Latest news with #JuicyLucy
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Secrets to making better burgers, according to award-winning chefs
Backyard barbecue season is almost here, which means it's time to clean off your grill and start planning your backyard cookouts. Want to level up your burger game, too? As a food and travel writer based in Colorado, one of my favorite events every summer is the Denver Burger Battle (sadly it's on pause for 2025). The event draws chefs from around the Mile High City, giving them carte blanche to come up with creative toppings or win people over with the classics. Attendees get a token to vote on their favorite burger. Over the years, some of my favorites have been a Juicy Lucy, a Minneapolis-style of burger with a molten cheese in the middle, and others that are topped with green chile, a nod to the Pueblo, Colorado-born 'slopper.' To find out what it takes to make the best hamburger, though, I chatted with Chef Manny Barella, a contestant on Season 21 of Bravo's 'Top Chef' who was among those on last year's judging panel. He's the culinary director of Camp Pickle, which is set to open Denver and Tulsa in 2025, and Jaguar Bolera, which opened in Raleigh. I also chatted with the team at Cherry Cricket, a popular Denver-based burger bar and Burger Battle repeat winner that took home the People's Choice award in 2024 for its French onion soup-inspired burger. In 2023, the team's award-winning Cricket Royale burger that featured braised short rib and bone marrow among other accouterments. Here's the secret sauce to an award-winning burger, according to the experts: Most burgers in America are seasoned with a little salt and pepper and tend to taste the same, says Barella, who grew up in Mexico. His trick? Cook down vegetables like onions and garlic then fold them into the meat with your seasonings. 'That way, the meat is also seasoned inside and not just on the outside,' Barella says. If you're cooking on a flat top, try adding extra pepper on the outside—open fire burns the peppercorn too quickly. If the burger tastes great on its own, the cheese, toppings, and bun are there to play a supporting cast role. Barella's motto: 'In order to be extraordinary do ordinary things extraordinarily well.' (Though, he admits, he's a sucker for a truffle mayo). After you pull a burger from the grill, it's a habit to start piling on the toppings. But there's an art to how everything is layered. Barella recommends this order: Bun, onions, lettuce, tomato, burger patty with cheese, bun. The weight of the patty weighs down the toppings and the tomato provides a nice barrier to keep the lettuce fresh. 'The more things you put on a plate, the more things you're going to get judged on.' That's some advice that celebrity chef Tom Colicchio once gave Barella. If you're hosting a barbecue, go the extra mile and toast your buns instead of serving them straight out of the package. 'When you heat up a brioche bun all that butter in the bread warms up and creates a nice layer of crispiness,' Barella says. Returning and repeat champ Cherry Cricket knows a thing or two about creating award-winning burgers. The team dreamed up 'The Cry-Baby' for this year's burger battle. It's a creative twist on the classic comfort food: French onion soup. The meaty masterpiece is topped with a toasty crostini, cave-aged Gruyère, bone marrow caramelized onions, frico (a crispy-crunchy fried cheese), and onion strings. It's cradled between a rosemary potato bun with a schmear of French onion dip and a sidecar of soup for dipping. 'This way, we can cater to both adventurous foodies looking for something new and those who appreciate the comforting taste of a classic burger,' says Alex Bunn, CMO and VP of Growth for Breckenridge-Wynkoop, LLC. Cherry Cricket prepares for battle months in advance. All three Cherry Cricket locations come up with what they believe is an award-winning burger, Bunn says, experimenting with ingredients, testing flavors, refining the concepts, and taking into account consumer trends. Then, employees participate in a blind taste test to pick the burger that has the strongest shot at winning.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Yahoo
Your essential guide to exploring Minnesota in every season
