Filed under: Local Chemistry (Recipes)
Toast & Taste in the Gardens was the name of last night’s after-hours party at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. I am a member and enjoy walking through the Arboretum in the summer, spring, fall and particularly the winter. But last night’s event was something quite different — and perfectly done!
Set around the Arboretum were small tents with either “tastes” — local restaurants or “toasts” — local wineries and breweries. When we arrived, we received a name tag and a small commemorative glass. The glass was to be used to enjoy all the toasts! The tents were spaced around the Arboretum in relative proximity to the main buildings. Restaurants represented included Cafe Maude, The Strip Club, Birchwood Casfe, Brasa, OM, Trotter’s Cafe and more.
It was sunny, warm, upper 80s, the gardens were beautiful, the shrub roses and peonies particularly glorious, and the atmosphere was of a Minnesota summer garden party. The tastes were quite honestly, fantastic. Each tent offered a small taste (and sometimes not so small) of one or more of their dishes. My naive self thought it was a bit like a Top Chef event, with chefs milling about, serving us, explaining what was in each taste. It was really a blast.
Outstanding to me was the Birchwood Cafe. They were the first taste I had — and for the next two hours I kept thinking how I wanted to return to their location. And did. I was completely blown away by their Espresso Cream Cheese Brownie pictured above. But their rhubarb dessert with Izzy’s ice cream was a close second. (They also served a non-dessert item that was excellent made with my favorite local Hope Butter….)
The Arboretum did it up right.
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