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Cooks of Crocus Hill merge with Bellecour Bakery
EDINA, Minn. — This week it became official. Twin Cities cooking school and culinary shop, Cooks of Crocus Hill and Gavin Kaysen’s Bellecour Bakery, have merged to form a single brand: Cooks | Bellecour.
A brand new location at 3934 Market Street just opened in Edina.
Co-owner, Karl Benson, joined KARE 11 Saturday to discuss the two brands joining forces.
Pinoli’s Lamb and Mixed Vegetable Meatballs
2 each Dried Mulato chili, toasted, remove stem and seeds and grind to powder
4 to 6 large, Mushroom, white button, washed and sliced
1 large Carrot, peeled, cut into large chunks
2 stalks Celery, cut into large chunks
1 large Onion, peeled and cut into chunks
2 Tbsp Italian Parsley, chopped
2 qts lamb, chicken or vegetable stock
1. Combine ground lamb, eggs, ground Mulato chili powder, and salt. Mix thoroughly and reserve.
2. Combine cut mushrooms, carrot, celery and onion. Place in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until vegetables are coarsely ground (you many need to do in batches if you have a smaller food processor.)
3. In a medium size saucepan add a small amount of oil and sweat vegetable mixture along with garlic for about 3 to 4 min.
4. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
5. Combine cooled vegetable mixture with lamb mixture and mix until well combined and becoming sticky.
6. Sear off small piece and taste – adjust seasoning as needed.
7. Scoop 2 to 2.5 oz meat balls and round, place on a sheet tray and sear off in a 450 oven for 5 to 7 min or brown.
8. For the Braising: combine all ingredients and bring liquid to a boil, turn down to a simmer then place seared meatballs in the hot braising liquid and cook for 15 min or 180 degrees internal temperature.
9. Remove from heat, allow to cool in braising liquid for one hour then refrigerate.
Asparagus and Endive Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
1 Bunch Large Asparagus, stems shaved thin with a vegetable peeler
1 Head Endive, julienne
1 Bulb Fennel, shaved thin
¼ cup Pickled shallots or red onions
For the Lemon Vinaigrette
2 each Lemon, whole – zested and juiced
2 Tbsp Champagne Vinegar
½ Cup Grapeseed or Canola oil
This salad is best done fresh just before it is served.
Asparagus, remove the woody bottoms while holding the tip use a vegetable peeler to create long thin strips.
Belgian Endive, cut a ¼ in off the bottom and separate out the outer leaves. Then cut endive in half and remove the core to further separate the leaves. Stack the leaves together and cut into thin julienne. If you need to store for a short time, cover with a damp paper towel to prevent browning.
Fennel, cut in half, remove the core and cut as thin as possible with a knife or on a mandoline.
If you want a larger heartier salad, you can add arugula or red oak lettuce.
Toss asparagus, fennel, and Belgian Endive with a hearty amount of the vinaigrette – these are very sturdy vegetables and need a lot of dressing. Season with salt and pepper, toss again and lay out on a plate or platter in a thin layer. Top with the pickled shallots and finish by grating or shaving the ricotta salata over the top.
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The “Westopolis” name is meant to highlight the cities’ vibrancy and proximity to Minneapolis.
The marketing and tourism organization formerly known as Discover St. Louis Park has rebranded this fall with a bold, new name:
The organization, which launched in 2011 and grew to also incorporate Golden Valley in 2017, began using the “Westopolis” name this month. According to Westopolis President and CEO Becky Bakken, the name is designed to highlight the vibrancy and urban character of St. Louis Park and Golden Valley, which both border Minneapolis and have a combined population of nearly 75,000.
“A lot is behind the name,” Bakken said. “Westopolis just kept speaking to us. In this process, we really leaned into the fact that we are the closest neighbor to downtown Minneapolis. To be honest, we are closer to downtown than parts of Minneapolis are. And it really felt like our primary differentiator.”
Bakken said the change to “Westopolis” is also meant to help the organization communicate better with event planners and out-of-town vendors, who sometimes confuse “St. Louis Park” with St. Louis, MO. Between St. Louis Park and Golden Valley, the cities boast nine hotels with nearly 1,500 combined rooms, and the tourism organization now known as Westopolis plays a key role in drawing visitors and filling those rooms.
“When people are looking for a place to go, that aren’t from this area, they know the big city. They know Minneapolis. We wanted to make sure they knew how close we were to that, and once they’re here they discover all the other things,” Bakken said. “The name is unique, it’s different. It’s not on a map, we understand that. We think the name is edgy, and when we’re working with planners, they’re gonna lean in and say, ‘tell me more about this place.'”
This week, Westopolis is enjoying a nice boost from the Twin Cities Film Fest, a staple of St. Louis Park that draws talent and crew members to the city’s West End from across the country. It’s the kind of annual event that Westopolis would love to see more of in the coming years.
“The West End was sort of the rationale for why Discover St. Louis Park — and now Westopolis — exists. It’s this great area that is a real driver for visitors,” Bakken said. “But both communities have their thing. Golden Valley has a big chunk of Theodore Wirth that we love to claim, and Brookview that has a lot of outdoor activities, so we really like to lean into this urban oasis.”
To unveil the new brand, Westopolis rolled out a website and held a launch party this fall.
“Change is change, and that’s always interesting,” Bakken said, “but mostly people are really excited about the new name and we’re ready to market the new name.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey questioned the legality of the new measure while issuing his veto on Wednesday.
MINNEAPOLIS — The City of Minneapolis will move ahead with new carbon fees after a contentious back and forth at City Hall concluded with the council overriding the mayor’s veto.
The new fees, which target carbon emissions from city businesses, will be implemented on July 1, 2025, according to the council.
Minneapolis already has a pollution fee system, known as the Pollution Control Annual Registration or PCAR. The fees go into the city’s Green Cost Share program, helping pay the costs companies incur bringing down their emissions.
The current PCAR system covers emissions of other air pollutants, including volatile organic compounds, heavy particulates, and sulfur oxides, nitrous oxides, lead, and carbon monoxide. Companies are required to report their emissions levels to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, which, in turn, charges fees of $100 per ton.
The City Council voted Oct. 2 to add carbon dioxide to the list. The resolution seeks to impose a $452 per ton fee for carbon dioxide.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey questioned the legality of the new measure while issuing his veto on Wednesday.
“I am all on board for PCAR fees—but it’s time the Council stops playing games and follows the processes in place to enact lasting change,” said Mayor Jacob Frey, in a statement to KARE.
Before his veto was overridden, Frey had told KARE that if the measure were to move forward, companies hit with the fees would likely sue the city and win.
Council Member Robin Wonsley, who co-authored the measure, took to X (formerly Twitter) to respond to Frey’s veto on Wednesday night.
Wisconsin law enforcement said Katrina Baur, and her partner, Jesse Vang, are facing charges in connection with 3-year-old Elijah Vue’s death, including obstruction.
TWO RIVERS, Wis. — About a month after 3-year-old Elijah Vue’s remains were recovered from a private property in Wisconsin, state authorities announced Thursday that charges have been filed against the boy’s mother and her partner.
Wisconsin law enforcement said Katrina Baur, and her partner, Jesse Vang, are facing charges in connection with 3-year-old Elijah Vue’s death, including obstruction.
Vue went missing in February and it wasn’t until September that his body was recovered and identified.
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