Homeland

I hail from the land of ice and snow– Duluth, Minnesota. It's a place where we focus more on staying warm than keeping on top of haute cuisine trends.

Duluth specializes in classic comfort food.  Pizza– my favorite being Sammy's diamond-cut slices of pepperoni– Pasta, and Hamburgers. Maybe you've heard of a little chain of restaurants called Grandma's (they're also in the marathon-sponsoring business)? They've got the three major categories covered. So what more could Duluthians ask for?

Well, vegetables, for one. And seafood (walleye doesn't count). I'm heading north for a visit this weekend and am very excited to check out Hanabi, the newish sushi restaurant in downtown Duluth. I also need to give a big shout-out to the Duluth Grill right off of I-35. When I was a kid, it was a greasy-spoon diner. The spot where I remember ordering pancakes as a treat, while my dad ordered a pot of coffee to go with his Denver omelet. For a sad, short period of time it became an Embers, but now–now!– it's a seriously impressive roadside diner.

Would you like a side of homemade banana bread with that smoked salmon omelet? I bet you would. Or a caramel roll with pecans? I don't know why, but I'm amazed by the Duluth Grill's generous side offerings. And the attitude in which they deliver them. The last time I was there, around Christmas, the whole place seemed scrubbed of its dingy smoker's den vibe, replaced with the upbeat enthusiasm of a newly converted vegetarian– that is to say, it was a happy place.