Giulia: She's My Favorite

Would it surprise you if I told you that my favorite restaurant in the Twin Cities only made it onto my list after I’d visited for the first time? Coming up on its one-year anniversary, Giulia in downtown Minneapolis has gotten plenty of well-deserved attention since its opening. Somehow, I just hadn’t heard of it until about a month after I’d already landed here. It took nothing more than a few steps inside - gazing at the tall marble ceilings, mesmerized by the glowing bar - for me to (mentally) add it to The List and make it a point to come back as many times as possible, as soon as possible. I hadn’t even taken a bite of anything yet!

My heels clicked on the white marble tiles as the hostess led us to our table, and I was thankful I chose to dress up (by my definition, at least). Without feeling at all bougie and intimidating, Giulia welcomes its guests into a bright, spacious, and gorgeous dining room. Yeah, it’s a little fancy. Dress up. Embrace it! As any foodie would, I glanced at the tables while walking to ours to sneak a peek at what co-head chefs Steven Brown and Josh Hedquist offer. With a delighted appetite, I knew from the plates of sophisticated pasta swirls and simple pizzas with smoky charred crusts that this place could be it. Giulia could very well be The One - my favorite restaurant. And after just the first visit, without a doubt in my mind, Giulia became just that - The One, my favorite restaurant (it’s that good) - so I accepted without hesitation an invitation for a second visit in exchange for a share here on the blog. 

Drawing from my first visit, I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to order this time. For assistance, and for some family fun because we’re never too old for that, I brought along Mom and Dad. If anyone was going to appreciate this place, this food, this experience half as much as me, they would. Two extra stomachs and two extra sets of taste buds can’t hurt, right? 

It isn’t just the decor that provides that experience. It’s the service team and the cooks (which you can see hard at work in the open kitchen). The servers know the menu - like, they really know the menu - and they’re the best people to turn to for help in selecting a dish. Ours recommended the mozzarella speziato to start. It’s more than just a plate of mozzarella. It’s an entire show, a lesson from one of the cooks on how to make fresh mozzarella, and he’ll wheel a cart over beside your table equipped with a large steel bowl, jug of boiling hot salted water, various accompaniments, and the mozzarella-maker with 3 pairs of sturdy kitchen-grade gloves on. Pay attention - he’s teaching you how to make fresh mozzarella! If you can multitask, snap a picture as he performs the mozzarella pull. It’s mesmerizing and mouth-watering. Within seconds, he’s drizzling balsamic and olive oil over the mozzarella ball, and suddenly, you’re staring at a piece of mozzarella-artwork in the center of your table. Dig right in to the creamiest mozzarella you’ll experience outside of Italy. It doesn’t need a pizza crust and marinara sauce - it’s meant to be served solo, and you’ll understand why when you take that first bite. Fans of a little spicy kick will enjoy the speziato - pickled calabrian chiles, and those who love anything with a salty olive tapenade should get the nero. Next time, I’m ordering the speck and rucola. 

We had no plan of attack for the incoming four dishes, so when our server asked what we’d like brought out first, I just knew I wanted to savor the Black Apple pizza last. Something about starting with the Trout Saltimbocca and Duck made sense to me, so those arrived next, followed by the creamy Carbonara, and lastly, the beloved pizza. 

It was by far the meatiest duck breast I’ve eaten - tough with a subtle tenderness. A velvety butternut squash polenta lies beneath the duck, thankfully, and balances the tougher texture and gamey flavor. The whole dish is garnished with those little leaves that fall off the brussels sprouts and bake to a smoky, chip-like char, and an elegant sprinkle of parm. 

I would have overlooked the Trout Saltimbocca completely, had it not been for my dad, who kindly and sweetly insisted we try it. Next to the duck, which could easily have been mistaken for skirt steak, the trout is unmistakably trout - the whole fish wrapped in speck, broiled in the Woodstone gas-fired ceramic oven for the same amount of time it took me to eagerly accept this dinner invite. I won’t lie - the head gave me a bit of the heebie-jeebies at first, but those left the second I took a bite of the buttery flesh dipped in the zippy, creamy lemon sauce. If you must, just close your eyes and take a bite. You have to just give it a try. 

Whatever you do, do NOT close your eyes when the carbonara comes out. Give this dish your undivided attention. I finished every swirled forkful of house-made spaghetti (Chef Steven Brown’s own recipe, kept secret) enrobed in the classic creamy carbonara sauce with “Ohmyword, how have I never tried this before?”. Seriously. Dad, the carbonara connoisseur, knew there was something different about this one in particular. A subtle tanginess in the sauce, perhaps from an extra squeeze of lemon, sets Giulia’s carbonara apart from others. Whatever it was in this recipe, it had me in an instant. Only a few noodles lay in a couple puddles of remaining sauce, and I had to fight with all my lady-like manners the urge to pick the plate up and lick it clean. As if he could read my mind, a server politely came and swept up the almost-clean plate to make room for the pizza…

… the pizza! My favorite part (sorry, carbonara - I’m too loyal). For two main reasons, it’s fitting to save the pizza for last: 1) you know, “save the best for last” is kind a rule, and 2) the hints of sweetness from each ingredient give it an air of indulgence, almost like it’s a dessert. Chef Brown uses a high-quality Italian Caputo 00 flour to make the thin dough with a crisp chew and a distinct flavor only possible with a long fermentation process. It’s a one-of-a-kind crust, one you’ll want to eat every last bite of. The black apple, which raised eyebrows at our table, is similar to a fig, lightly marinated in vinegar to soften the texture and brighten the flavor. Casalingo salami, sweet sausage, and the bold gorgonzola cheese give this pie its umph - the reason it’s my favorite pie, in and beyond the Twin Cities. Don’t hate me for calling it sexy. It’s a sexy pizza.

