There's a good reason Minnesota's football team is named the Vikings—the state is home to more Nordic-Americans than any other state. About 28 percent of Minnesotans, or over 1.6 million people, have Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Finnish, and/or Icelandic heritage. Even if you don't have Nordic roots, Minnesota's wooded landscapes and chilly winters evoke the Nordic countries, and Nordic-inspired cuisine, minimalist design, and hygge appeal to people of all backgrounds.
Afternoon tea is fun treat, with fancy china, tiered trays of beautiful desserts, and often, a unique, historic setting. Ready to settle in for an afternoon of tea, treats, and conversation? Here's where you can find afternoon tea in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the Twin Cities suburbs.
A few months ago, I impulse purchased a package of Sixteen Bean Soup Mix from Aldi. I told myself that it was for serious, adult reasons—bean are a high-fiber form of protein, cooking dry beans is more environmentally and budget-friendly than buying canned, etc.—but actually it was because I thought the beans looked nice.
Welcome to my annual best things I ate post, a compilation of 2025's most memorable dishes. This was an especially travel-packed year, with trips to Wisconsin, New York City, Iceland, Nova Scotia, Boston, and Japan, plus fabulous meals close to home in the Twin Cities.
During our time in Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Kanazawa, Takayama, and the Japanese Alps, we were treated to gorgeous scenery, beautiful temples and gardens, enriching cultural experiences, and of course, delicious food. Here are the best things I ate along the way.
Do you like buying presents for frequent travelers that will actually get used? Are you a travel lover whose friends and family are asking you for gift ideas? Here's a practical-minded travel gift guide ranging from stocking stuffers to splurges, based on my experiences as an avid traveler.
'Tis the season for holiday gift guides—from bloggers, magazines, and online publications. My annual made in Minnesota gift guide reflects my personal tastes: think earrings and chocolate. If that's your (or your loved ones') jam too, I hope you find something here to add to your holiday gift list.
My trips to Japan have been among the best travel experiences of my life. Here are my tips for making sure your trip to Japan goes as smoothly as possible, from planning and packing to navigating mass transit and restaurants.
Thanks to geothermal activity throughout the country, bathing in onsens (or hot springs) is a quintessential part of Japanese culture. The options range from remote, scenic pools to large resorts and urban hotels, and soaking in the hot, mineral-rich water promotes relaxation. But I had a problem. Most onsens don't permit visible tattoos, and I have three of them.
As I've previously mentioned, since I'm a self-employed freelancer I have the flexibility to workation, or combine my workdays with vacation activities when I'm away from home. Mike's recent team work week was the perfect opportunity to workation in Boston's Seaport District—accommodations and his expenses were already covered, so we only had to pay for my flight and meals.
For the past several years, my husband Mike and I have had a standing coffee date on Sunday mornings. Thanks to all of our coffee dates, we've developed a rotation of favorite local coffee shops.
Instead of choosing one full-sized espresso drink, a coffee flight lets you sample three or four miniature-sized beverages. Ready to start sipping? Here's where you can find coffee flights in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the surrounding suburbs.
Welcome to my 13th annual summer recap! I've been writing these posts every September since 2013 to cope with my bittersweet feelings at the end of my favorite season. In recent years, these recaps have also become an homage to the more personal, narrative style blogging of the late 00s/early 10s that inspired me to start Tangled Up In Food.
St. Joseph is one of my favorite small towns in Minnesota, thanks to its picturesque surroundings and walkable downtown dense with local shops and eateries. As an added bonus, it's well-positioned for a day trip from the Twin Cities—it's about a 90-minute drive northwest of Minneapolis.
If you've talked to anyone who's traveled to Iceland, there are probably two things they mention first: "It's so beautiful!" followed by "And so expensive!" Luckily, there are plenty of strategies for eating and drinking in Iceland without going broke, whether you're on a tight budget, willing to spend a moderate amount, or want to splurge wisely.
Most coverage of the Minnesota State Fair is food-focused, although the live entertainment, farm animals, butter sculptures, crop art, and Midway rides also garner plenty of attention. Something that usually doesn't get mentioned is that State Fair is great destination for history buffs—the Minnesota State Fair dates back to 1859, and many of the fairgrounds' buildings were constructed in the 1930s and 1940s.
The Minnesota State Fair is one of the highlights of my year. I love the crowds, the nostalgia, the food, the overload of sights and sounds. I love it so much that my ideal Minnesota State Fair day starts before 8:00 a.m., just when things are ramping up, and goes until at least 10:00 p.m., when the colorful lights and overflowing buckets of chocolate chip cookies make the fairgrounds feel like a magical place set apart from the concerns of daily life.
I go to the Minnesota State Fair for many reasons: nostalgia, the live entertainment, the livestock, the educational exhibits, the display cases full of prizewinning knitwear. But mostly, it's about the food.
The Minnesota State Fair is known for deep-fried food, including cheese curds, Pronto Pups, pickles, cookie dough (one of my faves!), and candy bars. But what if deep-fried food isn't your thing? No problem!
My recent visit to Nova Scotia was a trip I've been dreaming about since the first grade. Six-year-old me wasn't a foodie, but adult me was delighted to discover that Nova Scotia boasts amazing seafood, along with wonderful bakeries, unique cafes, and Halifax's impressive culinary scene.
