The hands that feed us: Workers at the Minnesota State Fair

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Every year crowds of people head to the Minnesota State Fair, thinking about the food they’ll eat, the rides they’ll take and the people they’ll watch. But how often do we notice the people who make this whole thing happen? From the people who make and serve us the food, to the ride operators, to the folks who clean up after us — who’s working behind the scenes at the fair? This photo essay is just a start in telling the story of the many people who work behind the scenes to give us the Minnesota State Fair. Continue Reading

TC Spotlight | Urban agriculture in the Twin Cities

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For this week’s TC Spotlight, we decided to keep the outdoor summer theme and shine a spotlight on the ever-growing urban agriculture movement in the Twin Cities.Urban agriculture comes in various forms and benefits urban communities in many ways. Urban farms provide fresh local food sources and economic development, and they create a space for social interaction, neighborhood beautification, and engagement. Below we’ve highlight just a few of the many organizations that specialize in urban agriculture and how you can support them. Feel free to use the comment section to chime in on your favorite sources of local produce and all things urban agriculture.Related articles and info:Twin Cities Farmers want city officials to do more for urban farmsMiracles Can Happen Celebrates Launch of Giving Garden north MinneapolisCommunity Garden Day, September 13Youth Farm128 West 33rd Street, Suite 2, Minneapolis, MN 55408 | 612-872-4226 Youth Farm specializes in youth development and leadership through the cultivation and selling of food in five communities in the Twin Cities. Youth Farm is a non-profit organization offering year-round programs, meeting participants at their level of development and challenging and growing with them.To gain a better understanding of Youth Farm and the programs it offers the communities, come on out to the annual Neighborhood Harvest Festivals taking place in each of the five neighborhood location this week. Continue Reading

Minneapolis Taco Tour draws a crowd to Lake Street

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East Lake Street hosted the Taco Tour, an event highlighting  the flavors of Latino food on Saturday, June 28. Fifteen restaurants along Lake Street — from Gorditas el Gordo near 35W to El Norteño, close to the Mississippi — participated in the event. Diana Flores, Event Production Manager, said, “We expected around 900 participants, but we got 2,500.”Taco Tour participants received two free taco tickets to specific restaurants, and they could walk, take a (bilingual) tour-guided bike ride, or hop on a school bus to collect their tacos. Taco Tour diners filled school buses at the K-Mart parking lot starting at 11 am, and the buses circulated up and down East Lake Street, making stops at the 15 restaurants on the route until 5 pm.The Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) and the City of Minneapolis sponsored the Taco Tour as a way to celebrate the Latino district and its restaurants. Event organizers were overwhelmed by the response to the event. Continue Reading

TC Weekend | Twin Cities Jazz Fest, Twin Cities Pride Fest, Beer Dabbler, MN Food Truck Fair and more!

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Updated: 6/27/2014 2:19 pm Can you believe we’re almost at the end of June? Time flies, so spend it wisely — get out and enjoy some of the outdoor happenings around the cities. This weekend offers two big festivals — the Twin Cities Pride Fest in Minneapolis and the Twin Cities Jazz Fest in Saint Paul, along with other fun happenings around town. Just like the last couple of weekends, this weekend might be a bit wet so plan accordingly.See this weekend’s lineup below, and use the comment section or email tcweekend@tcdailyplanet.net to let us know about an event in your community.  Music and Movies in the Park, June 27 – 28 Music and Movies in the Park is celebrating over 100 years of free entertainment in Minneapolis parks with 250 free concerts and movies taking place this summer. Bring a chair or blanket, some snacks and some bug spray and enjoy a night in the park. Continue Reading

Hilltop Korean grocery store has an élite secret

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Central Plaza Shopping Center, at 45th and Central Ave. in the landlocked town of Hilltop, is a great place to go for food. Drive down the narrow parking lot and you’ll pass Pooja Indian Groceries, Mike’s Discount Foods, Hilltop Liquor and Tasty Pizza before you get to the separate building housing Dong Yang Oriental Foods and Deli If you are looking for Korean or Japanese ingredients, you’ll probably find them here.One regular customer, a young woman named Vicki (no last name) had brought a friend, looking for what she called ‘lazy day food.’ Vicki’s heritage is Vietnamese, she said, but she loves Korean food. “You should try the mochi,” she told me, referring to the gooey dessert cakes made from sticky rice and filled with ice cream in the store’s freezer cases.”I am not usually fond of sweets, but they remind me of my childhood.” Continue Reading