Cupcake Wars.  Have you seen this show on Food Network?

The winner of last week’s show (Jan 22, 2012) was none other than Abby Jimenez, owner of Nadia Cakes, which is opening soon at the Shoppes of Arbor Lakes in Maple Grove.

Abby won over the judges with her New York cheesecake cupcake, which is made with Madagascar Bourbon vanilla bean and has a made-from-scratch piecrust bottom and freshly made whipped cream topping with triple berry compote.  Doesn’t this look great?

Photo by Megan Hayes Photography

Construction on the Maple Grove store, which is expected to open in March in the Shoppes at Arbor Lakes, is currently underway. Abby is in the process of looking for a kitchen manager, head designer, store manager, and dessert artists to work with her at the new bakery. Though now based in Minnesota, Abby and her husband will split their time between the Los Angeles store and the Maple Grove store.

About Nadia Cakes
Nadia Cakes is a premier cupcake and custom cake studio that offers 135 different flavors of cakes and cupcakes. Desserts are made by hand daily on the premises with the freshest ingredients, including Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans, fresh fruit, sweet cream butter, juices and zests, spices, imported chocolates, coconut milk, and more. Nadia Cakes is also a committed community partner, donating $50,000 since opening to support programs and organizations that benefit children and families. Nadia Cakes has a bakery in Palmdale, Calif., and will soon open a bakery in Maple Grove, Minn. Find Nadia Cakes on Facebook and Twitter, or visit www.nadiacakes.com <http://www.nadiacakes.com>  <http://www.nadiacakes.com> to learn more.

Call 651-224-7455 to make a reservation today!

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Cocktail Reception at 6 pm

Dinner following Reception

The Feast of the Seven Fishes is a traditionally an Italian Christmas Eve meal that includes seven dishes served family style. Sea Change is putting its own unique twist on The Feast of the Seven Fishes by holding a special seven fishes wine dinner on Monday, January 30. Chef Tim McKee and Chef de Cuisine Jamie Malone will prepare a a family-style meal paired with wines selected by Sea Change Sommelier Bill Summerville.

Feast of The Seven Fishes at Sea Change
Monday, January 30
6 pm Reception
6:30 pm Dinner Service

1st Course
Oysters with Horseradish Snow and Finger Limes
Fried Boccaronnes/Bone Marrow/Pimenton

2nd Course
Smoked Sardine Salad/Artichokes/Piquillo
Egg Yolk and Brandade Ravioli/Bagna Cauda/Tomato
Served with Warm Bread with Anchovy Butter

3rd Course
Salt Baked Whole Stripped Bass
Whole Grilled Arctic Char
Clams/Turnips/Fingerlings/Ruttabega
Served with Condiments to share

Dessert will also be served

The Minneapolis Boat Show is Coming!!!
Minneapolis Convention Center 1301 2nd Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55403

Show Hours

Thursday, January 19 ….12pm–9pm
Friday, January 20 ………12pm–9pm
Saturday, January 21 …..10am–9pm
Sunday, January 22 …….10am–5pm

Families, experienced captains and those new to the water will enjoy a variety of attractions including:

NEW! Marina & Yacht Club Experience – See boats and marine equipment as they were meant to be experienced, in the water!  This 10,000 square feet virtual exhibit features a lifelike setting complete with water, docks, a lift, boulder-scaping, trees, and boats for every lifestyle and budget, including some of the largest vessels at the show. Browse and shop boats and marine equipment docked at the marina, or relax at the Yacht Club, listen to live music lightly and order something to eat from Seven Sushi & Steakhouse. 

NEW! DIY Seminars & Interactive Learning Center at Fred’s Shed – Watch, learn and do! Do-it-yourselfers or boat owners interested in maintaining, repairing or upgrading their boat or engine can head to Fred’s Shed for practical, professional advice. Free, daily seminars and talk-show format clinics cover a variety of topics, and include demos and question/answer sessions. Together, “The Boating Guy” and certified marine service technician “Fred, The Outboard Doctor,” bring more than 50 years of boating and ‘wrench-slinging’ experience to the Shed. Stop by to see a cutaway boat and motor, participate in hands-on clinics and interactive Q&A sessions.

New! Kids Build-A-Boat Cove presented by Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota – Kids can build and decorate their own wooden boat and sail it in an actual pond at the show. All donations for each boat kit will be given to Children’s of Minnesota.

