Summer Outing with a Blissful Twist
On a recent, beautiful late-summer afternoon, a team-building IN OUTing morphed into a deliciously lovely surprise.
The event started with everyone dividing into two teams and going over a list of clues that would set us out on a scavenger hunt throughout our beloved North Loop neighborhood. From Spy House to Free House to Haus Salon… a “house” theme emerged.
Our teams finally converged at a rooftop patio adorned with flowers and décor for a surprise “Bridal Bash for Beth” (and our “groom” of a guest, Jared)! The gathering was complete with fun, games, prizes, and an appetizing array of savory eats — we never miss an opportunity to create a beautiful food spread and test trending flavor combos.
Cheers to sleuthINg and to Beth + Jared (September 2023)!
Street Corn & Chorizo Flatbread
Servings: 8
Ingredients
Sauce:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon lime juice fresh
- 1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Lime zest
Toppings:
- 2 ears of fresh corn
- ½ lb. chorizo sausage, cooked/crumbled
- 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
Base:
Garnish:
- Queso Blanco cheese
- Cilantro, fresh
Instructions
- Make the sauce: Combine all of the sauce ingredients and then set aside.
- Grill the corn for 8-10 minutes, cool and cut corn from cobs
- Grill flatbreads for a minute per side
- Assemble flatbreads: Portion and spread sauce on each flatbread, top with grilled corn, chorizo and Monterey Jack cheese.
- Heat flatbreads on grill or in oven until cheese is melted
- Top with fresh cilantro and Queso Blanco crumbles
Popular Patios
With warm weather upon us, we asked the IN team to share their favorite outdoor dining spots. It was tough work, but someone had to do it. Read on for our top picks!
MAGGIE ALT-LEWIS | Psycho Suzie’s
A tropical escape in the heart of Minneapolis — it’s so cool! I love the aesthetic, fun drinks and good food. What more could you want?
MITCHELL BRANDT | Galloway Grill (Springfield, MO)
With the greenway trail running alongside the patio, Galloway Grill has just about the best outdoor dining area in Springfield. Their giant, delicious chicken wings and classic, craveable burgers make it our go-to spot for summer dinners.
BETSY DENUCCIO | Saint Paul Brewing
I love the long courtyard backed by the ruins of an old building. It’s filled with eclectic chairs, tables, art, and plants along with different types of bonfires — one made within a canoe! There is so much to take in over beer and delicious pizza.
ALYSSA LILLIE | Maynards
This is such a fun summer spot to people watch and take in some great lake views. The menu has something for everyone.
LORI PAYNE | W.A. Frost
It’s such a charming spot and it really gives you European vibes. And of course the food is simply outstanding.
ANNABELLE PAQUIN | Grandma’s Saloon & Grill (Duluth, MN)
Even amidst the bustling Canal Park, Grandma’s patio offers a haven of tranquility with its spectacular view of Lake Superior and the Aerial Lift Bridge. The occasional freighter passing by only enhances its charm.
DUSTIN SLOWIAK | Bricksworth’s Beer Co.
Their North Loop patio manages to be secluded while still in an urban setting. If you can excuse the occasional train rolling though, it’s a wonderful spot to get a slice.
Be sure to leave a comment below with your favorite patio pick. We hope to see you out there this summer!
The Real Benefits of Instagram Reels
Are Instagram Reels part of your social media content strategy? If not, you may be missing out on a great opportunity to boost your social presence.
Over the past two years technology usage has increased due to the pandemic. More than ever before, people turned to social media applications to communicate with their loved ones, friends and community while still maintaining a safely distance.
One of the social platforms that became very popular at this time was TikTok. With their memorable trending sounds and short creative videos, the platform continues to thrive today. Shortly after TikTok’s success, major competitors were running to catch up to the new social media trend – shorter videos. Meta was the first to reach this goal by launching Reels on Instagram in August of 2020. Since then, Reels have become Instagram’s fastest-growing feature worldwide. This feature has numerous benefits that can help increase your business’s social media presence. Here’s how:
Boost organic discoverability
Although Instagram will never tell us, reels appear to hold higher weight than images and long-form videos within the algorithm – Because of this, it can enable your brand to have a higher chance of being discovered by your ideal customer!
Reach your ideal audience
TikTok skews younger with 60% of users being 16-24 so Instagram Reels are a wonderful way to reach your ideal customer or audience if they are over 25.
