By Lianna Matt

Before chef Peter Hoff and restaurateurs Marty Collins and Brett Johnson opened up NOLO’s Kitchen & Bar, they had to check in to make sure the interior wasn’t too upscale. The ground-level space may be in the old Gardner Hardware Building in North Loop, and the exposed brick may be staying, but as any North Looper knows, storied buildings only mean more to upscale to an aesthetic of succulents, white paint and open space. To an extent, NOLO’s definitely falls into that aesthetic. Its airy space has décor in the natural eggshell ranges and the tables are made of a white-marbled stone. Their cozy corners have shelves of knick-knacks which, yes, include greenery, vintage items and glass containers.

But, as Collins says during the media night preview, he wants NOLO’s to be a place where people can just hang out; the interior has to be nice but not too nice. You have to be able to feel like you can sit back and stay a while.

The trio wants NOLO’s to fit into the North Loop area (get it—North Loop? NOLO?), and the night didn’t go by without appropriate tribute to the building they were in or their neighbors. However, as much as Hoff, Collins and Johnson loved the North Loop area, they wanted to add to it and create a place that could be the weekend breakfast, the dinner date, the first stop of the night, the final stop and, as Collins says, the “final final stop.”

Photo courtesy of Pam Wubben, NOLO’s.

While we couldn’t nibble on the food in the downstairs Basement Bar during media night, NOLO’s menu has all of the good comfort foods made from the best local ingredients Hoff could find. The macaroni and cheese had perfectly salted bread crumbs sprinkled on top of it, the dry rub on the chicken wings was addicting and the array of flat breads would make anyone happy. For the more upscale comfort foods, the salmon was flaky and the porchetta had melt-in-your-mouth fatty bites with crisp edges that were bursts of savory goodness. A healthy list of tap beers, ciders, cocktails and wine graced the menu, and if you pull up a seat to the bar, you can see the game on a few screens tucked surreptitiously into the horseshoe bar’s metal-grate ceiling storage.

When we were in The Basement Bar, workers were still putting on the finishing touches, but arcade games were already in the corner and the stage was set with a huge Minnesota license plate as the backdrop. Danielle Mueller, The Basement Bar’s general manager and venue coordinator, says she saw the basement when there was nothing in it except four walls. Trying to envision the arcade, televisions, food truck-style service, dance floor, pull tabs and stage the owners wanted was a lot. It’s still a lot—but in a good way, and with Mueller’s background as assistant general manager at Bellecour and manager at Vieux Carré, she has the experience and artist contacts to pull it all together.

“They [NOLO’s and The Basement Bar] are under the same roof, but you can go and have a really nice meal upstairs and then continue the party downstairs,” says Mueller. “It’s really whatever you want to make of it on a guest level. It’s kind of like a funhouse, honestly. You can come down and whatever you want to do; we have it down here.”

Mueller, like the owners upstairs, has already built a rapport with the staff, and you can see it as she pauses our conversation to banter about some extra inventory. So really, it’s no surprise when she turns back to me and says that this is the first place she’s worked at that takes care of the team first and the customer second. Because of the support and hospitality the staff extends toward each other, she says there’s able to be a welcoming and caring attitude toward the customers that is unlike any other place she has worked at.

NOLO’s Kitchen & Bar is officially open for business, and they have an open invitation for you. There may be some final finishing touches to do, especially in The Basement Bar area, but with every new component they add—the art gallery, the table-side prepared pasta, plus the untapped potential of their open kitchen—the hospitality will only get more generous.

By Taylor Weeks

Food Truck season is a coveted time of year for many Minnesotans. These mobile kitchens generally disappear when cooler weather comes calling, but some have invested in permanent spaces of their own for customers to enjoy year-round. We have highlighted some of our favorites.

O’Cheeze

Do you love grilled cheese? Haley and Tony Fritz turned their passion for grilled cheese into a business on wheels: O’Cheeze food truck. Together, they roam the streets of downtown Minneapolis serving gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. Try their decadent s’mores sandwich, grilled to a golden perfection with marscapone, chocolate, marshmello and graham cracker crumble. Visit O’Cheeze’s brand-new brick-and-mortar location in the downtown Minneapolis skyway system.

