Looking for something to do this weekend? Here are five choice dining and drinking events going on around the Twin Cities:
1) North Coast Nosh XI
When: Saturday, 5 p.m.
Where: The Soap Factory
What: North Coast Nosh is back and at The Soap Factory for its eleventh installment. More than 30 purveyors will be in attendance (including Kyatchi, Birchwood, Sociable Cider, and more) for the sipping, sampling, and social event. Tickets for both the the Nosh and the Pre-Nosh event are still available. The full list of vendors can be found here along with ticket information.
2) Gather Brewer-In-Residence
When: Thursday, 5 p.m.
Where: Gather by D'Amico
What: Expanding on its chef-in-residence events, Gather by D'Amico at the Walker Art Center is featuring local breweries on the first Thursday of each month throughout the summer. Three complimentary sample-sized beers will be available at each event and flights from the featured breweries are available for purchase. The first installment brings brewer Matt Hall of Lift Bridge Brewery for samples of Farm Girl Saison, Hop Dish IPA, and Getaway Pilsner. Food is also available for purchase. Find more info here.
3) Brit's Pub Kentucky Derby Day
When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Where: Brit's Pub
What: Put on your seersucker and big ol' hats and stop by Brit's clubhouse and veranda for coverage of this year's Kentucky Derby. There will be food and drink specials (including mint juleps, of course). Along with the televised races and bourbon drinks, check out live music and cigar rolling. No cover or reservations needed. More details can be found here.
4) Icehouse Dinner Dance Event
When: Thursday, 7 p.m.
Where: Icehouse
What: Icehouse wants you to stop by for a trip through time with music, food, drinks, and dancing. A four-course prix fixe menu is available (plus an optional wine pairing) with food and cocktails inspired by the 1920s-50s. There will also be a social dancing teacher on hand for those who need or want tutelage. Tickets and other information about the event can be found here.
5) Haute Dish Tasting Menu Mondays
When: Beginning Monday, 5 p.m.
Where: Haute Dish
What: To honor the restaurant's four year anniversary, they're implementing Tasting Menu Monday. Every Monday, Haute Dish will offer three different discounted tasting menus plus half priced bottles of wine. The vegetarian and a classic menu for one is priced at $30 and the six-course chef's tasting menu for two is $60 starting this Monday evening throughout the summer, from 5 to 10 p.m.
Also of Note: Restaurant Alma and Fulton Brewery are doing a five-course beer dinner and there are just a few spots left (Monday, 5:30 p.m.). Too highbrow? Then hit up Fulton for brews and tacos instead (Monday, 5 p.m.). Speaking of beer, Minnesota Craft Beer week kicks off on Monday with a ton of events like this one at Grumpy's NE with Surly and Kramarczuk's. Prefer wine? Vincent is doing a wine lunch (Saturday, noon) and The French Hen has a wine dinner (Friday, 7:30). Tickets tickets tickets: VIP tix for the next Cocktail at the Castle are sold out but general admission tickets are still available (May 9). Solo Vino's famous Rosé wine tasting is coming up this month so get in on that (May 18). Posters and Pints tickets just went on sale as of today for the June 21 event. And finally, Summer Beer Dabbler tickets also went on sale this week for both festivals (June 27 and September 6).