Create brand awareness
Reels give you the opportunity to showcase your brand values, products & services and solve problems your audience may be facing. These short videos also give you the chance to engage and communicate 1-on-1 with your ideal customers.
Increase creativity and social media presence
Reels are meant to be fun and artistic while still providing the user with far-reaching video elements that are enjoyable to watch. Additionally, discovering popular sounds/music and trendy concepts can get your creative juices flowing for your next Reel that could go viral!
With our 27 years of experience under our belt, we are always keeping our eye out for the next up-and-coming trends. Stay tuned for our next INdustry trends blog! You Reel-y don’t want to miss it.
‘EatIN’ Local – Brunch
Welcome back to another ‘EatIN’ Local blog where we share our team’s favorite spots to grab a bite in the Twin Cities metro! Our next category: brunch spots!
Believe us when we say we have a “brunch” of places for you to check out:
“I like the Howe! It has great food and atmosphere. If you’re looking to treat the pup, they have a dog-friendly patio and a dog menu!” -Dustin
“My two favorites are the Colossal Café and The French Hen Café. They both offer great brunch menus along with exceptional service! I usually get the quiche at The French Hen because it is super tasty! The Colossal Cafe also bakes their own bread every day, so it is nice and fresh.” -Jacxl
“I have three go to’s. Hazel’s! Their quiche is soooo yummy, and it’s a new one each week. Red Cow is delicious. They give out complimentary mini donuts and have a beet bloody mary which is tasty! And Stanley’s. I love a big ol’ breakfast burrito.” -Betsy
“I third the Craft & Crew restaurant group (The Howe and Stanley’s). The Block in St Louis Park, Pub 819 in Hopkins and Duke’s in Minnetonka are all part of the Craft & Crew group and do great brunches! Also, Freehouse and 3 Squares, located in Maple Grove, are great. Plus, I always love Nolo’s.” -Maggie
“French Meadow is my favorite! I love their savory pancakes and wide variety of bakery items like their jumbo cinnamon rolls.” -Tori
“ALL brunch spots – ha ha! I’ve been liking Barley + Vine in Lakeville for the southern burb representation! The Creme Brûlée French Toast! And weekend mimosas.” -Alyssa
We could talk brunch spots ALL day, but we want to know what YOUR favorite brunch spots are! Leave us a comment below and try these flavorful brunch places for yourself!
‘EatIN’ Local – Tacos
Welcome to our first ‘EatIN’ Local blog where we share our favorite spots to grab a bite in the Metro!
See what our team has to say for our first category, tacos:
Nico’s Taco and Tequila Bar in Uptown is a fav for me! I love the patio, and the carnitas taco is probably my favorite, but love their chips/salsas and nachos as well. My favorite marg doesn’t appear to be on their menu, but they have great homemade margaritas! -Maggie
While this is super hard to decide on, I’d have to say Tequila Butcher in Chanhassen. Their house made margarita is so authentic and wonderful tasting! They smoke all their meat in-house so their smoked chicken nachos and tacos are awesome. I really like their Brisket Taco and Shrimp Taco. I’ve also tried the Wet Tacos and they were SO GOOD! -Sam
I love Hamburguesas El Gordo! They have the best carnitas tacos I’ve ever had & delicious spicy salsa. They are also very reasonably priced. -Lily
I would like to add Nixta to the bunch! They are takeout only and make delicious tortillas! You may have seen their tortillas in some co-ops. -Betsy
I enjoy going to Centro as they have great tacos, margaritas and vibes, and they are located next to Indeed Brewing Company and Taproom which is a plus! -Dustin
La Bodega in Saint Louis Park is awesome! You can’t go wrong with their Birria tacos that come with consomé. If you enjoy Mexican corn, I would recommend adding their Esquites to your order. -Kelsey
Jen, our taco-loving Director of Strategy had to separate her favorite taco spots into categories:
Tacos with atmosphere: Lago Tacos in Uptown. Love their outdoor patio and their fried avocados are amazing (beer-battered avocado slices served with queso fresco). Mmmm.
Cheap tacos: Rusty Taco in NE Minneapolis. Favs include the #9 (pork, grilled pineapple, diced onion, cilantro), #8 baja shrimp taco with grilled shrimp, and the Brisket, Egg and Cheese taco from their all day breakfast taco menu. Bonus: great cheap margaritas.
