Girl Friday

Pepsi and Pakora

I've been a little off the grid lately, my apologies for that. Sometimes life just presents you with so many more fun things to do than sit down at your laptop for more than a few hours a week. Perhaps there's something going on in my life that may be of interest to you? Let's see:

What I'm wearing:

MAC Opulash mascara is awesome. In addition to adding more volume and length than Diorshow and being clump-free, it also comes off sooo easily. It almost slides off your lashes in pieces; no raccoon eyes when using remover, not even in the morning if you forget to take it off before bed.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On eye pencil. Holy crap, you cannot bust this stuff. It has way more staying power than MAC pencils, not to mention any drug store brands, even on the waterline. Somehow it still magically comes off easily with remover towelettes.

I've gotten so many compliments on the green Red by Ecko handbag I bought at Macy's this winter that I decided to explore the line a little bit more. Who knew this company made such cute and affordable bags, and that they're all leather-free? I bought this black handbag this week at DSW with my latest Rewards certificate. I don't think the photos do them much justice; they are super adorable.

What I'm eating:

The sweet and spicy burger at Mac's Industrial (with a veggie patty, of course). I can't get enough of this thing. It's the ultimate indulgence, with melted cheddar, barbecue sauce, pickles (key to anything covered in barbecue sauce) and a pile of spicy onion straws. Served with your choice of Mac's 19 different sides. I'm currently stuck on the cucumber salad, which is fat chunks of cucumber and tomato tossed in a tangy and sweet vinegar-based dressing. If you've never thought to stop in and grab a bite to eat here, do it. Not only is the full menu available 'til 2:00am every night, but there are a ton of options and everything is good. Well, nearly everything. They put the shredded lettuce inside the quesadilla before they grill it, which results in warm, soggy strings of lettuce, which kind of grosses me out.

Gandhi Mahal continues to make sweet love to my mouth and belly every delicious time I visit. I don't know what they do as far as meat but, for vegetarians, this is the best Indian restaurant in the Twin Cities. If you don't agree with me, I challenge you to a sitar-off. Also, for those who complain that local ethnic restaurants tone down the spice for the Midwestern American palate, try Gandhi Mahal. Start with "medium" and don't say I didn't warn you. I was there with my friend Ben earlier this week and had my favorite, aloo begun, as well as the mushroom paneer on the seasonal menu (I've been trying to replicate the aloo begun for a while now with little success and it's really starting to frustrate me). Both were spicy, fragrant, slightly creamy perfection.

Throwback is back! Pepsi, Mountain Dew and my beloved Dr. Pepper. Last week, all three were $2.98 per 12-pack at Cub Foods. Hopefully that throwback price sticks for a while.

What I'm doing:

Still bartending 1-2 shifts a week at Burger Moe's over in Shelbyville. If you haven't checked it out yet, come on down. There have been no major paper reviews of the food yet, but it's been getting high marks on Chowhound. Tom Horgen also gave props to the big and beautiful patio at Moe's in his recent article on the best patios in the TC.

You already know I'm co-hosting R-rated Trivia every Monday night at Nomad World Pub. As of this week, I've also started hosting BINGO every Tuesday at Lyndale Tap House. Winners get a free tee shirt that brags a bingo win, plus a round of shots for your table. Tuesday is also service industry night, so shots of Grand Marnier, Rumpleminze and Patron are just $4 from 9:00pm to midnight. Party!

Speaking of the service industry, my latest cover story for Vita.mn came out yesterday. Check it out for tips on how to get the best possible service at a restaurant or bar. Yes, it's pathetic that people actually need to be taught such simple lessons but, believe me, there are a lot of clueless and inconsiderate a**holes out there.

New Gigs, New Restaurants, Farewell to a Minneapolis Favorite

Someone call blog protective services, because I have been very neglectful of poor Girl Friday the past two weeks. In my defense, I've been so busy I also forgot to mail my rent check and send $42.00 to the City of Minneapolis for a minor parking violation. In other run-ins-with-the-law news, I got a speeding ticket two nights ago: 44 in a 35, on Johnson Street coming off the East Hennepin Avenue exit. $145.00. Grrr.

So this is what I've been busy doing:

I now co-host trivia on Monday nights at the Nomad on the West Bank. I joined up with the notoriously gangsta Trivia Mafia, and Matt Perkins and I bring you R-rated Trivia every Monday night at 9:00pm, with 2-4-1s until midnight. What is R-rated Trivia, you ask? Not your mother's trivia, that's what, unless your mother happens to be a porn flick aficionado with vast knowledge of sex, crime and consensual sex crimes, not to mention drugs, booze and the occasional acid flashback. Errrybody has fun, it's free to play, cheap to drink and the prizes are good.

