An Introduction to My Sweet Tooth (subtitled: why i am a snarky brat when it comes to bakeries and desserts)

Anyone who knows me knows that my biggest vice (and I have a few) is sugar. I love love love me a stellar pastry, a sugar-encrusted bag of fried dough, or perfectly balanced ice cream. I am particular about my sugar, however. I won't just eat a Hershey bar just because it's there (give me some credit! although a bowl of M&M's at my parents will always be a downfall). Gummis notwithstanding, I can restrain myself if need be.

As a recovering pastry lady myself I am always on the prowl to find something super decedent and delicious. The Twin Cities are INSANELY lucky with immense talent at our disposal. With bakeries such as Patisserie 46, The Salty Tart & Sun Street Breads, we are spoiled rotten with out of this world breads, cookies, cakes and pastries (My faves? Salty's Cheddar Jalapeño Bread, Macaroons, Pastry Cream Filled Brioche and Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Sour Cherry Cookies, Patisserie's 46 Baguette, Brioche Bostok, Currant Scones and Gibassier,  Sun Street's Biscuits, Kolache and Turnovers.)  See: I told you I had a sweet tooth.

When I am on the road I am always looking for a bakery/coffee shop to grab breakfast and do some computer work. I, and many of my Gen X brethren, do have that affinity of sitting in a coffee shop for hours in front of a laptop. Glowing Apple logos as far as the eye can see. Go in to any cafe in Minneapolis and that is what you will witness. Cute, young, white hipsters earnestly working on whatever thing they are currently earnest about. I am the one with the headphones on in the corner (that's me in the spotlight...).

So in Sioux Falls, I was a little worried that I would only have access to a Starbucks (not my fave) or Caribou (better than Starbucks, but would rather have an independent). Low and Behold! I found two!

The Black Sheep Roasting Company

I found this place while driving around looking for dinner the night before. In a strip mall as the road is curving in a precarious way, I saw the sign that said "Coffee is Rad! So Have a Rad Day!" SOLD. I made a mental note to check this place out in the morning. I love this place. It has a super 1990's coffee house feel in the BEST WAY. It reminded me of sitting at Motor Oil for hours in high school (side note: Motor Oil was a coffee shop very close to my high school. Closed 1994 RIP). I was able to snag a window seat, open up my computer, drink a lovely soy vanilla latte and get some work done. The girl working was friendly and lovely, not at all pretentious coffee house. And then out of nowhere: BONUS! I am guessing this was the owner of the shop: he came by and gave everyone donuts. FREE DONUTS! And not grocery store donuts: from a local donut place: Daylight Donuts. Fantastic. I can't recommend this place enough: great coffee, great service, chill vibe, and a Pac-Man machine. A girl could get used to this.

Queen City Bakery

I am a sucker for a repurposed warehouse space. Big, bright, exposed brick, clean lines: it will always get me. I was excited to check this place out on my way out of town. Let me set the scene: it is snowing, windy, miserable outside. The day before was 45 and sunny: now it's blizzard time. Ah, winter. I had to get to Sioux City, IA and then to Omaha, NE, so this was a to-go situation. I walked in to the space, gorgeous. Just what I expected. I was a little sad to see the bakery cases kinda empty, but no matter. Coffee and a breakfast pastry is what I was after: I had a white-knuckle drive ahead of me. I stood at the front register for a good 3 minutes before anyone acknowledged me (side note: something to know about me is that my biggest pet peeve is bad service. I am that girl who will write letters) which was frustrating as there were 3 employees: once of which was just talking to his buddy about a triathlon. Don't freak out Sheela, just get your stuff. Triathlon guy finally came over and apologized for the wait (alright, I forgive) and took my order. 5 minutes later I was out the door. I had a soy vanilla latte (yes, I am a one trick pony) and a spinach, bacon and swiss quiche. I thought perfect! Get some protein and goodness in me for this drive. Sadly: super under seasoned and underwhelming. Bah. I will gladly give this bakery another go when I am back in town. I mean, their T-shirts say: No Decaf, No Doughnouts, No Tuesdays. That's a winner.

