Recent content from Nicole Hvidsten
12 great new burgers to try in the Twin Cities area
Chefs are bringing their beefy best to the table, and burger lovers are better for it.
First look: Khue's Kitchen is right at home in St. Paul
Eric Pham's longtime pop-up is setting down roots with a bold, modern take on the Vietnamese dishes he grew up eating.
Restaurant openings and closings in the Twin Cities
What's open, what's closed and what's still to come in the Twin Cities and beyond.
Minnesota restaurant and Detroit Lakes area sculptures make Time's 'World's Greatest Places' list
It's the latest accolade for Vinai, chef Yia Vang's ode to his family's Hmong cooking, and a boon to artist Thomas Dambo's sprawling exhibit.
What are Minnesota's best fast-food fish sandwiches? We grade 12.
The Taste editor and the intern go head to head and tackle the local Lenten sandwich staples. Opinions — and stamina — differ.
How two Minnesota sisters became the Food Dolls – and an internet sensation
Alia and Radwa Elkaffas create easy-to-follow recipes that blend their Egyptian heritage and Midwestern upbringing. Their debut cookbook is out now.
Chi-Chi's announces first two Minnesota locations as part of its comeback
Plus: Korean barbecue and hotpot chain to open first Minnesota location in Maple Grove, a sandwich pop-up at Surly and more.
The 5 best things our food writers ate this week
Housemade animal crackers, Spam sliders, a sushi pop-up, nostalgic hot turkey sandwiches and more made for fun times.
Savor these 18 cozy wine bars across the Twin Cities area
Intimacy is built into the DNA of these cozy spaces – all centered around something special in the glass.
How becoming an empty nester changed the way I cook
Two new cookbooks helped me right-size my recipes, and after a little kitchen recalibration, our table for two just got a lot more delicious.
The best dishes we ate at Minnesota's 11 James Beard semifinalist restaurants
Want to check out the Minnesota eateries on this year's long list? Make these menu items part of your order to get a taste of each of these places' distinct flavor and flair.
If you're thinking of changing your cookware because of PFAS concerns, we have tips
Cooks are taking a hard look at their nonstick pans now that a Minnesota law banning the sale of products with PFAS is on the books.
Meet Minnesota's next generation of chefs — they're still in high school
These 11 culinary masters are part of the state's ProStart program, which teaches students about the restaurant business as part of their school day.
The 5 best things our food writers ate this week
An eclectic week of eating great sandwiches, pork belly platters, sushi and pancakes alongside "the world's best hash browns."
5 great meatless recipes to work into your rotation
Make eating more vegetable-forward meals a yearlong habit, not just a holiday resolution.
Bar Siena brings fresh pasta and pizza to downtown Hopkins
First look: The popular pop-up is now a popular Italian American family restaurant in the suburb, which has a growing culinary scene.
The 5 best things our food writers ate this week
A chilly week had us in pursuit of cozy comforts: pasta and Coneys at neighborhood spots, a new suburban pho place and a love letter to a Minnesota cocktail.
9 great meatless handhelds in Twin Cities-area restaurants right now
Whether you're looking to eat less meat or just want a really good sandwich, these are some of our current menu favorites.
Chef Jorge Guzmán and Petite Leon sever ties
The restaurant adds an employee ownership plan as its founding chef moves on to focus on Chilango and other projects.
The 5 best things our food writers ate this week
An excellent smash burger, egg sandwich, loaded fries and gold-star roasted vegetables at a chef-driven restaurant were some of this week's great finds.
Burch fans rejoice: The steakhouse is coming back. Sort of.
Isaac Becker and Nancy St. Pierre will open a new iteration of their beloved Minneapolis restaurant this spring.
7 Twin Cities area restaurant closings so far in 2025
Say farewell to plant-based burgers, a downtown sports bar, a Stillwater distillery and more.
The world's best cinnamon rolls are at Isles Bun & Coffee
A website dedicated to the mission called out the Minneapolis icon's sweet treats.