After a nearly 8-year hiatus, I am back behind the bar at a new restaurant in St. Paul. Burger Moe's officially opened Monday across the street from Downtowner Woodfire Grill and next to Tom Reid's. Burger Moe's is owned by Moe Sharif, who also owns the Downtowner. The website isn't up yet, but Burger Moe's is open for lunch and dinner, with an emphasis on hamburgers and hot dogs of all kinds -- yes, there is a tasty house-made black bean veggie burger -- and the kitchen is open until 1:00am. At the bar you'll find 40 tap beers and 20 more in the cooler, with two happy hours daily on taps and rail drinks (3:00-6:00pm and 9:00pm-1:00am). You'll also find me behind the bar a few nights a week, probably working the first happy hour shift. Check out the Pi Press's first impression of Burger Moe's.

Yes, it's true: Azia is closing! But kinda more like moving. Thom Pham secured the space at 6th & Hennepin and has been quietly remodeling the inside in anticipation of a August opening of Wanderers Wondrous Azian Kitchen. That opening will be preceded by Azia's closing, after which most of the staff and a fair amount of Azia's interior will make the trek from Eat Street to downtown.

I know what you're thinking, but don't worry. I'm not spiraling into a depression the depths of which Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio wouldn't even know. This is a good move for the company (the old building is falling apart), a good option for downtown (late-night Asian-fusion, holla) and now it's even closer to me! Congrats to Thom, and best of luck. Read the details of the move on Horgen's blog post at Star Tribune.

Let's Just Sit in the Backyard

The only thing funnier than this Heavy Table "Let's Grab a Beer" flowchart is the inevitable beer snob bickering in the comments.

I'm not a beer snob, but I like to think I wrote a pretty good article about it for Vita.mn.
 

Yikes

This photo scares me.

From today's Star Tribune article about a few local women who use coupons obsessively. I don't see a single thing there that I would actually put in my cart at the grocery store, let alone clear out a room in my house for storing all of that crap. Call me old fashioned, but I like to bake my own cookies, tend to avoid GMO foods and would never even consider buying cases of single-serving water in plastic bottles. 

This photo is much less scary.

A chance encounter with prolific blogger Johnny Northside at Donny Dirk's Zombie Den. It's true, Alexis on the Sexes really does hang out there. Pretty regularly. Not only does Donny Dirk's stock Strongbow and one of the most impressive spirits selections in the Twin Cities, but they also have a kickass staff. One particularly sweet young man that works the door at night gave me a cookbook last Thursday.

I love it. The recipes are pretty basic but there are several ingredient combinations that are new to me and have inspired me to riff on them in my own little way. Last night I made Middle Eastern-style zucchini stuffed with cheese, pine nuts, parsley and cumin. I'm also loving a simple Colombian egg salad with avocado and a splash of white vinegar, and a Malawian banana soup with cinnamon and orange zest.

The recipes are fresh, simple and almost all of the ingredients are regular produce and pantry staples. For most of us, anyway.

Simple, Good and Tasty

Despite having been bestowed with a sort of awful name, the new-ish Simple Good and Tasty local food lovers' program is such a great concept that I just ordered up a membership. $29.00 gets you both one-time and ongoing offers at several restaurants and markets around town.

A few examples:

Brasa Premium Rotisserie: Buy one entrée, get a second entrée of equal or lesser value free. One time offer.

Craftsman Restaurant: Buy one entrée, get a free glass of wine. One time offer.

Galactic Pizza: 10% off all orders. Ongoing offer.

Red Stag Supperclub: Complimentary wooden nickel drink special, Sun-Thurs, 9:00pm-2:00am. Ongoing offer.

And there are many more specials -- from desserts to coffee to groceries to services -- with more vendors being added as the program becomes increasingly popular. 10% of sales from the program go to support the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, with the program's overall goal being to encourage sustainable farming. They started out small, but have recently expanded to include several of the Twin Cities' most popular restaurants and co-ops. Check it.

Valentine's Day Plans

Is anyone doing anything spectacular on Sunday? It's looking like bunch and bloody marys with Cristina are in the cards for me.

If you're looking for a table for two Sunday night, there are still plenty of options. Check OpenTable.com; here's what's available at 8:00pm in Minneapolis.

Vita.mn's Jahna Peloquin has a great roundup of nighttime activities for both the coupled and single.

Head to Smitten Kitten between 10:00am and noon on Sunday and receive a free massage candle with a purchase of $25.00 or more. These things are great if you've never seen them; soy candles that, when melted, can be used as massage oil. Scented and unscented available.

Kieran's Irish Pub is hosting their annual erotic poetry slam on Saturday night (not Sunday). 7:00pm door, 8:00pm show with a $7.00 cover and live music.