PS:
I was supposed to go to Modern Love Omaha for dinner (and let me say I was EXTRA EXCITED for this. Though I am the furthest thing from vegan, Isa Chandra Moskowitz is an amazing cookbook author and I was so looking forward to going to her restaurant). Sadly, that cruel mistress winter was not having it yesterday. The roads were extra scary, and if I was to get home in one piece I had to get out of dodge early. Next time, swanky vegan food.

Sioux Falls, bring me your enchiladas

Ahhh, February in South Dakota. So very scenic! Oh wait...


I arrived in Sioux Falls about 7pm, so it was nice and pitch black. I checked in to my hotel, and asked the front desk where I should go grab some dinner. Let me be clear: I don't usually do that, but Sioux Falls is pretty new to me: I have only been to chain restaurants here in the past. The very nice girl at the front gave me a 10% off coupon to Granite City and told me how much she loved it. Hmmmm. Tempting... but no. So off to driving around aimlessly I went!

I drove to the downtown area of Sioux Falls, passing casino upon casino. I was starting to wonder if there was much other than chains, and then: JACKPOT! A cute little area came out of nowhere. HURRAY! I was looking on both sides of the street, and a sign caught my eye. Mama's Ladas Enchiladas.

I'm sorry: MAMA'S LADAS ENCHILADAS? Well that's freaking adorable. I must check this out!

I walked in to the tiny little spot on 11th street. Warm, cute, seating about 45 max: this little hole in the wall is just too charming. I sat down and checked out the deal. Mama Lada's has a super tight menu: 3 types of enchiladas (1 vegetarian!), nachos, chips and guac. White and Red sangria in abundance: and the table next to me was drinking a pitcher of Surly (shout out to the big MN!).

I was STARVING, as I had been driving all day and surviving on clementines, Annie's cheddar bunnies and Sweet Tart gummis (PLUG! check out me and my girl Zena in our Vlog all about gummi candy: gummi dummies). I quickly checked out the enchilada section: beef, chicken or veg. The menu stated that the beef was the spiciest, so that is where I was headed. I ordered a sangria (red and white mixed? Yes thank you) and the beef enchiladas.

They came in quick order, I waited maybe 5 minutes. A side of chips and guac (no extra charge for guac!) and an array of hot sauces arrived as well. The enchiladas are done in flour tortillas, and covered in 2 kinds of cheese, sour cream, iceberg lettuce and fresh tomatoes. Midwestern, oh you betcha. Spicy? Not in the ACTUAL spicy sense, but in the Midwestern White People sense, sure. But absolutely flavorful and exactly what I wanted.

In summation: do you check out Mama Lada's while in Sioux Falls? I say: do it! It is fast, warming Tex-Mex in the Midwest. Can't go wrong in my book.

Mama's Lada's Enchiladas!

On the Road Again

Well Hello!

So, let me give y'all a little back story. My name is Sheela, and I have a lifelong love affair with food and the restaurant industry. My first job (other than babysitting) was at a Middle Eastern cafe in Saint Paul, Minnesota. I was 13, and I was a sample girl in grocery stores. Trying to explain hummus, tabbouleh and baba ghanoush to Minnesotans in 1989 was no small feat. This hooked me hard in to the restaurant business. Feeding people and making them happy with food gives me such joy. I have worked as a pastry chef, line cook, barista, front of house, kitchen manager and food truck window girl.

About 2 years ago I stopped working in the industry, but I will never stop finding new and exciting places to go. I am now a traveling sales rep, and so I have the opportunity to go around the Midwest and occasionally the greater US. This just makes me want to find more restaurants in these places, and I want to share these experiences when I can. Eating alone is an experience that I have started to cherish, and gives me the chance to try a lot of wacky stuff!

So let's do this thing!