Some restaurants are known for their food, others for their service. Giulia provides for its guests an experience rooted in undeniably good food, and extended into an alluring trio of genuine service and hospitality, and an irresistibly seductive atmosphere. I’ll be back soon, and I hope to see you there, too!

I Like Big Buns: Isles Bun and Coffee

I like lists, so I made a few to keep me sane and organized while I packed to move from California to Minnesota - clothes, kitchen things, books, and the like. My favorite and fastest growing list is still the one I couldn’t fit on a piece of paper and needed to write up on a Google Doc - the list of restaurants, bars, cafes, and coffee shops to visit in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas. At the top of that fourth section, for reasons to be detailed ahead, stands Isles Bun and Coffee. 

From some in-depth social media research (read: Instagram- and Facebook-stalking), I gathered a few observations. The first is that this is a spot well-known for both its coffee and its baked goods, namely, the giant cinnamon buns blanketed in cream cheese frosting. The staff is thoughtful enough to set an additional tub of frosting out near the utensils and coffee add-ins for those of us who adore cream cheese frosting, ya’ know, just in case we need another slather or two. Good people. My people. And the second is that this is a neighborhood kind of coffee shop, one that welcomes dogs inside (see, good people!) and knows the guests by name, greeting everyone with a smile as warm and sweet as the homemade buns I can’t stop talking about. It’s the kind of place with rustic colorful chalkboard menus and t-shirts you can’t resist buying because you love the place the minute you walk in and inhale the sweet scent of cinnamon buns and espresso.  

This little coffee shop - a neighborhood favorite - sits humbly at the corner off a bustling street in Uptown Minneapolis, between the lively bars and restaurants and the quiet, quaint Lake of the Isles. Merely the size of three glass windows, Isles Buns appears tiny from the outside looking in, but they’ve squeezed a surprising number of tables inside. It’s cozy, warm, and sweet, just like the buns. The 80’s music bumps a little louder than one might expect or prefer in a coffee shop, but somehow it works here. I let that slide because the coffee and cinnamon buns are so damn tasty. 

Its in the name - Isles [Cinnamon] Buns and Coffee. They’ve simplified the decision-making process. How sweet of them! Cappuccino, mocha, chai, drip coffee - I’ve tried them all, and they’re all are delicious and without question prepared carefully and intentionally. You won’t make a bad decision. Just pick something. The cinnamon bun is waiting! While you’re at the register, peek down and to the left for a glimpse at the most pillowy and tastefully sweet, buttery, and cinnamon-spiked bun around town. That mesmerizing swirl of love is the reason you’re here, and according to the bakers, these buns are as “sweet as Grandma”. You should also know about the array of other fresh-baked goodies offered: scones - traditional and vegan, puppy dog tails, cookies, brownies, and carrot cake. Everything is made right behind the barista, in plain sight and without any structure blocking the flow of the heart-warming, mouth-watering scent of said goodies to float through the shop while you’re sipping coffee in good company, whether you brought a friend to share the bun with you or not. 

I would recommend inviting a friend because not only in this bun far too large for a single stomach, it’s far too good to be eaten alone. You won’t be able to shut up about it and that looks a lot less weird when you’re talking to a friend instead of the wall. It’s an uncontrollable reaction as a result of consuming perfect cinnamon buns. It’s physically impossible to eat one of these without smiling, and it’s difficult to focus on writing this piece with one staring right at me. Trust me. 

If you order a fresh bun, you’ll pay $4. For a day-old bun, which are wrapped up and nestled in a basket near that tub of velvety cream cheese frosting I wish I could order on its own, you’ll pay just $1. Go for the fresh bun if you’ve got a friend with you because you can and should devour the entire bun, and then after doing the math, you’re really only paying $2. If you’re solo, however, I’d suggest the day-old bun because you will find it difficult to finish an entire thing on your own. Unwrap the day-old, slather on a little frosting, and dig straight into the center. You’ll be satisfied, not stuffed. You’ll smile at no one in particular, just beaming with overwhelming joy because you get to cherish that buttery bun spiked and swirled with cinnamon all for yourself. It’s great, I promise. 

Every coffee shop has something unique to offer, and I’ll discover what that is at each of the coffee shops on my list. Isles Bun and Coffee is a small coffee shop with a big personality and big buns. Which I like. And I cannot lie.

