Jason DeRusha

6 days ago | jasonderusha.com | Jason DeRusha

SPYHOUSE COFFEE ROASTERS: National-caliber roasters, Spyhouse has very well-trained staff and the company creates delicate, beautiful roasts. BACKSTORY COFFEE ROASTERS: Backstory is the most beautiful coffee shop in the North Loop. Flora and greenery abound, luxe finishes, soaring ceilings. AND they’re really good roasters - they’ve been doing it in St. Paul since 2012. UP COFFEE: Zero vibes, great people, connected to the roastery, some of my absolute favorite coffee roasts in the state.

1 week ago | minnesotamonthly.com | Jason DeRusha

Another Minnesota guy goes to Naples: What a shocker! When I interviewed him for my DeRusha Eats podcast a couple weeks ago, Chef Gavin Kaysen teased that some big things were coming, and today the first announcement dropped. Kaysen is the chef partner of the new Four Seasons Resort in southeastern Florida, the Naples Beach Club. His forthcoming restaurant will be called The Merchant Room, a name he said he originally thought about using for what became Spoon and Stable a decade ago.

1 week ago | jasonderusha.com | Jason DeRusha

SO: Here are some gift ideas that don’t suck, with a focus on Minnesota gift ideas. Paris Dining Club: We do this monthly at-home dinner party from an amazing culinary team. Jamie Malone has curated some beautiful glassware and cookware as well: https://www.parisdiningclub.com/all/mothers-dayLaune Bread Subscription: Beautiful breads, get a loaf every week, you pick up, subscribe for a month.

2 weeks ago | minnesotamonthly.com | Jason DeRusha

Bad timing, no parking, too much competition? Hard to know what did in North Loop Galley, which will serve its final meals on Saturday, May 10. CEO Chad Ellingboe pointed to COVID-19 as a factor as well. “When we opened in December of 2019, we saw some immediate success and were riding that high as we approached spring of 2020, but as we all know things took a turn for the worst,” he told me.

3 weeks ago | minnesotamonthly.com | Jason DeRusha

It’s been a po’boy shop, a burger bar, private event space, pop-up bar called Balloon Emporium—the team behind Mr. Paul’s Supper Club on the Minneapolis/Edina border have tried a lot of different things in the 20-seat back room. Bring on the clowns and circuses, because Carnival Bar feels right. We were invited to sample through the drinks and food at this Thursday-Friday-Saturday-only situation, with an entrance in the plaza/alley behind the Nolan Mains complex.