Stella’s Fish Cafe

Of all the things that come with summer, seafood might be one of my favorites. Living in Minnesota, there’s nothing quite like walleye season and being up at the cabin. But while lake fish are definitely a summer treat, fresh seafood is something that you also can’t get all year round (at least not as good of seafood). Grilled salmon is one of my all-time favorite summer dishes; I also tried a salmon burger from Whole Foods recently, and 10/10 would definitely recommend. But when it comes to seafood, there’s nothing quite like a beautiful outdoor patio in a trendy part of town to set the scene for what’s sure to be a delicious summer meal. If this all sounds good to you, then head to Stella’s Fish Cafe.

Stella’s is located in the heart of Uptown, right off of West Lake Street near Calhoun Square. Not only is the location great, but with a 4th floor rooftop patio, the views are pretty stellar as well (although they are accompanied by lengthy wait times on nice evenings). Like a lot of restaurants in the Uptown area, Stella’s has a somewhat multi-use, restaurant and bar type feel to it, and the different seating areas of the restaurant definitely reflect that. I would say that the views and the atmosphere of the rooftop is definitely worth the wait, as it has a vibe similar to seafood restaurants of Seattle and other port cities. Also, it has this really great saying painted on the wall:

While I’ve never been to the area, I’ve always had a feeling that I would love traveling to Cape Cod. The area is preppy, which I love, and they also have really good seafood (at least from what I hear). Because of my love for the cuisine of the East Coast, I’ve been hungering to try a lobster roll; the only issue is that in Minnesota and Iowa, lobster rolls aren’t always the easiest type of sandwich to come by. So of course, as soon as I looked at the menu at Stella’s, I knew I was going to be trying their East Coast Lobster Roll; and let me just say that it was delicious! The lobster itself was amazing, as was the bread that it was served on. It tasted light and refreshing, just as I imagined it would. They also serve really great fries at Stella’s, which is always a plus.

Now, in addition to having a great lobster roll, Stella’s menu provides a wide variety of food dishes, including sandwiches, pastas, fish tacos, salads, and sushi. You can take a peek at the menu below:

As a precursor to my lobster roll, my parents and I ordered the Hot Crab and Spinach Dip, which was incredible. I really think that you can never go wrong with an order of spinach dip (it’s my go-to half-price app at Applebee’s), but the crab added to it took it to a completely new level of delicious. The picture below doesn’t quite do it justice, but I had to capture the moment anyways. My mom was also nice enough to let me try a bite of her Fish Tacos, which were also very very tasty. The blackened tilapia was cooked just right, and the toppings on the tacos added just the right flavors.

Overall, I would say that if you’re looking for a great seafood place in the Twin Cities, Stella’s Fish Cafe should definitely be a place to try out. The menu is a little pricy for a casual night out, but it makes for a really good place to take the parents to (thanks mom and dad). As their sign says, “Good seafood isn’t cheap. Cheap seafood isn’t good”. When it comes to seafood, you get what you pay for, and Stella’s is definitely worth the price. Plus if you go out on a nice summer night and get a rooftop patio spot, the view and atmosphere are priceless. And with warm nights slowly fleeting, it’s time to take advantage of as much patio time as we possible can.

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty Something

 

 

 

 

Donut you know I love you: pt. 4

A search for the world’s greatest donut certainly isn’t complete without stopping at one donut shop that makes just about every list for “Best Donut in the Twin Cities”. While you never quite know what the selection will be like when you head to a donut shop during the middle of a weekday, I certainly lucked out when going to Mojo Monkey. No matter the day of the week or time of day, donuts are always a good idea, so keep on reading for more information on one of the best places I’ve been to so far.

Mojo Monkey is a donut shop located right outside downtown Saint Paul. It can be a little easy to miss if you don’t know exactly where you are going, especially since it is on the smaller side. Every time that I’ve been there, it hasn’t been too terribly busy, so there has been open space inside the shop, but I can imagine that on a very busy day it would be a little bit cramped. The inside is decorated with cute decor, namely a feature mosaic wall that appropriately states “yum, donuts!” (my sentiments every time I see/eat/smell donuts). The turquoise accent that can be seen on the wall is carried out in their logo, as well as throughout the shop in their signs and other small pieces.

