nom nom: Masu Sushi and Robata

restaurant:  Masu Sushi and Robata  location:  330 East Hennepin, NE mpls

Photo by Susan Powers Photography

if you had asked me a few months ago whether there was a sushi spot to try in northeast minneapolis, i wouldn't have had an answer for you.  was there??  with the debut of Masu Sushi and Robata, that question now has an answer:  yes ma'am! 

reservations?  yes.  i made mine at opentable.com
host/hostess:  prompt greeting, professional and friendly.  very welcoming.
server:  nice and friendly.  knew the menu and daily specials very well.  open/honest with recommendations.
service:  {bad}  we were only given two menus for a party of four; initially, the server and others failed to deliver a tea that was ordered (it was finally brought to the table after having to ask for it twice); small appetizer plates/bowls were not delivered and after several minutes of waiting we had to ask someone to bring them to the table before we could begin eating.
service:  {good}  we received complimentary sake because we were celebrating a birthday; food delivery was prompt; comfortable atmosphere and seating.  all in all, the people were nice, logistics just need to be worked out a bit.

food:  on a scale of 1-10, i gave the sushi a 7.  i wouldn't call Masu a must-dine for sushi but you must try the ramen.  we had both the Porkbelly Ramen and Tonkatsu Curry Ramen.  my fave was the curry.  tdf.  go try it now!
would i visit Masu again?  yes; but probably only for the Ramen

{noodled}

winkMSP

p.s.  as a friendly reminder, i am not a food critic =)

nom nom: Tilia

Restaurant:  Tilia
Location:  Linden Hills
Wink?  YES


yea, it does

 I'm not usually the type of person that just has to go to a new restaurant right after it opens to see what all the buzz and hype are about, but after seeing so much Twitter love for the newest hotspot in Linden Hills, I was curious to try it out.

Now I'm sure we all know how I feel about resto's who don't accept reservations or call-ahead seating, so after reading an article by Andrew Zimmern, I was curious to see how long my friend Cadence and I would have to wait before getting a table.

We arrived at Tilia around 7:30pm (primo dinner time) and were greeted outside with a crowd of people sitting at their picnic table style benches and standing on the sidewalk, all waiting for a table.  Once inside the restaurant, the bar was full and there was barely any room to gather around without getting in the way of a hard-working server or 2.  Our estimated wait time?  45 minutes.  To the bar, we went.  A lone man at the bar was nice enough to let me squeeze through to get a drink menu and provide us with some distracting conversation and just about 10 minutes later, the lovely host approached us at the bar and told us our table was ready.  Score!

Even though I think the statuesque and beautiful Cadence was the real reason why we were seated so soon (umm, if you have ever met her in real life, you would think she was a supermodel) I was all too giddy from the fact I wasn't going to have to wait an eternity to finally be fed because I was starving.  The lone man at the bar had pointed out that Steven Brown, partner and Executive Culinary Director was in the house and it just so happens he was delivering food to patrons all night.  Even though the resto was beyond packed and extremely busy, he took the time to greet us and go over portions of the menu.  Our server was delightful and gave us good recommendations in wine and appetizers (all of which was shockingly well priced) and even convinced us that we needed to share an entire bottle of Norton between us.  She was right.



vino for everyone

Between Steven Brown and our server (I really wish I had written her name down), we decided on the beet salad, grilled bread with prosciutto and mozzarella for app's and the slow roasted pork tenderloin and squash caramelle pasta for dinner.  Let me tell you, I still daydream about that beet salad.  TDF.  My pork tenderloin was served with caramelized brussel sprouts who's fragrance had filled the entire resto and had my tummy craving for more. 

nom nom!  the slow roasted pork tenderloin

Aside from being delighted about not having to wait a ridiculous amount of time to be seated, and despite the fact that we received personalized service from Steven Brown, the icing on top of this culinary cake was the prices.  Apps start from $3 and the dinner prices were very reasonable.  Tilia is financially within reach for many food-lovers and the fact that I can eat at a fabulous establishment, receive outstanding service and still have some dollah dollah bills left in my wallet makes it a complete winner in my book.

{oxox}

winkMSP

in the bag: Step N' Stretch

Business:  Step N' Stretch
Location:  Burnsville and Minnetonka
Wink?  Yes

Purchases:  Dance shorts, tights and Footundeez (helps protect the balls of a dancers feet for dancing barefoot).

