All About Food

​Funky, fresh, and fried: Brew Bird Funky Fried Chicken

October 9th, 2019

Brew Bird Funky Fried Chicken - photograph by J Earl Miller

By Jill Finkelson
jsfinkelson99@gmail.com

The unassuming old truck shop on First and University is now frying up Funky Fried Chicken for Fargo. Their menu features chicken tenders and sandwiches with a selection of sides like pimento Mac and cheese (which I tried— delicious!) and rainbow slaw.

I called up to speak with Britt Behlquist about opening up a restaurant here in Fargo. Britt, and her husband, Alex, the chef behind the operation, are no strangers to opening up restaurants.

They…

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​Excavating Whiskey: HPR catches up with Dr. George Holley

October 2nd, 2019

Excavating whiskey - photograph by Sabrina Hornung

By Jill Finkelson
jsfinkelson99@gmail.com

At the turn of the century, prohibition was the hot topic and the “Wets” and the “Drys” made their way across the country. They clashed at the Red River where Fargo and Moorhead met on the way west. Dry North Dakota allowed a boom at the border. The little city of Moorhead suffered and boomed while alcohol still poured. Thirsty Minnesotans and North Dakotans filled up the almost fifty bar and saloons that popped up along the river. 

They…

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​A prairie sampler platter

September 18th, 2019

A brat burger at Harvester's cafe in Pettibone, North Dakota - photograph by Sabrina Hornung

It’s no secret that I like to explore the roads less travelled and rediscover some hidden gems along the way. In fact some of these small communities are all too well hidden gems. In a previous issue I offered a six pack of some of my favorite watering holes on the prairie, now it’s time for a trio of my favorite eateries on the roads less traveled. Coincidentally, all three of these establishments are located in communities that have a population of less than 100--only proving that…

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​Aronia Berry Harvest Festival

September 11th, 2019

Aronia berry festival

By Kristin Gruber
perriex1@gmail.com

The High Plains Reader spoke to Chase Nelson of Nelson Farms about why his farm chose to specialize in the unique Aronia berry, and the upcoming festival celebrating it.

HPR: Can you tell us about Aronia berries, and how they came to be a focus of Nelson Farms?

Chase Nelson: The Aronia berry is full of antioxidants! It is actually the highest on the ORAC scale. Aronia berries grow on a shrub and produce a dark, purple berry. They are amazing in…

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Make way for VegFest!

September 4th, 2019

By Joey Haynes
joeghcafe@gmail.com

Fargo VegFest is an admission-free, cruelty-free, fun-filled community event, sponsored by Danielson Legal. The excitement starts right at 4 p.m., on September 8, as the first 150 people get a swag bag full of goodies. We were able to work with Lost in Fargo to create these bags, so the bag alone is worth trying to be first in line for. The event runs from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m.

Live music, animal rights education, door prizes, free samples and vegan food…

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Sol Ave. Kitchen: Let your taste buds dance

August 28th, 2019

Curried chickpea toast with side of Shishito peppers

“The first day wasn’t too bad. It was a slow start, then it picked up after a couple of hours, and it wound up being a fairly busy night, which was nice. We got a feel for the kitchen and how it’s going to flow, so it’s nice to get a feel for that so it went better than I imagined it would go.” Shea Syverson, manager and Chef de cuisine at Sol Ave Kitchen, Moorhead’s latest and much anticipated dining hotspot, said. 

Though the restaurant has been open for a couple of weeks,…

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Savoring the Local Flavor: Ojata Records and the Dogmajal

August 21st, 2019

Local flavor-photograph by Chris O'Neil

By Kris Gruber
perriex1@gmail.com

The High Plains Reader spoke to Ojata Records and the Dogmajal owner and operator Jeremy Swisher about the ever-growing Grand Forks record store and hotdog shop.

HPR: We might as well get the elephant out of the room. What went into choosing the names for "Ojata Records" and the "DogMahal"?

Jeremy Swisher: Ha. Ojata, which is commonly pronounced “Ohota.” The word is a misspelling of a Native word meaning "to cross water."

Our first location was downtown…

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​First Annual International Potluck Summer Music Festival

August 14th, 2019

International potluck - photograph by Peter Schott

By Kris Gruber
perriex1@gmail.com

Fargo-Moorhead’s celebration of diversity continues at the Heritage Garden and Amphitheatre in Moorhead’s Woodlawn Park on Saturday, August 17, with an outdoor bash that is not to be missed. At least 100 to 150 people are expected.

Sponsored by the Plains Art Museum and Go/Do (a new company that hosts and sponsors events through an app), the International Potluck Summer Music Festival is a free, family-friendly event open to the public. The inaugural…

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‘The dependence days are behind us’

July 24th, 2019

Medicine wheel design by Raul Gomez, photographs by C.S. Hagen

FORT YATES – As a boy living near the Mníšoše, or Missouri River, ghosts surrounded Pete Red Tomahawk. Hungry entities that survived through the names of former oppressors: Yates, McLaughlin, Pick-Sloan. Even Morton County’s public health division – Custer Health – is named after the “Indian fighter,” Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer to present day.

A registered member of Standing Rock, Red Tomahawk and others have quietly resisted, using the name Long Soldier…

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​Tart and Terrific Rhubarb

June 26th, 2019

By Teresa Farrell
tara.Ekren@essentiahealth.org

Love it or hate it, it’s rhubarb season! Rhubarb brings back good memories for me.

Growing up on the family farm, my siblings and I would head outside with a bowl of sugar, snap off some rhubarb and proceed to dip the tart fruit into the sugar and then eat it with a pucker. Some people enjoy the tart flavor, others not so much. Most people are familiar with rhubarb in desserts where a lot of sugar is added to balance out the tartness, but…

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