Foodie Birthday Weekend

4/8/2013 This weekend we checked out Artcrank. I was super excited for it because they were going to have food trucks. I secretly dream of owning my own food truck. I am always trying to thinking of things I would serve. Last year we attempted to try some San Diego based food trucks at Pechanga, but between the massive crowd and extreme heat wave we opted for air conditioning at BJ’s. Needless to say it wasn’t my brightest idea, but I was glad to have my friends and family along for the adventure. This year our little family was off to a poster show for bike lovers. We have yet to bike the beautiful city of Minneapolis, but we have every intention of getting a couple of bikes, helmets, and a toddler seat for the summer. We couldn’t resist a good poster show and good eats. Plus, Tommy knew a few people that were contributing to the gallery and we wanted to show our support. (Congrats to Hannah for selling all your posters!) When we first got there we checked out the food trucks (I had been waiting for them all day and I was starving). It was raining on and off all day, so thankfully the lines weren’t very long. We had plenty of choices to chose from; Gastrotruck, Sassy Spoon, Fork in the Road, Nate Dogs and Potter’s Pasties & Pies.  I chose Potter’s Pasties & Pies. I was torn between the Traditional and the Pig. The server recommended the Pig and it was delicious. My hand pie was filled with pulled pork, apples, onions and coriander. Such a tasty combination between the sweet and savory. Tommy went with Gastrotruck. He ordered the beer braised beef brisket and sweet potato salad for Zoe. You could really taste the freshness of the ingredients.

After we enjoyed our food we decided to head inside to check out the posters. The minute we walked into the building our glasses steamed up, there was a large crowd, apparently one of their biggest. We made our way slowly down one wall behind a crowd of on lookers. It was very hot and hard to navigate, but we made it! Then we decided to jump in line to buy an Artcrank glass. Wow was that a really long line. Zoe and I waited in line for half of the time before we took a little running break outside. 

Zoe loved running around and jumping into puddles. She kept walking by everyone waving and saying hi. It’s a good thing people were nice enough to stop and say hi too, not that she would really care. 

After we got all of our sillies out we went back inside to check out some more posters. This time we were able to get up close and a little personal with the prints. We were able to take pictures without anyone standing in front of some of our favorite posters. 

One thing I noticed about this event was not only the eclectic group of people, but the wide age range. I am thoroughly enjoying getting to know the design community here in Minneapolis. It’s one thing to live with one designer, but to interact and get to know so many other designers has been a treat. It was a great activity to celebrate the end of my 26th year. I am sure I have plenty more of these types of events to look forward to throughout the next coming months. I also couldn’t be more excited that the food trucks season is about to begin. Woohoo for good food! On that note… On Sunday we continued our food tour (because ever since I turned 25 I have embraced my passion for all things food). Tommy knows my love for food, but not just any food, my love for GOOOOD food. Many (ok all) our trips are centered around where to eat. Hey, I am not cooking on vacations and what better way to get to know the area than to find some of it’s hidden gems (aka diners, drive-ins and dives). Tommy searched out today’s drive-in and we were off to St. Paul for some down home Italian/American eats at Dari-ette Drive-In. We timed it so Zoe would catch a little nap in the car. We drove up and checked out the dive-in portion. They stick with the old school carhops, but we decided to dine in today. Lucky for us they just reopened on Wednesday! Yay for warmer weather and melting snow! When Zoe woke up we grabbed a quick picture and headed inside to order.

I decided on the Italiano and Tommy went with a 1/4 chicken meal and we decided Zoe deserved her own meatball. We grabbed a seat and took advantage of the empty dining room by taking a few pictures. I really enjoy these moments. I started noticing that there are A LOT of pictures of just Zoe. I also noticed that I do not have a lot of pictures of my mom and I. So I am trying to make a conscience effort to stay in the pictures more with Zoe and also get more family pictures. 

Then Zoe’s meatball arrived and I figured it was best to feed her first so I could thoroughly enjoy my sandwich when it arrived. Zoe seems to really love food just about as much as I do. It is one passion of mine that I hope to share with her as she gets older. We have been playing with her kitchen a lot lately and she has been practicing her stirring and playing tea party with us…maybe she will be a chef, who knows.

Then Tommy and my order was up and good thing because I was hungry! Everything was delicious. You could tell the sauce was “made with lots of love”. Tommy’s chicken was pretty much the best fried chicken we have had. My sausage was smothered in sauce and a thick piece of mozzarella. The bread was perfect thickness because it absorbed the sauce, but not to the point that it was soaked and I was unable to pick it up. In true Guy fashion our lunch was “money”. But no birthday celebration is complete without dessert so we went ahead and ordered a banana split (it has fruit in it :/). As I was holding it up for a quick picture Zoe decided she would blow out the “candle” aka cherry on top. She is a quick one.

I really enjoyed my foodie birthday weekend, good food, family, a surprise package from my friends, a trip to visit family and a plane ticket booked for Auntie Ashie’s visit in June! I would say 27 is off to a good start!