Step N' Stretch
13903 Aldrich Avenue South
Burnsville, MN 55337

Reason for shopping:  In preparation for a performance I was involved in, I needed some dance essentials as part of our costuming.  Step N' Stretch has 2 different locations, Burnsville and Minnetonka and it just so happens that I used to work by their southern location and currently live by their western location.  My first trip to SNS was in search of new tights and shorts and Liz, the assistant manager of Burnsville, was extremely helpful from the get-go.  I walked in and was immediately greeted and offered help.  Since I'm a girl who usually shops with purpose (a.k.a. not much of a browser), I loved that Liz grabbed 3 different options for shorts that fit my criteria and educated me on her thoughts on each brand and/or style.  My biggest requirement was good fit and coverage and Liz knew where to search among the million different styles and fits they carry.  I ended up going with a mid-priced short which was her original recommendation and I was very pleased.  I've got some junk in the trunk and danced with confidence knowing I wasn't flashing the unsuspecting crowd.

Personally, I think shorts should be outlawed.  I had to choose one and the winner was the top left pair.

My 2nd encounter was the day of the performance (procrastinate much?) and I was in dire need of foot support after rehearsing on the not-so-great wooden floors of our venue.  I ran to the Minnetonka location after rehearsal and again, was immediately greeted and asked if I needed help.  Katie, the helpful associate, pulled different size options for me and encouraged me to try multiples on to find a more comfortable fit.  I'm glad I took her advice otherwise the first pair I thought were right were in fact a big larger than I really needed. 

FootUndeez

Local Love:  Step N' Stretch has been a staple in the Minnesota retail dance industry and have been in business for over 15 years.  It is very apparent that their staff are friendly, helpful and most importantly, very knowledgeable in helping anyone from novice hobby dancers to professional veterans.  Minnesota is definitely the place to be if you want to be a competitive or non-competitive dancer and Step N' Stretch has definitely played a vital role in outfitting these talented dancers.  I love local businesses and SNS is here to stay.

{dancin}

winkMSP

nom nom: The 5-8 Club

Business:  The 5-8 Club
Location:  South Minneapolis
Did they earn a wink?  YES

The Occasion:  A Juicy Lucy experience.

The Food:  I ordered an original Juicy Lucy with American cheese and onion rings (The 5-8 Club makes THE BEST onion rings).

Image via Mark Libell

The Service:  I don't know what it is, but I am not a fan of strangers who address me as 'honey' or 'sweetie.'  I only really like it when my mother calls me that so when I first became a patron of The 5-8, I had to accept that their resident server liked to address all 5-8 lovers as 'honey and 'sweetie.'  Though she used friendly words and gave prompt and accurate service, in my opinion her personality actually wasn't very friendly.  No smiles, I always felt as though I was bothering her when I asked for something and overall I just didn't get a good vibe from her.  Though I am not a fan of their longtime server, I would always come back to The 5-8 because, lets face it, they make a pretty mean Juicy Lucy.  Their onion rings are pretty awesome too.

So on my most recent visit, I was pleasantly surprised to be greeted by a server wearing a smile and who didn't address me as 'honey' OR 'sweetie.'  She was genuinely friendly and came across as someone who actually like her job and liked working at The 5-8.  Being a self-seat restaurant, we grabbed the first available table and our new server was prompt in her greeting and I was pleased with the service I received that day.

I am kicking myself for not remembering her name!

Image by Ann Olson

My Only Gripe:  There has been a long debate on who has the best Juicy Lucy's in town and The 5-8 did not have it this day.  The cheese from my Juicy Lucy wasn't as melted or "oozy" as you see in the image below.  It had a slightly firmer consistency, the type not conducive to what one would describe as belonging to a Juicy Lucy.  *sad face*

Still Love Em':  Sometimes we dine at a restaurant because of the food while forgiving the bad service, and sometimes it is the opposite.  I hope next time I will finally have the best of both worlds at my favorite Juicy Lucy restaurant.  My opinion is highly debated but I stand my ground.  

{ja-ja-ja-juicy}

winkMSP

busy busy busy bee

These past couple months have been uber busy at winkMSP and I wanted to reassure you that I have not disappeared off the face of the Earth.  I went through a pretty grueling job interview process (over a month long) and I am happy to report that I got a new job!  Though I am still working within a health care setting, my new role is a huge change from my current clinical role so as I start the new job, I will be much busier as well... Have no fear, I still plan on blogging as much as I possibly can :)

and also ... (as if that wasn't enough) ...

I joined a dance company!  Sole to Soul Dance Conversion is a talented group of amazingly awesome dancers and I am so honored to be a part of the Urban Arts show on Saturday, April 9th.  Over 30 local artists (performance, visual, etc.) will be featured and/or performing during this evening and S2S will be performing 4 dance numbers.  Yep, 4.  We have been rehearsing day in and day out to bring our best to this event and I hope you can all check it out.  To purchase tickets, click here

{talksoon}

winkMSP

Pizzeria Lola: Follow Up & Follow Through

Business:  Pizzeria Lola
Location: South Minneapolis (55th & Xerxes)
*NEW* Call ahead seating:  612-424-8338

A short while ago I wrote about my first visit to Pizzeria Lola.  Though I ended up loving the food (remember, I am NOT a food critic), my wait time and subsequent communications with the hostess were less than stellar.  I vented my frustrations and tweeted at Pizzeria Lola in the hopes that they would at least read about my experience in their new South Minneapolis space.

