Hot and Fresh Out the *Farmers Market*

Hello. It’s me. I was wondering if after all these months you’d like to read a post.

It’s surely been a while since my last blog post. Time really does get away from you with a busy school schedule, busy Netflix schedule (kidding, but also not really), and then a busy internship schedule. But if I’ve taken anything away from this busy Spring/Summer, it’s the importance of taking time for yourself. Now of course, there’s a lot of different ways to refuel yourself, and for me, I actually prefer to be with other people when I take time for myself. I know, it sounds odd, but give me a chance to explain.

One of my favorite ways to give back to myself is through yoga. After taking my 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training course this past year, I am officially a certified yoga teacher (humble brag). And while teaching is super rewarding, there’s nothing more fulfilling than taking a good yoga class and really being present in the moment. If there’s anything yoga has taught me, it’s the importance of showing up and being present in everything that you do. In fact, one of my favorite quotes is “be messy and complicated and afraid and show up anyways” (it’s even been my Twitter AND Instagram bio quote, go figure). But I’m really not here to give you a big lecture about the yamas and the niyamas; I’m actually not here to lecture you about yoga at all.

There’s a lot of different ways to be with other people and feel like you are taking time for yourself. It’s as simple as spending time with friends completely engulfed in your conversation. Or going shopping for a day with no intent to buy anything in particular and no time frame (although truth be told, these are usually the trips where I end up spending the most). But one of my personal favorite ways to give back to myself in the Summer is by going to the farmers market.

Over the past month, I’ve gone to 5 different farmers markets; slowly, this has become my Saturday morning ritual. But this is nothing new for me. Growing up, my parents went to the farmers market in Downtown Saint Paul every Saturday (before CHS Field was even a place, but still, go Saints). I would always come with to get stuffed animals and these really good bagels that were grilled instead of toasted, but I really think I took the experience for granted. To this day, my parents continue to go weekly, picking up farm fresh produce for the week that’s better than anything you could find at Whole Foods. But it wasn’t until the past couple of years that I’ve really taken to roaming around farmers markets for fun. And the biggest draw for me? The food, which is the obvious focus of this post. So without further ado, here are the farmers markets I’ve frequented in the past month, and the delicious food I’ve had along the way.

Weeks 1 & 4: Freight House Farmers Market – Davenport, Iowa

Spending the summer in Davenport, my roommates and I have done our very best to take our free time to explore the Quad Cities. One of our favorite Saturday morning (or early afternoon if it’s a rough one) places is the farmers market in downtown Davenport. The market is right on the Mississippi, and there’s lots of fresh produce, live music, art, and the real reason to go, food trucks. One food truck in particular has captured my heart (or I guess, my stomach): Streets of Italy.

Guys, look at that pizza. If it doesn’t make your mouth water, I don’t know what to say. If you know me semi-well, you know I’m obsessed with Punch Pizza. And while nothing can ever truly top my classic Punch Mimi, this might be a close second. This personal-sized wood-fired pizza is called the Hulk. It’s topped with olive oil, mozzarella, basil, and pesto. And it’s really truly delicious. The last place I ever expected to find amazing wood-fired pizza was at the Davenport farmers market, but alas, here it is. And other markets could really take a note from Streets of Italy; I, for one, would be a loyal customer.

Week 2: Dane Country Farmers Market – Madison, Wisconsin

My first trip to Madison was perfect. It was the first place I’ve ever been that wasn’t the Twin Cities or Iowa City where I ran into friends without any planning whatsoever. It was also the first place I’ve ever been that had a farmers market with a location that could compete with some of the ones in the Twin Cities. The market is surrounding the Wisconsin Capitol building, and it certainly was busy. One of the funniest things for me was that there is a literal flow of traffic there; if you try to go the wrong way, there’s basically no getting anywhere. Half of the experience is just walking around and taking it all in, even if you don’t buy anything.

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In addition to the beautiful location, there was lots of great food (obviously lots of cheese), flowers, music, and produce. I started off the morning with the most delicious cinnamon roll and a smoothie, perfect for a sunny and hot day filled with walking. On the list of great food was Stella’s Bakery, which had a huge selection of fresh baked breads (no surprise that I loved it). The line was long, but it was definitely worth looking around the case and picking up a pretzel.

