Living the Dream

It's so hot, there's nothing to do but hang out at the pool. Hope you enjoyed our adventure!

PS. One of us has to go back to work. I wish we could keep Chinooking.

Comments from the Internet:

Facebook:

• I'm proposing a Tour de Cities in September, lead by you of course...
• I heart your blog & I don't want it to end.
• I just read every post. Love it!
• I just gave your blog props! It's da bomb!
• Must visit Twin Cities ASAP!
• Your blog is a great reminder about all of the exciting possibilities in the city.
• These two are not only clever, but quite awesome. Follow their blog about their adventures with the Chinook Book. Love it.
• Just found it today... it's great! What a cool idea. Now I'm looking into getting our Local First coupon book to try something similar
• I heart the blog and only wish it included recipes because I'm strangely hungry after reading it.
• I applaud your creative way to play-keep it up
• I can't find words to express how much I love this!
• Although I do not like the shutdown and what it is doing, I have been enjoying your adventures. What a great thing!
• Hey, you're famous! a great blog, you two...clever and fun!
• Holy crap!
• Your blog is makin' me smile. So Kate & Pippish! Where are we going later this week? I want to see you two in action. :)
• What's the blog address? I'd love to read it.

Twitter

• Glad you're making light of a bad situation. I'm gonna pass your blog to a couple @KSTP reporters...it'd be cool to feature
• RT @ChinookBookMSP Check out this awesome blog. They're using @ChinookBookMSP to save money during the shutdown.
• @CatRichert thanks for the blog coverage today and for all your coverage of the #mnshutdown
• @grinnelldan Read blog by #grinnell alumnus @plannerdeacon as he staycations during the #mnshutdown
• That's me... RT @MPRnews #mnshutdown blog: For one laid off gov't employee, a silver lining http://mprne.ws/1dEsJ
• @katherineemoss Hold on to your hats, @plannerdeacon just got a call from the news. @ChinookBookMSP #staycation #MNShutdown

Silver Lining

Today started off with a little excitement. Twitter brought us to the attention of MPR reporter Catherine Richert (@CatRichert), who's managing the Minnesota Public Radio Shutdown blog. She called during our lunch at Trotters. We had nice conversation about our blog and staycation, and then she blogged about us (read it here).

After the MPR blog post went up, our page views jumped from a couple hundred to over a 1,000 - whoa!

Very fun and an honor to be part of the larger story.

1/2 Off for Laid-Off State Employees: Heidi's - A Review

This morning, I noticed a tweet from @hotdishblog that Heidi's (29th & Lyndale) was offering laid off state workers (that's me) 50% off tonight. Kate's sister Maggie also alerted us to the offer. We had never been to Heidi's, but a quick review of their website was enough to know this would be a place we'd like.


For a Tuesday, this place was hoping - almost a full house. We managed to grab a table on the patio shortly before 8. We were delighted to learn that Heidi's is brought to you in part by the letter Y and the number 13.


First course: Although we were tempted to roll the dice on the "Shefzilla Surprise" appetizer, which our waiter indicated was "exotic," we instead opted for Beets 2.1 The 2.1 is significant - this was a step up from a typical beet salad. I could say a lot about this dish, but the key ingredient for me was the truffled golden beet sorbet. Hard to imagine without actually trying it - it was a powerful, sweet ice cream that hit the taste buds fast and delivered immense flavor.

 *perhaps, the beet schmear was a bit much

Second course: Kate had the black truffle pappardelle (thin strips of pasta) with lobster, which was rich and smooth. I only had a couple bites, but it was amazing. I opted for the special of the day: pan roasted quail with baby artichokes in a rabbit/bay leaf sauce. It was hearty and very tasty.

Dessert: we finished the meal with donuts, but not just any donuts: honey-cream filled donuts. They were served with a blueberry ice cream and a candied mint leaf. Really wonderful - we fought over the last drops of melted ice cream.


We'll definitely go back.