Travelers planning a trip in the United States, specifically the Midwest, should add Minnesota to their vacation plans. The Star of the North state has a quiet charm, and its reputation extends beyond its subzero temps and long winters. Visitors can choose a variety of ways to uncover the magic of Minnesota through its epic landscapes and truly unique experiences. Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Voyageurs National Park, discover the history found along the stunning North Shore of Lake Superior, try a fried candy bar on a stick at the Minnesota State Fair (the Great Minnesota Get-Together), or try the famed Juicy Lucy or an award-winning meal at Hmong restaurant in the Twin Cities. There's something for every type of traveler in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Spring: When Minnesota's notoriously bitter winter ends (around April) the locals love to hit the bike trails. Minneapolis is ranked as one of the top biking cities in the country, with over 200 miles of trails, including the 51-mile Grand Rounds Scenic Byway. Or you can jump on the 115-mile Paul Bunyan State Trail, in central Minnesota, which is one of the longest paved bike routes in the U.S., stretching from Brainerd to Bemidji. The cascading waters at Minnehaha Falls are at their fiercest (and loudest) in spring, especially after the winter thaw. You can then hike along the river amongst a forest of oak, elm, and cottonwood trees and through fields of spring wildflowers. Summer: Minnesota is the Land of 10,000 Lakes, and during the warm summer months you can rent a lakeside cabin and join the locals boating, kayaking, fishing, and water skiing. Or stay on the lake in Voyageurs National Park, in the far north of the state. There you can rent houseboats to cruise around the glacially carved Minnesota State Fair takes place in late August in St. Paul and is the biggest state fair in the U.S. by daily attendance. Over 200,000 people a day come to pet farm animals, jump on carnival rides, and eat an assortment of fried foods on a stick. Fall: Visit the North Shore in the fall to see trees exploding in brilliant shades of red and gold. The 300-mile Superior Hiking Trail skirts along the coastline of Lake Superior, with 90 free backcountry campsites. Or you can run along the shore of the lake in summer in the annual Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, which attracts elite runners from around the world. Time your trip to catch one of the state's four major professional sports teams (basketball, baseball, American football, or ice hockey). All the major sports stadiums are easily accessible from downtown Minneapolis, including the 73,000-seat U.S. Bank Stadium, the home of the Minnesota Vikings. Hockey fans can drive 20 minutes from Minneapolis to downtown St. Paul to catch the Minnesota Wild play at Xcel Energy Center. Winter: Winter in Minnesota is cold (the coldest recorded temperature is -60° F), but that doesn't stop the hardy locals from taking advantage of all the snow and ice. Hit the frozen lakes for ice skating, pond hockey, or ice fishing, or go snowmobiling or cross-country skiing on one of many designated winter trails. (Related: How Minnesota helped me find the magic of winter.) Music: Prince is king in Minneapolis and his legacy looms large around the city. Catch a gig at First Avenue(where Purple Rain's concert scenes were filmed), check out the 100-foot-hight Prince mural in Downtown, and take a tour of Prince's wildly eccentric home Paisley Park. In May, you can head north to Duluth to celebrate another former illustrious resident Bob Dylan at Duluth Dylan Fest. Art Scene: Minneapolis has a collection of world-class and progressive galleries, including the Weisman Art Museum and the Walker Art Center but art takes all forms in Minnesota. See one of the statues of the mythical giant lumberjack Paul Bunyan in Brainerd, Akeley, and Bemidji, or you can go in search of giant wooden trolls hidden away in the forests around Detroit Lakes in northwestern Minnesota. Visit the southern town of Austin for the world's most comprehensive collection of spiced pork artifacts at the Spam Museum. Shopping: Conveniently located near Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, the Mall of America in Bloomington is the biggest shopping mall in America. No sales tax on clothing is just one of the perks for shoppers visiting the 5.6 million square foot mall with 520 stores. The other perk for kids is the indoor amusement park, located in the middle of the mall. (Related: 10 not-to-be-missed things to do in Minnesota.) Award-winning Native American cuisine: Sean Sherman (also known as the Sioux Chef) is the founder of Owamni, a modern Indigenous restaurant in Minneapolis. It serves only pre-colonial Indigenous foods, which means no beef, pork, chicken, flour, dairy, or cane sugar. Scandinavian fare: Nearly 50 percent of Minnesota's foreign-born population was born in Sweden, Norway, or Denmark. So, for a taste of Scandinavia, head to FIKA Cafe in Minneapolis, which is housed inside the sprawling, castle-like American Swedish Institute. You can order Nordic staples like meatballs and gravlax but also try their seasonal menu dedicated to regional ingredients. Hmong food: Minnesota has one the largest diaspora of Hmong people in the world. Hmong food combines flavors from Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and China. Go to Vinai (in Minneapolis) for their Hilltribe Crispy Chicken, and Sweet