Fish tacos: La Mesa in the Bryn Mawr neighborhood in Minneapolis. Mahi mahi tacos served with citrus slaw, mango salsa, avocado crème and cilantro. Fancy and delicious.
Not a taco taco: Taco Libre – I love the machete. 18” of deliciousness served on a platter that could (should) feed a small group but I’ve devoured it by myself many times.
Now enough about us. What are your favorite taco spots? Share in the comments below! Let’s taco-bout it 😉
Spread the Joy
’Tis the year to gather and graze with good friends & delectable flavors.
At IN Food we believe the magic happens when singular attributes are combined to create something even more unexpected and unique: Sweet + salty, spicy + smooth, traditional + trendy.
Cheer(cuterie) to you and yours in 2022!
Our INspired Board
Enjoy our favorites to get you started on your own creation!
Toast the New Year
with a BYOC (Bring Your Own Charcuterie) Party!
Have guests bring a favorite or two. Line a table or island with butcher paper and an array of wood and marble boards to create a robust spread to please every palate.
Gathering the goods
From specialty shops to neighborhood groceries, you can opt for the one-stop-shop experience or careful curating from a handful of favorites.
Our Local Loves
- Surdyk’s Cheese Shop
- France 44
- St. Paul Cheese Shop
- Grass Roots Gourmet
- Kowalski’s
- Whole Foods
- Kramarzcuk’s
- Lunds & Byerlys
- Lowry Hill Meats
- Red Table Meats
- Burnett Cheese Store
- The local farmers market
Budget boards
- Trader Joe’s
- Fresh Thyme Market
- Aldi
- Costco
Roundup: Our Staff’s Favorite Breweries
As a wise Saint Patrick once said, “cheers to beers.” We’re celebrating this Irish holiday by giving some love to our favorite local taprooms.
We asked our staff to name their favorite place to grab a brew in the Twin Cities, and here’s what they said. Betsy loves the midwest style and swagger at Indeed , while Ciara prefers the downtown backdrop when she sips a brew at Headflyer. Dustin tries not to get too wild at Wild Minds Brewery and Maggie is a fan of the tradition and taps at Bunny’s but she isn’t picky and appreciates the variety of breweries to visit in the Twin Cities.
We asked our staff: “Would you rather: authentic irish pub or hip local brewery?” Looks like The Emerald Isle will need to stay in second place this year because everyone polled would rather go local.
Now, if you’re spending your St. Patrick’s day inside this year, there are still many options for getting food to-go. Plus, you’ll need some carbs to soak up that stout. Which local brewery does our staff love to snack at?
Food trucks are still the stars of the show at many of our favorite spots. Maggie and Betsy bonded over their mutual love of the Parlour truck, and Ciara is a fan of Pryes. “Their guest kitchen Cason Italian Eatery is delightful!” Dustin thinks back to his time living in Lauderdale, and loved when the Northbound food truck came to Insight Brewery.
Where’s your favorite spot to grab a brew in the Twin Cities?
Diversity, Family, and Pickled Herring: an IN Food Book Club Discussion
It’s not every day you can discuss the merits of Pudgy Pies, what it’s like to de-feather a chicken, and the struggles of high-profile kitchens all at once. Yes, Chef, written by celebrity and world-renowned chef Marcus Samuelsson the perfect pick for us at this time in our lives, when we all long for The Before Times of dining in at a restaurant without a care in the world. If you want to purchase Yes, Chef, we recommend searching on IndieBound, a site that connects you with independently owned bookstores near you.
Only a handful of us have worked back-of-house in the restaurant industry, but since we love food and everything that surrounds it, we were well versed in the lingo and culture detailed by Samuelsson. Anita loved how focused on “layers of flavor” the chef was throughout the book, never once settling for anything less than perfect. The emphasis on seasonal flavors in particular reminded Maggie of some of the work we do often for our clients. “It’s not only independent restaurants that are focused on keeping taste on trend and seasonally timed, everyone in the food industry knows how important it can be.”
Food as a source of familial memory was a theme in the memoir that stood out to all of us, because we’re connected to our roots via food. Lori still uses her grandmother’s aluminum measuring cups, which helps her “feel like she’s right there with me.” Dustin’s family collected sap from their property and made maple syrup on the weekends, and Ciara grew up camping and making meals with a beachside bonfire. Her favorite childhood trail-side treat? Pudgy Pies, a calzone like dish made with a flipping cast iron sandwich maker.
