Three Great Meals, plus Cocktails

Over the past week, we have been luck enough to go out to three outstanding meals (yes, we're trying to lean into empty nest).

1. Forepaugh's


Forepaugh's was celebrating 50 years in business with a menu throwback to 1976, and we managed to get a coveted reservation on Tuesday night after my board meeting.

That meant that we could get a whisky smash, a brandy alexander, oysters rockefeller, roast chicken, and bread pudding ... all for $20.79. For reference, a single cocktail in the bar is usually $20.


It was busy as heck, and they were out of some of the food. But our service was absolutely outstanding, and we had a lot of fun. Forepaugh's has a lot of great memories for me. Will we be back again soon? Maybe!


2. Saffron

I was able to get another coveted reservation, at the newly (re)opened Saffron, for Patrick's birthday on Thursday!

We knew it was going to be a perfect night when we walked into the beautiful space and immediately saw our friends Kate and Kyle, who we see far too infrequently. 

And it really was All That. First of all, you should measure every good Middle Eastern restaurant by their hummus. If it is remotely as good as what our friend Ken makes, they get my approval. Well, sorry Ken, but this may have knocked yours out of the top place.


The cocktails were complex and exotic (thank you again, K&K!)

We ordered several small vegetarian plates, and each one had complex and complimentary flavors that built on each other enough that we looked like culinary geniuses.


Plus the service was fantastic. We'll be back as soon as we can manage to score another reservation!


3. The New Scenic Cafe

It's been a long-time goal to go to the New Scenic, but somehow we have never made it there. So when we ended up there on our Duluth Day Trip today, having lunch with our friend Julia, it seemed like karma! We were actually on our way to someplace else, but when she found out we had never been she was insistent that we go, and I am so glad she was.


It was crazy crowded when we got there, but another incident of incredible service got us seated fairly quickly.

We all had the lefse, which was good but not as good as Patrick's and mine (it was, however, very thin).


I had a salmon burger (the black brioche is done with cuttlefish ink!). Patrick also had a Norwegian salmon, and Julia had steak frites that looked beautiful.



And then a huckleberry mousse for dessert that was like nothing I have ever tasted before. I will dream of it for the rest of my life.


We spent over three hours together talking and catching up, and I will always love the New Scenic for allowing us that and providing the food and atmosphere to do so. I know people are die-hard fans, but this was really something special.

4. Bonus - cocktails at Meritage Underground

Last night we went outwith our friends Siobhan and Dan and had after-dinner drinks at the new speakeasy Meritage has opened. It still has a few kinks to work out, but the service was incredible (sensing a trend there?), the drinks were good, and it was a super-fun double date. Highly recommended!


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