As I mentioned, I was pleasantly surprised by the wide assortment of flavors they still had during the middle of a weekday. I’ll be honest, the task of choosing a donut flavor was rather difficult, as many of the options looked really delicious. They have a wide variety that ranges from plainer donuts to fancy and unique ones, so it really is a place that can appeal to anyone and everyone. Some of the flavors that stood out to me in particular were the Chocolate Ganache, Cookie Dough, and S’mores.

Ultimately, I did decide to go with the Cookie Dough donut, and I have zero regrets whatsoever. As you can see, it was a plain glazed donut that had chocolate frosting, a scoop of fresh cookie dough on top, and chocolate drizzle. Not only was the cake donut great, but the cookie dough was absolutely to die for! Looking at the S’mores donut, it still looks super tempting, but I just have to tell myself that there is always next time, and it’s cause for a return visit.

As I’ve been on my search for donut shops in the Twin Cities, I’ve realized that a majority of them are located in Minneapolis and not Saint Paul. So for those of you who prefer to stick with the 651, Mojo Monkey is definitely for you. Honestly even if you are from the 612, you should still visit Minneapolis’ twin and try these donuts. I would recommend going early so that you have the widest variety possible, but you can rest assured that no matter when you go during the day, they will most likely have some sort of selection to choose from.

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty Something

Donut you know I love you: pt. 3

Sadly, summer is officially over for me as classes resumed yesterday. Just because summer is over though doesn’t mean that I don’t have plenty of memories to share; this includes many posts about donut shops in the Twin Cities area, as I made it a summer goal of mine to do my research on the best donuts in the area. So please join me as I continue recapping my journey from donut shop to donut shop.

While on this journey, I made a stop at Bogart’s Doughnut Co. in the Uptown area of Minneapolis. Bogart’s is somewhere I’ve been meaning to stop at for a while now, I’ve just never made the trip. I was surprised to find out that it was much smaller on the inside than I anticipated, but granted I had only ever driven by it in passing. I loved the simple aesthetic of the shop, as there is a lot of white tiling on both the walls and floor, white marble counters, and pops of red here and there. This color scheme is introduced on the outside of the building, and is carried through all the way down to the to-go bags.

Upon walking in, I soon realized that going to Bogart’s at 11 am is most definitely not early enough if you want a full selection of donuts to choose from. But don’t fret; as long as they have some donuts left in the case, you will still be able to get an absolutely delicious donut (however I would like to stop there earlier next time just to see what others flavors they do carry). When we got there, they had their doughnut holes available, as well as lavender and chocolate cake donuts, and dark chocolate ganache.

As soon as I saw the dark chocolate ganache, I knew that I had to have it; and I have exactly zero regrets about it. The doughnut itself was fluffy and light, and it was covered with a dark chocolate that was to die for. The ganache topping was great because while it was chilled coming out of the case, it melted just the right amount in the sun. While my fingers may have been a choc0latey mess afterwards, it was completely worth it. I also paired my doughnut with boxed water, simply because it was available and it’s something that I find aesthetically pleasing in a very bougie way (the jury is still out on if it actually tastes any better, but it sure as hell looks cooler and it is better for the environment than plastic so I guess that’s a win).

So I guess for the future, I would definitely return to Bogart’s, as they had really good classic donuts. I would like to go back at a time where the selection would be larger so that I could try some of the more obscure flavors they offer like the Nutella filled doughnut or coffee cake. But I think that in a time where a lot of donut shops are making unique donuts with fancy flavors and odd toppings, Bogart’s really excels in making simple and classic donuts, which really never go out of style.

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty Something

Donut you know I love you: pt. 5

Whether you’re sleeping the days away after a long finals week or just trying to push through the last few days of the semester and make it to winter break, there’s no denying that a donut sounds pretty good right about now. I know that I’ve shared a lot of yummy donut shops with you, but I have to say that this one right here might just be one of my favorites. The name of the shop, the names of the donuts, and even the shape of the donuts may seem a little different, but they really do make SSSDUDE-NUTZ unlike anywhere else. So if you’re in the Twin Cities, no matter how close or far away winter break may seem, go treat yourself in Dinkytown with one of their delicious donuts.

