Hello to everyone in snow covered Minnesota! Today’s guest is Maria Driscoll of @ParkaMpls, an appropriate Twitter handle for today!

Maria:    Yeah it’s snowy. I can’t tell if it’s Christmas or the worst/best April fools joke ever played.

In addition to handling the Twitter account, what else do you do there Maria?

Maria:    I’ve worked with @DogwoodCoffee for about 3 years and was excited to see them expand with Rustica and @Victory_44

I love coffee so I have been working the AM, meeting new people and preachin’ the good word of coffee.

Not to mention we have just started serving a stellar breakfast at 9!

Share how the concept of Parka came about and when it was that you opened the doors to the public?

Maria:    It is a collaboration with @DogwoodCoffee @Victory_44 #Rustica all of which put a lot of effort and passion into their crafts

creating a space that highlight each one of our strengths and skills.

We had a soft opening for friends and family then got the ball rolling pretty quick about the end of January.

Any thought behind choosing Longfellow neighborhood as the area to open in?

Maria:    Longfellow is such a great up and coming neighborhood where businesses around us share like-minded views

@ForageModern_MN was nice enough to let us be roommates and also helped furnish our dinning room with local designers

having met quit a few people from the area, its safe to say we are all excited to see this neighborhood grow

For people that don’t know, what’s your address and hours of operation?

Maria:    Tuesday-Friday 7-10 and the kitchen is open from 9-3 and 5-10. Weekends 8-10 with the kitchen having the same hours.

the address is 4021 East Lake Street where I will be workin’ the coffee and breakfast crowd!

What element from @DogwoodCoffee @Victory_44 and #Rustica are on the menu?

Maria:    I think @DogwoodCoffee #Rustica and @Victory_44 can all be seen quite well in our desserts.

From Coffee and Doughnuts to Cookies and Bars.

Pastries and bread from our dear #Rustica each day. As well as @DogwoodCoffee used in various meat rubs, mustards etc,

@Victory_44 Chef brings his talent and flare to the trational Midwestern home cookin’

Since you mentioned it earlier, what are some of your most popular breakfast options on the menu?

Maria:    the biscuits and gravy are to die for (I just love gravy). Also the Benedict is amazing with a yuzu kosho Hollandaise

Ants on a log french toast with #Rustica ‘s multigrain bread (delicious)

Oh! and I almost forgot- Breakfast Fries! french fries topped with a couple fried eggs and dressed in delicious gravy

What’s popular at lunch time, or right about now for some people? :)

Maria:    We have a really amazing Kale salad with baked kale, roasted grapes, compressed apples, sprinkled with a bit of chevre

Mom’s Meatloaf Sandwich a great lunchtime meal. It comes with a cute basket of fries and icebox pickles.

My favorite- the Hot Beef. Set on toast, brown butter mashers, melted leeks, topped with gravy and fried leeks. YUM!

or you can take it easy with a bowl of onion soup or a tempura battered shrimpwich.

For your evening crowd, what drink options do you offer to your customers?

Maria:    We have @indeedbrewing on tap with Day Tripper, Midnight Ryder, and the current seasonal Burr Grinder

Burr Grinder is a collaboration with @DogwoodCoffee and @indeedbrewing to create this unique coffee beer

We also have red and white wines some of which are from here in the Midwest. And of course bottled beer.

We have a few larger bottled beers that are great for sharing!

To end today, in the length of 1 Tweet, why should people come and check out your place?

Maria:    One stop Midwest shop, minus Nana’s ugly sweatshirts. Great coffee, bread, and food…the people aren’t so bad either.

Joel:    Thanks Maria for your time and comments today! Have a good weekend.

Maria:    No problem. Thank you! Hope to see you in soon.

Lets work to stay warm on this cool day in MN and talk with @AmbitiousKitch about food! Enjoy the conversation!

Good morning Monique! When it comes to food and cooking, what is one of your earliest memories of doing that?

Monique:    Hi Joel! My first memories would have to be watching both of my parents cook with passion. Dad baked and Mom cooked!

Do you remember the first time you made something? What was it and how did it turn out?

Monique:    When I was younger I found it easier to bake; I loved that it was both science and an art.

That being said, I baked a lot of brownies. I’m sure they turned out pretty well, because I always ate them.

Brownies are ALWAYS a good choice! :) When did you decide to start cooking/blogging?

Monique:    During college, I found that it was my passion but I didn’t know how to turn it into a career.

I followed food blogs & thought it would be a great way to share my recipes w/ others. I started AK in late 2011.

