How to spend a dreary day

First, have lunch with MG in downtown Minneapolis at Hell's Kitchen! Michael introduced us to what is probably now my favorite restaurant. The food was incredible! Evidently they are known for everything, but especially their breakfast food.

They were featured in an article in GOURMET, noting their incredibly good homemade peanut butter. It's amazing how someone can improve on peanut butter! The perfect blend of salt and sweet, and with just a touch of honey. MG told a hilarious story about his friend who took 4 jars to Chicago as friend gifts, but upon her arrival home she ate her way through every single jar - with a spoon!


And now I hate Michael for introducing me to Hell's Kitchen Mahnomin Porridge. As they describe it; "Native-harvested, hand-parched wild rice from the Leech Lake Band of Ojibway. Served warm with roasted hazelnuts, dried blueberries, sweetened cranberries, heavy cream and pure maple syrup." It was heaven in a bowl.


Michael ordered another of their staples: Lemon-Ricotta pancakes, just bursting with fresh lemon flavor mellowed by the creamy ricotta.

My husband and I didn't realize that breakfast food was the way to go at lunch, so he had a Bison burger and I had a crusty ham/roasted pear sandwich. But gracious Michael shared his peanut butter and porridge with us. One thing I love about Michael is he is easily entertained by food. Hubby is too but to a much lesser degree. MG and I were getting all kindergartner about the peanut butter and making obscene noises over the porridge. Hubby just quietly ate his burger and tolerated our childish ways.

Then it was on to the Minneapolis Home & Garden Show. This is an annual pilgrimage for hubby and I. We seem to take perverse pleasure in viewing all the gutter salesmen, the foaming hot tubs, the nifty inventions, etc. We come home with a sack full of pencils, pens, candy, and business cards. This year I put my foot down and wouldn't let hubby pick up any frisbees, magnets, key chains, or letter openers. He passed out lots of his own business cards and reaffirmed connections with Twin Cities contractors. It's all in the networking baby!