Not only did they read my blogpost, but they responded and changed some things up!  I am happy to report that Pizzeria Lola now offers call-ahead seating and I am looking forward to my second visit in the near future.  How awesome is it that they listened to the feedback and followed through with changes that everyone can be appreciative of?  Who knows if it was my post that put the change in motion, but a blogger can only dream right?  If you haven't been there yet, you MUST try Pizzeria Lola soon and now you can call ahead for your seating...

{thrilled}

winkMSP

at your service: Marek's Towing & Repair

Business:  Marek's Towing & Repair
Address:  20152 Kenrick Avenue, Lakeville
Phone:  952-469-3182

As a female driver of an almost 10 year old car, I have come to dread visits to the auto body shop.  I will be the first to admit that my education on the operation and repair of cars has taken a back seat and my beloved "silver bullet" has reached a point where many repairs will likely be needed in order to keep it running.  The silver bullet is a 2001 Honda Civic with approximately 155,000 miles on it and I've never had major problems with it.  She sure has treated me well.

On my last visit to the Firestone near my home, I asked for my usual oil change and service check.  Often times the mechanic will come back and say things are fine with the car, but on this day he informed me that my Serpentine Belts needed to be replaced and that he could do so instantly for $140.  I don't like to spend $140 at the drop of a hat so I told him that I would "think" about it and schedule at a later date.  Serpentine belts are essential to cars because they drive the power steering, A/C, alternator pump and etc. so putting this off for a few months or years was not an option.

Firestone estimate for repair:  $141.98 (includes parts and labor)

So I started calling around to other repair shops, Google'ing and asking friends for opinions on where to go for affordable but dependable auto repair.  My day job is within a health care setting and a car-buff patient of mine suggested with a hand on his heart that I give Marek's Towing & Repair a call.  Bob, MTR's only mechanic was extremely knowledgeable on my specific car (because he drove one himself) and told me that in his years of experience, ordering the belt straight from the manufacturer would be my best bet and would last for the remaining life of my car.  He also taught me a bit more about my car and how it specifically uses the Serpentine Belts which made me trust his opinion even more.  The kicker was when he quoted my estimate, about $40 cheaper than my Firestone.  I made an appointment, Bob ordered my parts and I had new Serpentine Belts in a matter of 3 days.

Marek's Towing & Repair estimate for repair:  $104.18 (includes parts and labor)

 There is something to be said about having a trust-worthy mechanic to turn to when spending hundreds to thousands of dollars on a big investment piece such as your car.  Bob made sure to show me my old Serpentine Belts versus the new ones and assured me that my money was well spent.  No mechanic had offered me that option before quite frankly I like that he dispelled my doubt on my thoughts that there aren't any honest mechanics in this world.  Marek's Towing & Repair has a new loyal customer...

{drivingsmoothly}

winkMSP

nom nom: Pizzeria Lola

Business:  Pizzeria Lola
Location:  Southwest Minneapolis
Did they earn a wink? NO

The Occasion:  An early start to the weekend (Thursday is the new Saturday)

The Food:  {pizza}  Sweet Italian (server's favorite) and The Forager.  I felt the pizza's tasted pretty good and were well priced for being a "fancy" pizza joint.  I would take this over Dominos ANY DAY.

via

The Service and What Went Wrong:  First off, Pizzeria Lola does not take reservations or accept call ahead seating.  I see the reasoning behind this policy (how long does it take to finish a pizza?), but I have come to the realization that where liquor is served, dinner will likely be prolonged by at least 20 minutes.  Obviously this is an important factor when quoting wait times for diners in a restaurant.  My friend wasn't meeting me until 7:30 and I arrived around 7:10 to claim a spot on the wait list.  The hostess quoted me a 30 minute wait time and wrote my name down on the list.  I decided to grab a glass of wine at the bar. 45-50 minutes later, my date arrived and all the other parties who had been waiting were seated...except for us.

Pizzeria Lola's Le Panyol wood-fired oven
Photo by Pete Sieger

I walked back to the host stand and looked at the list.  There were three other parties of 2 written down below me that were now crossed off.  Either these parties came and decided to leave OR they were seated before us.  I addressed my concern with the hostess in which she replied that there were now 2 other parties who were still ahead of us also waiting to be seated.  I looked around, and didn't see any other parties who had arrived before/after me.  She could tell we were upset and asked if we would like a drink for the inconvenience.  Instead of offering us a complimentary drink like we thought her direction was, she pointed us to the bar and said we could get one for ourselves if we wanted, i.e. NOT complimentary. Really?!

photo booth wall of fame.  see anyone you know?