NEW! New to Boating? Visit the Welcome to the Water Center – A visit to the the Welcome to the Water Center is a must for new boaters, which provides free daily seminars from unbiased boating experts ready to answer any questions about getting started in boating, the right boat for any budget and lifestyle, local boating information and more.  

Antique & Classic Boat Display – Step back in time to admire the beauty and craftsmanship of vintage craft. Among the variety of boats on display will be the award-winning ”Stella,” a 1907 Fay & Bowen Standard Launch from the Minnesota Lakes Maritime Museum (presented by the Bob Speltz Land-O-Lakes chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society).

Meet Patrick Star from SpongeBob SquarePants – Straight from Bikini Bottom, SpongeBob’s buddy Patrick Star will visit the show on Saturday, January 21 and Sunday, January 22 from Noon–3pm to meet and greet his fans and take pictures. 

Sailfest Seminar Series – This popular series of free, daily seminars provides practical takeaways for the beginner and veteran sailor, plus entertaining stories of sailing adventurers for all ages.

 Visit www.MinneapolisBoatShow.com for updates on contests and additional features

Admission

Adults (16 and older): $10.00
Children (15 and younger): FREE
Active Military: FREE Just show your active military ID at the Box Office onsite for FREE admission!

The Black Forest Inn in Minneapolis is once again offering its traditional and well-loved German delicacies by the dozen. Made only in December, these cookies and treats are the perfect way to complete your holiday celebration. This year, the collection includes:

• Lebkuchen – The original gingerbread, these spicy, honey-sweetened cookies are light and low in fat.
• Linzer – Tortes made with a buttery ground nut crust and a raspberry preserve filling.
• Pfeffernusse – German for “pepper nut,” these hard, spiced cookies are the perfect companion to a warm winter drink.
• Springerle – These pale, anise-flavored cookies are beautifully embossed with images of century-old folklore.

Other favorites include Marzipan, Stollen, pies and chocolates. Stop by the restaurant at 3 p.m. during the Christmas market December 17 and 18 for a Springerle demonstration

The Charity Meat Raffle, a popular event being held for the 6^th time, is being held on Saturday, November 12 from 2 to 4 pm and will benefit St. Paul’s Neighborhood House.

• All Meat Raffle guests will enjoy the satisfaction of helping a local charity as well as a chance to take home exceptional steaks, chops and seafood from The Grill should their raffle ticket be a winner.
• Raffle tickets for the event cost $5 per ticket and winning tickets will be drawn every 15 minutes throughout the event, with winners invited to spin a wheel to learn which cut of meat they receive as a prize.
• Emcee Jim Cunningham, announcer at the Minnesota Twins and Wild games, will preside over the event.  During the event, guests can also purchase refreshments from The Grill’s bar menu.

Neighborhood House is a local non-profit organization serving more than 14,000 St. Paul residents annually through its basic needs, education, and youth leadership programs.   Previous meat raffles have raised more than $15,000 for Neighborhood House.

Reservations for The Grill’s meat raffle can be made by calling (651) 292-9292.

Thailand is experiencing a record flooding, the worst in 50 years. 297 people died in the floods that have inundated the country for 3 months. The floods still prevail in 61 of 77 provinces, affecting about 2.5 million households and 8.6 million people. About 50 main highways in many provinces are flooded and cannot be passed.

In response to this natural disaster, the Thai Association of Minnesota and the Thai Student Association of
Minnesota are organizing a fundraising dinner on Saturday, November 5th, 2011, 6.00 – 11.00 PM, at the Northstar Ballroom, University of Minnesota, St. Paul campus (2017 Buford Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108).

You are cordially invited you to attend this event to support the flood victims. All proceeds and donation will go
directly to flood-victim assistance efforts in Thailand without any deduction for the event organizing
expenses and/or the food cost. We are fortunate to have supports from Thai restaurants in the Twin Cities.

The $25/person admission includes food and beverages. The event also features stage performances of Thai
dance, music, and other entertainment. Tickets can be purchased by contacting Vilaiwan (612) 554-9950;
Kanitta (952) 894-1662; or Parichart (612) 701-6019. In-advance purchase is strongly encouraged for our
food preparation plan.

Direct donation is also welcome and appreciably encouraged, and is tax deductible. Please send the check to
Thai Association of Minnesota, 2972 Ontario Road, Little Canada, MN 55117.