Break On Through To The Other Side.

I've heard more than a few Minneapolitans say they never go across the river to St. Paul, and I find that very strange. Living in SF for 7 years, I got to know every Bay Area town from Guerneville to Big Sur and would drive an hour on a winding road just to see a beautiful lighthouse in Pt. Reyes or shuck raw oysters on Tomales Bay. So to refuse to drive 15 minutes into a whole 'nuther city with many amazing things to offer is just plain insane in the membrane. This area is called the Twin Cities for a reason, people.

Last night, we met up with one of our favorite couples at our most frequently visited St. Paul establishment - Sweeney's - for cocktails on the patio on a lovely 55 degree plus evening, under the heat lamps. The huge stone fireplace always has a roaring fire going, so the Sweeney's patio is the perfect spot for cocktails on a spring or fall night. I noticed for the first time that they offer pineapple infused Stoli vodka and requested it over ice with soda, a splash of 7 and a lemon. Delish. One of my favorite bars in SF was called Infusion and had every kind of infused vodka from red licorice to watermelon, so I am quite fond of infused vodkas and happy about this refreshing new pineapple discovery.

Our friends wanted to introduce us to their favorite Vietnamese Bistro called Ngon, located right on University near Dale, and I'm so glad they did. The owners of Ngon are dedicated to using local and sustainable ingredients, from St. Paul Farmer's Market veggies to 100% locally grass fed beef from Thousand Hills Cattle Co. We started with springrolls with shrimp, roasted Fischer Farmers pork, organic spring greens, fresh herbs and rice vermilli, New Zealand mussels in a spicy red broth we kind of wanted to bathe in and sweet potato shrimp croquettes. Jeff had a yummy seafood phu for his entree with a broth I could not stop stealing bites of, and I had the ribeye with fingerling potatoes and spicy green beans. For dessert we had lychee coconut rolls - and everything was absolutely amazing. We will definitely be going back, perhaps for their excellent happy hour from 3:00 - 6:00 every day. The only place I've been that comes close is Jasmine 26 on Eat Street in Minneapolis - also a fave.

After dinner we wanted to enjoy the somewhat warm spring night and headed over to one of my favorite spots in St. Paul - W.A. Frost for a nightcap and some turn of the century ambiance. A good friend of ours was working in the bar and kindly fired up the outdoor firepit for us to sit around on the patio to enjoy our drinks - mine being the best hot buttered rum I have ever tasted. I plan on many outdooor brunches at Frost this summer - everything on the menu is fabulous and they truly have one of the most beautiful patios in the Twin Cities. Definitely worth a 15 minute trip across the river.