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February 5^th is a big day for entertaining as St. Paul families gather in front of the TV to watch the big game.  How about having a football fiesta? Start your menu planning now by visiting El Burrito Mercado on Cesar Chavez Street in St. Paul.

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

Becky Sturm is owner/founder of StormSister Spatique, a local beauty boutique.  StormSister Spatique has been featured in Mpls. St. Paul Magazine, METRO Magazine, Minnesota Monthly, Star Tribune, Pioneer Press and various blogs.  Once you cross over the Smith Avenue High Bridge, it sits next to Capital View Cafe.   At first glance, you might miss this small storefront located on the West Side of Saint Paul.  Once you step in, you will see why it’s a gem — product junkies beware!  StormSister is filled with comforting products for your skin, body and mind — all products that Becky stands behind.  With warm weather upon us, its time to buff, exfoliate and cleanse.  What are you waiting for?  See below for comments from StormSister owner, Becky Sturm on why she loves Saint Paul and her recommendation for summer products!

Being a small business owner, it very important for me to spend money with other small businesses in my community.

Becky Sturm, Owner of StormSister Spatique

Most of my weekends include: the Saint Paul Farmer’s Market in Lowertown and a stop at my favorite bread bakery, located on the West Side, BC2 Bakery — their sourdough could certainly compete with the original in San Francisco.

I have been a resident of the West Side for 22 years; my husband and I have raised both of our sons here.  I love living so close to the river and to downtown.  It is the perfect community.

My oldest son Brett, recently graduated from College of Visual Arts and my youngest son, Bailey, is a high school student at River’s Edge Academy.

Living on the West Side with its large Hispanic population, has given me the opportunity to enjoy some of the best, authentic Mexican cuisine available in the U.S.  Just head down Cesar Chavez Street and you will find several!  I have a weakness for guacamole, so I always have a hard time deciding between the ones served at Barrio and El Burrito Mercado.

Living just over the river from downtown, it’s a quick five-minute ride to amazing museums, theaters, and one of my favorite dining establishments — Meritage.

Meritage Crepe Stand

A stroll downtown wouldn’t be complete without a stop into Candyland.  Oh Candyland, you and your tantalizing Chicago mix (caramel, cheese, and real buttered popcorn)!

Finally, that beacon of light on West 7th, Mickey’s Diner — the perfect middle-of-the-night cultural experience after much imbibing.

Having grown up in my grandmother’s beauty shop and then spending 23 years in all aspects of the salon/spa industry, it was time to follow my true passion, retail.  So, I took a break and started StormSister Spatique online in 2005.  Then, late in 2006 I had decided I really missed that intimate relationship I had with my clients and opened up StormSister Spatique’s storefront in my neighborhood on the West Side.

What’s the deal with StormSister Spatique and PEZ?  Click here to learn why!

My head-to-toe beauty must-haves for summer include:

Greenbody Greenplanet haircare by local hairdresser, Lorri Weisen.  When you use organic, chemical-free ingredients you not only enhance your own well-being, but the environments!

NONTOXIQUE hand and footcare by local manicurist, Sheila Mossberg.  NONTOXIQUE will help you get your hands and feet looking more youthful and glowing with their age-defying ingredients.

Organic Tinted Lip Balms by Badger.  These shimmer lip balms will keep your pucker moist and colorful during the hot summer days.

I heart Saint Paul!

StormSister Spatique is located at 635 South Smith Avenue in Saint Paul, combines luxury spa products in an artsy boutique setting.

Phone:  612-716-5480

Youth gardening for the Youth Farm + Market Project

I know my posts have been a bit food-heavy lately, but I just can’t help myself when the growing season is this good. So along those lines, I just have to mention a fantastic event this evening, from 5-7 p.m., to kick off a worthy project aimed at getting youth involved in the farming process, and bringing their locally-grown, organic produce to St. Paul residents.

Head over to the West Side’s El Burrito Mercado this evening for appetizers, and to learn more about the Youth Farm and Market Project. The project connects urban youth with their communities and the field, getting them digging in the dirt and enjoying the results of their hard work!

The youth do the planting, harvesting, and delivering of the produce. It’s a win-win for kids who learn more about the food supply and for St. Paulites who get to buy tasty, fresh veggies. Hope to see you at the kick-off tonight!

What: Happy Hour for the Youth Farm + Market Project
Where: El Burrito Mercado, 175 Cesar Chavez St, St Paul, 55107
More info: (651) 227-2192
When: TODAY! 5-7 p.m.

According to my dad, the best places to eat are restaurants frequented by police officers.

“Think about it,” Big Smitty told me, “The cops are out on their beat all day, every day, driving around the neighborhoods.  And they get hungry.  They find the best Mom-and-Pop spots.  Trust me.  You want to eat a cities best food?  Follow a cop.”

So, imagine my amazement when I walked into El Burrito Mercado, the family owned Mexican market and restaurant on the West Side of St. Paul, and standing before me were two St. Paul cops.  They stood in front of us in the small cafeteria style line.  The cops didn’t even look at the menu.
“I’m going with the spicy beef quesadilla tonight,” the cop said eagerly.

“Would you like a platter?” the friendly cashier asked.

“Oooooh….yeah.” the cop replied.  The cashier plopped a mound of rice and beans onto his plate.  Then she filled a sizzling hot tortilla with shredded beef.  You could practically hear the Velcro straps on the cop’s Kevlar vest stretching out.

The second cop tried ordering in Spanish.  It was choppy and sounded like marbles were rolling around in his mouth.  But he got major points for trying.

“You’re getting better,” a worker told him.

“I’m practicing my Spanish,” the cop said, as he turned towards my family.  “I’m retiring to Mexico in five years.”  We nodded our heads in agreement:  that was an awesome idea.

El Burrito Mercado is so authentic that people don’t go there just to grocery shop and eat.  They go there in preparation of living in Mexico.  And Lord knows I could use a serious lesson in Chicano culture myself.  As I ordered our food, I fumbled with the Spanish words.  My Minnesota accent was so thick you could practically deep fry it, put it on a stick, and serve it at the State Fair.  The patient food counter workers helped me along, easing me into a successful order.

The bottles of Coke had real cane sugar.  The quesadillas had real melted Mexican cheese.  My wife’s Nachos Mexicanos were plate licking good.  I tried to sneak a couple of chips and beans and guacamole off the plate, but Sarah snapped at me like an angry badger.

As we ate, I watched a Mexican man walk slowly up to the counter and look up at the menu.  He pulled out his wallet and checked his cash level.  He ordered, got his food, and took a seat near me. The man was wearing Carhart pants and a short sleeve Dickie’s uniform shirt.  The worker tore into his meal.  His hands and forearms were dusty, covered with the grit of his labor.  As he ate quietly, he lifted his arms to put some extra elbow into his scoops.  I was still dressed in my own work battered Carharts and was eating my just-off-shift meal as well.  We made eye contact.  I nodded and so did he, one working man to another.

After we ate, my family tooled around the small market.   There were rows of Mexican moles, salsa, and canned products.  There was a deli countered with authentically prepared dishes and slabs of meat.  We even found dried hibiscus and shrimp.  Needless to say, it wasn’t the lily white Lunds that we usually shop at.  When we left, a man held the front door open for my family.  I’ll give you one guess as to who it was.  Yep.  A cop.  Imagine that.

July 3rd Kids Mariachi 5:30-6:30pm, Ol’Skool 4th of July Pachanga Party

July 24th, 30th Anniversary Fiesta.