple syrup, butterscotch chips and sea salt – that’s it. Other Bliss flavors to try are Chocolate Hazelnut and Cherry Almond both equally as good. A 16 oz bag of granola retails for $11.95.

If you feel like taking a stab at becoming your own granola entrepreneur, try this recipe – its really easy and makes a great a great little treat wrapped in a cellophane gift bag for co-workers, teachers or running buddies:

Ingredients:

3 cups rolled oats

1/2-teaspoon cinnamon

1 1/2 cup slivered almonds

3/4 cup shredded sweet coconut

1/4 cup plus tablespoons dark brown sugar

1/4 cup plus tablespoons real maple syrup

1/4-cup olive oil

1-teaspoon sea salt

1/2-teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup dried cranberries or blueberries

Directions:

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.

In a large bowl, combine the oats, cinnamon, nuts, coconut, and brown sugar.

In a separate bowl, combine real maple syrup, olive oil, and salt. Combine both mixtures and pour onto 2 sheet pans.

Cook low and slow for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to achieve an even color.

Remove from oven and transfer into a large bowl. Add dried cranberries s and mix until evenly distributed.

This is not your average coffee house fare.  Cheeky Monkey has delicious soups and salads, which you would expect, but also a very interesting sandwich menu. Try the Nutella and banana sandwich on a toasted English muffin or my personal favorite the Cubano. The Cubano has  cumin scented roasted pork, smoked ham, swiss cheese, pickles, mustard, mayo and delicious house made briny pickles all pressed together in a warm lovely crunchy ciabatta roll. The house made salt and pepper potato chips are really worth the trip alone. They are served alongside a blue cheese dipping sauce that is thick and chunky with bits of blue. These amazing little morsels are crisp, crackling and salty. I think potato chips might be the world’s most perfect food.

Dinner at Cheeky Monkey was a little more neighborhood bistro than coffee shop. The menu was ambitious and featured lots of seasonal ingredients and simply prepared comfort food amped up and with a twist. You can have braised beef pot roast, chicken, cheve and rosemary macaroni and cheese, star prairie trout with a horseradish cream and maple rosemary glazed chicken served with roasted root vegetables and Andouille sausage with braised greens that were spicy and fresh tasting with the perfect amount of heat. The chicken was perfectly cooked. It was juicy, tender and had a maple sweet glaze that coated the skin and flavored the roasted vegetables served alongside with a sweet and salty hit. The highlight at our table had to be the Gluten Free hazelnut pot de crème that tasted like a thick chewy brownie with fresh whip cream and the house favorite – a triple coconut cream pie. The crust was flaky, the custard rich and the whip cream piled high. If you like coconut this is a pie to check out. It was rich, decadent and we loved it.

So whether you are in the mood for a quick cup of coffee, a leisurely dinner with girlfriends or a quick sandwich that will be fast but nowhere near fast food check out Cheeky Monkey Deli on Selby Avenue.

Open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner and featuring a Saturday and Sunday Brunch from 10-2 in the Cathedral Hill Neighborhood at 525 Selby Avenue, St Paul MN 55102. 651-224-6066 or www.cheekymonkeydeli.com

El Burrito Mercado is a family owned market that for the past 30 years has been bringing us the tastes of Mexico right in the heart of St. Paul.  When you enter the market you feel like you are in Mexico, the atmosphere is bright and colorful and the music of mariachis fill your ears.

El Burrito will provide all the fixings you need for a Mexican feast from their Deli. You can pick up chicken, pork and bean tamales that would look great on a platter accompanied by some fresh Pico De Gallo or Salsa and Mexican rice. El Burrito Mercado manufactures their own brand of stone ground chips that would go great with any of their salsas. Try the salsa sampler that gives you 5 pints of salsa from any of the 15 that they make fresh daily. The salsa sampler feeds 40 and you can choose from Caramelized Onion Salsa with its sweet smoky flavor to the blistering hot Salsa Arbol or the bright green tangy and limey Salsa Tomatillo Rostisado. No football fiesta is complete without guacamole and my favorite is the Guacamole Picosa, a chunky guac with avocado, cilantro and onion with lots of lime and crunchy and spicy chili seranno that really spices it up.  You can pick your order up at the market or have it brought to your location for a small delivery fee with utensils, plates, serving spoons and everything you need for easy entertaining.

Check out the catering menu at El Burrito Mercado here:

 www.elburritomercado.com

Call them to place your catering order at 651-227-2192 or visit them in person to grab your salsa, chips and plan your own football feast from their deli at 175 Cesar Chavez Street, St. Paul, MN

Focused solely on craft beers brewed in MN by breweries and brew pubs that are members of the MN Craft Brewers Guild, Winterfest 2012 features hearty grub, live entertainment, music and even beer education sites where you can brush up on your beer knowledge and hear brew tips from successful local craft beer masters.

