525 Winnetka Avenue
Golden Valley, MN 55427-4759
(763) 544-2900
http://www.morts-deli.com/

With a coupon in hand (thank you restaurants.com) our girls set off for a dinner date, boyfriends in tow. Destination – Mort’s Delicatessen, a New York style deli with foods highlighting Eastern Europe.  As the boys scanned the *cough-cough*wrap menu, our girls went right for the meat…ordering the largest sandwiches on the menu!!  Much to the confusion of the servers, boys took the “girly” meal and girls took the “man” meal!

lucas – JAKE’S BUFFALO WRAP    9.99
Chicken strips in buffalo sauce tossed with lettuce, diced tomatoes & bleu cheese

anthony – CAESAR WRAP    9.99
Grilled chicken, romaine lettuce tossed with Caesar dressing and parmesan cheese
wrapped in a spinach tortilla

claire – THE TOOTS 14.99
Brisket sandwiched between latkes on marble bread. Served with apple sauce and au jus.

hannah – THE LANSKY 16.99
To call it just a sandwich would be criminal. Smoked brisket, dry aged beef, swiss cheese,
pickles and dijonaise served on ciabatta. Grilled and pressed to blend all the flavors.

Tasty Tip: Date boys that eat like little girls…more food for you!!

The Great Battle of the Octopi and Worms

Building our creation

And yes – we do weddings, birthdays, office retirements, births, and movie releases.

http://www.luckys13pub.com/

A beautiful day greeted our ladies as they woke up this past memorial day, and they decided to celebrate the best way they knew how: by spending all day at Luke’s pool and eating until they couldn’t move. God bless America!
After a long day of swimming and laying by the pool our foodies were craving the good ole American classic ‘The Cheeseburger’ and the closest place to indulge these cravings was Lucky’s 13 Pub in Bloomington . With so many options it was difficult to choose but our diners finally decided on:

Luke- BREAKFAST BURGER

~ Ham, fried egg, bacon, & cheddar 10.99 with a side of cottage cheese (3 animals on one burger!)

The Breakfast Burger

Hannah- LAND & LAKE
~ Our burger topped with a walleye cake & hollandaise 12.99 (A cow with a fish on it!)

The Land & Lake Burger

and then there was Claire….
DINE-O-MITE
~ Grilled chicken, cashews, wild rice, dried cranberries 9.49
[Shameful...]
{Ummm, it was a huge salad, filled with meat and a delicious carb-filled pretzel roll…so lay off!}

DINE-O-MITE

The burgers were delicious and the fries were phenomenal and the popcorn served at the beginning or the meal was addicting. All in all, a perfect way to celebrate any day!

Angel Food Coconut Lime Cake

1 package Betty Crocker white angel food cake
1 1/4 cups cold water
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1/3 cup Key lime or regular lime juice
1 teaspoon grated lime peel
1 (8-ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 cup flaked coconut

1.  Heat oven to 350°.

2.  Beat cake mix and cold water in extra-large glass or metal bowl with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds; beat on medium speed 1 minute. Pour into un-greased angel food cake (tube) pan, 10 x 4 inches. (Do not use bundt cake pan or 9 x 3 1/2-inch angel food pan or batter will overflow.)

3.  Bake 37 to 47 minutes or until top is dark golden brown and cracks feel very dry and not sticky. Do not under-bake. Immediately turn pan upside down onto glass bottle until cake is completely cool, about 2 hours.

4.  Beat condensed milk, lime juice, and lime peel in large bowl with wire whisk until smooth and thickened. Fold in whipped topping.

5.  Run knife around edges of cake; remove from pan. Split cake horizontally to make 3 layers. Fill each layer with about 2 cups lime mixture. Frost top and sides of cake with remaining lime mixture. Sprinkle with coconut. Store covered in refrigerator.

I ate at IHOP.

I’ll spare the details of my past IHOP misadventures and say again: Cheesecake Stuffed Pancakes.  With Hannah down and out for the night, my dear pal Matt (and growing fellow foodie) agreed that cheesecake in any form was too delicious to pass up.  Braving it north on Highway 100, we found one of the few IHOPs in the Twin Cities.  No need for a menu, we ordered:

Pancake Stackers - Sweet and silky cheesecake layered between four buttermilk pancakes. Crowned with cinnamon apple compote & creamy whipped topping.

