Top 10 Foods To Try In Minnesota
Super Bowl LII will be played at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, where the high temperature on Sunday will be 6 degrees. Let me repeat that: the HIGH will be 6. That’s why the Minnesota Vikings play indoors. Nevertheless, thousands of football fans will trek to the tundra this week to see the Eagles and Patriots play for the Lombardi trophy, as well as enjoy all that the Twin Cities have to offer in the dead of winter.
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It’s not really that bad up there in February, as long as you know how to dress for the weather or never leave your hotel. But one thing definitely worth venturing out of doors for is the food. Minnesota enjoys a wealth of creative cuisine from a variety of cultures that have taken root there, from Scandinavian to Sudanese to Vietnamese. If you’re headed to Minneapolis for the game, or ever find yourself in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, here are some seriously good eats to seek out:
1. Wild Rice Soup – Did I mention that the high will be 6 degrees on Sunday?
2. Juicy Lucy – This is a personal favorite of mine. It’s an inverted cheeseburger. The cheese is on the inside. Two Minneapolis taverns, Matt’s Bar and the 5-8 Club, each claim to have invented it decades ago. The matter remains unsettled to this day.
3. Pho – Traditional Vietnamese noodle soup. 6 degrees!
4. Hotdish – Casserole made with beef or chicken, veggies, canned cream of mushroom soup, topped with Tater Tots. Classic grandma church potluck food.
5. Walleye – Ugly but tasty freshwater fish, often fried.
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6. Lefse – Norwegian tortilla topped with butter and cinnamon sugar or lingonberry jam.
7. Swedish Meatballs – Better than the ones from the big furniture store.
8. Bars – Sort of a brownie, sort of a cookie, sort of amazing.
9. Curried Goat Stew – There’s a surprising number of East and West African restaurants in and around the Twin Cities.
10. Gravlax – Raw spiced salmon. Think of it as Scandinavian sushi.
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Beverage Bonus:
If you’re 21 or over, you can order a Grain Belt Beer. Under 21, ask for 1919 Draft Root Beer.