The shop and the menu:

SSSDUDE-NUTZ is located on 14th Ave SE in Dinkytown, right next door to Annie’s Parlour. Unfortunately, the shop has some fresh competition right next door; Tim Hortons, the Canadian donut/coffee shop you probably recognize from HIMYM, recently opened a new location just a couple of stores over. Upon hearing this news, it made me really sad, because I really think the charm of small, locally owned, donut shops is that they are unique. I’ve never had Tim Hortons, so I can’t really speak to the quality of the donuts, but I can’t imagine them being nearly as good as SSSDUDE-NUTZ. So basically, if you’re in the area, shop local please.

In looking at the menu, the first thing you probably notice is the names of the donuts. This isn’t your average donut shop; the names certainly don’t state exactly what is on the donuts, but that’s part of the fun. Another thing to note about the donuts themselves is that they are square; and they are amazingly delicious. Because I am who I am, I of course am always drawn to the Girls Love Beyonce, but during my first visit, I decided it would be best to pick my donut based off of the donut itself, not just the name. And that led me to the case.

The case:

As you can see, their case had a wide variety of donuts to choose from, but not many left in each flavor. The shop operates on the basis that if they sell out, they close for the day. I would say that I probably went to the shop at around noon on a weekday, and this was their selection at the time. It’s important to note that on Friday and Saturday nights they do reopen at 9 PM, but especially on weekdays, you’re out of luck if they are sold out of donuts. Just from looking at the case, you can tell they have a lot of different flavor combinations to offer, and they do rotate some of their flavors each day, in addition to making special flavors every so often. But I would definitely recommend heading over there earlier in the day, just to make sure you get to try any donut that you wish!

Chloe’s pick:

As I mentioned, I decided it would be best to pick my donut off of the actual toppings, and not just because it was named after Queen B (sigh). I ended up going with a plain donut, topped with chocolate glaze, Oreos, and peanut butter, and people, let me tell you: I honestly think that this might have been one of the best donuts that I have ever tasted. It might be premature, seeing as I have yet to go to every donut shop, but I might have found one of the world’s best donuts. It was seriously SOOOO good! Between the donut itself and the combination of the toppings, I was in love. While I can’t guarantee that this exact donut will be there when you go, I would definitely recommend trying some of their other Oreo donuts like the No Flex Zone, or The 50 Tyson, which is their peanut butter cup donut. Honestly, no matter what you try, it’s sure to be delicious.

If you’re not already at home for winter break, just keep telling yourself that you will be soon, and that finals really don’t last forever, even if they feel like it. The way that I look at it is one week of stress for four weeks of freedom. So here’s to hoping that we don’t fail our finals, our professors round up, and that the curve is in our favor. And just remember that even if all else fails, there are always donuts.

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty Something

 

It’s all Greek (life) to me

I am well aware of the fact that many people have differing views on the value of membership in Sorority and Fraternity organizations in college. As a sorority woman, I fully respect everyone’s choice to participate or not participate in Greek life. I have plenty of friends who are not a part of sororities or fraternities but are very supportive of my choice to be involved in one. I also have met people who have judged me on my involvement in Greek life based on their preconceived notions of what it is. Speaking from experience, joining my sorority as a freshman was one of the most life-changing decisions that I have ever made; because of this, I have found a home away from home, I have formed lifelong friendships, and I have gained invaluable leadership experience (amongst many other things).

Going in to college, I knew three people who would be attending the same school as me, and one of them actually ended up being one of my sorority sisters. I decided to go to a school that was 4 1/2 hours from home, and while I very much wanted to go to school in a different state, leaving home still wasn’t easy. I knew that by joining a sorority, I would be able to find a place that would truly feel like home and meet people that would truly feel like family. I can easily tell you that Alpha Chi Omega has become my home away from home in a way that beyond exceeded my expectations. Not only has it provided me with a physical structure that truly feels like a second home to me, but it has provided me with friendships that feel just as close as family.