New York Cheesecake Pancakes – Four fluffy buttermilk pancakes loaded with creamy, rich cheesecake pieces and crowned with cool strawberry topping, powdered sugar and whipped topping.

and…four sausages to even out the sugar high.

And you know what?  It was good.  It was really fricken good.  Beyond the obvious deliciousness that are pancakes, throw in some cheesecake and that’s pretty much perfect.  Heck, take out the cheesecake and those were some fantastic pancakes – crispy on the edges, fluffy on the inside – everything a pancake should be.

As Matt and I said, we’d go again…maybe next time with one less order of pancakes…

Summer’s finally here, which means Hannah’s finally home, which means food ‘o plenty!  Join us as we eat our way through Summer 2010!

This place is a must – as simple as that.  With a perfect Happy Hour ($2 on all tap beers…what?!), friendly atmosphere, and absolutely delicious burgers, this place better be on your list to visit…soon!

With Hannah off at college, Claire decided to invite fellow family member and foodie – Nan.   They squeaked a seat right before Happy Hour filled up the pub, did a quite look-see through the menu and settled on a favorite and an exotic.  Nan went for the ‘Classic’ Juicy Lucy and Claire went for the ‘Jiffy Burger’, as she says: Peanut goes with pretty much anything.

Excellent company and excellent food rounded off the evening!

Claire and Nan enjoyed:

The Classic – 6.50
A Twin Cities original and South Minneapolis’ culinary gift to the world.  Made with cheddar cheese.

Becareful! The cheese is molten!

Jiffy Burger – 7.75
You’ve got to try it to be a believer.  We cover our burger with peanut butter, a little mayo, pepper jack cheese, bacon, and a few pickles – just like Mom used to make!  Awarded Best Burger in the Twin Cities by City Pages!

Like I say, peanut butter goes well with anything!!

Bell’s Best Brown Ale – 2.00 (Happy Hour!)

January 18, 2010

The New Year found our girls off on yet another food adventure, and this time – not a diner, drive-in, or dive in site!  The first stop on the 2010 restaurant tour: Erte Restaurant. (YES! We picked a nicer restaurant!)

As many dear readers have come to know, our girls love food and love sharing food experiences with others.  So with the New Year comes new foodie friends! Jenn, a past guest and avid seafood lover joined along, as well as a gentleman fondly referred to as ‘Diner X’.

The girls converged at Claire’s crooked house, got dolled up (Thanks for doing our make-up Jenn!) and set off to meet Diner X at the restaurant. After a few miscalculated turns and extra stoplights [really, do you expect anything else with us?!] (Ok, this story has to be told the right way. There were 3 girls in the car who had 3 cell phones with all 3 opened to Google maps giving driving directions and we still get lost. How is that possible!?!?! For some reason we crossed over 94 and Claire and I thought that we had crossed over a river and then somehow we ended up on the other side of where we were supposed to be, it was just a huge mess!) [Geeze, Han...I...didn't think...94 was a river...geeze...wha....okay, I did...] Hannah, Jenn, and Claire rolled into a nearly empty restaurant.  Moments later, seated snug in the corner, drinks and appetizers were ordered and the dinner began. [We know how to eat out – Martin Luther King Jr. Day, not a diner in site!]

Jenn got us all dolled up!

The Meal:

ERTE’ PLATTER – Chef selections of assorted artisanal cheese and meat, accompanied by fruits served with crusty bread. Great appetizer for sharing!     $13.95
Diner X: There also were walnuts that were coated with Indian spices – extremely addictive.  The plate was a good amount for a table of four.
Hannah: Well really how can you go wrong with a plate of cheese! The different types of cheeses were varied from tangy, to smooth and they went great when paired with the different little bites that they served with the cheeses! And the nuts were so wonderful, we could not quite put our fingers on the spices but they were truly fantastic!

BREAD PLATE – with herbed butter, add a dish of assorted olives, marinated artichoke hearts and pepperoncini.     $5 w/extras $6
Jenn: Bland by itself but LOVED it with the herbed butter! I had three slices of bread and butter before I even thought about tasting my drink and that was only because Claire asked about it.
Claire: Agreed, the herbed butter was addictive!