Tamiri-glazed Pork Belly The Jucy Lucy: Probably Minnesota's most famous homegrown dish is the Jucy Lucy. What's a Jucy Lucy? It's a burger with the cheese inside the beef patty. The debate continues about who created the first Juicy Lucy, but you can try the famed burger at Matt's Bar and Grill or the 5-8 Club. Dessert: Drive to Northern Minnesota to visit Betty's Pies in Two Harbors. Open since 1956, the restaurant-bakery is touted as serving the 'world famous pies,' including its popular strawberry rhubarb pie. (Related: The pioneer: how chef Sean Sherman is shining a light on Native American cuisine.) By plane: Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) serves 136 domestic nonstop flights and 27 international nonstop flights. Airports Council International (ACI) has named MSP as the Best Airport in North America seven times in the past eight years. By bus and light rail: In the Twin Cities area, public transportation options include the light rail (LRT) and the Metro Transit Bus Service. The city's light rail has a direct line that connects Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to downtown. Download the Metro Transit App for maps and schedules. By car: Minnesota has two seasons: winter and road repair. The state has an extensive major highway network that connects cities and towns. There are also plenty of scenic drives, including the North Shore Scenic Byway which hugs the shores of Lake Superior for 154 miles from Duluth to the Canadian border. By train: Amtrak's Empire Builder has a daily route from Chicago, Ill. to Portland, Oreg. and Seattle, Wash., making stops at Union Depot on Kellogg Boulevard East in St. Paul as well as other cities in Minnesota, including Winona, Red Wing, St. Cloud, Staples, and Detroit Lakes. (Related: Best hotels in Minnesota for every type of traveler.) Cultural history: Minnesota's name derives from the Dakota phrase "Mni Sota Makoce" meaning "land where the waters reflect the clouds'. The state is home to 11 sovereign Indigenous nations. The state's best-known Native American heritage site is Pipestone National Monument. For over 3,000 years, Indigenous tribes from across the country have come to Pipestone to quarry the red stone to make ceremonial pipes. LGBTQ+-: Minnesota is considered one of the most LGBTQ+- friendly states in the U.S. with strong legal protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, while Twin Cities Pride is one of the largest Pride festivals in the country. Minnesota ranks 5th in the nation in sustainability and is the 7th most environmentally friendly state (according to WalletHub). The state is a natural choice for eco-conscious travelers boasting six national parks and 64 state parks. Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is about as green as it gets with 1,200 miles of completely untouched lakes, rivers, and streams—all only accessible by canoe. There are 2,000 camping spots and motorized boats are not permitted. Brian Thacker is a travel writer, author and podcaster who was born in England, raised in Australia and now lives in Minnesota.
National Geographic
15-04-2025
- National Geographic
What to know before traveling to Minnesota, the land of 10,000 lakes
Minnesota may be known for its accent and music icon Prince, but the state is also home to pristine national and state parks, award-winning restaurants, and a vibrant arts scene. Minneapolis should be on every traveler's itinerary when visiting Minnesota. The city has vibrant arts, culture, and culinary scenes, and for sports fans, it's also an opportunity to catch a Twins, Vikings, or Timberwolves game. Photograph by lavin photography, Getty Images Travelers planning a trip in the United States, specifically the Midwest, should add Minnesota to their vacation plans. The Star of the North state has a quiet charm, and its reputation extends beyond its subzero temps and long winters. Visitors can choose a variety of ways to uncover the magic of Minnesota through its epic landscapes and truly unique experiences. Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Voyageurs National Park, discover the history found along the stunning North Shore of Lake Superior, try a fried candy bar on a stick at the Minnesota State Fair (the Great Minnesota Get-Together), or try the famed Juicy Lucy or an award-winning meal at Hmong restaurant in the Twin Cities. There's something for every type of traveler in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Best time to visit Minnesota Spring: When Minnesota's notoriously bitter winter ends (around April) the locals love to hit the bike trails. Minneapolis is ranked as one of the top biking cities in the country, with over 200 miles of trails, including the 51-mile Grand Rounds Scenic Byway. Or you can jump on the 115-mile Paul Bunyan State Trail, in central Minnesota, which is one of the longest paved bike routes in the