Enjoy delicious food catered by Bon Appetit – including a local cheese and vegetable board, black peppercorn potato soup and gourmet bread – as you sip down samples from respected local breweries like August Schell, Finnegans, Flat Earth, Fulton, Summit, Lift Bridge, Great Waters, Surly and many more. Plus, groove to dance-y set by Flow DJ spinning tunes by Passion Pit, Cut Copy, Moby and other hot artists and catch which brewery/brew pub’s beer wins the prestigious Great Snowshoe Award.

Want to go to this sold out event? MN Craft Guild gives the deets on their Winterfest Contest:

“Want to Go to Winterfest 2012? Tell Us Your Story.

We are looking to crown Mr. and Ms. Minnesota Craft Beer—the man and woman who love Minnesota Craft Beer more than anyone else. In addition to bragging rights, each winner will receive a pair of tickets to Winterfest 2012.

To win the tickets, tell us how Minnesota Craft Beer is part of your life and why you best exemplify Minnesota Craft Beer devotion. We want your personal Minnesota Craft Beer story. Maybe you have a full back tattoo of the Summit Brewing logo; or, you met and married your spouse at Fitger’s Brewhouse; or, perhaps you only wear shirts you bought at breweries and you decorate with growlers. We can’t wait to find out.

Email your story to minnesotabrewers@gmail.com to let us know why you should be Mr. or Ms. Minnesota Craft Beer. The competition runs from today, Monday, January 23, until noon on Wednesday, February 1, 2012.”

Good luck and drink responsibly!

Winterfest

Presented by the MN Craft Brewers Guild 2012

Friday, February 3^rd, 7-10 p.m. 21+

MN History Center, 345 Kellogg Boulevard West, St. Paul, MN

Black Blondie kicks off "Book It: The Party"

The series, which runs four times through the beginning of March, includes music trivia from Books and Bars’ host Jeff Kamin (with prizes for the top three teams), socializing, and live music from a local band – plus if you bring your library card, you score free Summit beer. This Thursday’s music comes courtesy of hip-hop-infused R&B quartet Black Blondie, whose frontwoman Samahra Daly is like Amy Winehouse reincarnated as Joan Jett. Upcoming events include performances by Murzik (February 2), the Chastity Brown Band (February 23), and We Became Actors (March 8).

Best of all, proceeds from the event benefit the Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library and the James J. Hill Reference Library. Partying at the library for a good cause? Sure beats staying home with your nose buried in a book, we say.

Event details:
7-10 p.m. Thursday, January 26. Trivia at 7:15 p.m., music at 8:15 p.m. $10 members/$15 general. James J. Hill Reference Library, 80 W. 4th St., St. Paul, 651-265-5500, www.thefriends.org

Marking it’s third year, the Dabbler features a day-long celebration of the art of craft and micro-brewing, not to mention a full day of sampling fit for a beer lover and a beer newbie alike. This year, the festival has expanded its grounds to the St. Paul Farmer’s Market, making it the biggest outdoor winter beer fest in MN.

If you’re new to the Beer Dabbler, don’t worry. There’s plenty to do including a chance to show off your mixology and recipe talents in a home-brew contest presented by Northern Brewer boasting prizes and a opportunity to win the coveted Lord Dabbler’s Cup – a People’s Choice award for excellence in brewery. Watch on as St. Paul’s own Mayor Chris Coleman kicks off the carnival with the annual tapping of the Beer Dabbler Oak Barrel and sip down a special release ale from previous Dabbler Cup winners, Tallgrass Brewing Company, as well as samples from over 200 varieties and 60 breweries while you enjoy access to live music from Pink Mink,

Pink Mink

Romantica and others, strut your dance moves at Leinekugel’s Silent Disco and participate in awesome entertainment like St. Croix Casino’s “Best Dressed of the Fest” contest and minnow races. And – since you shouldn’t drink on an empty stomach – make sure to visit some of St. Paul’s beloved food trucks including Fork in the Road, Potter’s Pasties, Simply Steve’s and GastroTruck who will be cooking up delicious hot treats. Long hail cold weather!

Visit The Beer Dabbler Winter Carnival online for a full list of all the beers set to be sampled at the Dabbler, updates and to snag advance tickets.

When: January 28^th, 4 – 8 p.m., doors at 3:30

Where: Saint Paul Farmer’s Market

Cost: $30 advance, $40 day of

Don’t forget to “like” The Beer Dabbler on FB and follow them on Twitter @BeerDabbler.

In wondering through the exhibit, it’s hard to imagine a more turbulent time in recent American history. In addition to Dr. King’s assassination and the subsequent riots that swept across the country, the Vietnam War, Tet Offensive and anti-war movement is well-documented,  both in terms of historical context and also the impact it had on everyday lives. To illustrate a classic MHC learning tool, the exhibit has a full-sized “Huey” helicopter on display, with a video projected inside the craft,  featuring archival footage and people from this area sharing their stories of the war.

Told within the context of a month by month timeline, the exhibit also tells the stories of the assassination of Bobby Kennedy, the Democratic National Convention, the rise of feminism and the 1968 Summer Olympics among other major events of that year.