Having a passion for what you do is important. Who are some of the people & their blogs that inspire(d) you?

Monique:    I absolutely love the blogging community. I have a passion for brand building & content creation so it’s perfect.

My favorite blogs are @sugarplumtweets & @HowSweetBlog. They’re both incredibly creative and funny!

Other than that my readers inspire me every single day with their comments and emails; they’re amazing!

Cooking is one skill, blogging and photography are other skills. Which one is the hardest to develop?

Monique:    Probably photography. It involves props, proper lighting, and telling a visual story.

But you know, there’s workshops & you can read books. I kind of just wing the whole photography thing & it works out.

When it comes to your own taste, are you more of a sweet or savory person?

Monique:    SWEET, but I focus my blog on sweet delights & healthy bites. I love making recipes healthy, creative, and flavorful!

I see. What are some cooking/baking trends that you are most excited about?

Monique:    I think making vegetables the star in our meals — cauliflower will be huge this year. Popcorn too!

I’m also excited to see flavor-packed chicken make a comeback in restaurants. I think we’ll see a lot of creativity.

Another ever-growing trend is pizza, as brought out in @MNMOmag – http://www.minnesotamonthly.com/media/Minnesota-Monthly/March-2013/The-Twin-Cities-Best-Pizza/ … Do you have a favorite?

Monique:    Hmmmm I like to make my own but Pizzeria Lola and Punch are pretty divine.

When you make your own pizza, what are some of your favorite toppings?

Monique:    Homemade mini Hawaiian turkey meatballs, pineapple, black olives, fresh mozzarella, and a good red sauce.

Nice! :) In your blogging/cooking process, does your own appetite guide you, or do your readers more so?

Monique:    Mostly me. I need to put out content and recipes that I’m proud of and I like challenging myself in that way.

What can we expect from you in the near future with your food work?

Monique:    A brand new site, partnerships, and maybe a cookbook. Oh and more recipes of course!

Joel:    Thank you very much for your time and comments today. Keep up the good work in making things look delicious!

Monique:    No problem, thanks for having me! :)

Interview conducted on March 15,2013

Tweeting with @ssoli about this weekends #FoodWineShow taking place at #TargetField and @WMinneapolis. Lets go!

@ssoli is the Exec Director of Marketing & Events at @MNMOmag, so she’s the perfect person to share details about the #FoodWineShow.

So Sara, with this weekend being the 19th #FoodWineShow, is it getting easier to coordinate and plan?

Sara:    I would say that we have a good system in place and great team that executes this event.

That’s great! Let first break down what’s going to be there in the way of wine & food options. How many varieties?

Sara:    This year @MNMOmag #foodwineshow we have more than 200 vendors, 350 fine wines and 75 craft beers featured.

So a lot to choose from! Is the @MNMOmag #FoodWineShow exclusively MN products?

Sara:    No, it is not exclusively MN but there are several to try. Including @mncraftbrew, @CannonRiverWine, @midwestpantry

In addition to being able to indulge in a variety of food and wine samples, what events are a part of the #FoodWineShow?

Sara:    We also have wine seminars featuring @WineCommission & the Grand Red @WMinneapolis w/ @parasole

They sound great. For the #newbie to the #FoodWineShow, what would you tell them to do for a good experience?

Sara:    Use the tasting notes to keep track of favs, pace yourself, ask ?’s, buy your favorite products while you are there

How about for the #pro, who may have been there a few times before. What should they look forward to?

Sara:    Foodwise @WisconsinCheese, @WholeFoods, @UNIONmpls, @redstagNE, @ButcherandBoar, @SEVENMPLS to name a few. Beerwise…

@BrewingCompany, @SchellsBrewery, @BellsBrewery, @Summitbeer, @TravelerBeer as a start +wine – there are so many

On Saturday at @WMinneapolis is the #GrandRedTasting with @T_McKee. How would you describe this event?

Sara:    This is for the serious food and wine lover. @T_McKee has created a one of a kind pairing menu that allows attendees to …

truly enjoy the best of @parasole paired with amazing red wines. There will be additional red wine to sample as well.

With the #FoodWineShow and the #GrandRedTasting only 3 days away, what’s the best way for people to get tickets?

Sara:    Tickets are still available http://www.foodwineshow.com . Saturday will sell out, so don’t delay.

Joel:    Thank you very much for your time and insights into this weekends @MNMOmag #FoodWineShow. See you there!

Sara:    Thanks so much. We hope to see all of you @MNMOmag #foodwineshow. FB and tweet @MNMOmag while you are there!