U.S., stretching from Brainerd to Bemidji. The cascading waters at Minnehaha Falls are at their fiercest (and loudest) in spring, especially after the winter thaw. You can then hike along the river amongst a forest of oak, elm, and cottonwood trees and through fields of spring wildflowers. Cookie dough on a stick is one of the eclectic fried treats served at the Minnesota State Fair. Photograph by Ackerman and Gruber, Nat Geo Image Collection If sweet treats aren't for you, maybe the savory pizza on a stick will satiate your appetite at the Great Minnesota Get-Together. Photograph by Ackerman and Gruber, Nat Geo Image Collection Summer: Minnesota is the Land of 10,000 Lakes, and during the warm summer months you can rent a lakeside cabin and join the locals boating, kayaking, fishing, and water skiing. Or stay on the lake in Voyageurs National Park, in the far north of the state. There you can rent houseboats to cruise around the glacially carved lakes. The Minnesota State Fair takes place in late August in St. Paul and is the biggest state fair in the U.S. by daily attendance. Over 200,000 people a day come to pet farm animals, jump on carnival rides, and eat an assortment of fried foods on a stick. Fall: Visit the North Shore in the fall to see trees exploding in brilliant shades of red and gold. The 300-mile Superior Hiking Trail skirts along the coastline of Lake Superior, with 90 free backcountry campsites. Or you can run along the shore of the lake in summer in the annual Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, which attracts elite runners from around the world. Time your trip to catch one of the state's four major professional sports teams (basketball, baseball, American football, or ice hockey). All the major sports stadiums are easily accessible from downtown Minneapolis, including the 73,000-seat U.S. Bank Stadium, the home of the Minnesota Vikings. Hockey fans can drive 20 minutes from Minneapolis to downtown St. Paul to catch the Minnesota Wild play at Xcel Energy Center. A female participant shows her catch during the annual Brainerd Jaycees Virtual Ice Fishing Extravaganza, a fishing competition held on Gull Lake in Brainerd, Minn. Photograph by Rebecca Fudala, Reuters, Redux Winter: Winter in Minnesota is cold (the coldest recorded temperature is -60° F), but that doesn't stop the hardy locals from taking advantage of all the snow and ice. Hit the frozen lakes for ice skating, pond hockey, or ice fishing, or go snowmobiling or cross-country skiing on one of many designated winter trails. (Related: How Minnesota helped me find the magic of winter.) Key areas to explore in Minnesota Music: Prince is king in Minneapolis and his legacy looms large around the city. Catch a gig at First Avenue(where Purple Rain's concert scenes were filmed), check out the 100-foot-hight Prince mural in Downtown, and take a tour of Prince's wildly eccentric home Paisley Park. In May, you can head north to Duluth to celebrate another former illustrious resident Bob Dylan at Duluth Dylan Fest. Art Scene: Minneapolis has a collection of world-class and progressive galleries, including the Weisman Art Museum and the Walker Art Center but art takes all forms in Minnesota. See one of the statues of the mythical giant lumberjack Paul Bunyan in Brainerd, Akeley, and Bemidji, or you can go in search of giant wooden trolls hidden away in the forests around Detroit Lakes in northwestern Minnesota. Visit the southern town of Austin for the world's most comprehensive collection of spiced pork artifacts at the Spam Museum. Shopping: Conveniently located near Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, the Mall of America in Bloomington is the biggest shopping mall in America. No sales tax on clothing is just one of the perks for shoppers visiting the 5.6 million square foot mall with 520 stores. The other perk for kids is the indoor amusement park, located in the middle of the mall. (Related: 10 not-to-be-missed things to do in Minnesota.) Taste of Minnesota Award-winning Native American cuisine: Sean Sherman (also known as the Sioux Chef) is the founder of Owamni, a modern Indigenous restaurant in Minneapolis. It serves only pre-colonial Indigenous foods, which means no beef, pork, chicken, flour, dairy, or cane sugar. Scandinavian fare: Nearly 50 percent of Minnesota's foreign-born population was born in Sweden, Norway, or Denmark. So, for a taste of Scandinavia, head to FIKA Cafe in Minneapolis, which is housed inside the sprawling, castle-like American Swedish Institute. You can order Nordic staples like meatballs and gravlax but also try their seasonal menu dedicated to regional ingredients. Hmong food: Minnesota has one the largest diaspora of Hmong people in the world. Hmong food combines flavors from Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and China. Go to Vinai (in Minneapolis) for their Hilltribe Crispy