Spill the Wine, located in the theatre district of Minneapolis is a contemporary wine bar with flair.  Diners are instantly drawn in by the warm colors of the walls, and interesting lighting, which makes it seem like there are snow flakes falling gently from the ceiling.  Each table has a romantic feel with a candle lit in the center, and it is impossible not to look around at all of the interesting artwork on the walls.

The center of attention is the open kitchen.   What goes on behind the scenes in most restaurants is put front and center in Spill the Wine. Diners are able to watch as chefs quickly and professionally slice, grill, and sauté.

Spill the Wine is dedicated to its wine selection.  This is definitely a good place to start if you are just getting into wine.  The wine flights are reasonably priced ($12-$18) in which you get to try three different wines.  They all seem to be a little on the sweet side and not too dry, perfect for the beginner.  The wine list can be intimidating as it has selections from all over the world.  The staff, however are very helpful, and would be able to give you a great recommendation.  The wide variety gives the new wine connoisseur a great base to start from.

While the restaurant is all about wine, it also offers American Cuisine with  continental characteristics. The appetizers are amazing.  The bruschetta was everything and more:  the usual tomato and mozzarella but with a twist.  Layered between the garlic bread and tomato was a subtle olive tapénade that brought out the creamy, yet salty flavors of the cheese.  A slight drizzle of pesto topped it off giving this little dish a new but great taste.

The entrees were lacking given the price range of the wine bar ($25-$30).  The steak was juicy in the center, but grilled a little too long on the outside giving it a charred taste.  It was plopped unceremoniously on top of a pile of mashed potatoes and surround by gargantuan pieces of asparagus.

The jumbo scallops were not so jumbo, but were instead the size of a half-dollar.  They too were thrown without care on top of a pile of mashed potatoes and surrounded by a crab minestrone, which made for a different and disastrous combination.  It would have been much better  if all were served separately.

Dessert made up for the unsavory entrées.  A substantial slice of chocolate cake drizzled with hot fudge and white chocolate was light on the tongue: decadent but not overly so.  They also offer Muddy Paws Cheesecake which could easily be boasted as the best cheesecake in town.

Spill the Wine is a cozy, relaxing place recommended for wine beginners and connoisseurs alike.  If you’re looking for a place that’s friendly to all ages with atmosphere and great appetizers or desserts this would be a great place to go.  However, if you’re looking for a good steak or seafood, this is not the place for you.

Photo By http://www.flickr.com/photos/ventriloblog/ / CC BY-NC 2.0

If you’ve never heard of Cossetta’s, in the heart of St. Paul, then you are truly missing out on a very rare experience.  Few restaurants are still family-owned, but Cossetta’s is fourth generation owned, so you know that the food will be like Mom’s homemade Italian.

In the 1800’s, Michael Cossetta traveled from Calabria, Italy to settle in St. Paul.  He brought with him the knowledge of Italian meats and recipes and in 1911, opened up his store.

Although Cossetta’s is not in its original location, the quality of food has remained the same. As you enter the building, the smell of fresh-baked pasta and the aroma of garlic waft through the air.    The atmosphere is chaos in a little piece of Italian heaven.  Most of the time there is a line out the door.  But not to worry, the wait is no more than a few minutes and well worth it.

If you can get past the cafeteria-like scene, you are in for a treat.  Once at the head of the line, you have many options: soup, salad, pasta salad, sandwich, entrée, or pizza.  My suggestion is to get what they are famous for: the Cossetta Sandwich, sausage pizza, or a pasta entree.

The Cossetta Sandwich, in one word, is amazing!  It is made from beautifully seasoned, homemade sausage, slathered in the family’s secret sauce and stuffed between two thick slices of Vienna bread.
The pizza is equally as impressive.  Don’t let the look of it fool you.  Trust me, it may look like you want two pieces, but unless you’re a professional athlete with a huge appetite, one piece is enough.  It’s a New York style pizza that is hand tossed (if you’re lucky enough, you can actually see them tossing the crust). It is smothered in their zesty sauce and fresh cheese.  Choose any topping you like and it will be perfect. They’re most famous for their sausage pizza, which is topped with their homemade Italian Sausage.

As for the entrees, stick to the pasta.  While their chicken dishes are tender and juicy, the sauces fall flat.  However, the pasta is another story.  The manicotti are wonderful little pillows filled to the brim with light fluffy ricotta cheese.  Along with your entree, you get mostaccioli con ricotta, which is pasta covered in incredibly rich ricotta and smothered with their tangy spaghetti sauce.  You also get a piece of buttery garlic bread, leaving little to be desired.

Then, if you have enough room for dessert, the cannoli is the best around.  The mascarpone is thick, but not heavy, and will make your tongue dance.  Not into mascarpone?  Then definitely get the chocolate hazelnut gelato, which tastes just like a Ferrero Rocher.

Still not had enough Cossetta’s?  Not a problem.  Just visit the picturesque Italian marketplace attached to the restaurant.  You can get frozen Cossetta’s entrees or buy something from the meat counter.

Overall, Cossetta’s is a wonderful experience. Stick to the pasta and the famous sausage, and you can’t go wrong. The food is a little pricier than you expect, between $8.00 and $10.00, but the quality and quantity more than make up for it.    It’s a slice of Italian life in downtown St. Paul.