SLO Good Brunch - NoVo Restaurant & Lounge

At the one-month-left-in-SLO mark, I compiled a list of all my favorite places - every restaurant, bar, coffee shop, and bakery I wanted to visit before hopping on Highway 101N for the very last time. You shouldn’t be surprised that happy hour spots filled most of the slots on the list. I, however, was surprised that it wasn’t as long as I expected it to be. What the heck am I missing? Or do I really just frequent these five or spots that often? I mean, hey, I have always wanted to be a regular somewhere.

To try and catch any missing favorites, I scrolled through the categories: breakfast, brunch, coffee, lunch, dinner, and sweets. Wait, wait, wait - go back. Brunch! If you’re looking for me at the brunch hour in SLO late on a Sunday morning, you’d probably find me anywhere with bottom-less mimosas. Aside from the iconic syrupy sweet, thick French toast dish, what’s brunch without countless mimosas? I usually count, and i’ve never had any more than four. Just in case anyone is wondering.

I’ve enjoyed a soothing, peaceful brunch overlooking the ocean, live music playing on the warm and sunny patio and handsome waiters refilling my mimosa glass like it’s their job (oh wait…). I’ve also enjoyed a rowdy, exciting brunch in downtown SLO, surrounded by my tipsy peers waiters running around like babysitters trying to calm the madness. What can I say, I can fit into a few different outfits, ya’ know? I had not, however, enjoyed brunch by the serene San Luis Obispo creek that weaves through the downtown streets. NoVo Restaurant and Lounge - tucked beneath beautiful leafy trees and perched neatly on the creek - is often the talk of the town when it comes to delicious fresh and seasonal food, which I can’t argue with just given the number of times I’ve seen the owner at the farmers markets picking up produce for the enticing menu.

With my fridge cleared of food and both mine and Dad’s stomachs growling on the morning we were to hit the highway for Minnesota, we had almost no choice but to visit NoVo for a farewell-to-SLO brunch. The staff of hosts, servers, and managers - the first handful of people with whom we interacted when we first arrived - all seem neatly cut out for their position at NoVo: dressed in outfits you’ll find in my dream Pinterest closet that still fit comfy enough for work, beaming with smiles as bright at the rays of sun peeking through the trees, and as confident, cool and collected, and welcoming as the very best of us.

It’s hard not to say the menu has something for everyone (one of the most cliché restaurant phrases) because it’s just true as true can be. Appetizers, soups and salads, mains, sandwiches, and even sweets! I needed a bigger car for the road trip I was about to embark on, but first, I needed a bigger stomach for the appetite I developed reading through all these dishes. The duck hash with kale and potatoes caught my eye, which seems to happen anytime I come across a duck dish. I don’t know why, it just happens. I kept reading and found myself stuck on the farmers market omelette (after I figured that a plate of French toast - no matter how sweet and delicious - probably wouldn’t let me sit very well in a car for the next 8 hours). Our waitress listed all the seasonal veggies stuffed inside, along with goat cheese (!), and I was sold. Sold! Dad bounced back and forth between the huevos rancheros and the capocollo benedict with peanut butter and wheat toast and a cup of coffee. For anyone curious, capocollo is a thinly sliced ham cooked to a tender crisp, almost like a cross between bacon and ham. Neither of us felt it was a mimosa kind of morning, but when we do someday, I’m glad to know that NoVo will provide a bottomless supply included in the three-course brunch package. Seriously. I’m coming back to SLO for that.

To see and taste that the veggies in my omelette were fresh and seasonal as could be, man was I just overjoyed. In the awkward transition from summer into fall, like that of a teen into a young adult, I find that restaurants sometimes feel confused as to which vegetables they should be serving as “seasonal”. On the West Coast, we’ve still got peaches and tomatoes and zucchini growing left and right and all over the place on our farms, but elsewhere in the country, people are picking up pumpkins and starchy squash and broccoli. NoVo is still embracing the summery warm California weather, indicated by the beautiful sautéed array of peppers, onions, zucchini, and summer squash. I prefer Fall and it’s seasonal veggies at this time of year, but the summer selection in this omelette made me forget all about those other veggies.

I peeked up at Dad to see if I could gauge his thoughts on the first bite of his benedict. He chewed and swallowed and paused for just a second before… “Wow. This is incredible.” Side note: is it just a coincidence that the word “incredible” has the word “edible” in it? Just curious. “This is one of the top five best breakfasts I’ve ever had”, Dad added. WOW. That’s saying something. He loves his breakfast, and like myself, he loves it done the right way (his way). Right down to the peanut butter toast, NoVo nailed it. And those potatoes. The potatoes! I’m almost always a fan of potatoes, especially the crispy ones, so I’m not the real critic here. Dad, on the other hand, doesn’t love them and is therefore a bit more picky than I am. Good news - he loved these, too. Even he was surprised that he enjoyed them and finished all but just about two bites.

There isn’t really anything not to love about the brunch experience at NoVo. The food is fantastic, to say the very least, and it’s served by a staff that knows the importance of genuine service and passion for quality food. I may not live in San Luis Obispo anymore, so my current restaurant list applies elsewhere (the frozen tundra we call “Minnesota”), but I will make darn sure to keep NoVo at the top of my list - right where it should be - whenever I am back in SLO.