I know I have not been a great consistant blogger, so I probably haven’t garnered that many readers, but in case you want to know what I have been up to instead of blogging here’s the laudry list:

1. WORK: I wish it wasn’t so, but that is the reality.  It is budget time at work and that is my least favorite time, but someone has gotta do it.  With the current economy cuts are required, so there are lots of long converstations on who, what, where and when to cut.
2. MARRIAGE: Getting married is a lot of work!  Planning the details and then the “life combining” that must ensue is so time consuming.  I mean we are planning a simple wedding on the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro and then were hoping to have a simple reception in Minneapolis, but both parts have proved to be challenging.
3. NEW TOYS: I just got a beautiful blue Yamaha V-Star 650 cc motorcycle that has been getting a lot of my attention as well as a new Nikon D90 that just takes time to learn all the bells and whistles (there are a lot of them).  I also got a Garmin 305, which is a GPS enabled watch with heart rate, cadence, and mileage tracking capabilities.  Basically it is the ultimate training tool.  I mention these “toys” not as bragging points, but product recommendations, they are all great things to have and fun to use!
4. CAMPING: I went camping over Memorial Day weekend, which I know is a ways back now, to Split Rock Lighthouse State Park and it was gorgeous!  We had a beautiful hike in site right on Lake Superior.  I hope to write about some of the great local restaurants and sites we enjoyed.
5. AFRICA! We are planning a trip to Africa in just two short weeks to take care of number 2 on this list.  We are hoping to summit on July 3 and will exchange our vows at the top.  Planning this trip has taken considerable time, but it will be worth it!

Recounting this list makes me tired all over again.  I am excited about the place that this list has brought me and can’t wait to blog about Africa in a few short weeks!

Three strikes and you’re out…I have been to the newest sushi bar in Uptown, Tiger Sushi, three times now and not once have I been impressed.  Tiger Sushi is a product of suburbia, born in the Mall of America, and even before I knew that my city senses rejected the experience.  The lack of creativity, the poor quality fish and the frazzled staff just didn’t add up to a positive experience especially with Fuji Ya and Sushi Tango right nearby.

This leads me to my first big disappointment, the chef J.R. Malibirin is from Fuji Ya, yet it seems that he honed his creativity to meet the tastes of sushi virgins in the burbs.  The rolls are still tight and the presentation is beautiful, but the taste is lacking.  It could just be that Tiger needs to upgrade their sushi vendor or maybe it’s that the spice in the spicy tuna is a little mild for my city tastebuds, which have been around the block (to Fuji Ya).  The salmon roll was lacking as well with dry rice and again little flavor other than the soy sauce I was dipping it in.  I was able to try the Tiger ceviche, which was better than either of my rolls, but my expectations were not met considering the $10 price tag and the small portion.  I will give points to the wonton chips though, light, crispy with just a dash of salt- I could have eaten these without the ceviche, which was a little too sweet for me with the honey, drowning out the fish being highlighted.

My second major disappointment was no Asahi Dry on tap, how can you claim to be a Japanese restaurant and not serve this iconic Japanese beer on tap or in a bottle for that matter.  While they do have Sapporo on tap, I was disappointed that I couldn’t wash down my rolls with a nice Asahi Dry.  That being said their drink specials are one of the biggest selling points of Tiger along with being able to enjoy them out on their huge patio overlooking the Greenway.  Almost all of their drinks up until 7:00 pm are $3 and under.

My third disappointment was with the staff that seemed too busy to help me or to even be flagged down, much less remember to bring you your food.  I was out on the patio enjoying the long over due gorgeous weather and could not get the attention of a server to save my life.  So, I went inside to place my order at the bar only to find the bartender griping about everyone coming in and ordering from the bar and going back outside.  I guess I didn’t realize it was such an inconvenience to him since no one was sitting at the bar.  He refused to take my order and said that I had to order from a patio server.  I flagged down a patio server that was grabbing drinks at the bar and kindly asked her to find me outside because I wanted to place an order.  She went in and out three more times before she came over to take my order.  I certainly would have enjoyed a few more of those happy hour drinks had I been served in a timely manner.

I would say that Tiger Sushi has some work to do in adjusting to the city crowd.  I don’t think I will be heading back there unless someone else is paying and I can just enjoy the patio.

