All About Food

​Out to lunch

October 30th, 2019

By Jill Finkelson
jsfinkelson99@gmail.com

School lunch has been in the news lately. There have been stories from around the country about the mounting debt and how school’s have been dealing with it. Michaela Schell and Chris Kulesa, from the Women’s Leadership Program teamed up with Fargo Public Schools to tackle this problem in our backyard. Of course, the quickest way to reach out to the most people is social media. The premise is simple: The social media campaign challenges…

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Akiing- Where the Wild Rice Grows

October 30th, 2019

Butch Stone et all - photograph provided by Winona LaDuke

By Winona LaDuke

It is Manoominike Giizis, the Wild Rice Making Moon. For thousands of years, Native people have gone to these lakes, listened to the sounds of geese, cranes, and swans as they fly overhead. This is a wild rice ecosystem. We take to the lakes with tobacco in hand, canoes, poles and sticks, the same way as our ancestors have for a thousand years. Manoomin or wild rice feeds both the bodies and spirits.

Indigenous people are 4% of the world’s population, but protect…

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Is Farm to Table Dead in North Dakota or is it the “Mushrooms” Talking?

October 23rd, 2019

It is ironic that in the state where the mentality of protecting the 2nd Amendment at all costs is considering making foraged food items such as, wild, local mushrooms be controlled by the state. Forcing restaurateurs to buy all their food stuffs through licensed vendors or in the case of mushrooms from licensed, expert foragers.

Is this the same slippery slope occupied by gun owners? Can chefs and restaurateurs seek protection somewhere in the constitution. First, it’s the mushrooms,…

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​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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