In spite of the weightiness of these topics, lighter aspects of American life are also chronicled, such as the look of a common American living room, music, fashion, technology and other cultural imprints.  For children, there’s the chance to try their hand at a rotary telephone, typewriter, phonograph and other relics from the area. One highlight was the chance to create their own custom album cover, which can be emailed as a keepsake.

We had a chance to visit a couple of the other ongoing exhibits at the History Center. Weather Permitting is always a favorite. My kids can’t get enough of the “tornado house,” a  re-creation of 1960′s basement with a multimedia presentation of what it was like to experience a tornato that ripped through Fridley in 1965. Even Minnesota’s Greatest Generation offers kid-friendly displays and activities, including a period pinball machine and interactive drugstore soda fountain.

The 1968 Exhibit is around for another month at the MHC before it takes to the road for a national tour, check it out with your family, you won’t be disappointed. For more information on the exhibit, including timelines, a blog and videos, go to the1968exhibit.com. For more on the Minnesota History Center including tickets, hours and location, go to minnesotahistorycenter.org.

Voyage

Locally-based, Chilean-born installation artist Alonso Sierralta exhibits his mixed media sculpture works at The Gordon Parks Gallery in January and February. Guest curator William G. Franklin speaks to the work as “a poetic struggle in which three-dimensional revelations are born.”

Free

January 26 through March 2
Lecture: February 9, 7 to 8 p.m.

Metropolitan State University, Library and Learning Center
700 East Seventh Street, Saint Paul, MN 55106

INFO HERE

Robyne Robinson: Hands and Heart

Robyne Robinson is both collector and artist. This February at the U of St. Thomas the former news anchor turned jewelry designer will showcase not only her own handmade creations, but will bring her eclectic private art collection into the spotlight as well.  She will also be hosting a lecture on “The Impact of Global Urbanism on Art and Design” on Friday, March 16.

Free

February 1 through April 13
Lecture: March 16, 6:30 p.m.

O’Shaughnessy Educational Center
2115 Summit Avenue Saint Paul, MN 55105

MORE INFO

Illo Minn: Volume Three

It’s all about illustration this February at the College of Visual Arts. This biennial exhibition of regional illustrators will feature a printed illustration from each artist accompanied by its original artwork, an additional original artwork of their choosing, and a Moleskine notebook with an artist-designed cover. During the reception the Moleskines will be sold in a silent auction with proceeds benefitting the CVA Scholarship Fund.

February 3 through March 3
Reception: February 2, 6 to 8 p.m.
Panel Discussion: February 9, 6 p.m.

College of Visual Arts
173 Western Avenue North Saint Paul, MN 55102

MORE INFO

A Midwinter Night’s Dream

It’s an artful ladies’ shopping excursion at the AZ Gallery this February, where you can check out art and jewelry by female artists at “A Midwinter Night’s Dream”. Featuring work by Christy Johnson, Jen Hanlon Ash, Larissa Loden, Megan Moore, Emily Gray Koehler, Jennifer Merchant and more. While you’re there, pick up handmade beauty and home products by The Elixery, Simple Scents and Aromi.

February 10 through February 26
Reception: February 11, 5 to 10 p.m.

The AZ Gallery 308 Prince Street Saint Paul, MN 55101

MORE INFO

Black Bean and Polenta Casserole –

Ingredients::
¾ cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 4-ounce cans diced green chilies, drained
¼ cup canned salsa verde tomatillo sauce
3 large garlic cloves, minced
1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
1 16-ounce polenta roll, cut into 18 rounds (or make your own polenta following the recipe found here)
½ cup whipping cream
1 15-ounce can golden hominy, drained
3 cups Monterey Jack cheese, grated
garnish with fresh avocado

Prep:

Position rack in middle of oven and preheat to 450°F. Oil 11x7x2-inch glass baking dish. Mix 1/2 cup cilantro, chilies, salsa verde, garlic, and cumin in medium bowl. Arrange 9 polenta rounds in bottom of dish, spacing evenly. Drizzle 1/4 cup cream over. Top with half of beans, half of hominy, and half of chili mixture. Sprinkle with 1 1/2 cups cheese. Repeat layering. Cover with foil. Bake 20 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 475°F; uncover casserole and bake until top is golden brown, about 15 minutes longer. Let stand 5 minutes; sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cilantro and serve.

Yields approximately 6 servings.

For a full meal, pair with an organic salad, an artisan baguette and a seasonally fruit tart from your local co-op.

The weekend-long festivities are free to attend, but expect to take public transportation or park a jaunt away – downtown St. Paul is expected to be packed.

Event Schedule:
National Shoot Out: Thursday (1:30 p.m.-3 p.m.)
International Shoot Out: Friday (12:45 p.m.-2:30 p.m.)
Elimination Round: Friday (7 p.m.-8:30 p.m.)
Final: Saturday (4 p.m. Gates Open, 7 p.m. Race Starts)

Where: The Cathedral of Saint Paul, 239 Selby Avenue, St. Paul. Visit www.redbullcrashedice.com for more info and web extras.