The Star Tribune's 10 most popular food and restaurant stories of 2024
Readers put their own spin on hot dish, closely followed the Twin Cities restaurant scene, had a taste of nostalgia and really wanted to know about the new State Fair foods.
The 5 best things our food writers ate in 2024
A stunning cup of affogato, unforgettable barbecue and evenings soaking in delicious surroundings: here's what stood out this year.
11 food (and food-adjacent) books from Minnesota authors to scoop up
From cooking, baking and cocktails to great reads for cold winter days, consider these books from local writers.
The 5 best things our food writers ate this week
Lefse-wrapped Swedish wontons, a soothing bowl of rice porridge and a gravy-laden commercial filled our week with comfort and warmth.
Swedish meatballs are having a moment in Twin Cities restaurants
The traditional holiday mainstay is being championed and reinvented by local eateries.
5 new baking books for holiday gift giving
Great for all levels of bakers, you may want to buy one for yourself, too.
Buying eggnog? It can be a holiday kitchen helper, too
Use it for cocktails, breakfast and even in Swedish meatballs. (Trust us.)
The winning recipes for the 2024 Minnesota Star Tribune Holiday Cookie Contest
This year's winning batch is colorful, cozy, fun and, of course, delicious.
Taste this year's cookie winners today at Southdale
The Minnesota Star Tribune's Cookie Wonderland will get you excited for the holiday baking season.
Behind the scenes of the Star Tribune's cookie contest
It takes several days and a cast of elves to make the annual contest happen.
Chi-Chi's Mexican is staging a comeback after 20 years
The first locations of the Tex-Mex chain reboot will be in Minnesota.
22 Twin Cities area restaurants marking milestones this year
Celebrating classic steakhouses, pad thai, al pastor and local burger chains.
6 restaurant openings and 4 closings to know about in the Twin Cities area
In other restaurant news: Chef Gavin Kaysen makes power rankings and a local baker is on Hulu's "Cake Toppers."
The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Bargain happy hour sliders, empanadas that deserve your attention plus top-notch gyros, cozy chicken Parm pasta and a new breakfast spot.
Celebrate (and taste) the winners of the 2024 Star Tribune Holiday Cookie Contest
We have five winning cookies, and you can taste them before you bake them at our improved Cookie Wonderland event Dec. 5.
5 brunch recipes to have on hand for entertaining season
Fuel yourself and your guests with recipes like slow-cooker omelets, brunch burgers and a sweet take on bruschetta.
'Ultimate Minnesota Cookie Book' showcases 100 holiday contest favorites
We talk to Rick Nelson and Lee Svitak Dean about their 20 years at the helm of the Star Tribune's cookie contest.
Now it's soup weather. Try these 4 easy recipes
New cookbooks provide the inspiration we need to embrace the crisp autumn air.
The 5 best desserts our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
In honor of National Dessert Day on Oct. 14, we went on the hunt for sweetness and found plenty of it.
Meet Minnesota's champion of Latin American culture and cuisine
Amalia Moreno-Damgaard considers herself a cultural ambassador, and she uses food to tell her story.
The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Sushi, burrito bowls, short stacks and more were on our minds as we ate our way through the metro.
New local cookbook alert: '100 Afternoon Sweets' is a snacking paradise
Sarah Kieffer's latest book solves the issue of the midafternoon doldrums in the sweetest way.
There's still time to enter the Minnesota Star Tribune Holiday Cookie Contest
The weather might feel like summer, but it's time to start embracing the holiday spirit.
The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Our favorite bites — brunch skillet, hot dogs, rice bowl fiesta, ice cream and a new cocktail — will take you from morning to late night and through all corners of the metro.
Happy fall: 41 Twin Cities-area apple orchards that are ripe for picking
From daylong adventures with entertainment to quiet moments in nature, there's an orchard that suits your fall needs.
Local chefs share fall apple recipes
From fancy pork chops to fried apple pies, there's no limit to what you can do with Minnesota apples.