While most upstanding folks head to church on Sunday morning I was off to The Strip Club.  No, not the Seville Club or Déjà Vu, but one of the newest restaurants in St. Paul.  The brunch club was founded about six months ago now and today was the first time we ventured out of Minneapolis to meet our breakfast needs, unfortunately it was not a highlight of our breakfast tour to date.  The food was nothing to write home about and the service was appallingly bad.

The restaurant is located right off of the Mound exit and easy to find, which is a key factor in any establishment as my navigations skills are lacking.  The Strip Club is in an old building with a nice St. Paul ambiance, a small dining room simply decorated with quiet music in the background and plenty of room to move around.  We sat right by the door and I had a great view of all the happenings in the restaurant.

The morning started well with drink orders taken and menus distributed.  As soon as everyone had settled in things started to go south.  Water and coffee refills were intermittent and then the server would not refill everyone’s coffee or everyone’s water leaving you wondering when she might be back.  She took orders efficiently, but almost too efficiently, with no comments on the menu or recommendations, which was disappointing as I always enjoy a little friendly banter, and absolutely no substitutions.  Once the food was ordered we were all happy to catch up on what was new with everyone.  Being I do see many of these people often the catching up didn’t take as long as the food.  Sure we were able to find other things to talk about, but we waited an hour for our food to arrive.  The server came out once to let us know that they only had three burners and the chef was doing the best he could.

First of all, the restaurant was not very busy and we had called ahead with an even larger number then showed up.  They not only should have been prepared, but had many opportunities to warn us that it is a smaller establishment and there may be a wait.  When food finally arrived it did not arrive for all and some were still left waiting with no apology.  The food was good, but not great.  I ordered their Irish Breakfast with wild rice sausage, thick bacon, eggs, white beans in tomato sauce and toast.  I also had a side of grilled grapefruit and locally sourced Ames honey.  The meat was the highlight and was local and grass fed which I always prefer.  I especially enjoyed the very tasty wild rice sausage bursting with flavor and the wild rice added a wonderful texture.  I could have done without the beans being they didn’t have a lot of flavor and sat in a very thin, watered down tomato sauce.  The grapefruit was a disappointment as well as it was not very sweet, partially warm and in some parts very cold making for an odd taste bud experience.  Maybe I am not versed on how grilled grapefruit should taste, but I guess I was expecting more for a half of grapefruit at $4.  I also was able to nibble on the Scandinavian salmon and egg hash, which was delicious.  The light and tasty cream sauce complimented the fluffy scrambled eggs and the helping of salmon was large and flavorful.  The pancakes were very good, light yet substantial- a combination that is impressive to pull off  and the gooey maple syrup was delicious.  Unfortunately, I heard bad reviews for the loaded burger, which is disappointing for a place known for their meat.

With hunger behind us we thought we were ready to take on the bill and that’s when the experience soured.  The waitress was not able to split the tab and so brought us one large check.  We asked if the check could be split and apparently that was not possible.  This made it difficult for her and us, but being that the check was for a large group it allowed her to build in a 20% gratuity- which was not mentioned on the menu.  I felt this was unfair being that her service had been very disappointing, cold and impolite.  I am typically a good tipper, but in this situation I was not planning on 20%.  Apparently it is also not possible to pay in American Express, which further complicated our billing issues.  However, with no complaint we each put in our credit cards so she could simply split the bill equally.  We figured this would be easiest and with no creative solutions from the server thought splitting the bill equally would be best so that each person is charged the same amount.

She came back but two minutes later and said that the credit card machine could not take more than 6 credit cards per bill.  I have never heard of such an issue and this is not something we were alerted to on the menu or prior to giving the server each of our credit cards.  So we simply suggested that she split the bill into two equal bills and then charge each credit card.  This was apparently too much to handle as we waited twenty minutes for her to charge the cards.  When she brought back the receipts to be signed she simply left them on the table, no distributing them and no explanation for how she had charged the cards. After ringing up over $200 I would have expected a little more attention from the server.  Every single person’s tab was incorrect or confusing enough that we could not tell if it was correct.  Some people were overcharged others were under charged and yet others had to pay a certain amount on their credit card and then get cash back.