We were all impacted by this memoir of Samuelsson’s in very different ways. Some yearned for the days of dining inside, or traveling the world and experiencing diverse flavors and styles of cooking. There wasn’t one of us who wasn’t inspired by Samuelsson’s drive and passion for his goals, and the idea of “Turning yourself over to what you’re doing.” Lori was struck by his self-assuredness. “He always understood who he was and who he needed to be.”
If our book club observations didn’t convince you to read this incredible memoir, consider this: while reading we all felt the desire to try out leeks and lingonberries. As they say in Sweden, Smaklig måltid!
A Look INside Food Connections: 2021 Food Trends
As professionals in the food industry, we can’t wait to indulge on the latest dishes and drinks in this new year. At the last Food Connections meeting we discussed how 2020 changed the food world and how those changes affected our predictions for the new year. Thanks to the diverse backgrounds and perspectives in Food Connections, there were varied ideas about what might change in the world of food service and restaurants in 2021.
Takeaway/ Giveback
Some of us who were novices to eating takeout came to be very comfortable with eating on-the-go this past year. Darcy Iserman loves the way takeout food has become elevated, and is inspired by the ambitious take-home meal kits. Jill Holter says that thanks to the home focus, and rise of so many new home chefs, “We’ve been caring deeply about where our food comes from.”
Sue Lang thinks that restaurants will be branching out with ways to take your cocktail kit home.
High Bar
With the challenges of 2020, our lives got a bit closer to home. The more concentrated focus on home cooking inspired many to become more comfortable in the kitchen. Amy Goetz thinks this will lead to more savvy restaurant goers in the future, as we’ve been “building a more confident food culture.”
Say Cheese
Instagram became our maître d’ this past year, and so we were all inspired to elevate our Netflix snacking. Chatcuritre boards were the perfect mix of simple and swanky for everyone to try their hand at food-prep. Many shared recent stories of creating beautiful charcuterie boards so we predict high-end cheese, crackers and spreads will come into the mainstream. Articles here and here highlight the rise of this trend. Sue Lang predicts that there won’t be an event in the “after times” that doesn’t come along with an edible addition, as a way to make everyone feel like part of the party.
Food Connections is a group that connects people who work in all capacities of the food industry to establish networking relationships and share in the joys and struggles of the food scene. Want to be a part of the discussion next time? It’s free to join! Shoot us an email at info@foodmarketing.com and join our LinkedIn and Facebook groups to stay connected.
Fighters in Food Waste: Introducing the TC Food Justice “Rescue Squad”
You may have seen someone riding around the city in a fruit covered helmet, delivering food via bicycle. No, this isn’t a whimsical Richard Scarry-influenced hallucination, that’s just TC Food Justice. The staff and volunteers at TC Food Justice are fairy godmothers of food waste elimination, traveling around town picking up excess produce and giving to hunger-relief organizations. As our chosen 2020 Food for All partner, we worked with their team to develop refreshed brand and marketing strategies.
As we reviewed all the applications we received, we were immediately intrigued by their all-volunteer crew who travel by bike in rain or shine so that no food goes to waste. We were fascinated by this model and as part of our work we branded this team of loyal helpers the “Rescue Squad.” The IN Food team created a logo design with clean and crisp lines to communicate this unique aspect of these food heroes, along with the slogan, “Moving food forward, connecting community.” Our pro-bono work also included brand guidelines, content direction and suggestions to the tone and consistency of their social media.
Kelzee Tibbits, the organization’s sustainability coordinator, spoke about the impact of the Food For All partnership. “The IN Food team brought us back to the beginning to take a serious look at the items we had created piecemeal over the years. I feel confident in the marketing foundation they have built for us and taught us how to use.” You can add TC Food Justice to your list of the many reasons to love the generosity and care of Minnesotans. We asked Tibbits what three words she would use to describe the new look we’ve helped create: “Consistent, Unique and Customizable.” Sounds good to us! We’re now entering into our third year of Food for All, part of our larger 5% Give Back Campaign, in which up to $10,000 of our profits go to local hunger-relief organizations in the Twin Cities. Stay tuned for an announcement of our new partner for this year’s collaboration.