TV dinners: Try these recipes from your favorite shows
Win over your boss with Ted Lasso biscuits, impress like Julia Child and whip up the omelet from "The Bear."
The 2024 Minnesota Star Tribune Holiday Cookie Contest is now open
Attention bakers: Get those creative juices flowing; this could be your year.
Get the scoop on new Minnesota ice creams
From dreamy gelatos to rich and creamy small-batch ice creams, here are the latest local labels to enter the frozen-treat world.
Hot honey is a key ingredient in this blue ribbon-winning salsa recipe
The new State Fair contest rallies around Minnesota-grown tomatoes and takes off from there.
Minnesotan shines spotlight on State Fair in popular television cooking competition
An artist and baker from Walker is the first Minnesotan to compete in "The Great American Baking Show."
What it's like to be on 'The Great American Baking Show'
Minnesota baker Nicole Aufderhar, the first Minnesotan to compete on the show, talks about life in the tent and the spotlight.
Recipe: Celebration of Fall Bundt Cake
Minnesota baker Nicole Aufderhar plans to enter a version of this cake in this year's State Fair.
The Star Tribune's lip balm flavor for this year's State Fair is ...
Pucker up for this flavor, a tribute to a quintessential Minnesota summer dessert.
The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
The pursuit of great frickle pizza, eggs Benedict, pad Thai and more led us across the metro.
Got zucchini? Here are 4 new recipes to try
A savory zucchini bread is among the ways to enjoy this prolific garden staple.
Le Creuset is bringing secret dinner series to Minneapolis
But don't ask for details — everything, including the location, is kept under wraps until the day before.
The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Appetizers, pizza and an elevated daiquiri cocktail were among the stars of this week's best bites and sips.
The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities this week
Checking out a hot chicken place, brewing company, Italian bistro, health-conscious eatery and a sun-filled coffee shop.
These 5 Twin Cities area spots offer gourmet delights for summer picnics
Whether a romantic outing, playdate with the kids or a grassy hang with friends, there's a basket for you.
The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities and beyond this week
A new location of a favorite restaurant, sampling at the Taste of Minnesota, crêpes for Bastille Day and pizza in Lake Country made for an eclectic – and delicious – week.
How six months in France changed this Minnesota food writer's life
In his new memoir, Steve Hoffman shares the lessons he learned about food, wine and himself while living in a small French village with his family.
The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
The best ice cream, empanadas and croffles the Taste team ate this week.
The 5 best sandwiches our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Do sandwiches taste better when someone else makes them? We test that theory as we tried a fresh batch of restaurants, food trucks and farmers market stands.
Inside Hodgepodge, the new food truck at Fridley's Forgotten Star Brewing
A partnership between the food blog Fit Foodie Finds and Forgotten Star aims to change the way we eat at breweries.
3 new grilling recipes just in time for Father's Day
Shake up your backyard barbecue routine with marinated shrimp, charred bok choy salad and grilled plum dessert.
Lake Elmo Inn will open restaurant in St. Paul's Union Depot
1881 by Lake Elmo is a nod to the year both the historic restaurant and the original train station opened.
The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
There was shrimp-stuffed bánh xèo, Italian-style brunch, pizza in a grocery store, snacks along the Mississippi and a biscuit revolution as we add food trucks and farmers markets to our weekly stops.
Did Bundt cake originate in Minnesota?
The ring-shaped desserts have been a hit with bakers since the Bundt pan's debut in the 1950s.
The 5 best things our food writers ate in the Twin Cities area this week
Among our best bites: Stumbling across a steak sandwich, a wine bar with top-notch boards, cocktails with a kick and a taste of nostalgia in the form of cardamom buns and fish and chips (but not together).
Why a rural Minnesota food blogger thinks you'll love her new 'elevated church cookbook'
Julie Evink has taken a page from her successful recipe website and wrote a cookbook that focuses on making mealtimes easier.
