Minnesota: A Must-Visit State for Foodies
Special to Road Trips for Foodies
By Explore Minnesota
In Minnesota, renowned chefs are continuously serving up an eclectic array of fare, ranging from traditional comfort cuisine with a twist to pizza straight from the local farm. Across Minnesota, foodies will also discover critically acclaimed palate pleasers derived from the North Star state’s rich European and Nordic history. In fact, Minnesota’s food scene starts the moment you touch down at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, as you’ll find options like wood-fired pizza at Vero, fresh sushi at Shoyu, oysters and escargot at Mimosa, and wine and cheese pairings at Surdyk’s Flights.
Award-Winning Foodie Hotspot
Year after year, Minneapolis and St. Paul chefs and restaurants are nationally recognized among those in some of the top areas in the country (many are James Beard award finalists). The local food revolution is making it easy for travelers to plan their trips around one-of-a-kind local fare – but be sure to make restaurant reservations right along with flight and hotel bookings, as they fill up fast!
Comfort Foods, Reinvented
When you think of Minnesota food, you might think of a few classic staples: nutty wild rice, flaky walleye, and comforting hot dish (casserole). With a recent food revolution sweeping the state, chefs are adapting and sometimes completely transforming conventional dishes, creating menus that riff playfully on familiar flavors and foods. In the Land of 10,000 Lakes, chefs turn to the water and land for fresh ingredients and inspiration. With a focus on locally sourced products, restaurants with lake-to-table and farm-to-table practices allow diners to have the true Minnesota experience.
Time-Honored Traditions
Minnesotans are all about revolutionizing – we did invent the famous Juicy Lucy burger, dontcha know! Minnesota is also a state that embraces and celebrates tradition. In the early 1900s, people from around the world traveled to Minnesota’s Mesabi Iron Range to work in the emergent iron ore mines. Today, visitors enjoy European-inspired cuisines that settled in the region along with the people, including potica (“poh-TEE-sah”), a roll of fine layered pastry; Italian pastas and porketta sandwiches; sarma (stuffed cabbage rolls); and pasties, the iconic meat pies miners took for lunch.
Wash It Down with a Craft Beverage
With more than 100 craft breweries, 60 plus wineries and 12 distilleries, Minnesota has quickly become a top national destination for the craft beverage scene thanks in large part to its agricultural roots.
More about Minnesota’s food scene can be found online.
(Photo courtesy of Explore Minnesota)
