Hand-pulled noodles are having a chewy, springy and fresh moment, with two more Twin Cities restaurants spotlighting the Asian culinary art form of kneading and stretching dough in-house.
Kinzo Udon is now open in Stadium Village at the University of Minnesota (802 Washington Av. SE., Mpls., kinzoudon.com). The spot specializes in sanuki udon, the thick style of noodles popular in northeastern Japan. The menu allows you to enjoy the noodles in a variety of flavor profiles, including dashi, curry, tomato, tonkotsu and beef broths.
The former Crossing Bridge restaurant space in Minneapolis’ Eat Street area is now home to Meet Up Noodle (2 E. 26th St., Mpls.), focusing on northwest regional Chinese dishes with an emphasis on hand-pulled noodles. In addition to piping-hot noodle soups and stir-fries, there are also cold noodles, scallion pancakes, fried rice and sandwiches in the lineup.
These new noodle spots join Master Noodle shops in St. Paul, Mall of America and Edina.
Shepherd’s Way farms in Nerstrand, Minn., specializes in farmstead sheep cheeses. (Shepherd’s Way/Provided)
The family behind a longtime favorite cheese stand will open Shepherds Table (3708 34th St. E., Mpls.) on Sept. 1. Shepherd’s Way is a small, family-run farm that sells its cheese at the St. Paul and Mill City Farmers Markets and in a select few stores. Now, owners Elia and Aidan Read are taking the farm to their new storefront, with a deli and shop that connects farmers with folks who want to buy their goods.
Neighborhood news outlet Longfellow Whatever reports on the challenges the farmers faced in getting this new stand up and running.
Mama’s Market & Deli opened on July 29 at Little Africa Plaza (678 Snelling Av. N.) in St. Paul. Described as a cafe and micro-grocery, the business is run by a collaborative of mothers, all Ethiopian immigrants. The storefront cafe sells fresh fruit smoothies, deli sandwiches, slow-brewed coffee and more. Additionally, the market is stocked with pantry staples such as injera and produce.
The Pioneer Press reports the idea began with Amina Fadlalla, who pulled together a community of other working mothers like herself to open the business.