In the midst of all the waiting, I had been tweeting about my experience and shortly after my tweet's, we were seated.  Service during dinner went well and I was satisfied with the servers' attentiveness.  Although the wait time was frustrating, Pizzeria Lola has many attractive qualities that have made it a popular restaurant destination.  The charming decor, the photo booth and the imported Le Panyol wood-fired oven (a rare thing to find in the states) are all attractions to be seen at this pizzeria.  Would I admit that I was unsatisfied with my experience on this night?  Yes.  Would I dismiss the restaurant entirely?  Absolutely not.  Here's to hoping my next experience is a bit more pleasant.

{winkMSP}

at your service: First Blush Bride

Business:  First Blush Bride
Contact:  firstblushbride@gmail.com
Did they earn a wink?  YES

What is First Blush Bride?  Stephanie Morrison Gandy is the brains, stylist and artist behind First Blush Bride.  As a life stylist, her passion lies in fashion, weddings, photography and interior design.  Not only is she a great planner and stylist, but she has a knack for simply making things gorgeous.

concept shoot styled by First Blush Bride
photo by Melissa Oholendt

artwork by First Blush Bride
photo by Melissa Oholendt

My experience with First Blush Bride:  I was co-maid-of-honor in my besties wedding of which Stephanie was the day-of planner.  Her organization skills and ability to get things done were key in making the day run smoothly and take pressure off of the bride and the bridal party so that we were able to just enjoy the loving occasion.  The only duty I was given by the bride for that day was to remember to bring the groom's wedding band with me from the hotel to the ceremony location.  While we were en-route to the ceremony location, what did I forget?  The wedding band!  Frantically, I called Stephanie (who was already at the ceremony location prepping for the reception) and she graciously returned to the hotel to retrieve the ring for me.

On top of helping plan for day-of styling for the wedding, Stephanie also played artist in creating an adorable canvas "guest book" for the wedding guests to sign loving messages for the newly married couple...

canvas art created by First Blush Bride
photos by Erin Johnson Photography

My boudoir experience with First Blush Bride:  If you saw my post on CGP, then you are aware that I participated in a boudoir shoot earlier this year.  Stephanie was the stylist on hand and helped the girls with posing and wardrobe styling to help us obtain the look that flattered us most.  Since none of us were Victoria's Secret Angels, we all needed a little help in the "looking sexy" arena.  Having Stephanie as another pair of eyes to make sure we looked the best we could helped us all feel at ease with the slightly out of nature event.  First Blush Bride played a key role in the boudoir shoot and the results were lovely...

styling by First Blush Bride
photo by Canary Grey Photography

{blushing}

winkMSP

at your service: Canary Grey Photography

Business:  Canary Grey Photography
Contact:  wing@canarygrey.com / 612.568.5118
Did they earn a wink?  YES

What is Canary Grey Photography?  Wing Ta, the talented photographer behind Canary Grey Photography, is hitting the Minneapolis photography industry full steam ahead and it really is no surprise when you take a look at her impressive portfolio.  She describes herself as a lifestyle photographer and is available for engagements, weddings, lifestyle photography, love sessions, editorial work, etc.  Visit the CGP blog to view her work.

Newlywed session by Canary Grey Photography:  Ingrid + Bobby

What makes Canary Grey Photography different?  Let's face it, real people don't get their pictures taken often.  When we do, it's usually for a special occasion i.e. engagement, wedding, family photos, etc., and for those of us non-models, posing for a camera isn't natural.  The photographer-client relationship is important in making not only the client comfortable, but in ensuring the photos reflect the clients personality and emotions.  Wing has the sweetest personality and genuinely loves her clients and their stories.  When I look at the images in her blog posts, I see a story and not just people posing in front of a camera.

Lifestyle session by Canary Grey Photography:  Loanie

My experience:  I have worked with CGP on a couple occasions and most recently participated in the boudoir marathon.  This was Wing's first experience with a boudoir shoot but she handled the entire day with courtesy and professionalism.  For most of us, this was our first time in a shoot like this and Wing was very encouraging, making sure we were comfortable, having a good time and enjoying the moment.  It is no easy task to help women feel comfortable in their own skin (let alone in their skin with very little clothes on), and everyone left the shoot with a lot more confidence in themselves.  Not only was our self-esteem boosted, but we all got a little something for ourselves or to share with loved ones on Valentines Day...

Photo by Canary Grey Photography:  Boudoir Soiree

{smitten}

winkMSP

Happy Valentines Day!

