The Grand Cafe "utilizes the best local and seasonal product to craft such dishes as house-smoked sausages and Kobe beef brisket, Home-cured duck proscuitto, hand-rolled gnocchi, pasta, crackers and flatbreads."
The fact that I loved my beer is not to say I didn't enjoy my food on Sunday morning, but Lake Superior Kayak Kolsch happens to be my favorite beer, and I know of only one other restaurant in the Twin Cities serving it currently - The Happy Gnome (please notify me of others).
We were waiting for a couple of late arrivals on Sunday morning, so I ordered my favorite beer with an atrisan cheese and fruit plate. The cheese and fruit went over pretty well at the table. I didn't get a chance to sample much of it, but I can tell you the slice of brie I had was satisfactory and the slice of pear I had was also satisfactory. Not really enough cheese and fruit for 5 people though. My bad.
For my meal, I ordered the House Cured Gravlax with Poached Egg served over a Toasted Bagel with Herbed Mascarpone and sauteed Asparagus. The Gravlax (raw salmon cured in salt, sugar, and dill) was indeed lovely as was the herbed marscapone. However, I was disappointed with the bagel. It was unremarkable, and I was hoping to be wowed.
Gerg ordered the Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes with Minnesota Maple Syrup and Whipped Butter. The Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes with Minnesota Maple Syrup were delicious and spot on. Fluffy, tender, and sweet. The whipped butter was nowhere in sight; the butter served up was a hard pat - a bit of a letdown for the butterlovin' gerg.
A daily coffee cake made with tart cherries and a Grand Mariner icing drizzled over the top was a home run! Now I know I said I loved the Red Stag's coffee cake, and I won't take that back. It's just that the two coffee cakes differed in preparation. The Red Stag's coffeecake is traditional and perfect. The Grand Cafe makes a jab in a booze filled icing direction, which I can also appreciate.
The double cured bacon was another home run. That was some darn fine bacon.
If we ever go there for brunch again, I'm ordering beer, bacon, and coffee cake for breakfast. Who needs the fancy stuff?
3804 Grand Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55409
(612) 822-8260
[where: Local Food, St. Paul, Twin Cities, Minnesota]
I keep hearing about their brunch but can't break my Zumbro addiction. I have to go there soon... Sounds very good.
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