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Week 3: Mill City Farmers Market – Minneapolis, Minnesota

While the Downtown Saint Paul Farmers Market will always be the OG and the market my dad goes to at 6:30 am every weekend (not sure why/how he does it), my favorite market in the Twin Cities is Mill City. It’s much less of a produce market, but it has a lot more to do, and the view is unlike anything else. To be completely honest, the Mill City/Stone Arch/Northeast area of Minneapolis will always be my favorite area, so I might be a bit biased. But you really can’t go wrong with a market that overlooks the Mississippi (especially in Minnesota, sorry Quad Cities).

In true fashion of that area, the Mill City Farmers Market is very urban. What they lack in fresh produce, they more than make up for in beautiful bouquets of flowers, food trucks, fresh pressed juices, and bakeries. Always a classic when they are in season, you can’t go wrong getting a bouquet of sunflowers (or my favorite, peonies). While you’re there, you also definitely need to stop by one of the bakeries. During my brief 36-hour stint in the Twin Cities, I stopped at Solomon’s Bakery’s tent to pick up a delicious chocolate croissant, and a giant lemon macaroon with fresh raspberries along the outside (sadly, not pictured).

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Now, the beauty of Mill City, is that once you have had enough, you can go explore the area. You might take a walk along the Stone Arch Bridge (my favorite bridge, because who doesn’t have one of those), head over the Gold Medal Park and just lounge around, walk over to North Loop, explore the views from the Guthrie; the options are really endless. But no matter what you do, you can’t really go wrong because you’re in downtown Minneapolis (can you sense the homesickness through whatever device you’re reading this on?)

Farmers markets come in all shapes and sizes, with a wide variety of goods and things to do. But if you haven’t explored your local one, 10/10 would recommend putting it on your summer bucket list and making it one of the boxes you actually check off. I promise that you won’t regret it. You might even find that it’s a pretty relaxing way to take a morning and do something for yourself. Because in the end, isn’t that really what Summer is for? Or at least the weekends if you don’t get a true Summer. So if you’re looking for me on a Saturday morning, you now know where you can find me!

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty Something

 

Black: Coffee and Waffle Bar

When it comes to meals, there’s no doubt in my mind that brunch is my favorite one. I’ll admit that it probably has to do with the fact that you get to sleep in and still eat breakfast food, but regardless, a classic Sunday brunch is something that I will never turn down. While there are many great brunch spots in the Twin Cities, you sometimes have to pick a place based on what type of food you are feeling that mid-morning. And if waffles are what you are hungering for, there’s no better place to go than Black: Coffee and Waffle Bar.

 

Black opened its first location a couple of years ago on Como Ave, and I fell in love with it right away. Especially when it first opened, it had a very hipster feel to it, which high school Chloe very much loved, despite her innate preppiness. Over time, it has become a classic go-to for weekend brunches, and I am so excited about their new location on Marshall Ave. Depending on the time or day, you might have to wait a while to get your waffle, but the wait is well worth it in the end.

 

While you can certainly get waffles at many different restaurants, you can rarely find the assortment that Black offers in regards to toppings. You can choose from one of their 8 signature waffles, or else you can build your own with a wide assortment of toppings to choose from. Black also offers a great selection of hot and cold drinks; I always love the designs that are made in their hot chocolates, but they also make great seasonal lemonades in the summer that I also adore. Below are my personal favorite waffles on their menu.

S’more:

 

The S’more waffle was the very first one that I tried at Black, and I have to admit that it might just be my all time favorite. It is topped with chocolate chips, marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate drizzle. You just can never go wrong with a s’more in general, especially not when all of the ingredients are atop a waffle.

Fat Andrew:

 

The Fat Andrew is one that I’ve only tried more recently, but it is absolutely magical (honestly, truly). The Fat Andrew is topped with peanut butter, powered sugar, cinnamon, bananas, and whipped cream. The peanut butter and cinnamon combination is amazing, and the combined bananas will make you want to come back for more.

Naughty Waffle:

 

The Naughty Waffle is a little something different than what I normally get, but it tastes great because of the fresh fruit that it is topped with. The full list of toppings include strawberries, bananas, blueberries, almond butter, granola, and whipped cream. This is my mom’s personal favorite, and I do have to admit that it probably photographs the best of all.

What makes Black so cool is not only that the waffles are topped with so many yummy things, but the presentation of the waffles is also very aesthetically pleasing (no wonder you’ll always see people post pics of their waffles). I truly believe that when you are doing brunch, you can do no wrong wherever you go. But I do have to say that I love Black a whole brunch, and if you’re ever craving waffles, it really is the place to go.

