Legendary Minneapolis Restaurant to Make Brief Return as a Travail Pop-Up

Travail’s second installment of a three-part pop-up series set to launch in January at 1930 Hennepin Avenue will feature a return of chef Doug Flicker to the very kitchen from which he launched Auriga, a fine dining favorite of the ‘90s in the Twin Cities.

Auriga’s influence on Minneapolis dining culture was huge, a part of the shift to chef-driven and owned, smaller, more creative restaurants. It’s closure left at least one local restaurant critic utterly bereft. Since then, the address has held and rejected several restaurants, including most recently Bradstreet Craftshouse.

Flicker, chef/owner of Bull’s Horn and executive chef at Esker Grove will cook alongside Travailians from April to May. The pop-up will be a celebration of the 90’s including some dishes off old Auriga menus, but also serving things inspired by Charlie Trotter and the French Laundry. Flicker’s run will follow a revival of Umami spanning January through March.

Travail is the collective of chefs who normally operate out of Robbinsdale, but while the restaurant re-locates it is hosting a series of pop-ups. There will be two ticketed seatings per night for both concepts, but the bar will be a first-come-first-served experience with its own menu. For Travail members, tickets for the Auriga pop-up go on sale on Tuesday, January 29. The following day the public will have its chance. Prices are expected to clock in around $125, although the exact amount has yet to be set. Members and the public can get their hands on Umami tickets on January 15 and 16 respectively.

• Travail and Doug Flicker Bring Back the Soul of Auriga [MSPMag]
• How Doug Flicker Made Piccolo a Minneapolis Must [ETC]
• The Most Thrilling Pop-Up of 2013 Returns to Minneapolis [ETC]