Also on Saturday, the second annual "Shred the Love" event at Midtown Global Market. From 1:00-3:00pm, bring in love letters, photos, clothes, stuffed animals and other mementos from bad relationships past and have at it with on-hand paper shredders, scissors and other destructive devices. Register to win gift certificates from MGM vendors and the Sheraton Midtown Hotel. Plus: free chocolate-covered strawberries.

Pizza Luce is celebrating (or anti-celebrating, if you prefer) the entire weekend with deals starting today and going through Sunday:

• Lover's Special: Any specialty 12" pizza, 2 small salads & 2 pieces of cheesecake for $25.

• Sinner's Special: 3 slices of pizza by the slice, 3 small salads & 3 pieces of cheesecake for $35.

• Cynic's Special: 1 slice of pizza by the slice, 1 small salad & 1 piece of cheesecake for $10.

These specials are available at all 5 Pizza Luce locations, for dine-in, carry-out and delivery. Perhaps once the Stoli wears off Sunday evening, we'll be ordering up a half-Athena, half-Garlic Mashed Potato.

Mmm, feta.

Girl Friday and Personal Touch Errands in the Papers

If you happen to be on an Air Tran flight this month, grab a copy of Go Magazine from the seatback pocket in front of you. I have a little blurb in there on where to warm up with hot drinks in Minneapolis. There's an alarmingly large photo of me attached to the article, originally taken at La Belle Vie by my cousin, Antonio. I'm curious to know if it's that gigantic in the print version.

(In case you don't feel like clicking, I direct travelers to La Belle Vie for a Love Supreme, moto-i for warm sake, The Local for an Irish Coffee, Azia for a Honey Pot and Town Talk Diner for a hot toddy.)

Also, anybody notice anything sort of important missing from the online article?

In other Alexis publicity news, my business, Personal Touch Errands and Assistance, got a little write-up in the Twin Cities Examiner. Yes, it's true: I will do your date night dirty work for you. If you're reading this blog, you probably already know I got connects all over this town and can make just about anything happen for you. Valentine's Day is fast approaching, and I have been in the concierge, gift shopping, personalized packaging and special and household errands business for 9 years now. I'm also a quick and friendly mobile notary public.

In Which I Finally Try Subo

I've given Subo two tries now and I'm not sure I can be coerced to "experience" it again. I'm not gonna lie; not having cranberry juice behind the bar was strike one. Our bartender was quick to please with a Stoli-kalamansi-pomegranate-soda concoction in its place, but it still wasn't the bar staple that I wanted. The mango martini is one of the strongest martinis I've had locally, which stands to reason since the only mango flavor in the drink was coming from Absolut Mango. As in I didn't taste anything else. I like a stiff one as much as the next girl -- hey-ohhh! -- but when I order a fruity cocktail I wouldn't mind a little actual fruit, or at least a nice splash of fruit juice. Anything served up in a martini glass gets called a martini these days, so it's not unreasonable to expect more than straight booze shaken and strained.

The adobo greens beans were full of onion, chili and soy sauce flavor but I couldn't detect any of the promised madras curry or sesame oil. Also, onions nearly outnumbered beans in the bowl. The menu neglected to mention the steamed edamame would be dripping with butter, but that's how it came out. I still can't decide whether I loved it or hated it. On the one hand, the pods were so soft they nearly disintegrated in your mouth; but that also means they were soggy, void of that gratifying, nearly crisp texture. The steamed mushroom rolls were a big swing and a miss, starting with their puzzlingly heavy sweetness. Using a duxelles is an excellent concept here, but the filling's texture is ruined by the tough tofu sheet wrapper; difficult to bite through and impossible to cut with a fork, not to mention messy.

The best thing on the table was the plate of little green papaya salad rolls: strips of unripe papaya, bean sprouts and pea shoots rolled up in delicate rice paper and drizzled with light but spicy Sriracha vinaigrette. Great crunch, and I like the smaller, bite-size pieces. There were a couple of seafood plates on the other end of the table, but one of my dining companions doesn't eat pork so I imagine he was a little discouraged by all the swine on the menu, even in the fish dishes.

Dessert didn't happen, but I suppose I could go back and give that section of the menu a chance. Price points are commensurate to the neighborhood (on 12th, in the former Hell's Kitchen space) but not to the food portions. The menu says small plates and they aren't kidding; while they're a little heftier than two-bite tapas, these are still little servings. I left craving King & I Thai just a few blocks away, with their overflowing plates of yummy, comforting combinations that are truly meant for sharing.

New Boots, Designer Clearance, Vita.mn Hotness

Ask and you shall receive.

