At a recent lunch, the dishes on the menu looked so good that we wanted to order everything, so we opted for the next best thing: a tasting platter. For this expedition into the world of healthy eating, we chose the vegan platter, which lets you choose two to four stews ($8 to $12) from the eight available. Each order comes with injera rolls, the spongy, fermented, sour flatbreads that are perfect for scooping up the stews.
The shiro, a sauce made from ground chickpeas, and the miser, a red lentil stew, both with a berbere spice that gave off some heat and earthy notes, were great choices and actually our favorites. The gomen, braised collard greens and kale, and the potatoes and carrots in garlic, ginger and turmeric were also delicious. If anything, they served as a neutralizer for our rich and spicy stews. We left satisfied, knowing that variety is the spice of life. (NN)
(Sharyn Jackson/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum’s cafe was renovated this summer and reopened as Rootstock. The new cafe strays from its institutional cafeteria origins and instead focuses on farm-fresh ingredients that match the verdant surroundings.
The menu, created by executive chef Beth Fisher and head chef Niki Heber, offers many vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and lactose-free options. We found a refrigerated counter full of colorful salads and ready-made sandwiches. The hot section featured soups and Roman-style pizza with lots of vegetables.
We opted for the cold soup of the day, a corn and coconut soup ($9 for a large portion). A slice of za’atar-spiced focaccia ($5) turned the soup into a lunchtime appetizer. In keeping with the eco-friendliness, all of the tableware is compostable. We just wish there was a reusable option for a less casual, plated meal. (SJ)