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty Something

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

 

Sebastian Joe’s

Minnesota has a reputation for being rather cold all year round; I’m here to tell those of you who don’t already know, this is far from true. Especially during the months of July and August, Minnesota gets hot. And after a long day in the heat, what better way to cool off than going out for ice cream? I’ve never given much thought as to where my favorite place to get ice cream in the Twin Cities is because I feel like my regular places all have their own special traits. Some are great because of the amount of ice cream you get for a really low price, others are great because of the wide array of toppings and combinations. But if I had to pick my favorite ice cream shop based solely on the ice cream flavors, I would have to pick Sebastain Joe’s because it is home to my absolute favorite flavor of ice cream in the whole wide world: Flavor Formerly Known as Nicollet Avenue Pothole.

My ice cream was melting, I told you Minnesota gets hot!

Sebastian Joe’s is an ice cream and coffee shop with two locations in Minneapolis. One location is in Lowry Hill, while the other is near Lake Harriet (Linden Hills neighborhood). With both locations being in the Uptown area, I only thought it fitting to wear my Minneapolis neighborhood tee from Primp:

I’ve been going to Sebastian Joe’s with my parents since I was little, and thank goodness they introduced me to such a delicious place. Like most ice cream shops, it’s often filled with people of all ages, and the menu has flavors that appeal to everyone. More often than not, you’ll have to wait in line for your ice cream, especially if you go on a summer night, but the line moves quickly and the wait is more than worth it. Both locations also have great outdoor areas with lots of seating to enjoy your ice cream before it all melts. Sebastian Joe’s is open all year round, and while it may be busier in the summer months, you can fulfill your ice cream cravings there when it is negative 20 degrees outside as well, which I just think is really really great (plus the menu changes seasonally).

As I mentioned, my go-to and all time favorite flavor of ice cream is called Flavor Formerly Known as Nicollet Avenue Pothole. It’s a chocolate ice cream, with Heath bits, caramel, fudge truffles, and sea salt mixed in. If really chocolatey ice cream isn’t quite your thing, don’t worry; there’s lots of other great flavors. If you like caramel and chocolate, try Pavarotti. This is my Mom’s favorite, and it is a vanilla flavored ice cream with chocolate chips, bananas, and caramel. Another great flavor is the Chocolate Cinnamon Pretzel, which is exactly what it sounds like. If you’re more of a sorbet person like my Dad, you’ll love their more fruity flavors like Mango or Key Lime. While some flavors are regulars, the menu changes by the day, and you really can’t go wrong with any flavor that you try.

I’m not super picky when it comes to ice cream, I just usually tend to gravitate towards the really chocolatey flavors. You really can’t go wrong with any ice cream shop in the Twin Cities, but if you haven’t been to Sebastian Joe’s and are looking to try new flavors, I would highly recommend trying it out. So go out and enjoy a cup or a cone, and try to stay cool in the summer heat!

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty Something

Pizza that packs a Punch

I want to start by saying that I’ve never met a piece of Margherita pizza that I didn’t like. If I go out for pizza, I’m more than likely to get a Margherita (or something awfully similar to it), which means that I’ve had a lot. And as I share with you my favorite pizza spot in the Twin Cities, I’m not arguing that this is the best pizza ever; it’s just simply my favorite pizza ever. This magical pizza place I’m sharing with you today is known as Punch Pizza.

My friends actually have a running joke that if they ask me where I want to eat, Punch will be one of the first places I suggest (and they are not wrong). Whenever I have out-of-state friends visit me in Minnesota, I think it’s very important that they try Punch. And that’s exactly why I’m sharing this post with you today, because I strongly feel that everyone should experience Punch Pizza at least once in their lifetime.

There are many things that make Punch great, but one of the biggest things for me is how fresh their pizza is. I truly feel that although there are many other restaurants with wood-fired pizza, no one quite does it like Punch. Their catch phrase is 800 degrees for 90 seconds. You can tell that the pizza is wood-fired; not in a weird “my pizza tastes like wood kind of way”, but because it does have a smoky flavor to it. And I’m not really sure why other wood-fired pizzas don’t taste the same to me, but I guess once you’ve tasted greatness everything else is just a little mediocre in comparison.

