All About Food

​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…

Read more...


​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…

Read more...


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…

Read more...


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,…

Read more...


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…

Read more...


​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…

Read more...


‘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…

Read more...


​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…

Read more...


​The Forgotten Ones

June 19th, 2019

Photograph by C.S. Hagen, design by Raul Gomez

PETTIBONE – Terry Gruebele filled his arms with canned corn – the state’s favorite vegetable – from a cardboard box below long, warped shelves. After 33 years of running T & V Grocery Store, he’s watched the rural exodus, and now counts his pennies to make sure bills can be paid.

He knows the family store with its near 100 years of history is most likely doomed. Nobody will take over the business when he and his older sister are done. Logistics is difficult. UPS ships potato…

Read more...


It’s date night!

June 19th, 2019

Photograph by Seng Phengdouangdeth

By Seng Phengdouangdeth
sengphengdouangdeth@gmail.com

As things are finally starting to warm up in the region, it’s time to kick that delivery habit you’ve developed all winter long and take your main squeeze out somewhere with some real character.

Now, listen up before you get tangled in the game we all know too well as, “I dunno, where do you want to go?” I’ll just choose the place for you to dine tonight. How about The Toasted Frog?

Located in the heart of downtown Fargo, just…

Read more...


Tracker Pixel for Entry marigold Tracker Pixel for Entry MidwestRoadTripAdventures Tracker Pixel for Entry Blackbird Tracker Pixel for Entry Farrms Tracker Pixel for Entry aarp Tracker Pixel for Entry ArtLeap

Recently in:

By Maddie Robinsonmaddierobi.mr@gmail.com This article discusses topics related to mental health and suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org. …

By Michael Millermichael.miller@ndsu.edu As I reflect back on July, I want to share a USA Today article from July 3, 1986, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty. It has been 138 years since 1886 when…

Thursday, August 8, gates 5 p.m., show starts at 7 p.m.Bluestem Amphitheater, 801 50th Avenue S., MoorheadFormed by guitarist/vocalist Brian Setzer, upright bass player Lee Rocker and drummer Slim Jim Phantom, The Stray Cats…

We’re making progress. By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com Yay Kamala! It is such a relief to see a candidate for POTUS who is actually capable of doing the job and preserving our representative democracy. And, of course, she’s…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comMen have made a real mess of the world. We should try estrogen.I didn’t bother to count the countries involved in wars because this column won’t be published for a week. But I don’t think any…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com In this land of hotdish and ham, the knoephla soup of German-Russian heritage seems to reign supreme. In my opinion though, the French have the superior soup. With a cheesy top layer, toasted baguette…

Lamb of God celebrates 20th anniversary of a seminal albumby John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.comPhoto by Travis ShinnWhen the band Burn the Priest formed in 1994, they likely did not realize the impact that they would have on…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.com Writer-director Nicole Riegel’s sophomore feature “Dandelion” is now playing in theaters following a world premiere at South by Southwest in March. The movie stars KiKi Layne as the…

New Minnesota sculptures include artist’s largest trollBy Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com According to Danish artist and environmental activist Thomas Dambo, “All trash is treasure.” So far, he and his team have built 138…

By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.comHigh Plains Reader had the opportunity to interview two mysterious new game show hosts named Milt and Bradley Barker about an upcoming event they will be putting on at Brewhalla. What…

By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…

By John Showalter  john.d.showalter@gmail.comThey sell fentanyl test strips and kits to harm-reduction organizations and…

JANUARY 19, 1967– MARCH 8, 2023 Brittney Leigh Goodman, 56, of Fargo, N.D., passed away unexpectedly at her home on March 8, 2023. Brittney was born January 19, 1967, to Ruth Wilson Pollock and Donald Ray Goodman, in Hardinsburg,…

By Chad Obanali.hoffman@ndunited.org North Dakotans know that if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. That is certainly the case with the ill-advised constitutional ballot measure to eliminate the ability of local…