by doitinnorth | Jan 9, 2022 | people/passions
Minneapolis (WCCO) — Spoon & Stable’s chef and owner Gavin Kaysen is both a local and a national celebrity, appearing in magazine photos and TV cooking segments. But the team that keeps Spoon And Stable a tough reservation to nab is vast, and two of the next generation leaders are both young and women.
JESSI POLLAK – BAR MANAGER
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“It is mildly terrifying. It’s also wonderful,” said bar director Jessi Pollak, who left an administrative job at a university seven years ago (“I hated it”) and thought she would just be bartending to make some bills. Instead she found a career that she’s received national awards for.
“Executing cocktails: it’s technique, it’s muscle memory. I’m always thinking about flavors and flavor combinations,” Pollak said.
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One of the other restaurant leaders is also visible in the kitchen, executive pastry chef Alexandra Motz, who’s been working in elite Twin Cities restaurants since she was 20 years old.
ALEXANDRA MOTZ – EXECUTIVE PASTRY CHEF
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“My dad’s family was cheesemakers, my mom’s family was artists, and I found this way to blend the two,” Motz said.
Her plated desserts are works of art – a carefully placed sprig of mint, a beautifully arranged quenelle of ice cream. In her spare time she creates paintings on a canvas; at work her canvas is the plate.
“It’s something that’s such a big part of my life,” Motz said. “I’ve found a way to create beauty through food.”
Both Pollak and Motz are part of a younger generation of chefs and drink experts taking on leadership roles in the Twin Cities restaurant scene, driving innovation in the glass and on the plate, and in the often male-dominated culture of kitchens and bars.
“Is it meaningful to have a woman in charge of the program?” asked WCCO’s Jason DeRusha.
“Absolutely. It’s the exception that proves the rule. At most of the bars you see a majority of white, bearded men behind the bar. We can draw attention to that and specifically staff in a way that makes everyone feel welcome,” Pollak said.
Motz concurred, noting the influence her mentor Diane Moua has had on her.
“It’s a really big responsibility for sure. I know a goal of mine is to be someone’s mentor,” Motz said.
Today Moua has taken on another leadership role in Kaysen’s company, heading operations at Bellecour Bakery in two Cooks of Crocus Hills locations.
“To be a leader of the next generation, that is what gets me excited to go to work every day,” Motz explained.
Pollak said she pushes herself by competing and winning national cocktail competitions, like the Marie Brizard “Toast to HERstory” contest.
“I really hope to be known for my work and creativity and atmosphere I set in this bar,” Pollak said.
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Spoon and Stable is a restaurant located in what was once a horse stable, dating back to 1906, in the heart of the North Loop Neighborhood. It is the dream of Chef/Owner Gavin Kaysen, a James Beard award-winning chef to bring his talents back home to Minneapolis, where he grew up. The cuisine is focused on the seasonality of the Midwest, the roots of the local culture and technically inspired by the French cuisine for which Chef Kaysen is known.
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By Jason DeRusha
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ICYMI
Out There 2022: Annual Festival Returns to the Walker Stage – Minneapolis, MN
by doitinnorth | Jan 2, 2022 | people/passions
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Hailed as “the Stacey Abrams of the concert industry,” the club owner became a national leader who brought independent promoters together — and $173 million to Minnesota venues.
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Star Tribune: “People took it for granted there would always be a live music venue on the corner of 1st Avenue and 7th Street in downtown Minneapolis. All of a sudden, there was a very real possibility that would no longer be the case,” Dayna Frank, the owner of First Avenue Productions, said with an intense shudder.
First Avenue was among the few independent concert venues that were likely to survive the pandemic. And yet, Minneapolis’ most iconic performance space teetered on going black. That’s how Dayna Frank knew things had to be incredibly tough all over.
“And if First Avenue was in danger — with all its history and assets and support from the community — then so many smaller venues didn’t stand a chance.”
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First Avenue: Minnesota’s Mainroom
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It’s what Frank did for all the others, as president of the National Independent Venues Association, that earned her designation as the Star Tribune’s Arts Person of the Year.
Frank’s passion led to millions in relief money that helped shuttered venues stay afloat through the pandemic. It’s hard to think of any person who had a greater impact on the Minnesota arts scene in 2021 — including all facets of the performing arts, not just music.
Link here to read more about Frank’s work this year and other Minnesota artists who deserve an honorable mention.
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ICYMI
The Most Iconic Fashion Films of All Time
by doitinnorth | Dec 19, 2021 | evergreen, people/passions
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Make your reservations now!
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory is open everyday from 10am – 4pm
Some important things you’ll want to know before your visit: Reservations are required for both members and nonmembers at this time. Reservations are currently available by clicking Here.
All reservation holders should check-in at the Visitor Center glass doors with their bar codes. Click Here for a map.
Due to physical distancing guidelines we are currently limiting capacity. Advanced reservations are available on a first come, first serve basis. Due of maintaining our capacity limits, late arrivals will be denied access. Please plan accordingly.
Posed photography is not allowed at this time. This includes family photos, senior photos, engagement photos, dance photos and wedding photos. No photo permits are being sold and masks are required both inside and outside.
Como Live
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About
Mission: “To inspire our public to value the presence of living things in our lives.”
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One of the last FREE zoos in the United States, Como is home to a wide array of animals and plants and welcomes visitors 365 days a year. Located right next to Como Town Amusement Park, Cafesjian’s historic carousel, and Como Park, the Zoo and Conservatory are great fun for visitors of all ages.
Some of Como’s main attractions include a world-class polar bear exhibit, Polar Bear Odyssey, which opened to the public in 2010. The exhibit is home to the zoo’s twin polar bears Buzz and Neil and features over 13,000 square feet of outdoor habitat. The zoo is also home to a collection of large cats, hoofstock, wolves, birds, primates, gorillas, orangutans, seals and sea lions, and several other aquatic animals. The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory features six indoor gardens and several outdoor spaces, displaying thousands of beautiful plants each year. For more information about our attractions and to plan your visit, view our visitor guide at:
Como Zoo Conservatory.…
ICYMI
Glow Holiday Festival: Now a Walk Through Experience – Minnesota State Fairgrounds