Another really unique thing about Punch is how they pride their pizzas on being authentic to Italia. As an Instagram follower, I know that Punch travels to Italy every year to find new ways to make their pizzas taste even more authentic. So when they say “Neapolitan Pizza”, they really truly mean it. I think that this is another reason why I’m always drawn to Punch, and why it tastes different than other pizza places.

Of course, just because a pizza is authentic doesn’t ensure that it tastes good. But please believe me when I say that Punch Pizza tastes better than good, it tastes amazing. Punch offers a wide variety of pizzas, salads, and desserts. Their focaccia bread is also to die for. With their pizzas, you can choose one with pre-selected toppings, or you can choose to add toppings of your own in a customized fashion. I guarantee that you cannot go wrong with whatever you choose, but just in case you don’t know where to begin, I’d like to share my favorite pizzas with you.

When I first started going to Punch, I would always get the Margherita Extra pizza. This pizza is one step up from their regular Margherita pizza, as they add their mozzarella di bufala cheese and Mt. Vesuvio tomatoes. And for anyone who loves a good old-fashion Margherita pizza, either of these are great options. But for someone looking for similar toppings with a little bit of flare, I would suggest you try the Mimi.

After the first time I tried the Mimi, my life was forever changed (or at least my order at Punch was forever changed). Pictured below, the Mimi is listed under the Pizza Bianco section of their menu, which means that the pizzas have fresh mozzarella and no crushed tomatoes. While all of the pizzas under this heading are a little different, I would argue that the Mimi exists in a world of its own. The Mimi is a pizza where all of the toppings are added on after the dough is baked. These toppings include grape tomatoes, basil, mozzarella, olive oil, and garlic. I think that because the toppings are added on after, the freshness level is really amped up. And while it’s really hard to get through a whole pizza without losing a piece or two of the toppings, it’s definitely worth it.

Punch Pizza has 9 locations in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas, and they are currently adding more locations as well. I would highly recommend Punch to anyone who loves pizza and is looking for new restaurants to try (so basically everyone). And while I would suggest trying the Mimi, you really can’t go wrong with any of their pizzas. Trying their pizza is definitely a punch you will want to take (again and again), and I even saved my last slice for you!

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty Something

Donut you know I love you: pt. 2

Summer break has officially begun, which means that I am back home in the Twin Cities for the summer; this means regaining my accent, shopping local, and of course eating at all of my favorite Minnesotan restaurants. To start off, I am introducing the second part of my series “Donut you know I love you”, which features different donut shops (in case you forgot, I’m on the search for the world’s greatest donut). As soon as I got home, I of course had to hit up my favorite place for donuts in the Twin Cities, Glam Doll Donuts.

The Shop:

It’s impossible to go to Glam Doll without noticing the adorable vintage outside. The theme is carried through on the inside as well, with vintage furniture, an old photo booth, and in the names of the donuts themselves. Besides the fact that their donuts taste great, I think a big part of why I love Glam Doll so much is because of its unique and ultra-cute theme.

The Menu:

While their menu does change every so often, Glam Doll does have certain donut types that they serve on the daily. As you’ll see from the picture below, they all have very fun names that have a pin-up flair to them. The donuts range in flavor, from fruity sweet to salty bacon, and they also feature a variety of cake, glazed, and filled donuts. You’ll also notice a really good price point, where the donuts range from $1.50-$3.00; trust me, you’ll want to buy at least two for yourself, and maybe a cafe drink as well like a mocha or hot chocolate.

The Case:

Despite having a posted menu, Glam Doll also gives donut descriptions for each donut in their case. In addition to all of the normal donuts they serve, Glam Doll has a separate case for vegan versions of their most popular donuts; while the selection is a little smaller, it’s really great that they offer vegan options, because most donut shops don’t.

Chloe’s Picks:

Having been to Glam Doll a couple of times, I have quickly found my favorite donuts. Although I’m sure they are great, I avoid the donuts with bacon and Surly beer since I don’t eat bacon, so I usually go for the chocolatey and sweet options. My two personal favorite donuts are pictured below, and they are the Calendar Girl and the Cosmopolitan Girl. Now, if I said I didn’t order the Cosmo Girl for the first time simply because of the name, I might be lying. But with a peanut butter and chocolate combo, you really can’t go wrong. The same goes for the chocolate and caramel combination that is the Calendar Girl. I also love Glam Doll’s hot chocolate, so I tend to pick up a cup of that when I am there as well, unless of course it’s during the summer.

