Jess Fleming

4 weeks ago | twincities.com | Jess Fleming

Chef Abraham Gessesse walked into the kitchen of his Grand Avenue restaurant Hyacinth on a Wednesday in January to find his sous chef Connor Barth wearing a giant smile. “What are you so happy about?” Gessesse asked, suspiciously. Barth was shocked that the chef didn’t know — he’d been named a semifinalist for a prestigious James Beard Foundation award for Best Chef Midwest that morning.

4 weeks ago | twincities.com | Jess Fleming

Some weeks, my job is better than others. This was a great week. Last week, I hit up some of my favorite spots in St. Paul for meetings and friend hangs, but this past seven days was about a few new experiences, including a new favorite fish fry. Friday fish fry at St. Paul BrewingThis isn’t really a secret — I’ll tell anyone who asks — but I am not a fan of beer-battered fish.

1 month ago | timesdaily.com | Jess Fleming

We were just finishing up a yodeling lesson in tiny Habkern, Switzerland, when we heard the cows were coming down the mountain. kAmxE’D 2? 2??F2= EC25:E:@? — H96? E96 H62E96C DE2CED E@ EFC? 4@=5[ =@42= 72C>6CD 5C6DD E96:C 4@HD :? 8:2?E 36==D 2?5 7=@H6C 4C@H?D[ AFE @? E96:C @H? EC25:E:@?2= 4=@E9:?8[ 2?5 A2C256 E96 8:2?E[ 49@4@=2E6\3C@H? 2?:>2=D E9C@F89 E@H?]k^AmkAmxE’D 2 D:89E @FC E@FC >2?286C[ p=6I q6C86C[ 925 366? 9@A:?8 E@ D66 7@C J62CD] (6 ;FDE 92AA6?65 FA@?

1 month ago | twincities.com | Jess Fleming |Jared Kaufman

This week was all about business meetings and dining with friends. I don’t know about you, but if I’m meeting with someone for work or a project, I prefer it to be over a meal — or at least some good snacks!I hit up some of my favorite spots in St. Paul for each of these get-togethers. And bonus: Some Pi-day fun!Waldmann BreweryAfter a nearby travel meeting, we hit up this gem of a St. Paul brewery for some hearty German fare.

1 month ago | twincities.com | Jess Fleming

The life of a food writer is weird. You never know when you’ll eat something so awesome you want to shout it from the rooftops! Or even just let people know they should check it out. But until now, there’s not been a place in the Pioneer Press Eat section for a little blurb about whatever we discovered this week. Until now. We’re going to write an occasional feature we’re calling Dining Diary where we tell you about a new spot to check out or a dish that knocked our socks off.