Another major reason that I wanted to go through recruitment upon entering college was to meet new people in an unfamiliar place. Essentially, I went from being an only child one day to having 150 sisters the next. I’m not going to lie; I am not best friends with every single one of my sisters. There is almost no way that 150 people are going to get along well enough to be best friends, and if someone tries to tell you otherwise they are most likely stretching the truth. However, I will say that I feel love and support from each and every one of my sisters, regardless of how close of friends we may be. Sisterhood is a special bond that is unlike anything else I’ve ever experienced; knowing that you share the same values as women who may have different interests or experiences is something that you can’t replace or replicate.

There have been many things that I have grown to appreciate throughout my time in Greek life. One of the biggest things is the leadership opportunities that it has provided me with. I have served as the Assistant Vice President of Philanthropy, and I am currently serving as the Vice President of Chapter Relations and Standards for my chapter. These leadership roles have allowed me to have a larger presence in my chapter, in my national organization, and on my college campus. Getting further involved in my chapter has given me the chance to give back to something that has provided me with so much, and that is truly one of the best feelings. Getting more involved has also let me get to know Alpha Chi Omega on a more national level by attending our National Convention, which was one of the most life changing experiences. Taking on leadership roles in my sorority has taught me how rewarding giving back can be, and it has also greatly prepared me for the future.

Going through recruitment as a freshman in college was single handedly one of the best decisions that I have made. If you are going to be a freshman in college, or are even a sophomore who is ever so slightly interested in joining Greek life, I would definitely recommend that you do. Greek life may not be for everyone, but by at least giving it a chance, you are being open to the possibility that it just might change your life. If you are someone who knows Greek life isn’t for them, I ask that you not judge others simply on their decision to be a part of an organization; instead, respect their decision just as they respect your decision not to be involved in Greek life. In college, we all make choices that shape our lives and effect who we will be for the rest of our days. Being in Greek life has been something that has greatly impacted my life, and I am confident that it can impact yours as well.

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty Something

But oh, those summer *whites*

We all know the saying: no white after labor day. That means from today, you have 3 1/2 weeks to wear all of the white your little heart desires. Now, when it comes to fashion, it’s definitely good to take risks and bend the rules here and there. So you want to wear your white jeans in October? I say go for it. You have a beautiful white ballerina skirt that you want to wear in April? Do it. But when it comes to wearing a head-to-toe all white outfit, it might be best for you to save that for summer. So in honor of there being a limited time to rock it, here’s how I styled my summer whites.

I think that since you have a limited time to wear all white, it’s fun to play around with different outfit combinations. One idea is to wear white denim with a white top (maybe even off-the-shoulder this season). It’s also fun to pair colored or metallic shoes with all white to add a little bit of flare. But sometimes, you’re required to wear all-white attire for a special meeting or function, which is where I got the inspiration for this outfit. Just make sure that you don’t wear anything like this to a wedding!

Dress:

 

This white eyelet dress is from J. Crew. I love how it has a simple silhouette and then the added detail of the flutter sleeves. It’s a perfect light-weight dress for the summer, and it is great for all-day wear. I originally saw this dress in a brick red color as I was out shopping for a white dress; as soon as I saw they had it in white as well, I was sold. This dress is perfect for many different occasions. I first wore it to a business type meeting at my sorority’s national convention earlier this summer. While it is a great piece to wear in a business environment, it is also casual enough to wear out to a lunch and shopping date on any day of the week. Although not pictured, it also has a cute keyhole back with a gold button clasp at the top.

Shoes:

Like I noted above, I think its fun to pair an all-white ensemble with fun shoes. For my convention meeting, we were required to wear white or nude shoes, so I wore a pair of white, leather, peep-toe heels. But for fun, I paired this outfit with a pair of silver wedges. These wedges are Calvin Klein, and were actually the first pair of wedges I ever owned. They have stayed in really good condition over the years, I do have to say. I like how these wedges have the rope lining on the wedge, and I like the shape and design of the straps on top. The color is also great because the silver can dress a simple outfit up, or just compliment an already dressy outfit.