Interview conducted on Feb 27,2013

Hello everyone and @emilyengberg! Today were going to learn about Emily and her work with @TwinCities_Live. Lets begin!

Emily    Hello! @JoelECarlson Thanks for having me!!!

Tell us a little bit about your background to start off with. Where did you grow up and what did you enjoy doing?

Emily:    My hometown of Burlington, IA is a historic town right on the Mississippi River. Lots of time spent on the river.

Loved going to watch the @BurlingtonBees, the minor league baseball team.That’s why I love the @StPaulSaints so much!

Fun fact: My hometown is also known for having the crookedest street in the world.Lombard in San Fran is the curviest

Sounds like a fun time!  So when did you decide to get into TV, and how did you get started?

Emily:    I’ve always known I would work in TV. Have loved it since I was a kid.

I used to convince my classmates to do projects with a TV theme…usually with me anchoring. :)

Even had a “talk show” in middle school during home room called “Yak it up with Emily”.

Went to @ASU‘s Walter Cronkite School and took internships in TV and radio. Got lots of hands on experience.

Then, moved to small market and did every job. Awesome experience that teaches you a lot about yourself and the biz.

Good to know early what you want to do. How did you get started after schooling and when did you start at @kstp?

Emily:    I have a news background. After AZ, worked in IA, IL, WI and have now been here for 3 years. Loving lifestyle tv!

Hard to believe it has been 3 years at @twincities_live. Love coming to work! Never know what I’ll be up to!

Did you connect well right off the bat with @ElizabethRies and the now departed, John Hanson? #GoodChemistry

Emily:    Thank you! @elizabethries and I got along really well right away. Same thing with John. We really are buddies.

We have a hard working group of folks that work on the show and it’s a bonus that we enjoy each other’s company!

I bet it was hard for you and @elizabethries to say #GoodBye to John. Now you’ll get to make a new friend/co-host. :)

Emily:    It was tough to see John go, but @elizabethries and I are happy for him. The search continues for the new co-host!

The new host will have big shoes to fill, but we are excited about what’s to come. Change can be good.

With all of the stunts/traveling that you’ve done for @TwinCities_Live, what have been some of your recent favorites?

Emily:    I have had so many amazing experiences on @twincities_live. I get to try some crazy things.

I’ve hidden in trash cans, dangled from the @GuthrieTheater’s stage, been a goalie for the @Minnesota_Swarm...

I’ve even had knives thrown at me! The list is endless. Scary sometimes, but always memorable.

But I have to say my favorite is meeting all sorts of people in MN. They are so sweet.

The traveling isn’t bad either. Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska, Bahamas and Wine Country in May with TCL fans! I’m grateful.

Your personality makes all of it fun to watch. :) When you’re not on TV, what do you like doing in the #TwinCities?

Emily:    Thank you! I laugh a lot. It’s a great gig.

When I’m not working, I love to check out all the great restaurants the cities have to offer.

You can usually find me at a concert or sporting event. We have so much to do here! Never boring.

Are you a crafty, cook or sports minded person?

Emily:    Love sports. Definitely not crafty and you don’t want me to cook. But I’m a lot of fun!!!! :)

Joel:    Thank you so much for your time today! Have fun on @TwinCities_Live, and keep up the good work! :)

Emily:    Thank you!!! Always a pleasure!!! Be sure to watch @twincities_live at 3! Have a great day.

The selling of pizza is an ever growing and expanding business.  From frozen pizzas to take-n-bake pizzas. From large family sized pizzas to personal pizzas made to order just for you.  It’s a finished product that comes in all sorts of shapes, sizes and flavors.  You can be sure to find one that fits your taste and style.

The owners of Solos Pizza Cafe spent a long time trying to get the ingredients and taste of their pizza, just right.  In fact, they went through 42 different crusts to get their crust to have the right crispness and chew that they were looking for.  Talk about working hard to make their customers happy with their product!

It is a good quality pizza to eat.  The crust does have a good balance of being crispy,  but it also has a good amount of chew to it as well.  The pepperoni has good flavor to it, and the sauce also had a nice flavor to it.  Not watered down by any means, and bland just isn’t on their menu.  In addition to pizzas, they also have salads.  They currently don’t have a gluten free crust option, but they do have a crust that is under 500 calories if that interests you and your hunger.

They are a growing brand that currently has 3 locations in Minnesota, 1 in Eagan, 1 in Maple Grove and 1 in Plymouth.  The eating area in their Plymouth location is a bright and colorful space.  Very inviting to people in a hurry to just eat-n-go, or to those that aren’t in a rush and wish to enjoy their meal at a slower pace.

