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Finding Nirvana at Gandhi Mahal
June 01, 2011
by freelance writer Courtney Algeo
I have no idea why many people are too timid in the palette to dive into some Indian food face first. Indian food is so complex and delicious. Those who haven’t eaten it have no idea what they are missing out on. Similarly, those who enjoy Indian food and haven’t eaten at Gandhi Mahal on East Lake Street are missing out on a whole new level of Indian food deliciousness.
Perhaps I’m doing this review wrong, because at Gandhi Mahal instead ordering something new that I had never tried before, I ordered my favorite Indian dish, Delhi Tikka Masala with chicken. I couldn’t help it! Such an amazing combination of flavors in general–chicken in a spicy tomato and yoghurt sauce–the dish at Gandhi Mahal went above and beyond my already lofty expectations for this particular meal. Served in a bowl that holds much more meal mass than meets the eye, the dish comes with some very aromatic basmati rice. In addition to the Delhi Chicken Tikka Masala, I ordered a glass of their house white wine and, to start, some of their tasty seasonal Fish Pakora.
The atmosphere of the restaurant is warm and welcoming. The walls are decorated with colorful tapestries that look especially enchanting at sunset. There is a small stage near the front door where live music is played during evening hours, Wednesday through Sunday.
Hidden around the corner of 27th avenue from Lake Street, Gandhi Mahal might be my new favorite restaurant for slightly special occasions, or maybe just for payday dinners. However, although the prices don’t seem low enough for daily dining–my dish cost $14, and our love of Tandoori bread set us back $12 (it’s so good)–the portions will leave you with enough food for dinner at the restaurant and lunch the next day at work.
Everything was delicious and delightful, down to the owner and Executive Chef, Ruhel Islam, surveying the scene with a smile on his face, waving Goodbye to us after our meal as we left.
Aside from how delicious their food is, I can offer you the following two pieces of important information about Gandhi Mahal: there is a lunch buffet between 11:30am and 3pm, and yes, they deliver.
Gandhi Mahal
612.729.5222
3009 27th Ave. South, Minneapolis 55406
A Life on Lake Street: Carol Blair of Soderberg’s
May 25, 2011
From delivering flowers as a first date with her now-husband to buying the store in the 1970s, Soderberg’s Floral at 33rd & Lake was at the center of Carol Blair’s life for decades. Hear what it was like!
A Countryman’s Platter at Guayaquil
May 17, 2011
by Courtney Algeo, freelance writer and food critic extraordinaire
Although I tend to eat a lot of Mexican and Mexican-inspired foodstuffs, I recently realized that I’ve never intentionally sought out other types of Latin American delicacies. Rather than sitting around all day trying to figure out why this is, I immediately decided to remedy this issue, and at the suggestion of a friend, dined at Guayaquil at Lake St. and Bloomington Ave.
A simple Ecuadorian restaurant of modest decoration and awesome (I suspect) weekend karaoke offerings after 9 p.m., Guayaquil is almost hidden by all of the hubbub and bright colored buildings in the Phillips area of Lake Street. Despite its ability to blend in, I wouldn’t recommend overlooking this lovely gastronomical gem.
Having never sat down to an Ecuadorian feast, I wasn’t sure what to order. Sure, Guayaquil had plenty of safe, same-old offerings like fried rice and fajitas, but I wanted something adventurous – though not so adventurous as the items which included tripe. I wanted something new, that would knock my socks off and burn the name Guayaquil, and a map of South America, onto my belly. Under the menu heading “Especialidades de la Casa” one item caused for me the room to grow quiet, and my vision to tunnel: Bandeja Paisa. A dish that hails typically from Columbia, Bandeja Paisa is described in the Guayaquil menu as a “countryman’s platter of fried pork, fried egg, fried sweet plantain, an arepa (corn cake) and avocado with beans and rice.” Though not a countryman, I am pretty much always interested in fried pork and avocados.
I feel that typically $13 is a lot to spend on a dish that is mainly beans and rice, but the amount of food that filled my plate was definitely in proportion to the price. Despite being hungry, and a hearty eater, I found myself unable to finish the meal. This was actually a good thing; I was able to relive parts of the meal later, while rummaging through my fridge for a late-night snack. Pro tip: Always, always take home your leftovers.
The fried pork served was actually two different cuts of pork. One cut was more like a pork strip, while the other was literally just a slab of fried fat and was unbelievably delicious. The fried egg was neither too drippy, nor rubbery and added to the richness of the fried meat. While the rice and beans were pretty standard, the arepa was a nice addition to the typical starches, and the fruits offered a break from the heaviness of the rest of the dish.