Like this?  Buy it here

{xoxo}

winkMSP

TGIF

On Monday I told you all about my plans to take a cupcake class at Sweets Bakeshop on Wednesday night.  For my final installment, you can all see the fruits of my labor!

Ly Lo, co-owner of Sweets Bakeshop, was the instructor for the evening.  Her background in furniture design from the The Savannah College of Art and Design was what threw her into the decorating world of sweets.  She claims she's not that great of a baker (I don't believe her) and that her main passion is the decorating which is very obvious in the beautiful cakes and cupakes she turns out daily.  Ly was the perfect instructor for the class.  She had great patience (especially since many of us were beginners), was very encouraging and provided us with a lot of tools and advice on how to improve on our fondant skills.  Sweets Bakeshop offers classes frequently so check their website for future courses.  I'm petitioning for a baking class.  We'll see what happens.

First round of fondant covers the top of the cupcake.  We used pizza cutters to create scores of "fur" for the doggie.  Underneath all that fondant is their Chocolate Raspberry cupcake.

Progress on the puppies..... Pinched the end for a tail.  Rolled a ball up and placed it under the top layer of fondant for the head

All 4 cupcakes, finished.  Very amateur but so much fun!

{gotcupcakes?}

winkMSP

at your service: LoveLee Looks

Business:  LoveLee Looks (by Amber Heckert)
Contact:  loveleelooks@gmail.com
Did she earn a wink?  YES


What is LoveLee Looks?  Amber Heckert is the brains and talent behind LoveLeeLooks. She is a free-lance makeup artist and hair stylist and has experience with photo shoots, weddings, film, boudoir, special events, fashion, runway and more.  I first heard of LoveLee Looks through Wing of Canary Grey Photography, a local photographer.

Amber at work on location.
Photo by Canary Grey Photography
For more on this shoot, click here

Make me feel pretty:  I think that every girl secretly wants to do a boudoir shoot at least once in her life, but only few of us actually get the guts to put ourselves through the process.  I participated in a Canary Grey Photography boudoir marathon with a number of close girlfriends and Amber was the amazing makeup artist on hand to transform all our looks.

Photo by Canary Grey Photography

Above and beyond:  A week before the shoot, Amber asked each of us to describe who and what our style and makeup inspirations were.  With the feedback, she created look book pages to give us the looks we desired.  I don't know about you, but I love having my makeup and hair done and there was something so soothing about Amber that calmed my nerves down while waiting for my turn in front of the camera.  It also helped that I was the last person on the schedule and I watched as Amber kept turning out gorgeous girl after gorgeous girl.  I trusted that I was in good hands.

Results:  I was completely thrilled and floored after peeking at myself before the posing and shooting began.  My inspiration was Mila Kunis and I was so happy with my look that I almost slept with my makeup on so that I could enjoy the look the next day.  Amber was so knowledgeable, friendly, outgoing and patient with all of us girls.  You could tell that she was truly enjoying the time she was spending with each girl and we all were appreciative of her contribution to a very special day. Thanks to LoveLee Looks, the vision each girl had for herself was achieved and the results were stunning...

Photo by Canary Grey Photography
Hair and makeup by LoveLee Looks
For more from this shoot, click here

{lovelee-fied}

winkMSP

at your service: Sweets Bakeshop decorating class

On the agenda for this week:

Sweets Bakeshop

I will be taking a Valentine cupcake class at the Sweets Bakeshop St. Paul location THIS WEDNESDAY, Feb. 9th from 6-8pm.  Learn how to make some of their infamous and yummy cupcakes with me.  Call 651-340-7138 to register.

{soon to be baking}

winkMSP

nom nom: Edina Grill

Business:  Edina Grill
Location:  50th & France
Did they earn a wink?  YES

The Occasion:  Lunch break during a shopping excursion.  Even though it was a busy Saturday, we were able to get a table for two in about 10 minutes.

The Food:  Fish tacos and their Turkey Burger which was voted "Best Turkey Burger in the Twin Cities"by Minneapolis/St. Paul magazine in 2003.  I wonder if you can still lay claim to that if the title was rewarded 8 years ago?!

Image via We Got Served

The Service:  One thing I love about resto's like Edina Grill is that there will always be "safe" menu options to order.  Edina Grill features sandwiches, burgers and salads, all of the American variety ... and there isn't much you can do to screw up a classic hamburger right?  One thing I have been in search for is the perfect Fish & Chips or Fish Taco.  For opinions on popular menu items, I always ask the server on their thoughts of the dishes or what people have given positive feedback on.  The Turkey Burger was at the top of her list so my dining mate ordered that (good play on her part, the Turkey Burger was excellent) and I decided to choose the Fish & Chips.  I think I finished about 1/4 of the meal before I decided I didn't care for it.