HOUSE SALAD or SOUP –
Diner X: Salad was a simple greens salad.  There was a little too much blue cheese dressing and it was heavy on the garlic but it was nice and chunky.
Jenn: The Blue Cheese and Potato Soup was really good! It did dry my mouth out a bit, but the combination of the blue cheese and creamy potatoes was just right. Blended together perfectly!
Claire: I went with the House Salad, having shied away from anything blue cheese…big mistake!  The sip I had of Han’s soup was enough to convert me to a believer.
Hannah: Holy Cow!! The blue cheese soup was absolutely fantastic! It was very creamy and there was a slight taste of blue cheese but there was no tang or overpowering taste. It was creamy yet not heavy and was a spectacular start to a wonderful dinner!

BRISKET – Angus beef, baked for a day with garlic, mushrooms, onions & spices, cooled, sliced and roasted again ‘til it’s fork tender – served with honey bunny carrots and le smush potatoes … grandma’s proud of this one! $16.50
Jenn: Definitely my favorite meal on the table.  Surprising because I’m usually not a huge fan of meaty dishes.  But it was really tender and the sauce they used for it was perfect.  Very, very delicious!

BOWSTRING WALLEYE – Memories of “going up north” fishing for walleye on bowstring lake brings back this favorite family recipe of sunflower seed crusted walleye, sautéed & topped with a sweet corn relish and served with sour cream and chive mashers and our homemade tartar sauce … this big one didn’t get away!     $18.00
Diner X: The walleye was nicely cooked, perfectly flakey and the sunflower seed crusting was not too heavy but it did have a strong fishy flavor so I wondered about how fresh it was.  Nice sweet corn relish on top and the homemade tartar sauce was a real treat. Basic mash potatoes with sour cream and chive blended in were nice and rich. Portions were generous.

CHICKEN   SALTIMBOCCA  – This is not a dance – it’s a breast of chicken folded with prosciutto, provolone & herbs – finished with Madeira butter sauce and a dollop of sour cream and chive mashers … now start dancing!     $17.50
Claire: Winner with this dish! The Madeira butter sauce (a Madeira wine based sauce with celery, scallions, carrots, and beef stock) was delicious.  Once again, I contemplated how appropriate licking the plate clean would be…

MAPLE LEAF FARM DUCK BREASTS – Two sautéed duck breasts in a plus sauce with sweet potato mashers.  These naturally fed ducks have, what else, but naturally enriched flavor! …Don’t “duck out” on this one!     $20.00
Hannah: These were pretty delicious, however I think my favorite part of it was the sweet potatoes! I think my favorite thing on the table for dinner was the Brisket. It was absolutely delicious and it melted in your mouth.

FUNKY MONKEY BREAD PUDDING -
Jenn: I thought this was yummy.  It tasted like the chocolate chips in a banana chocolate chip muffin had melted everywhere.  The whipped topping was a little boring and disappointing, but everything tasted better when paired with the delicious vanilla ice cream (ordered separately).
Claire: Remember what it’s like taking a fresh, hot loaf of chocolate banana bread right out of the oven?  You know how you always dug in before it had time to cool and the chocolate was all gooey and melty and creamy?  Yeah, it was like that.
Hannah: So good! It was gooey and delicious and it was just fantastic! We stole some of Diner X’s vanilla ice cream and the combination of the warm pillows of banana and chocolate and the cool melty ice cream was absolute heaven!

Orange Infused Martini – Absolute Mandarin mixed with Grand Marnier and a splash of orange juice served with an orange slice.
Jenn: OK.  Won’t get it again.  Especially didn’t like the fact that it was so strong that you had to sip it, not drink it.  I’m not a sipping kind of girl.
Claire: Make note with this one friends – one drink only or you’re crawling home!  Hello alcohol!

For some thoughts on the restaurant itself:
Diner X: Darker decor.  Walls used tan and maroon colors with black accents.  Romantic with candles and Jazz music.  Server was very attentive and made sure we were not rushed.  Good service but it was a very quiet night.
Jenn: Surprisingly quiet and non-echoey for such a cavernous area. I give it 4 out of 4 ears!
Claire: As we were, at times, the only folks enjoying dinner it was nice to see the dining area in its full splendor.  The evening would have had a much different feel if other guests were about.
Hannah: The restaurant was very lovely and I really enjoyed being the only patrons in there! It was like we rented the whole thing out to ourselves! I would highly recommend this for dining of all types! We sat next to a walled mirror which was pretty cool. There was also an upstairs which, if it is indeed open for dining, it would be so much fun to dine up there!

Hannah and Claire’s Tasty Tip: I-94 is NOT a river.