In fact, the meal was so rich and filling that I am pretty sure that a lazybones like me probably doesn’t deserve (as far as caloric intake goes) such a rich, delicious meal of fats and starches. Of course, that’s never stopped me before.
Guayaquil
1526 E Lake St
Minneapolis, MN 55407
612.722.2344
Best of the Cities 2011
April 20, 2011
We’re always excited when the City Pages Best Of awards drop. They’re always a good reminder of all the fantastic stuff all around us. And this year we’re doubly happy to see that a Lake Street area neighborhood, Lyn-Lake, won the best neighborhood award.
It’s easy to become a resident; there are plenty of duplexes and apartments for rent, many just rundown enough to be affordable without crossing the line into scary. Parking is pretty easy, the neighbors are mostly friendly, and the business district can’t be beat.
But that’s not all! Read on for the full list of love shown to the Lake Street area this year, with more awards than you can count on your fingers.
Best Neighborhood – Lyn-Lake
Best New Restaurant – Heidi’s, 2903 Lyndale Ave. S.
Best Outdoor Dining - moto-i, 2940 Lyndale Ave. S.
Best Ethiopian Restaurant – T’s Place, 2713 E. Lake St.
Best Restaurant for Romance – Barbette, 1600 W. Lake St.
Best Italian Restaurant – Il Gatto, 3001 Hennepin Ave. S.
Best Cheap Eats – La Loma Tamales, Midtown Global Market & Mercado Central
Best Cocktail Name – Trust Me Baby at Amore Victoria, 1601 W. Lake St.
Best Bloody Mary – Burger Jones, 3200 W. Lake St.
Best Free Activity – Free Ink Day at Highpoint Center for Printmaking, 912 W. Lake St.
Best Place to Buy Vinyl – Hymie’s Vintage Records, 3820 E. Lake St.
Best Art Gallery – Cult Status Gallery, 2913 Harriet Ave. S.
Best Bowling Alley – Bryant Lake Bowl, 810 W. Lake St.
Best Coffee – Peace Coffee, 2801 21st Ave. S.
Best Tattoo Parlor – Leviticus Tattoo, 4109 E. Lake St.
Best Store for Sex Toys – Smitten Kitten, 3010 Lyndale Ave. S.
Best Wine Store – Lake Wine & Spirits, 404 W. Lake St.
Best Liquor Store – Chicago Lake Liquors, 825 E. Lake St.
Reader’s Choices
Best Neighborhood Bar: Merlin’s Rest, Best Sushi: Fuji Ya, Best Beach & Place to Run: Lake Calhoun, Best Bike Trail: Midtown Greenway
Honorable Mention
Best Mexican Restaurant – Salsa a la Salsa on Nicollet, but they have a Midtown Global Market spot too!
Taco Salad Monday?
April 11, 2011
Guest post from Courtney Algeo, contributor at the blog All The Tacos I Have Loved
True confession: Until Monday I’d never had a taco salad. Why? Because when I go for a taco I am essentially saying, “Yes, I would like about three handfulls of meat. Radishes on the side.” When I go for a salad, that’s a totally different story. That is a time when I am essentially saying, “I’m feeling kind of gross lately.” It had never occurred to me to stop compartmentalizing my eating until Monday when a friend said to me, “Come get taco salad. It’s Taco Salad Monday at La Loma in the Midtown Global Market on Lake Street.”
Okay, I know that Taco Salad Monday doesn’t have quite the same ring to it as Taco Tuesday, but cheap tacos is cheap tacos no matter what it’s called.
But wait – does a taco salad qualify as tacos?
Let’s see:
A tortilla shell? Yes.
The taco salad at La Loma does come in a bowl that is forged of a delicious hard tortilla shell. But wait, don’t I hate hard shell tacos? Yes. I’m not particularly a fan of the hard shell style tacos. However, this tortilla bowl was really tasty, and because I could chip away the sides to dip into the filling, I avoided my most feared hard shell taco pitfall: cut up gums.
Are the insides delicious? Yes.
Now, I don’t know about taco salads you’ve had, but this particular taco salad was a little confusing, as what filled the tortilla bowl was all sorts of goodness that I usually expect (and delightfully receive) from a burrito. The taco salad contained: pinto beans, rice, steak, lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, and picked jalapeños.
Personally, I find “taco salad” to be a misnomer, but I guess the name has got everything to do with not what’s on the inside, but rather the outside. Tacos are a shallow food. I guess that if I got any food that came in a curvilinear hard or soft shell I would call it a taco. The bowl counts.
On Mondays the taco salad is only $5.39. It is a taco. And a salad.
I’ll have to return for Taco Thursdays at La Loma – which is actually a tamales place, so I’ll definitely have to go back for those.