Dough Dough

Also from Haley and Tony Fritz is Dough Dough, a dessert truck serving—yes—cookie dough. The couple has turned a taboo, raw dessert into an eggless, safe-to-eat wonder. Dish up with any number of eggless cookie dough flavors at their food truck or up-and-coming permanent Mall of America location, which is predicted to open before the 2017 holiday season.

Smack Shack

Devour some fresh lobster at Smack Shack, a seafood-serving food truck restaurant sure to satisfy your coastal cravings. Be sure to try some of their Lobster Mac & Cheese, a dish highlighted on “Diners, Drive Ins and Dives” with Guy Fieri. You can find Smack Shack commandeering The 1029 Bar’s kitchen, traveling in its food truck, at its very own permanent location in Minneapolis’ North Loop district or inside the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport.

Chef Shack Ranch

Known as the “godmothers of food trucking,” Lisa Carlson and Carrie Summer bring fine dining to the street with their mobile kitchen Chef Shack Ranch. They serve a variety of items that are both expertly made and street-accessible, including pulled pork, beef tongue and roast chicken. Don’t forget to save room for one of their most popular items: organic Indian-spiced mini doughnuts. You can also visit their permanent location, a charming, self-described “modern urban truck stop” in Minneapolis.

Vellee Deli

Formed from the fusion of Asian and Mexican cuisines, Vellee Deli serves baguettes, tacos, quesadillas and burritos, all with their own cultural twist. Sample their Chicken Currito, made with spicy Thai curry, chicken, romaine lettuce, potatoes, seasoned rice and creamy zing sauce. You can find these fresh flavors at their food truck or permanent restaurant in the downtown Minneapolis skyway system.

World Street Kitchen

Explore your adventurous side in a single bite at World Street Kitchen. Created and owned by the brothers Sameh and Saed Wadi, this mobile kitchen is inspired by street foods from the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Asia and everywhere in between. You can travel across the globe with a Bangkok Burrito or Turk Hummus. Check out World Street Kitchen by finding their food truck or, to access their expanded menu, visiting their brick-and-mortar location in Minneapolis. There is even an online ordering system for take-out and delivery if you’re unable to make it to one of their physical locations.

VTC experts would love to see brick-and-mortar locations for The Moral Omnivore, Sasquatch Sandwiches and Butcher Salt. These mouth-watering food trucks are taking over the street: The Moral Omnivore offers local, organic and sustainable “ethical eats”; Sasquatch Sandwiches specializes in Minnesota-inspired street sandwiches; and the Butcher Salt’s menu ranges from sliders to hash browns, all inspired by their special blend of herb-infused sea salt. Which food trucks are your favorites?

By Claire Noack

Whoever says you can’t find global cuisine in the Twin Cities needs to take a stroll down our Latino food district in South Minneapolis. Lined with local taquerias, Lake Street is home to some of the best Mexican food in the Midwest.

In celebration of our Latino community and everyone’s love of tacos, the fourth annual Taco Tour on Lake Street returns Aug. 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Starting at the Minneapolis K-Mart on West Lake Street, walk, bike or ride in the Taco Tour shuttle between 10 participating Mexican eateries. Stuff yourself silly with authentic cuisine from sopes and burritos to handmade chips and, of course, tacos.

Bigger (and more filling) than ever, the Taco Tour will include an additional restaurant this year, along with live music, art, dance performances and more. With more than 3,500 visitors last year, lines are to be expected, but feasting on the diverse flavors from savory to spicy at each taco shop makes the wait worth it every time.

Support the Latino Economic Development Center by officially registering online for the Taco Tour with a $2 fee and voluntary donation. With your ticket purchase, visitors are treated with a few free taco coupons to redeem at any of the 10 restaurants. You can also look forward to picking up free Jarritos and samples along the tour. This family-friendly event is the perfect way to soak up the last weeks of summer while filling your belly with authentic eats from local Twin Cities businesses.

Participating Restaurants

• Salsa a la Salsa
• Sonora Grill
• Taco Taxi
• Taqueria La Hacienda
• Taqueria Los Ocampo

By Kyle Smelter

Summertime in the Twin Cities may not last very long, but for Minnesotans it is all about quality over quantity, and making sure we take advantage of the small window we have. This usually equates to getting out and enjoying all the outdoor activities the state has to offer combined with the warm and sunny weather. But not all outdoor endeavors were created equal, and there’s one that’s truly the cream of the crop—spending time on the treasured lakes and rivers. When it comes to bodies of water in Minnesota, the options are pretty much endless (we are the Land of 10,000 Lakes after all). And what better way to experience them than by getting out and voyaging across their waves on a public cruise?