Besides the fact that I didn't particularly like my food, the service we received was pretty excellent.  The host was a young friendly high-school aged lad and did a good job at squeezing our small party in among all the other larger families that were waiting for bigger tables to open.  Our server was friendly, honest with her recommendations and was quite complimentary.  We ordered mid-afternoon drinks which required her to ask for our identification.  She must have had to think about the years we were born and came back and was astounded that we were the age our licenses said.  Music to every woman's ears! 

At the end of our meal, she offered to box the food and me being the pleasing kind, I didn't want her to think that I didn't care for the food so I accepted the offer knowing full well that I didn't want the food.  I decided that I was going to "forget" my box at the table and sneak out after paying.  It was so busy in there that by the time she got back to our table, we'd be long gone.  Or so I thought.  We paid and left and 5 steps out the door, our server came running out after us with my leftover Fish & Chips. 

That's pretty excellent ... next time I'll just refuse the doggy bag.

{winkMSP}

sneak peek: boudoir week...

Next week on the blog:

- A talented stylist, wedding planner and overall awesome woman.  Truly, she can do it all.
- An up and coming photographer.  If you haven't heard of her yet, where have you been???
- A lovelee makeup artist who is as talented as she is sweet. 

Are you excited?  I am!

its me, winkMSP
Photo by:  Canary Grey Photography

I was very honored to be a part of a special event a few weeks ago.  This experience is what connected me to all the fabulous women who will be featured on the blog this upcoming week.  This image is just a tiny snippet from all the activity from this great adventure.  Check back next week for some exciting posts!

{girlpower}

winkMSP

what's your opinion? ... when is it okay to leave a restaurant?

Over the weekend I met up with a dear old friend of mine back in town from Japan.  We decided to meet up at Tiger Sushi at the Mall of America for a late lunch.  We were seated at the bar and waited about 10 minutes for a server, hostess or anybody to see if we had questions or wanted to order.  My friend was craving Korean food and we were sick of waiting around, so we decided to just leave.

I have always had an internal conflict on the etiquette to leaving a restaurant in this fashion.  Was it warranted since we weren't offered any help?  I did take a sip from my water, am I morally bound to becoming a patron in the restaurant now?  What would make you leave a restaurant in a similar fashion? 

{cravingsushi}

winkMSP

nom nom: Northeast Social

Business:  Northeast Social
Location:  NE Minneapolis
Did they earn a wink?  YES

The Occasion:  Ladies night with my besties

The Food:  [apps] Calamari [entrees] braised pork shank with root vegetables, cranberry gnocchi, mahi mahi (market fish of the day) [dessert] chocolate cake a la mode, rosemary honey panna cotta (to die).

Image via Restaurant.com

Our Service:  There is nothing like having a co-owners wife come greet us at the table and strike up some conversation.  Not only was she super sweet, but she also sent over their signature rosemary honey panna cotta for us to try.  Having that personalized appreciation for our visit was so refreshing and it felt good to be eating local.  In addition to that, our server was extremely patient with us while we took our merry old time deciding which dishes (and lots of accompanying spirits) to order.  The restaurant wasn't overly crowded and I felt as though our personal table had plenty of space to spread ourselves out without feeling like we could easily eavesdrop on the conversation at the next table.


Extra love:  The furnishings, artwork and colors Northeast Social chose for their restaurant were perfectly fitting.  I almost drooled over their navy paint colors and the brilliant painting at the front of the restaurant.  I think it's safe to say that Northeast Social may be my new Nordeast fave.  LOVE!

Image via Restaurant.com

{foundmynewfave}

winkMSP

nom nom: The Sample Room

Business:  The Sample Room
Location:  NE Minneapolis
Did they earn a wink?  YES


Occasion:  Birthday celebration, party of two.

The Food:  Small plates.  Ordered a plethora of dishes:  roasted brussels sprouts and squash, pate, seared scallops, bison-pork-beef meatloaf, cheese plate, etc.

Image via The Sample Room

The Service:  Our server was a delight and strangely reminded me of Johnny Depp.  He was sweetly awkward and had a wealth of knowledge about everything The Sample Room had on their menu.  Throughout the evening, he made sure our water was always filled and that we were enjoying our food.  Because table space is limited for a party of two, he made sure that our empty plates were cleared promptly and made the overall dining experience much easier.  Though he wasn't much of a talker, he was able to keep the intimate space somewhat private without ignoring us and feeling as though we were neglected.  

I'm not a food critic, but:  A number of the plates were a tad too salty.  This was my 3rd visit to The Sample Room and don't remember having that complaint from previous experiences. Will I visit again?  For someone as indecisive as me, I love me some small plates!

