March brings luck of the Irish, and Minnesota restaurants hit Food and Travel channels


Let’s toast to the “Luck of the Irish” this month and the talents of our Minnesota Chefs & Restaurateurs. First, another first for Kieran. I’m keeping an eye out for St. Pat’s Day—my favorite time of year—to tip one with the Irish sure and begorra (I’m a quarter Irish myself). This month will also bring more Irish to the warehouse district when restaurateur Kieran Folliard re-opens the huge, 10,000 square foot Bellanotte space at the corner of First Avenue North at Sixth Street with the relocation of his original 16-year old Kieran’s Irish Pub into this Block E space. The opening is promised just in time for your favorite Irish Coffee and Jameson Whiskey on Wednesday, March 17. I thought Bellanotte was a beautiful nightclub corner for five years—especially during summer evenings out on the stunning patio with the large fire pit aglow. Let’s hope Kieran, who has a great eye for locations—and has been very successful with The Local on Nicollet Mall, The Liffey in St. Paul and the new Cooper in St. Louis Park—has “targeted” another winner here, just one block east of the new Twins’ Target Field. Humm? Sounds good. Erin Go Braugh, Kieran.


CHEERS TO SAFFRON’S CHEF SAMEH…It was great to see my old friend, the not-so-old Sameh Wadi, chef and owner of Saffron Restaurant (also in the Minneapolis Warehouse District) make more national news on January 24 in a very big way with his much-touted, national TV Debut on the Food Channel’s “Iron Chef America,” seen by the masses around the world. And what a show it was.

Sameh had a touch of fame already in 2008 and 2009 as a nominee for the prestigious James Beard Rising Star Award, an honor received by a young Marcus Samuelsson of Aquavit fame before he set up here in Minneapolis back in the ’90s, and chefs are required to be under 30 years of age. Don’t worry, Sameh is just going on 26—he still has three more years to meet the age criteria.

On “Iron Chef, he challenged an original master chef of the show, Masaharu Morimoto. Even though it had been taped months ago, Sameh and his team of Chef Kevin Manley and Chef Nick O’Leary didn’t spill the beans and there was great suspense as the guests gathered for the first live airing. I joined the throngs of fans who headed over to Restaurant Max at the Hotel Minneapolis to witness this event and learned from Saed Wadi (Sameh’s brother and Saffron partner) this setting was offered by their previous employee and contest participant, Chef O’Leary, who is now the executive chef at Max and heads up the hotel kitchen.

By now I’m sure you’ve heard—or seen—the mystery ingredient was mackerel. Not the most popular ingredient in contemporary Middle Eastern cuisine, Wadi’s specialty. And, even with his five varied dishes ranging in flavors from Greece to Spain, Morimoto was still declared the winner by the judges, by just a few points. Sameh told us he had watched “Iron Chef” for the past 10 years since he was a teen, and was just thrilled to think he would ever be on the show himself.

Many of us agreed if lamb had been the mystery ingredient, he would have blown Morimoto out of the water. A toast to Sameh and his team and cheers to Max for hosting the big party. (See pics on our FSN Blog) NOTE: Last but not least, another Sameh adventure. Even though the “Iron Chef” evening was exhilarating for all of us, the most exciting thing for Sameh that evening was his getting a good night’s rest as well. The next morning he was getting up to take his test for American Citizenship. Yes. He let me know he passed his test and is now proud to be a U.S. citizen. Cheers, Sameh.


A TOAST TO JUICY (OR JUCY) LUCY’S TOO…And in February, another National TV taping crew blew into town with a three-day whirlwind of shooting for the Travel Channel. They were getting ready for a new show this spring called “Food War,” which will hit cities across the country and compare any local menu items served that might be competitive in nature from more than one hot spot in town. They chose to take a closer look at the ongoing battle between South Minneapolis burger bar fans searching for the ultimate Juicy Lucy. They chose the historic 5-8 Club and Matt’s Bar, who still spells their “Jucy” without the “I”—a serious error according the 5-8 fans. After two days of separate taping of B-roll footage, one day at each location, they headed to neutral ground in South Minneapolis for the final showdown at the locally owned Cardinal Bar, over at 38th Street and Hiawatha, across from the new light rail station.

I peeked in for some of the action during the afternoon finale and was delighted with the enthusiastic crowds for both sides. The five judges for this final, ultimate tasting (who are blindfolded when they taste the burgers) consisted of one super fan from each restaurant, two local media people (Alix Kendall, news anchor from FOX 9 TV and Mpls/St. Paul Magazine food editor Stephanie March) and one loose cannon (the crazy, lovable Ragnar, the famous Vikings mascot). They say he is the only human mascot in the NFL, a bearded, animal skinned biker and masculine fella, who would eat anything cooked or uncooked, anytime too. He was so hungry he even had melted cheese running down his hairy beard as he chomped on the Lucy’s. Being a well-mannered, Scandinavian gentleman at heart, he left his horns at home. I had to leave before it was all over and everyone is sworn to secrecy for anything related to who, or how or what made up the winning decisions. So keep your eyes and ears peeled for a late March or April air date for the Minnesota “Food War.” Can’t wait to see it all edited together.


FIFTEEN YEARS FOR FISHMAN’S…Give a warm applause and Mazel Tov to Fishman’s Deli out in St. Louis Park this winter, too. January 3rd rolled in bringing with it the 15-year anniversary for Fishman’s Delicatessen & Bakery. The place was packed with party-goers who were offered 15 percent off everything in the entire store. Now that’s a generous gift to mark a birthday and nice thank you to the customers who have been supporting them for over a decade. Cheers to owner Stewart Fishman, who purchased the old Milt’s Market and started up a little deli namesake back in 1995, just a few corners down from their present location. In 2001, he moved to the current, larger landmark space, previously the home of the famous Lincoln Del, at 4100 Minnetonka Boulevard. And it just keeps getting better. Fishman’s has always been the perfect pit stop for my favorite kosher pickles and great beef brisket, but now I see they have grown into a full-scale bakery in addition to the grocery store and meat counter and offer a small dining room as well.

Owner Stewart Fishman tells me they are also the only full-service kosher food store in all of Minnesota. “Our delicatessen, grill and bakery now offer a full-service restaurant menu and we feature daily breads, baked goods, hot food, deli meats and salads,” he said. A casual storefront space now gives you the chance to sit down and dine in, go for take-out or have Fishman’s cater your next event, all under the able hands of their director of foodservices, Ron Procenko.

If the name or the face is familiar, it’s because Ron is the chef who headed up the kitchen for Murray’s for more than 16 years and gave us those great butter-knife steaks and signature garlic toast. Now he and his team will wow you six-days a week (closed Saturdays) with breakfast served all day, homemade corned beef and an assortment of salads, burgers and sandwiches for lunch and dinner too, topped with his signature house item dubbed “Our Best Butcher Steak.” It’s a one-pound rib steak, grilled over an open flame and seasoned with his chef blend of sea salt, garlic and spices for $19.50. And don’t forget to check out the bakery for dessert. With a team of a half-dozen bakers, they make some of the best challah bread in town as well as offering an extensive non-dairy sweet selection as well. Happy 15th!