If you go with a group or a big appetite, be sure to try out their popular garlic bread puffs.  So when you’re looking for a quick and freshly made meal with a wait time of around 5 minutes, be sure to give Solos Pizza a try.

Be sure to learn more about Solos Pizza by checking out the video below!

Hello everyone! Welcome to today’s @MNMOmag Twitterview. Today’s guest is the owner of @goldenfig in St. Paul, Laurie Crowell.

So Laurie, tell us a little bit about yourself. Where did you grow up and what kinds of things interested you as a kid?

Laurie:    I grew up in Eau Claire Wi. Food was always a big part of my life. Cooking with my Mom, canning with my Grandma.

A good memory to have. Did you always want to work with food, or did you do other work before you opened your shop?

Laurie:    I actually studied architecture and interior design in college. But one summer spent in East Hampton, NY rerouted me!

A summer at Barefoot Contessa turned into a few years there and a whole new level of food “love” was born.

upon returning to the Midwest in the 90′s I just navigated the good food world until I found my Figgy home.

Niiiice! So did you actually get to work with and learn about food from @inagarten? What was that experience like?

Laurie:    I was lucky enough to work with Ina and I adore her. She really introduced me to the logic of local!

@inagarten She was and is much like our own Lenny Russo. Doing the local push twenty years ago.

That’s just awesome! So share some things about your store. Like when did you open and what was the initial concept?

Laurie:    I have been making a line of about 100 food products since 1996. I opened the store in 2006 with the mission of local

Local AND best quality. No HFCS/food color/msg etc allowed on our shelves Working hand in hand with farmers, producers

the Fig brand is available at local groceries/co-ops as well as Macy’s and other specialty retailers nationwide.

Can you share some of the items that you offer, and what are some of the more popular ones?

Laurie:    Our house made Chocolate Salted Caramel sauce is amazing, local cream and butter and our Chocolate Salt.

our fresh Basil Limeade with a splash of gin could actually make you cry (in a good way!)

our Sel de Cuisine spice blend is actually legendary. We ship it all over the world. People (and I) LOVE it :)

Is that the same caramel sauce that John on @TwinCities_Live raves about? Where are you located?

Laurie:    Yes! I actually created the sauce for an ice cream segment for TCL…John Hanson dreams of it I think.

Golden Fig is located at 790 Grand Avenue in St. Paul. We are on the East end of the Avenue. 1 block from Cafe Latte

That’s in a GREAT neighborhood! What are your hours and are there any deals or specials going on right now or soon?

Laurie:    10-8 Mon-Sat, 11-6 Sun. 4-7 tonight is Gluten Free night. Tons of local gluten free companies sampling and educating.

And of course we’re gearing up for all local Thanksgiving! Turkeys, fresh pies, cranberry sauce. YUM!

I always say the deal is you get the best customer service, best products AND support local. What better deal is there!

Joel:    Your shop would be VERY dangerous for people, especially on an empty stomach! :) Thanks for being a part of #MNMOtv today.

Laurie:    We offer tons of samples so no empty stomachs here :) Thanks for inviting me to chat and hope to see you soon!

Alexis Walsko is a great success story.  She has grown her company, Lola Red PR to be a highly recognized PR firm.  She has helped many businesses get noticed and has been working with the fast growing Smashburger company since they started expanding into Minnesota.

Not only does she help other companies get noticed, but she has done well for herself.  Having been a co-host on the popular “Shop Girls” radio program, featured on MyTalk 107.1 FM on Saturday mornings in the Twin Cities for the past few years. Talking about the latest in shopping trends locally and nationally.

Alexis loves new challenges and also has a heart for helping non-profit companies get attention. So how does she do it all?  Where does she get the time and energy for all of it? Learn more about Alexis by checking out this 3-part interview of her with “Faces of MN” host, Joel Carlson.

In part 1 of her interview with Joel Carlson, Alexis talks about her childhood and her early entrepreneurial spirit. Her college years and how she started Lola Red PR.

In part 2 of Alexis’ interview, she talks about the connection of PR with marketing and social media. Discusses why she is passionate about working with non-profit companies and explains how she got connected with the fast-growing company, Smashburger.

In part 3 of Alexis’ interview, she talks about shopping, her love for chairs and why she feels people pay retail price for some things. Alexis talks about her passion for glitter and how it got started. She ends with talking about Pinterest and her prep for the “Shop Girls” radio show on MyTalk 107.1 FM.