Chicken, and Sweet Tamiri-glazed Pork Belly The Jucy Lucy: Probably Minnesota's most famous homegrown dish is the Jucy Lucy. What's a Jucy Lucy? It's a burger with the cheese inside the beef patty. The debate continues about who created the first Juicy Lucy, but you can try the famed burger at Matt's Bar and Grill or the 5-8 Club. Dessert: Drive to Northern Minnesota to visit Betty's Pies in Two Harbors. Open since 1956, the restaurant-bakery is touted as serving the 'world famous pies,' including its popular strawberry rhubarb pie. (Related: The pioneer: how chef Sean Sherman is shining a light on Native American cuisine.) Getting around Minnesota By plane: Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) serves 136 domestic nonstop flights and 27 international nonstop flights. Airports Council International (ACI) has named MSP as the Best Airport in North America seven times in the past eight years. By bus and light rail: In the Twin Cities area, public transportation options include the light rail (LRT) and the Metro Transit Bus Service. The city's light rail has a direct line that connects Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to downtown. Download the Metro Transit App for maps and schedules. By car: Minnesota has two seasons: winter and road repair. The state has an extensive major highway network that connects cities and towns. There are also plenty of scenic drives, including the North Shore Scenic Byway which hugs the shores of Lake Superior for 154 miles from Duluth to the Canadian border. By train: Amtrak's Empire Builder has a daily route from Chicago, Ill. to Portland, Oreg. and Seattle, Wash., making stops at Union Depot on Kellogg Boulevard East in St. Paul as well as other cities in Minnesota, including Winona, Red Wing, St. Cloud, Staples, and Detroit Lakes. (Related: Best hotels in Minnesota for every type of traveler.) This photo of Touch the Sky Prairie, a wildlife refuge in Rock County, Minn., captures a sunset view as far as the eye can see. Photograph by Jim Brandenburg, Nat Geo Image Collection Know before you go Cultural history: Minnesota's name derives from the Dakota phrase "Mni Sota Makoce" meaning "land where the waters reflect the clouds'. The state is home to 11 sovereign Indigenous nations. The state's best-known Native American heritage site is Pipestone National Monument. For over 3,000 years, Indigenous tribes from across the country have come to Pipestone to quarry the red stone to make ceremonial pipes. LGBTQ+-: Minnesota is considered one of the most LGBTQ+- friendly states in the U.S. with strong legal protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, while Twin Cities Pride is one of the largest Pride festivals in the country. How to visit Minnesota sustainably Minnesota ranks 5th in the nation in sustainability and is the 7th most environmentally friendly state (according to WalletHub). The state is a natural choice for eco-conscious travelers boasting six national parks and 64 state parks. Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is about as green as it gets with 1,200 miles of completely untouched lakes, rivers, and streams—all only accessible by canoe. There are 2,000 camping spots and motorized boats are not permitted. Brian Thacker is a travel writer, author and podcaster who was born in England, raised in Australia and now lives in Minnesota.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
California company launches frozen Juicy Lucys at Target
So how do we feel about this one, Minnesota? A California-based food company is putting Twin Cities dive bars in the freezer aisle. Juicy Lucy, Inc. has announced it's making a frozen Juicy Lucy — the Minnesota-born, cheese-filled burger staple of Twin Cities dive bars — that will be hitting the freezer aisle at Target. The frozen version comes from a company co-owned by chef and TV personality Aldo Lanzillotta. They're calling the burgers a tribute to the Minnesota original, which will come in a classic version as well as Spicy Jalapeño. Lanzillotta says he's been serving Juicy Lucys at his Barney's Beanery restaurant in Hollywood for years and now hopes to bring an homage to the original to a wider audience. 'This is our way to honor this best-of burger, and we believe the more people who can enjoy a Juicy Lucy, the better, so we are making it more available to more people,' says Lanzillotta, who was a co-host of Compete to Eat and a guest chef on Bravo's short-lived Best New Restaurant. The announcement goes on to recognize the contested origins of the burger at Matt's Bar and the 5-8 Club before adding that "imitation is the purest form of flattery." Though, the announcement doesn't finish its paraphrasing of the Oscar Wilde-attributed quote, which concludes "that mediocrity can pay to greatness." The burgers will be available for around $14.99 per six-pack at select Target locations.
