Jimmy’s in Minnetonka

by G. Sax

It was all white people at Jimmy’s in Minnetonka. They were wearing various uncool shades of gray and had this year’s jacket style slung over their chairs. John Mayer played overhead. She ordered water with no ice. The other, a salad with a light pasta. They cared not for cheese. I felt the walls closing in around me.

I need to relearn how to play the game. I used to not mind mingling with white people in pseudo-fancy restaurants. Now, I burn disdainfully within, which is not healthy.

“Don’t ever settle,” goes the deep, internal mantra, but have I already? Why am I even here? Need to stay positive. Need to keep the attitude up. But I am feeling a need to check the bread crumbs I’ve scattered behind me before the squirrels eat them.

Using Food and Drink to Describe My Minnesota

by G. Sax

Pizza
At least every other Friday night, I like to order from Pizza Factory on Maryland and Western. People ’round these parts swear by John’s Cafe, and I’ll get around to sampling the gourmet pies from up the road. But I’m loving the many time warp trips I’ve made down to Pizza Factory for pickup. They have just three tables inside the “restaurant,” too much wood paneling, and too loud a TV. I usually get it to go, but before I leave I like to try my hand at the Pac Man machine that stores multiple versions of the famous game. I’ve never seen anything like it. James and I are going to meet there sometime, and I’m going to watch him absorb the computer chip. The pizza is greasy and the meat is generous.

Beer
Beer of the Month at the Sax household: Summit IPA. More flavor than the reliable Summit Pale Ale and not as syrupy as Winter Ale. I love pretty much all of the Summit products, but this month belongs to IPA.

Tacos
We eat at home a lot more now that we have a home. I still like to do taco night on Wednesdays. Or Thursdays. I also like Taco Bell, and I won’t apologize for it.

Minis
Third floor at the Xcel Energy Center during Minnesota Wild hockey games. Find the cart. Give your money. Eat them donuts.

Candy
Candyland in downtown St. Paul never gets old to me. Chicago Mix popcorn, mmm. Sour cherry balls, mmm. French burnt peanuts, mmm.

Breakfast
Though technically not a food, you know what I mean. Breakfast is so frickin’ awesome. I really wish I could farm up my mentality more on eating, because I would love it if I sat down and had a big ol’ farm-fresh breakfast most mornings, whether it were at the kitchen table or out at one of the many fine Twin Cities breakfast establishments. I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy the Louisiana Cafe and the Copper Dome in recent outings. Hash browns and pancakes. Omelettes and wheat toast. Bacon and eggs. Coffee and orange juice. Me love breakfast.

Fries
I go to Sweeney’s a lot. It’s a great old St. Paul bar on Dale Street between Selby and Summit. The menu and outdoor patio have changed for the better, but the interior is as how I remember it 13 years ago. And the french fries… Oh, God. Mayonnaise-mustard sauce. Spicy seasonings. Nng-gah.

Steak
We went out for some meat at a good old local char house called Mancini’s. It was for the St. Paul Bouncing Team banquet. I won “Rookie of the Year.” Brag. Mancini’s is almost more awesome than breakfast. One side is the traditional butter knife steak and dark walls setting you’d expect from a Midwestern meatery, the other side is monstrous Naugahyde red booths, signed pictures of Tony Bennett and The Chairman on the walls, a huge “Class of ‘49″ framed poster from some local high school, and an old-time band on stage catering to an audience of oldsters and young hipsters. As we left, we heard some dude crooning a solid rendition of “Hey, there, little red riding hood…” We’ll be returning soon.

Apples
Before I got established at my new St. Paul pad, when we were nearer suburban pastorality than city grit, we spent an afternoon thieving apples from an orchard out west of Minnetrista. Between Carly, Anais, Hunter, and I, we nabbed 109 delicious apples. They were selling bags onsite that held about 30 apples for $25.00. Eff that. Sweatshirts work real good and security was lax as we made multiple trips to the trunk of the car. We had about 96 apples left after a few caramel dips and a couple of batches of apple crisp.

Corn Dogs
The I-35W bridge collapse was international Minnesota news in 2007. I had to check it out for myself. It was like the Minnesota State Fair. People with babies in strollers, roaming packs of college students, lots of camera phones, couples holding hands, all the 7 Corners bar patios full of relaxing eaters and drinkers. Some kind of tragedy, eh?