Yummy scallops!

{winkMSP}

nom nom: Heidis 2.0

Business:  Heidi's 2.0
Location: Lyn-Lake
Did they earn a wink?  YES

The Occasion:  Girl-talk date with my former roomate

The Food: [apps] Beef tongue, beets & feta (love) [entrees] black truffle pappardelle, braised pork "steak" and seared duck breast [dessert] sweet potato beignets and nitro chocolate mousse [drinks] ginger smash and red wine

Heidi's 2.0

.
Our Service:  With the re-opening of Heidi's after their devastating fire in 2010, I knew that reservations would be difficult to come by.  We made a late reso for 8:45 on a Saturday night and upon arrival had to wait approximately 30 minutes before we were seated (among others in the same situation).  Though I was annoyed at first, Kyle the host was very gracious and friendly and gave us complimentary expresso's at the end of our delicious meal.  In the meantime, we bellied up to the bar and enjoyed delicious drinks mixed by the bartender who was very obviously backed up but still accommodating to all the patrons at the bar.

Chi, our server was also a delight.  We asked her questions about almost every item on the menu and she patiently answered all of them while also giving us the "people's" favorites as well as her personal loves.  Though the resto was extremely busy, she paid careful attention to make sure that we were enjoying her suggested meals and checked in with us on a regular basis in case we needed anything else.  Her patience and willingness to accommodate made the experience that much more fun.

Loves:  Heidi's had beautiful decor and I instantly fell in love with their red chandeliers and the beautiful white branch tree in the middle of the space.  LOVE!

{oldiebutagoodie}

winkMSP

Image via Mecca Bos

 

nom nom: Key's Cafe @ Foshay Tower

Business:  Key's Cafe
Location:  Downtown Minneapolis (Foshay Tower)
Did they earn a wink?  YES

Occasion:  My lovely friend Abby had a craving for the Key's Chocolate House Cake and convinced me to make a late night run downtown with her.

The Food:  Abby ordered the special of the day, The Cowboy Burger.  I ordered the classic grilled cheese.  We shared 2 pieces of Chocolate House Cake and Almond Sliver Cake for dessert. 

Our service:  Our server Karen was very helpful.  She was the first person to greet us at the door and show us a table.  She was prompt, friendly (but not overly so), and completely honest.  I asked her for suggestions on which soup to order and she was quite frank on what soups looked like they had run their course for the day and which soups were her favorite.  I ended up with the turkey wild rice and was pretty darn satisfied with the whole meal.

My only gripe?  I could see dirt underneath Karen's finger nails!  Does the fact that she was a nice person make up for this?  Totally.

{stuffed}

winkMSP

How can one resist dessert?

nothing in the bag: bluepeg mens

Business:  Bluepeg Mens
Location:  50th & France
Did they earn a wink?  NO

What is Bluepeg Mens?  A clothing and accessories store geared towards the stylish and savvy man.  The owner is the beau of fellow 50th & France co-owner of BlueBird Boutique and Ladyslipper.  Brands you can find at the store include:  Postage, life/after/denim, Luke Simon, alternative, Nixon and etc.

Why I stopped in:  I was looking forward to visiting the new menswear only store to look for some great duds. 


Why didn't they earn a wink?  If you saw my post on the "art of hello," then please read it now.  Upon entry into the store, I spotted the owner talking to the only other customer in the store.  I began walking around the store looking at the different brands and styles they had to offer thinking that he would eventually say hello, hi or something to acknowledge me in the store.  I waited about 10 minutes hoping to be asked if I needed any help or even just a simple greeting but I received nothing.  Barely even a glance in my direction.

What was missing?  A simple greeting.  A "hello" or offering of help makes me feel welcome in any store and would definitely make me more apt to spend my hard earned dollars.  I was in the mood to shop and I left with nothing all due to the fact that I felt I wasn't appreciated for visiting the store.  I felt ignored and even disrespected.

Moral of the story:  The owner may need to take some classes in store etiquette.  Always greet your customers and always offer them help.  I love supporting local businesses and I also love that menswear stores are making their entry and a big impact in the Minneapolis boutique scene.  I am a believer in 2nd chances so I will be visiting again, just to see how things have changed.  3 strikes and Bluepeg Mens is off of my list...

image via Trnds

{winkMSP}

a preview

Some things I'm working on for the next few weeks:

- "Sweets Week":  I will be reviewing some local cupcake shops, just in time for Valentines Day
- A few photographers will be reviewed
- Meet my personal trainer
- Makeup artist makeover!
- Reviews on some locally owned boutiques
- Changes in the "wink" grading system

Hope you stay tuned!  Keep warm...

{stayinbusy}

winkMSP

my 2 cents: hello?