Ohhh! One quick note about Midtown Global Market.
I’m originally from Philadelphia, where we have the Reading Terminal Market – which is amazing and a totally fun place to spend the afternoon. The Midtown Global Market is pretty similar, and has a bunch of amazing places to eat, including Los Ocampos where I bought and reviewed my first Minneapolis tacos (they also have awesome horchata).
And, though it’s not a taco, MGM also has this amazing pastry place called Salty Tart. AND now that I have a car I give a hoot about this part: MGM will validate your parking for THREE righteous hours while you hang there.
Party on.
The Grand Tour of Hymie’s Vintage Records
March 30, 2011
Hymie’s is one of those unique small businesses that makes Lake Street great. Specializing in vinyl and 45s, this store has been around for decades, and just last year completed a move to a great new location at 39th & Lake. And now they’re expanding and holding a big outdoor street festival! We stopped by for the grand tour, and were in for quite the treat. Hear from owner Dave Hoenack as he shows us around and explains what makes Hymie’s great:
Lake Wine & Spirits ... and Cheese
February 14, 2011
It’s called Lake Wine & Spirits but did you know that they have an extensive cheese shop too? We paid a visit and asked Ken, one of their expert cheesemongers, to give us give us a good look and show off a few of his favorite cheeses. Check it out!
Stan Saterstrom of Narum’s Shoes remembers his store
November 02, 2010
Stan Saterstrom and his brother-in-law took over Narum’s Shoes from their father-in-law, and ran it for 40 years until it closed in 1986. He remembers the store, his customers, and the Chicago-Lake business community.
Oral History with Harvey Winje
October 14, 2010
Harvey Winje: Lifetime South Minneapolis resident, editor of The Alley newspaper, and now oral historian! Here, he talks about the bikes, cars, and tractors that were part of his Lake Street experience growing up.
Council Member Glidden Tours Lake Street Businesses
September 20, 2010
by Joyce Wisdom, Lake Street Council executive director
On Friday, September 17, Elizabeth Glidden and Lake Street Council staff, Joyce Wisdom and ZoeAna Martinez, took a whirlwind tour of some of the Lake Street businesses in the Eighth Ward.
First stop was The Dental Emergency Room at 707 East Lake, where they were greeted by Amelia Moreno, manager. The slogan there is “let us be the reason behind your smile.” While no one in the group stopped for dental care, there was much reason to smile. The Dental Emergency Room has been open since May 2009 and has seen considerable growth in their business. They have plans to expand at their location, adding additional treatment rooms. Everyone agreed that their success is an indicator of the need for professional services like theirs in this community.
Next up was El Amor Fashion at 511 East Lake Street. This is a family operation like so many others on Lake Street. While the matriarch of the family, Alicia, helped a customer find just the right wedding apparel, her husband Estevan, son Steven, and preschool granddaughter Esmeralda shared stories about their family business and its 10 years on Lake Street.
The group then paid a visit to Tamer Azzazi and Mike Jones at World of Wireless. Tamer Azzazi now has four locations, two on Lake Street and two in St. Paul. They closed a Bloomington location after opening at 505 East Lake, and are pleased that many of the Bloomington customers now come to this location. Add to those loyal customers the many neighborhood residents who have found their products and service here worthwhile and the World of Wireless business is continuing to grow.
Council Member Glidden was really enjoying the tour. She knows many of the businesses and owners in her Ward, but most enjoys opportunities like this to just visit in a rare open couple of hours on a Friday afternoon…but the tour wasn’t over yet. It was time to sit a minute, and enjoy a little Somali spiced tea at the newly open Safari Restaurant at 3010 4th Ave. S. Met by Jamal Hashi, on the run from his Global Market location, the group was impressed with the improvements Mr. Hashi has made to this property. He has quite the plan to keep both the restaurant and larger event space busy. Council Member Glidden commented on how pleased and supportive the neighborhood is to have such a responsible restaurateur here on 4th Avenue.
Carniceria La Huazteca owner, Alfredo Zagal, really welcomed Council Member Glidden at his location in one of Lake Street’s many urban malls, this one located at 419 East Lake. Mr. Zagal and Council Member Glidden became acquainted when Lake Street Council worked with Council Member Glidden, Mr. Zagal and other small grocers and community partners to revise the specialty grocers license so these businesses could continue to thrive and grow in our communities. Mr. Zagal noted that his business has grown 40% since those changes have gone into effect.
Last stop and lunch was at Los Ocampo, 809 East Lake Street. Council Member Glidden told Lilia Ocampo that she eats here often and loves the food. It is authentic Mexican and real quality. The talking seemed to slow down here as the group began to enjoy the food. What better way to end the tour!