As 2010 rolled in, so did the cold weather. Those first couple weeks of January brought below zero temperatures, and with it the need for some homemade fondue!  And what goes better with creamy cheese fondue than a rousing game or two on Nintendo Wii?So Hannah and Claire called for a girl’s night!

Armed with pounds of cheese and bottles of frozen cider the girls set to work in Claire’s crooked kitchen grating cheese, chopping carrots, frying sausages, and slicing some baguettes.  With the cheerful notes of the Glee soundtrack playing in the background, the cheese bubbled and the guests showed up. Joanna arrived armed with a bottle of wine and Jenn with a dangerous version of  ‘Dance Dance Revolution’ for the Wii.

A few glow-stick necklaces and ‘Dancing with the Stars’ battles later, we were ready for round two.  No meal is complete without dessert and the chocolate fondue (see recipe below) was left to Hannah’s creation.  A little cream and a lotta chocolate!  Add some bananas, marshmallows, apples, and pretzels and that’s some good fondue!

Thank you to the Food Network Kitchens for the cheese fondue recipe!

Cheddar and Hard Cider Fondue

1 (12-ounce) bottle hard cider
¾ cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
½ pound Gruyere cheese, grated
½ pound sharp Vermont yellow Cheddar, grated
3 tablespoons corn starch
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
salt

Heat cider, broth, Worcestershire, and garlic over medium heat and simmer for 5 minutes.

Toss the cheese together in a medium bowl. Sift the corn starch over the cheese and toss to coat.

Slowly sprinkle cheese into warm liquid, continue until cheese is melted. Stir in cayenne and salt.

And thank you to Hannah for the wonderful Chocolate Fondue recipe!

Chocolate Fondue
So chocolate fondue couldn’t be more easy, If you remember to be careful and take your time.

12 ounces of chocolate, chopped fine
(Dark, milk, or any kind that you want!)
8 ounces of heavy whipping cream

Warm the cream in the microwave or on the stove until it starts to get little bubbles around the edge. Remove it from the heat and slowly add the chocolate while stirring. The heat from the cream should melt the chocolate thoroughly but if it doesn’t you can pop it in the microwave for A FEW seconds. Be careful because chocolate burns really easily. Once the chocolate is melted you can add any assortment of goodies that you want. Some people add Baileys or some other type of flavored liquor, you can add orange zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, peppermint extract or anything that you would like. Personally, I just like the straight up chocolate but whatever suits your mood! Just transfer your chocolate pot to your fondue stand and you are ready to go! However, as we learned quickly, don’t have the flame too big because, as I stated before, chocolate burns easily.  And there you have it! You can serve this with any assortment of goodies like fruit, pretzels, marshmallows, pound cake or angel food cake, or just dip a spoon in and go to town!

The result:
 …Typical…

To our luck, the Peppercorn Grill was conveniently located across the street!

Off Old Highway 12 in historic Long Lake, the family owned Peppercorn Grill was a welcomed alternative.  We were hungry and needed to eat –  now.  To our extreme delight (and slight worry) we walked in to an empty restaurant.  Now, it’s worth noting that the bar side was occupied by some thirsty regulars.

We were quickly seated and took a scan over the menu, deciding on the Peppercorn Chopped Salad and the Tuscan Chicken.  The salad was an explosion of ingredients, containing everything but the kitchen sink…really… Including: Romaine and iceberg lettuce, bacon, turkey, ham, pepperoni, shrimp, provolone cheese, diced avocados, tomatoes, cucumbers, black olives, red onions, and red peppers tossed in the house peppercorn dressing.  To go with the salad, we split the Tuscan Chicken - chicken sautéed with asparagus, mushrooms, onions, prosciutto ham, and fresh garlic in a citrus butter sauce.  While a bit oily, still delicious.

Our final thoughts:
Good but slightly typical food.  The salad was too homogenized, too chopped with the Tuscan Chicken not striking.  HOWEVER – we enjoyed the restaurant as a whole.  The staff was very nice and very friendly.  As a family owned restaurant, it was clear to see they all enjoyed the work they were doing.  We were seated by the owner’s daughter and served by her brother (and had a nice conversation to boot!) 

The Peppercorn Grill is on our list to visit again, perhaps on a weekend for the House Ravioli!

Hannah and Claire’s Tasty Tip: Eat local. It makes you feel good and there’s nothing wrong with riding that high horse!