First, let me thank my readers who gave me their opinion on Friday's post.  I love the feedback and I couldn't agree more with what these lovelies had to say.  Thanks WiseHer Up! and PaperDollMN  {hearts}


And now, I ask a question:  Really?  Really.  It boggles my mind and completely infuriates me when I walk into a place of business in which I am not greeted.  My experience in the retail industry spans almost 12 years now and even at the ripe young age of 16, I knew how important the initial greeting was.  Whether I was selling a 12" Subway sandwich versus a 6" or a $100 blouse versus a $35 blouse, I was guaranteed that there wouldn't be a sale if I had not paid my patron a proper greeting.  Stay tuned for my experience at a local business in which I did not receive a greeting.....

So here are my 2 cents.  Target:  You can't enter or leave the place without a red & khaki asking if you would like any help finding something.  Actually, yes I would, where the heck is the super glue?  And Wal-Mart believes in the "hello" so much that they pay a person to stand at the front of the store to greet people as they walk in.  All employees and businesses, big or small, need to pay attention to what the successful box-stores are doing and take heed, the art of "hello" is simple and needs to be executed each and every time.

Who doesn't like a friendly door greeter?

What does a "hello" and a "goodbye" do for a business?  It shows that you value a customers patronage, acknowledges presence, conveys a feeling of respect and ultimately values their willingness to spend their money in your store.  Making a customer feel welcomed and appreciated creates a feeling of security which are all conducive in the ultimate goal of  completing a sale.  It can be a segue into learning about your customer, their likes and dislikes, lifestyle, socioeconomic demographic and etc, which can all lead to better sales tactics and techniques.  This information better informs you to properly select what your store carries or offers and can result in obtaining a loyal base of customers who shop at your store because they know you have what they want.

The moral of the story:  Didn't your mom teach you good manners?  Say hello.  Just do it.

{untilnexttime}

winkMSP

P.S.

Found:  Super Glue
Located at Target in aisle D17

what's your opinion? ... the art of "hello"

I need your opinion ...  email me

I don't know about you, but I love a 'welcome' greeting when I walk into a store, a place of business or even somebody's house.  How weird would it feel to be invited to a strangers house and upon entrance, you weren't even greeted?  As customers, stepping into a business is like stepping into a strangers home.  Nobody wants to stick around long when they don't feel welcomed.

When two strangers meet, social norms usually dictate that the proper greeting is to include a "hello" or a "hi" within the first few seconds of meeting.  In the sales field, a simple welcome greeting can be the hook, line and sinker needed to complete a sale.

So this brings me to a question that I would like to pose to you.  How important is a welcome greeting to you when you are shopping, purchasing services or in a place of business?  Would the presence or absence of a greeting make or break your experience?  Leave a comment or shoot me an email (winkMSP@gmail.com) to discuss.  I would love to hear your opinion...

{talktome}

winkMSP

at your service: Isaac Bruder Painting, LLC

Business:  Isaac Bruder Painting, LLC
Expertise:  Interior & exterior painting/staining, walls and wood working 
Contact:  IsaacBruder@yahoo.com or 612-532-7954

Wink Criteria:  professionalism, timeliness, courtesy, expertise and personability
Winks awarded:  5 out of 5 winks!

Being the apartment dweller that I am, I needed to spruce up the interior of a rather boring bedroom in my new apartment.  My inspiration?  None other than Carrie Bradshaw of Sex and the City.  Please tell me you watched SATC - The Movie?

My inspiration
image via Bandelle Blog

Since I am particularly unskilled in the home renovation area, I hired Isaac to help me paint an accent wall in my bedroom.  I first met Isaac through other neighbors in my previous neighborhood who gushed about his work in their own homes.  You know how every neighborhood has the resident handyman?  Isaac was that guy.  With over 12 years of experience, he has owned his own business since 2000 and has also worked with Stovern Ent. on Steiner & Koppelman homes for the past 6 years.  In short, the man knows what he's doing.  Period.

Paint color:  Electric Blue by Benjamin Moore
image via:  Bandelle Blog

To my surprise, I was unable to find my Electric Blue at Home Depot or the like anywhere near me, so Isaac went to an industry supply store and purchase the paint color for me.  The actual painting process only took about 30 minutes and he made sure that he did everything he could to protect my furniture, carpet and etc.  Though the job was tiny in comparison to the other projects he has worked on, he made sure to treat me like he would any other client.  I appreciated that he was able to accommodate my requests and did so with great professionalism.  Not only is he a seasoned expert, he's a pretty nice guy too.  Can't wait to hire him again when I finally purchase my big girl home!

ok so it's not Carrie Bradshaw's apartment but a girl can dream right?

{daydreamin}

winkMSP