Many of us complained and questioned with little help from our server who seemed quite upset by the situation.  Even with several people having to get up and track down the server to get their questions answered she never came to the table and explained what had happened.  In fact we were so frustrated that some people over paid just to leave.  I have never had such an awful customer service experience where absolutely nothing was done to remedy the situation.  Everyone in the group left upset and disappointed, which is typically not the case at a Strip Club, but I would not recommend this experience to anyone!

What did you do this weekend?  A common question, but isn’t it fun when you  have an uncommon answer?  How about I ran 10 miles, kayaked 7 miles, biked 35 miles, rappelled down a 40 foot cliff and traversed across half a mile of steep terrain, and that’s just what I did yesterday!  I did my first 12 hour adventure race in Red Wing sponsored by Wild Adventure Race.  I am a marathoner, but if you want to really test your limits try adventure racing!  Not only are you physically pushing yourself, but you have to stay mentally alert to orienteer your way through 20 plus checkpoints.  As far as local races go, this is my new favorite.  Learn all about the sport at the United States Adventure Racing Association website.  That is my quick shout out to my new favorite sport!

Bikini Body may sound like it is only directed towards my female readers, but this series is for all of my readers, because guys if you ever find yourself in a situation where you are wearing a bikini you’re going to want to look good to compensate for the fact that you are wearing a bikini.  Also please note this is not just about looking good this is about becoming more healthy.  This is a comprehensive mind body makeover!

Let’s start with the mind makeover first, which means stop thinking like an American.  There are 80 million significantly overweight Americans, so eating and behaving like one will presumably make you fatter and therefore less healthy.  To help you reverse your Western psychology I have made a short list of things to start cutting back on immediately:

• red meat
• white foods (aka refined grains such as rice, bread, pasta and potatoes)
• sugary drinks and sweets
• salt
• alcohol

I know that all of the above things are your favorites, but they gotta go, along with your TV.  Getting rid of your TV will also really help you shed the American mentality since all  of the marketing guru’s behind the above “bad list” spend over $10 billion in marketing these items to you.  Besides, that TV show that you really think you need to watch is keeping you from your workout.

Another classic American pitfall is fad diets- avoid them like the plague (or swine flu for a more current example).  Diets in general don’t work, so change your mindset instead of focusing on restrictions in your diet focus on getting more of the good stuff:

• good carbs (not no carbs): whole grains, fruits, vegetables and beans
• protein from fish, poultry and nuts
• healthy fats such as olive oil and canola oil
• fiber from whole grains and vegetables
• vegetables and fruit, in all colors and varieties

Finally, simply slow down a little and think about the choices you are making and what you are putting in your body.  Always try to eat your meals at a table, your office desk doesn’t count as a table.  By taking the time to think about what you are doing you will more likely make a better choice.

Being that the focus on this blog is all things local, wherever may be local for me at any given time, it only seems appropriate that I would check out the “competition.”  The New York times recently ran a story on “Hyperlocal” websites that are replacing newspapers in some locations.  With the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the St. Paul Pioneer Press battling it out to see who will stay alive it is no wonder some are turning to the internet.  Though these sites may not offer the same news that the paper delivers to your doorstep it gives the reader an opportunity to put everything within walking distance under a microscope.

Everyblock is an innovative website that gathers data from both public and private sources and provides news updates for each and every block of your city.  So far, the site has indexed the following cities:

• Boston
• Charlotte
• Chicago
• Los Angeles
• Miami
• New York
• Philadelphia
• San Fransisco
• San Jose
• Seattle
• Washington, D.C.

So, if your city is listed…start checking out news for your street!  Meanwhile us Minnesotans will have to wait.

One site that does cover Minneapolis is outside.in, which was intriguing, however only offered information about a suspect that was nabbed after a shooting, another shooting at a somali mall, a blog entry about a morning run and then the highlight; a man who fell from the Highway 77 bridge while urinating.  Don’t worry the man was okay as his landing was a marsh area and is currently being treated for his injuries.  Being that public urination was the star story I would say outside.in has a little more work to do, but I will stay posted.

Placeblogger is another website shaping the new hyperlocal trend.  The idea behing this one is using people just like me to find out what is going on in an area, it’s a source for blogs and offers another forum for those bloggers to interact.  Placeblogger defines a place blog as a blog about the lived experience of a place.  Right now there are only 16 blogs represented on this website, not necessarily the most well rounded view of Minneapolis, but it is new.  So, keep your eye on this one and maybe my blog will make it 17 soon.