Props to Girl Friday reader Scott for the tip on the black and purple Sorel Torinos at Rosedale Herberger's. They were even on sale, so I'm now a proud owner and a happy customer. If you've seen me in the last two weeks, there's a 95% chance I was wearing them.

Then, lo and behold, a gift in the form of a pair of Sorel Tivolis on brown and blue show up at my doorstep not even a week later.

Hot.

I am so set for the rest of this winter, and however many more winters these boots last. I'm loving their waterproof feature, especially after last week's warm-up and subsequent slush-fest. Both pairs are incredibly comfortable and warm, with a fairly skid-proof sole. The brown Tivolis have one small design flaw: they bunch a little when you put your foot in so you have to tug on them a bit before you head out the door. A small problem, but they're still cute as hell.

A useful thread over at Livejournal: Where to send your old clothes that aren't in good enough shape for resale or thrift store donation but can be salvaged for their fabric.

This Friday and Saturday only, Northeast consignment boutique gh2 is having a 50% off sale. gh2 stocks top designer clothing, shoes and accessories, so it goes without saying that I rarely see fewer than 10 things I want every time I stop in.

Next door to gh2, Parc Boutique continues their winter clearance, with 30-80% off. That sale started the first week of January, so the best of the best is probably gone, but it's still worth a look if you swing by gh2.

Vita.mn's third annual Hotness party is Wednesday, February 10th, so suit up sexy! We're at the Graves 601 this year, and there will be free hors d'oeuvres, drink specials, giveaways, live performances and DJs. As always, this event is free. 

Restaurant Week in D.C.

Sadly, I did not see any national monuments or museums while I was in D.C. last week. In my defense it was really cold! Unseasonably so. Too chilly to be wandering around without layers, and I'm a carry-on-only kind of traveler. I'll save the sightseeing for next time, once I assemble a new list of restaurants to try out there.

I did check out three places during Restaurant Week last week:

Rasika - The tawa baingan haunts me. Slices of tender eggplant layered with fluffy spiced potato, served over a tangy and fragrant peanut sauce with a touch of tamarind. It's only January and I'm saying this could go down as my favorite entree of 2010. The palak chaat is a pile of crispy, flash-fried spinach drizzled with savory-sweet sauces. Each bite just melts in your mouth. The dal makhani was hands-down the best I've ever had, a perfect balance of buttery and spicy. It was made even better with a side of fresh, hot naan drizzled with truffle oil. The nutty fig kulfi failed to bowl me over -- I like my Indian desserts a little creamier and fruitier -- but my bartender Brad gets serious snaps for his mango cosmopolitans. Wow. I need to teach that recipe to a few of my barkeeps here. Rasika is sexy but cozy, with an inventive, contemporary Indian menu.

Co Co. Sala - They were only serving the Restaurant Week menu, which was fine because they were considerate with the vegetarian options. For some reason, I don't remember the tomato croustade amuse bouche. I mean, I remember that I ate it but I don't remember if I liked it or not. I'm sure it was great and I was just too distracted by my Co Co Jito to pay attention. The cocktail is made with chocolate-infused vodka instead of rum, then blended with the requisite muddled lime, mint, sugar and splash of soda. Some dark chocolate curls are dropped on top -- Co Co. Sala is a chocolate-inspired restaurant, right down to the decor -- and there it is: the Co Co Jito. I was apprehensive at first, but after the first sip it was clear they know what they're doing over there. My dinner's highlight was actually the salad; peppery arugula tossed with fresh orange, chewy dates, thin slices of apple and shaved manchego cheese. The thick coffee vinaigrette was an unexpected replacement for a standard balsamic reduction, but totally brought it all together. No surprise that the desserts were to die for: a platter of caramel-centric treats included an almond-apple tart, caramel corn gelato, toffee praline and a caramel-cinnamon "shooter." The chocolate version had a malted milk "shooter," bananas foster, a fudgy mini cupcake and chocolate-peanut butter ice cream. Incredible.

Asia Nine - I'm gonna go ahead and obey Thumper's Rule here and not say too much about Asia Nine. The vegetarian menu options are actually vegetarian and not sketchy, fish-saucy vegetarian, so that was a plus. But the green curry could've used a lot more flavor (not to mention heat, since it was marked with 2-stars) and the spring rolls were as ho-hum as anything store-bought.* The sake selection was decent and the dining room and raised sushi bar were beautifully decorated. Except for the fake plastic tea lights. I really hate those things. Our server either curled up in the kitchen and died or just forgot about us after the entrees were delivered. Asia Nine's only redemption of the evening was another server who stopped by the table to tell me how pretty I was. What can I say, it's that easy.

*With the exception, of course, of Lotus egg rolls, which are perfectly delicious.