Necklace:

I’ll be the first to admit it: this necklace looks slightly off-white compared to the dress. I know. But the thing with wearing all white, is that the whites might not always match. I’m not saying to pair cream with white, but I am saying that some whites are brighter than others, and that’s okay. This petal statement necklace is from J. Crew, and is one of my favorite statement necklaces that I own. I always get compliments on it, and I love how sparkly it is in person. It’s also great that it is white in color, because that allows me to wear it with a lot of different outfits.

As the summer wraps up and autumn begins, it’s time to start transitioning our wardrobes to warmer fabrics and hues. But before we move on from summer completely, wear the white in your wardrobe while you have the chance. And if you’re ever looking for photo ops, try taking pictures in front of a colorful or patterned wall like this one outside of a store called I Like You in Minneapolis. Just remember that summer isn’t over until it gets cooler, and your white clothes can be worn as long as you want.

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty Something

And it was all yellow

While most light and bright colors remind me of summer, I think yellow is the one color that says summer like nothing else. It’s the color of the sun, it’s the color of lemonade, and it’s the color of sunflowers, which just so happen to be in bloom right now. This past Saturday, I spent the morning at the Mill City Farmer’s Market in downtown Minneapolis. While I was there, I picked up a beautiful bouquet of sunflowers. I also bought some delicious focaccia bread that had fresh grape tomatoes and mozzarella cheese baked into it (seriously, might be the best bread ever). Spending weekend mornings at farmer’s markets is a family tradition with my parents, and we have been going to different ones since I was little. Shopping at farmer’s markets is a great way to get fresh produce and flowers in the summer, and most also have lots of yummy treats at them as well. And since they aren’t open all year round, you better take advantage of summer farmer’s markets while you can!

Yellow also happens to be the color of an adorable jumpsuit that I recently bought and ended up wearing to the farmer’s market. I loved how the yellow sunflowers looked with the jumpsuit, so of course I had to utilize them in my pictures. Keep on reading for further outfit details.

Jumpsuit:

This yellow floral jumpsuit is from Primp. I’ve got to admit, I was really hesitant to try it on at first. I thought that color was cute, and I liked the idea of a wide leg pant, but I just wasn’t sure how it would look on or if I could pull it off. Once I tried it on, I ended up absolutely loving it. I like how the silhouette has a vintage feel to it. I also really like the shape of the back, I think it makes it really unique. And then of course there’s the wide leg aspect of the pants, which I really really enjoy. Jumpsuits are definitely in right now, as is a wide leg/flare bottom, so this will be the perfect outfit to wear the rest of the summer and into the fall. In one way, a jumpsuit is kind of like a long romper, so if you haven’t tried one yet but love rompers, I would highly recommend trying some on.

Shoes:

These suede, nude, two-strap sandals are Steve Madden. The style name is Darcie, and I recently bought them at Macy’s. I love how they have a low chunky heel, this makes them perfect for a casual outfit or for going out in the evening. They also have fringe tassels on the back zipper, which I think is adorable. This style of sandal is really in right now, and the suede is a great way to be able to transition them from summer to fall. The color is also neutral, which means that they can go with almost anything.

Accessories:

This simple gold circle necklace is from Primp. I just bought it, but it has quickly become one of those staples that you can wear with anything and everything because of how simple it is. I also paired the outfit with two gold cuffs, both from J. Crew. One is a solid gold, while the other is more of a brushed gold with 3D white circles lining the top. And of course the ultimate accessory was my bouquet of beautiful sunflowers that I bought at the farmer’s market. I kept my accessories simple in order to draw attention to the jumpsuit itself because it has a cute pattern and a unique shape.

This outfit was great for the farmer’s market because the color was summery, the loose pants were nice and breezy, and the low heels were easy and comfortable to walk around the market in. Before summer ends, you should definitely make it a priority to head out to your local farmer’s market. Not only will you have fun shopping for seasonal fresh foods, but you can make a little picnic out of your finds afterwards. It’s a great place to have on your summer bucket list, and now that it’s August, it’s time to start checking off those boxes. And while buying sunflowers while you’re there is completely up to you, I would recommend getting them while you can!

Photo idea creds to my best friend, Brooke

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty Something