 

Glam Doll Donuts is currently located in Minneapolis off of Nicollet Ave S, but just recently there has been news that they plan on opening a second location in Northeast Minneapolis. No matter which location you go to, I highly recommend trying out Glam Doll the next time you are looking for breakfast, brunch, or even a late night snack (they stay open until 1 am on Fridays and Saturdays). Between the pin-up vintage theme, great prices, and delicious donuts, you really can’t go wrong with Glam Doll.

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty Something

Donut you know I love you: pt. 1

Welcome to part one (of who knows how many) of a little series that I like to call “Donut you know I love you”. We can all agree that donuts are totally the “in” sweet right now; cupcakes and macaroons had their time to shine, but now we’re on to bigger and better treats. With all of this hype surrounding donuts, I’ve noticed a rapid increase in the number of donut shops, which has led me on my journey to discover the world’s greatest donut. Now, as much as I love the OG donut shop (aka Krispy Kreme), the world’s greatest donut is most certainly not going to be a boring old glazed one. Honestly, donuts with sprinkles won’t even make the cut here; we are talking full-fledged, gourmet donuts with filling, toppings, and so much more. So if you’ll come with me, we will begin this journey at an Iowa City area favorite of mine: Hurts Donut.

We will start with the name; Hurts Donut. Funny right? It’s like the joke that kids in elementary school tell. Except if you ask someone in the Iowa City area if they want a Hurts Donut, they are expecting an actual donut from an actual donut shop, not a punch to the arm. Anywhere with a pun-ny name is a place I can get down with, so that’s probably why I love Hurts so much.

Who am I kidding, the reason I love Hurts is not because of the name, it’s because of how delicious their donuts are. And also how cheap they are. And also how many different kinds there are. And also how delicious they are (this needed to be said twice for emphasis). Oh I almost forgot this too; they are open “25/8”. No lie, you can get donuts from Hurts anytime of the day, and you can bet that yours truly has been there at some odd hours of the day/night. So I’ve given you all of these reasons why Hurts is so great, and now you probably just want to see some of their donuts, right? Well good things come to those who wait, so let’s talk pricing first.

Even though the individual donut price is good, it isn’t nearly as impressive as the price for a box of them. This might just be an individual opinion because who buys one donut at a time, but whatever. Each donut costs between $2-3 depending on the type; glazed donuts are cheaper than ones with toppings, but also definitely not as delicious. You can also get a box of 6 donuts for either $6 or $10, or you can get a dozen donuts for either $12 or $15. The lower prices reflect letting Hurts pick your donuts for you, and the higher prices reflect you choosing your own variety. But basically, you can get 12 donuts for $1 each; that’s a good freaking deal.

Now on to what really matters: variety and deliciousness. I’ll start by saying I’ve been to Hurts quite a few times since they opened this past winter, and every time I’ve gone in I’ve seen a new kind of donut. They consistently have a wide variety, and although there are some constant classics, many of the types rotate and vary by day. Here’s a picture of the donut case from a recent Hurts run:

I always make it my goal to try a new kind of donut when I go there; this is made difficult when they are all so good and you find favorites, but c’est la vie. I’ve found that the best way to try new kinds are simply by buying a dozen and then sharing with friends (or not sharing, but that’s A LOT of donuts). Below is a recap of just one possible dozen combination you might try:

Donut types listed from left to right, back to front: Sea-Salt Caramel, Worms in Dirt, Cookie Monster, Jesus (aka my favorite because it has cinnamon sugar and caramel), M&M, Butterfinger, Andes Mint, Pink Lemonade, Cosmic Brownie, Peanut Butter Cup, Frosted Animal Cracker, and Salted Peanut Butter Chocolate

Despite the slight bias that can be seen through my description, my roommates and I can assure you that you can’t go wrong with any donut from Hurts. They have a wide selection of filled donuts, including cookie dough, jam, or Nutella (the love of my filled-donut life, see below). Hurts also has a selection of cereal topped donuts cleverly named “Cereal Killers”. I am not personally a fan of cereal, but I know lots of people who love these donuts. In all honesty, I haven’t heard of a donut from Hurts that someone doesn’t like.

I would tell you to take my word for how good Hurts is, but I really feel that Hurts Donut is something everyone should experience for themselves. Thanks for following along on the first stop of my journey, I look forward to sharing more donut shops with you in the future. After all, I’ve got a long list of shops to visit and a large sweet tooth to satisfy.

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty Something