Finally a Jucy Lucy

 Minneapolis, MN

A Minneapolis Staple

I know some of you have been screaming at your computer yelling, "When will you finally try a Jucy or Juicy Lucy?!"  Okay settle down, today we headed over to Matt's Bar to try a Jucy Lucy (yes it has its own Wikipedia link).  Two places in Minneapolis claim to have invented the cheese filled cheeseburger, Matt's Bar with The Jucy Lucy and The 5-8 Club with The Juicy Lucy.  We chose to go to Matt's Bar for no specific reason.  We have read both burgers are about the same.  We chose today because my sister is in town to dog sit Francis for the week and she wanted to try one too.

We arrived just after noon and a line was starting to form, on a Thursday.  We arrived just before the real rush because the line was to the door when we left.  We were seated and got our order in quickly.  We all got the Jucy Lucy even though a regular cheeseburger probably would have been enough.  We had to try them and cutting them in half is frowned upon.

When the food arrived the fries were in a basket and the burgers came wrapped in paper with no plate.    We all kind of waited to bite into the burger because we knew the middle was filled with hot molten cheese.

The Jucy Lucy is the same price as a double cheeseburger

They sell merch but the merch there is less inspired than the merch online.

I also got a beer with my lunch.

The burger looked a bit sad.  The bun was dry and it just had pickles and grilled onions.

I put ketchup and mustard on mine after inspecting it.

I also squirted some ketchup on my burger wrapper for the fries.

I waited to bite into my burger but not long enough.  Quickly after my first bite I felt my thumb burning.  I waited to take my second bite but also, apparently not long enough.

The burger was good but it wasn't wasn't a top 10 burger for me.  We had discussed trying the other Juicy Lucy at 5-8 but after trying one, we decided against it.  It was worth it one time so if you are in the area check one out once.

The service was great and the staff was cranking out burgers fast enough to keep the customers moving through.

That's it for today.  If you missed, Pizza Farm #2, check it out.  We went to another Pizza Farm.

Pizza Farm #2

 Waseca, MN

Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm

Today we drove south for an hour to Waseca, MN to visit the Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm and color in Waseca County, MN.  This pizza farm is more rustic than this one.  You have to bring your own seating, utensils, and trash bag as well as drive for a few miles on a dirt road.  We arrived just after opening on a Friday and we were the first ones there.  It is getting late in the pizza farm season but the weather is still nice so it was surprising no one was there.  They felt the need to explain to us that by this time last week there were already 40 people.  

We entered the barn and ordered our pizza and our dessert pizza and then made our way to the bar, which was outside and waited for the person that took our order to get to the bar to take our order there.  It was a small operation but run very well.

They had a great menu of pizzas available to choose from.

We got the Minnesota Mess.

It's Fall Y'all!

The barn was decked out for fall.  They were having a ticketed event tonight with a string quartet.

Donna was drawn to the map of visitors.

The bar was right outside and they had some local beers on tap.

As well as wine, ciders, and sodas.

We set up our camping chairs and waited for them to ring the "Pizza is ready" bell.

The farm has a shy Llama and a friendly goat so no pets were allowed.

We set up in the shade and waited.

We each had an Oktoberfest beer and they came in Solo Cups.

While we were waiting for our pizzas a lady asked Donna if she was a nurse and Donna said no.  A few minutes later she asked if Donna was a Doctor.  Donna again said no.  Donna was carrying her Evergreen Health Tote Bag so we figured this is why she asked.  A bit later we found out there was a medical emergency, a person prepping for the party that evening had possibly cut off the tip of their finger and they were trying to stabilize them for the long trip to the hospital.  We were in the middle of no where.  She then asked if we wanted to buy a pizza farm.  She was clearly having a rough day.

This was our dessert pizza.  Blueberry with a lemon custard sauce.  It was very good.

Our Minnesota Mess was also good.  We felt there was too much topping for the thickness of the crust but it was still very good.

While eating we got to talk to some locals as well as the owners.  We got to talk to the lady that was dealing with the medical crisis and she was more calm so hopefully everything was working out for her.

After our pizzas we headed over to Half Pint Brewing.  Is was just down the dirt road.  It was hopping on a Friday evening and the beer was delicious.  Donna and I split a flight and then got a few cans to go.  

They had a surprisingly large selection for what we believed to be a small operation

They partnered with The Pizza Farm.  You could buy their beer at the farm and have pizzas delivered from the farm to the brewery.

This is our flight and you can see some local honey we bought in the background.

We also bought some local beef sticks.

I played "guy with a cigar" with my meat stick.

The MN map is filling in nicely too.  By the end of November we should be at over 1000 counties.

That's it for today.  If you missed, Let Us Go Twins!, check it out.  

Let Us Go Twins!

 Minneapolis, MN

Target Field for a Twins Game

The other night Donna and I went to a Minnesota Twins game. It was a little over a year ago, when we were staying here, that I realized that the Twins stood for the Twin Cities.  I guess I thought the team was named after some wealthy white guys twin children or some other Twins thing but no, it has TC right in their logo.  Anyway we went to a Twins game and had a great time.

We are able to walk there.  We took the Google directions on the way there which took us through parking lots, across stroads, and through industrial areas to save 1 minute.  On the way home we simply walked the way everyone else walked, down a bustling 7th street to Nicolette Plaza, a pedestrian thoroughfare.  Get better Google!

The team store has many beer coozies to choose from.  You can put your $16 can of beer in one if you like.

The stadium has a very popular area with cornhole and mini golf.  People were hanging out over there the whole game.

Behold!  My $16 can of beer!  Donna did her best Vanna White impersonation but the lighting wasn't great.

I guess they sell State Fair food here but I am skeptical.

I finished my Beer and Cheese Brat before the game even started.

Our Twins (named after The Twin Cities) were playing The Miami Marlins.  I knew them as the Florida Marlins.  Also we will be in Miami in about a week!  More on that in another blog post.

We climbed to the top of the stands and could see our apartment building.  It's the brown building in the center of the photo just to the right of the tall building.

As the sun set over the ballpark, the neon sign looked cooler and cooler.

For most of the game The Twins were trailing The Marlins, the team with the worst record in the league.  We tied up the game 4 to 4 going into the 8th I believe and finished regulation all tied up.  This meant extra innings!  We are going to get full value!

Donna and I watched as the teams switched up getting ready for the 10th inning.  We both thought we blacked out because before we knew it there was a runner on 2nd base.  We both commented on not remembering any play that would have lead up to this.  It turns out that there is a new rule this year that places runners on 2nd base in extra innings to speed up the game.  It ended up making the game quite exciting.  The Marlins scored 1 in the top of the 10th so it was up to The Twins to score or the game would be over.

Carlos Santana (no not that one) was wearing a rally hat in his photo

So I tried to look cool in my rally hat.  It's working right?

Rally hats didn't work.  The Twins ended up losing and as of today they are relegated to the golf course for the playoffs.  We are just going to call this a rebuilding season and feel great about the possibilities come Spring. 

That's it for today.  If you missed, Soups On At The Supper Club, check it out.  No really, check it out.  There are great photos of Prime Rib in a truly midwestern venue.