The best cure for a cold spring evening in Minnesota is a warm bowl of Birchwood tomato soup.  Alright, so the best cure is Spring temperatures instead of the extension of winter that we are currently experiencing- snow in April, yuck!  I normally would never recommend tomato soup as I am not a big fan of your regular watery tomato puree.  This was different it was a thick creamy tomato soup with a delicious sweet note added by the coconut.  It could have been served a little bit hotter, but I hate burning my tongue in anticipation of my first taste.  The icing on the cake were the delicious home-made croutons on the top that were crispy, flavorful and almost as big as a piece of bread making them great for dipping.  I am always impressed by the creative concoctions that come from the Birchwood kitchen and there is no lack of new items to try as the menu changes each week.  This is the good news and the bad news because if you really like something like their tomato soup you only have a precious week to enjoy it.

The Birchwood Cafe is tucked away in the Seward neighborhood, but ask any local and they will be able to give you directions- the location is no secret since it has been there for 13 years.  Their locally minded dishes with an emphasis on vegetarian fare make this a great choice for mixed appetites.  Birchwood also makes a great choice for a casual outing with friends or even a quick weekday lunch as it is an order at the counter, bus your own table style place.  I would recommend waiting just another week or so to really enjoy their outdoor seating.  So, if you are in the Seward neighborhood I would recommend you pop in to the Birchwood Cafe.  You won’t be disappointed in the creativity category and it offers just what it advertises: Good.  Real. Food.

It is time to sign up for your CSA!  It seems appropriate for the first Locavorista blog post to be about obtaining the bestest, freshest, most delicious local food around by helping out a farmer and purchasing a CSA!  I highly recommend Burning River Farm as Mike is a great farmer and I can speak from experience when I say he puts together one hell of a produce box each week.  Or if you are more of a carnivore save on organic, free range meat and eggs by becoming a member of Brauchers Sunshine Farm CSA.  But, before I get too far ahead of myself, I thought you might be asking yourself what is a CSA?  Well, glad you asked;

Many farms offer produce subscriptions, where buyers receive a weekly or monthly basket of produce, flowers, fruits, eggs, milk, meats, or any sort of different farm products.

A CSA, (for Community Supported Agriculture) is a way for the food buying public to create a relationship with a farm and to receive a weekly basket of produce. By making a financial commitment to a farm, people become “members” (or “shareholders,” or “subscribers”) of the CSA. Most CSA farmers prefer that members pay for the season up-front, but some farmers will accept weekly or monthly payments. Some CSAs also require that members work a small number of hours on the farm during the growing season.

A CSA season typically runs from late spring through early fall. The number of CSAs in the United States was estimated at 50 in 1990, and has since grown to over 2200.  If this is intriguing to you, which it must be if you are still reading, I would encourage you to learn more at a CSA fair.  The Seward Co-op has a great CSA Fair coming up on Saturday, April 25 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.  A CSA Fair gives you the opportunity to meet and talk to the farmers as well as find out more information about pricing, contents of each box and pick-up sites.  If even that sounds like a lot of work visit localharvest.org and do your own research, but hurry the good CSA’s are getting snapped up already.

If you aren’t convinced about the merits of CSA’s then how about the fact that the average American meal travels about 1500 miles to get from farm to fork according to the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA). So, why should you care that your meal travels so far?

• This long-distance, large-scale transportation of food consumes large quantities of fossil fuels. It is estimated that we currently put almost 10 kcal of fossil fuel energy into our food system for every 1 kcal of energy we get as food.
• Transporting food over long distances also generates great quantities of carbon dioxide emissions. Some forms of transport are more polluting than others. Airfreight generates 50 times more CO2 than sea shipping. But sea shipping is slow, and in our increasing demand for fresh food, food is increasingly being shipped by faster – and more polluting — means.
• In order to transport food long distances, much of it is picked while still unripe and then gassed to “ripen” it after transport, or it is highly processed in factories using preservatives, irradiation, and other means to keep it stable for transport and sale. Scientists are experimenting with genetic modification to produce longer-lasting, less perishable produce.

So, instead of increasing your carbon footprint, support your local farmer and subscribe to a CSA!