I love meeting other bloggers in person (though sometimes it does smack a little of blind dates… It’s weird meeting people you *think* you know from reading their blogs. Remember when I met all those fabulous bloggers at the Foodbuzz First Annual Blogger Festival last year, or when I met Evelyne in Montreal or Véronique and Kate in Paris?
Well when I found out that I was going to Minneapolis for a conference, I immediately thought of meeting up with the elusive Tracey from Tangled Noodle. (I say “elusive” because try as I might, I couldn’t find out what she looked like through her site and actually had to ask her to email me a picture of herself so I might recognise her!). Since much of my time in the city was taken up with the conference (with the odd trip to Target!), brunch before I flew out on Sunday seemed like the best option. Tracey was excited to suggest Hell’s Kitchen, a Minneapolis landmark restaurant with an extremely interesting and lengthy menu that I pored over for ages online yet was still unable to make a quick choice come ordering time!!! Everything sounded so tempting.
(logo courtesy HK website)
We met in the lobby of my hotel (gee, this really does sound like a dating story!!!) and thankfully, she looks exactly like her picture. She immediately recognised me – I don’t know if that is a good or bad thing 😉 Conversation flowed easily as we walked to the restaurant and I am sure we were both sighing with relief that we would not be stuck for something to say! (ahem – THREE hours later, we only parted because I had a room to check out of and a flight to catch!).
Hell’s Kitchen is quirky to say the least. Servers were dressed in their pajamas (apparently it’s a Sunday thing) and there was live music in one part of the cavernous underground restaurant. There seemed to be endless rooms and we were seated in a room full of people yet it wasn’t noisy and you could easily have a conversation without raising your voice or straining to hear (yes, Dad, those observations are for you. We would be able to go there with you!).
It must have taken us a good half hour to decide on what we were ordering. Actually it took ME a good half hour – Tracey had already decided on the Lemon Ricotta Hotcakes “made with freshly grated lemon zest and whole milk ricotta cheese, served with fresh berries and pure maple syrup” ($9.25).
Beautiful presentation and enough to share, this was scrumptious (I had a few bites!). Light and fluffy, they made a nice change to regular pancakes and I loved the zesty lemon flavour!
Me, I hesitated between a number of dishes but ended up settling for two that our server heartily approved of as being representative of the restaurant. First up, Toasted Sausage Bread. Yes, you read it right – sausage bread. Described as “a deliciously dense bread made with [their] own bison sausage, toasted walnuts, black currants, black coffee and spices.” ($3.25). This was out of this world. Dense and moist and sweet and salty all at the same time.
I savoured it by itself, then with some whipped butter and figured things couldn’t get better until I tried Hell’s Kitchen’s Homemade Peanut Butter. Oh. My. Gourmet Magazine raved about it on National Public Radio, according to the menu, and I can see why. This was quite possibly the best peanut butter I have ever had.
Look at it up close…
Tracey encouraged me to try the Mahnomin Porridge, described as “native, harvested wild rice from the Leech Lake Band of Ojibway. Served warm with roasted hazelnuts, dried blueberries, sweetened cranberries, heavy cream and pure maple syrup.” I had the cup (about an actual cup’s worth) for $3.75. I really enjoyed this – definitely an unusual choice for me since I am not really into big dairy at breakfast (much less heated dairy products) but I found it very refreshing and loved the crunch of the rice combined with the soft sweetness of the berries. Not sure I could have managed a whle bowl of this but I loved the cup’s worth!
And so over coffee after coffee, we sat and chatted. And chatted some more. We could have gone on chatting for a lot longer too, I suspect! it’s great to meet people who not only share your interests (food and writing) but who can also understand the things all food bloggers think about. Stats, readership, the tech side of blogging, posting, commenting etc.. All that good stuff bloggers love to chat about when they get together!
Thanks Tracey for a fun brunch – what a nice way to end my visit! Readers – if you are ever in Minneapolis, you should definitely get in touch with her – she is as sweet and smart as she sounds on her blog and then some!
Isn’t it wonderful all the kind people you meet over the blog world? The food looks wonderful, especially the homemade peanut butter over toast.
Well and I can’t wait to meet YOU in NYC in May!
Everything looks good. Finally, I know what Tracey looks like and we can meet up when you come home to the Philippines. Mardi, it’s nice that you were able to meet up with her. 😀
Yes we also chatted about you Divina (as being the “big blogger” in the Philippines!!! You’re famous you know!
Maybe I should resurrect my blog so I can go on blind dates with friendly, charming women as well…. 🙂
Haha! Well considering the meal you had on Friday night, I think you don’t need a blog to have a good time 😉
Mr Neil
I’m not sure your white cane will do the trick…
Well if you read what a spectacular dinner Neil threw when I was away today you will see he clearly doesn’t need to be a blogger to have a good time!
