​Seasonal summer eating

By Rick Gion

rickgion@gmail.com

The weather warmed up quickly here in the upper Midwest this spring, sparking prime eating season. This means burger battles, food trucks and lake-season food travel.

The 2025 Downtown Fargo Burger Royale has been keeping me quite busy lately. This “battle of the beef” has both my heart and my stomach for the month of June. Eighteen restaurants are competing for this year’s coveted golden burger-tower trophy. Get a glimpse of this shiny metal meat display encased in glass at the Sons of Norway Kringen Lodge. This ethnic establishment won last year’s Burger Royale with a lefse crunch burger. The year before, Mezzaluna won the top prize.

Some of the fun burgers featured in this year’s competition include “Le Cordon Moo” by Cowboy Jack’s, “Peach Be With You” by Blu Bar/84 Italian Steakhouse in the downtown Fargo Radisson and “The Whole Cookout Burger” by Marge’s Diner on Broadway. From experience, the peachy offering by Blu Bar/84 Italian Steakhouse was top tier. Don’t let the fruit flavor fool you. The Sons of Norway has switched from a lefse bun to a waffle encasing this year, completing the “Norsk Waffle Burger.” We’ll see how it stacks up with the judges.

The fun thing about the Burger Royale is that everyone who tries these burgers can vote. The categories include bread, creativity, patty, service and toppings. I appreciate all of these options, but my main self-created category is flavor.

Perhaps the best collection of food trucks in the region belongs at the Red River Market every Saturday at Broadway Square starting in mid-July. The hot food portion of this event is double sided and a block long. Some of my favorite vendors include Adibon, Heart-n-Soul Community Cafe, K-Dawg, Little Brother, Namaste Kitchen and Saigon Kuisine. There are also plenty of vendors offering cold drinks and sweet treats. Garden variety goods take up more space blocks just to the west if that’s more your jam.

From personal experience, it works out best to get to the Red River Market before the summer weather heats up. The event usually opens at 10 a.m. I tend to arrive shortly after and sit with my posse of usual food-seeking suspects at a table with a large umbrella. Shade cover is a necessity. It’s a fun group of adventurous eaters. Discussion is mostly about food too. They are my type of folk.

Lakes area counties in western Minnesota such as Becker and Otter Tail offer some great summer culinary options. Motoring around this area on back and main roads can lead to fruitful food adventures. Stopping at the Fabled Farmer, Toast and Union Avenue Bar and Eatery in Fergus Falls is well worth the time. All of these restaurants would be at home in downtown Fargo. The offerings are just that good. The menu at Toast is delightful and features some of the best brunchy items in the region. Highly recommend.

Blackboardis casual fine dining that’s located just north of the Silent Lakes in Otter Tail County. This establishment operates in an old schoolhouse. It has character. Much of the outdoor space is screened in to keep those pesky skeeters away. If you’re not full yet, be sure to cruise over to Spanky’s Stone Hearth on Rose Lake. It’s a classic Minnesota supper club offering steaks, chops and seafood.

Perhaps my favorite lakes area eating is in Pelican Rapids. This community of about 2,500 boasts three Mexican restaurants, which offer real authentic flavors. Taquerias Chavez, Escobar and Manantial are all great in a unique way. I love munching on the tall tostadas at Taqueria Escobar. The birria tacos at Taqueria Chavez can’t be beat. They’re better than most offered in Fargo-Moorhead. Go ahead and fight me. The gorditas and sopes at Taqueria El Manantial are well-made and the presentation is impressive.

Detroit Lakes can probably be called the tourist capital of western Minnesota lakes country. There are obviously a lot of fun eateries in this popular community. I’ve spent plenty of time at the Holiday Inn, Long Bridge, Roasted and Zorbaz. The Hotel Shoreham between Lakes Melissa and Sallie is a great stop not too far away. There are some places in rural Becker County that I definitely need to try. I’m always on the hunt for fun, unique and delicious.

If dining options are what you seek this summer, there are plenty of options to choose from.

Staying in Fargo-Moorhead will definitely satisfy. However, food seekers traveling an hour or so east will also not be disappointed.

Rick Gion administers a Facebook food group called “Fargo-Moorhead Eats” that’s dedicated to the area’s great cooks and cuisine. The group now has over 47,000 followers. Check it out, join and feel free to post items about your local culinary adventures and home cooking. And, while you’re at it, join the Instagram and TikTok pages. Rick is also a featured guest on Prairie Public Radio’s “Main Street.” His weekly segment about food called “Prairie Plates” airs between 3 and 4 p.m. every Wednesday on 91.9 FM.