Can you guess the theme? Patrick's, Bonnie's....I think the day is coming when loads of college students and twenty-somethings indulge in green beer. Do they still dye the Chicago river green? I digress. Fact is, neither Patrick's nor Bonnie's specializes in Irish cuisine. Bonnie's is one of the wonderful hole-in-the-wall breakfast/lunch diner places you go the morning AFTER St. Paddy's day for your greasy food fix. Patrick's, is, in fact, a French cafe and bakery I found by accident. I was looking for a place near work for dinner. Which is not easy when you been to the same places 6,864,250 times. So off I went on Google maps. And their website looks just like my pictures. Wine, fancy looking food and sugar-laden desserts. Naturally my dining companions agreed upon seeing the desserts. Yes, we ordered seven desserts for four people. No, there were no leftovers. I kid. Maybe. One of the plusses of this place I discovered is that "French" didn't translate to 
"tiny plates of delicious, spendy food that will have you starving two hours from now". (And trust me, I'm not looking for the super size portions you can get at some restaurants.) I ended up bringing half of my Beef Bourguignon home, but mostly because we had to try EACH one of the desserts.

Patrick's Bakery Café Restaurant

Multiple locations including this one at:

Southdale Square 2928 West 66th Street Edina, MN

www.patricksbakerycafe.com

Where do you go the morning after St. Paddy's Day? Or after any other crazy night for some greasy food? Bonnie's on University. Conveniently located next to the Dubliner in case the food is not enough and you need the hair of the dog and on the green line if you've had too much hair of the dog.

Does it count beating the Heavy Table to a review if all I did was buy pastries? I think so. Mon Petit Cheri is a brand new bakery on Franklin Avenue in Seward. I discovered it by accident as I was looking for last minute Valentine's Day treat for the fam. I was going to the Co-op, but the parking lot (too small) was the usual afternoon zoo. So I bypassed it, took a left on 24th, and there is was. Like manna in the desert. Actually they had just closed (they didn't even have the hours sign up yet - they had been open only one or two days) but they were so nice they let me buy cheesecake brownies, seven-layer bars - is that what they are called? The ones with caramel, chocolate, coconut, nuts, you know, the ones with everything in them. And those big cookies you see in my box? Birthday Cake cookies. Doesn't that sound decadent? As dessert should be. I mean, when it comes to dessert, go big or go home, that's my opinion.

Another place I need to go back to for brekkie or lunch. Aaanndd they have my fave Dogwood Coffee. YUM.

Mon Petit Cheri

2401 E Franklin Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55406

www.mpcbakery.com      

Like seafood? Like a place with ambiance? Live in  the south Metro? Have a work dinner? Blue Point is the place. 

Blue Point Restaurant and Bar

4400 West 78th St. Bloomington MN 55435

www.bluepointrestaurantandbar.com