I can’t tell you how excited I was to meet you! That we got along so famously was the frosting on the cake. So pleased that you enjoyed HK and I’m hoping that you’ll be back in Minneapolis again; otherwise, I may just have to come knocking at your door (I want that gnocchi!)
Thanks for this great re-cap – I’m getting hungry all over again!
Thanks for brunch – so much fun! And you are welcome in Toronto anytime!
wow what a delicious meal and fun meet-up!
Indeed it was!
You were in my neck of the woods! Looks like you ladies had a fabulous meal in Minneapolis 🙂 Next time, the 3 of us should meet up!
Yes, we actually talked about you – did you feel your ears burning? 😉 All good, of course! I doubt I will be in Minneapolis again soon but you should definitely connect with Tracey next time you are home!
Come to Orlando!
Would love to – unfortunately I tend to go where conferences dictate… Will definitely look you up if I am ever in Orlando!
Oh, how fun that you got to meet Tracey (and thanks for posting a picture)! And your brunch looks so delicious!
Haha! Yes, her cover is blown!!!! Brunch was delicious and we also chatted about how we wish we could develop recipes as well as you!!!
How fun for the two of you!
That sausage bread sounds amazing.
Love the final pic.
LL
Yes the sausage bread was incredible. Tracey has the cookbook and I think I might have to get the recipe from her!
What a fantastic breakfast! Wayne would really like the sausage bread.
Oh he would indeed. Might try to get the recipe for our reunion this spring!
I’m already so suspicious of sausages already, without people going and sneaking them into bread as well. Having said that, it does look damn good although they have missed an alliteration opportunity by not calling it Bison Bread.
We have conferences in Perth too, you know.
HAHA! Yes, I know you have conferences in Perth but it’s a bit far, no? And seriously – can I still call you my friend if you are suspicious of sausages? What’s that all about then? You would have LOVED this… And yes, they missed an excellent alliteration op!
I want to go on a blogger blind date, you lucky girl!
🙂 That would be fun!
Wow! How fun to travel and meet some of the people behind the blogs! Wonderful.
Yes it is actually really cool to meet the people you feel like you already know!
there’s a hell’s kitchen here in Vancouver BC too!
Yes but I am pretty sure it’s not part of a chain, unfortunately!
That is SO fun you had a little blogger meet up. looks like you guys had a delicious meal and great company! so fun! 🙂
Yes it was a great all-round experience for sure!
I love Hell’s Kitchen and I too can never decide. But I am quite able to put down a bowl of their porridge…anytime! Glad you had fun in my old stomping ground.
Glad I could bring back some happy memories for you!
Hi Mardi,
I didn’t even know you moved your blog to WP. I was wondering why my reader was “out dated”. Good to know you’re still blogging!!
Sorry – it’s hard to make sure everyone moves over with you!
That peanut butter is so chunky it looks like satay sauce!
Oooh yes – that would be a GREAT one to use in satay sauce!
What a cute story! It does look like a blind date though :o) – I’m glad you had a good time, because it can be odd, very unusual meal, quite curious about the sausage bread…
Yes it can be weird meeting people that you “know” from online but every single blogger I have met has been wonderful!
Hehe that’s so true about it being like a blind date! 😀 Mmmm it sounds wonderful and I love the sound of the sausage bread! 😮
Yes the sausage bread was most intriguing!
That is awesome! I love the look of that pancake and don’t mind trying Mahnomin Porridge.
Yes the porridge was pretty amazing actually – and I am not really a porridge kind of girl!
I always enjoy meeting bloggers who I “know” online! Loved reading all about Hell’s Kitchen. You have me wanting to go hop on a plane so that I can be there for breakfast tomorrow!
Well Jen I am SO excited to meet you in June! Can’t wait!
i actually really enjoy meeting fellow food bloggers. it’s great to put a face to a blog! and we’ve created some great friendships through meeting them. the foodbuzz blogger festival was fantastic. i’m already set to go again this november! hopefully we’ll get to meet and chat this time around 🙂
Hi Krissy – I really hope I get to come to the FBZ festival again this year… Would love to meet you!
What a wonderful post. I could tell you enjoyed yourself. The food look wonderful I wish I could have reached in to taste it. Also you are right Tracey does seem like a very nice person.
Oh it was so much fun! Definitely kindred spirits!
I am SO jealous that Tracey got to meet you in person and you got to meet her! Sigh. Someday. The restaurant sounds fabulous!
It was a lot of fun and the restaurant was amazing!