Paradise Charter Cruises and Minneapolis Queen

Owner of the only luxury charter yacht in the Twin Cities—the Paradise Lady—this charter cruise company sets sail on not one but two of the metro’s most cherished bodies of water, Lake Minnetonka and the Mississippi River.

Lake Minnetonka
Depart from The Port of Excelsior and glide through the waters of one of Minnesota’s largest lakes (more than 125 miles of shoreline) for an abundance of cruises, including Sightseeing, Happy Hour & Cocktail, Margarita Monday and their Sunday Brunch Cruise. Relax and dine while you take in the views of the lake’s many islands and extravagant homes dotting the shoreline.

Mississippi River
As the starting point for the largest river in the country, Minnesotans love to take pride in this blue gem and show it off to friends and visitors alike. And what better way to do that than by cruising its waters? Come aboard and see what all the fuss is about as you skim by iconic Minneapolis landmarks such as the 35W Bridge, St. Anthony Falls, the Stone Arch Bridge and more.

Padelford Packet Boat Co.

Docked at Harriet Island Regional Park in St. Paul, this small fleet of river boats has accommodated more than four million passengers since the company was christened in 1969—a testament to the quality of service and adventure they provide. Riders can partake in a variety of cruises, including Sunset Dinner, Lunch and Lock, and their wildly popular Beer and Bacon Cruise while enjoying the sights of the St. Paul skyline, Pig’s Eye’s Cave, the St. Paul High Bridge and more.

St. Croix Boat & Packet Co.

The north shore equivalent for the central and southern part of the state, the St. Croix River Valley is one of the most visited spots in Minnesota year-after-year. For anyone who’s ever been there, it’s easy to see why—the craggy cliffs, lush forests and blazes of colors in the fall are can’t-miss natural beauty. And the town of Stillwater has been voted one of America’s “Most Picturesque Small Towns.” Hop aboard any of their public cruises that depart from this charming river town to get up close and personal with the area’s beautiful natural features.

Al and Alma’s

A grocery store turned supper club, Al and Alma’s has been entertaining guests on the waters of Lake Minnetonka since 1973 when they launched their first cruise as a way to entertain guests before they sat down for their meal. The maiden voyage went so well, that Al and Alma’s now boast the largest and most modern fleet on the waters of Lake Minnetonka today. And as their popularity grew, so did their cruise offerings. Guests can enjoy one of the greatest sunset views the state has to offer on the Genuine Lake Minnetonka Sunset Cruise (touted as the original Lake Minnetonka dinner cruise), partake in libations of the adult variety on the Sips and Sights Cruise, and chow down on breakfast food staples during the Signature Sunday Brunch Cruise. With their award-winning crew and fleet, your venture is sure to be as iconic as the lake itself.

Afton*Hudson Cruise Lines

This St. Croix River fleet of boats explores all the splendor found between us and our neighbor Wisconsin to the east. Hop on board to explore the densely forested area’s explosion of color during their Fall Colors Cruise, laugh all night long during their Comedy Dinner Cruise, where nationally touring comedians take the stage, or treat yourself to a taste of Italy on the Italian Dinner Cruise.

By Natalie Hall

The recent remodel at Fogo de Chão on Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis created a space as fresh as the food it serves. While the restaurant used to be dimly lit with recessed lighting set in dark wood, it has transformed into a lighter, more expansive space, making it feel larger than before although no space was actually added. The recessed lighting has been replaced with chandeliers that exude tasteful elegance, and the modern feel accentuates the same cream walls and dark wood trim, which felt traditional before, but now convey modernism.

While the dining experience has not changed, in the new atmosphere each cut of meat tastes fresher and more flavorful. I would recommend sampling the top sirloin cut of beef and the bacon-wrapped chicken for a mouth-watering experience. The meat is very high-quality and as fresh as you can get. The red ties around the gaucho servers’ necks mean that they butchered and cooked the meat that they are now serving entirely their own.

Make sure to save enough room for not only the digestive-aiding pudding that follows the meal, but also the delicious carameley flan—the most amazing non-chocolate dessert I’ve ever had—that is a creamy, smooth way to fill any empty spaces in your stomach.