How we love to celebrate what is arguably the most boisterous holiday of the year. It’s the one that honors St. Patrick, the fifth-century Christian missionary and patron saint of Ireland. In tribute, we don green clothes and ingest green things. Do you feel duty-bound to go all green on March 17? You really don’t have to drink green beer, i.e., cheap swill spiked with food coloring. There are many green comestibles whose flavor outweighs gimmickry; we sought out some of our local best in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. Here’s a roundup of some fun and delicious green foods in our shire.
Cavoletti
Cavoletto translates from the Italian as “small cabbage,” an apt description for Brussels sprouts. These green globes have gained popularity in the last decade; up-to-the-minute menus often include some irresistible preparation often involving cheese and/or bacon. Yes, Acqua is on the trendy-food train, offering these little cabbages in several dishes, as well as simple roasted with, you got it, pancetta, which is basically Italian bacon. The sprouts get all caramelized and crispy in spots; the green darkens in the heat and you’ve got a red-and-green bowl of salty, porky, crunchy deliciousness. $12. 4453 Lake Ave. S., White Bear Lake; 651.407.7317.
Spinach Cream Chicken Enchiladas
Washington Square
There is a green stripe in the Mexican flag, too. Enchiladas are one of the most popular Mexican-American dishes—rolled up tortillas filled with various yummy things and smothered in sauce. Washington Square deviates from the usual cloak of dayglo-orange cheese; these lucky enchiladas get an elegant spinach cream, like what you’d find next to your filet mignon at a high-falutin’ steakhouse. Three flour tortillas are filled with shredded chicken, and the creamy spinach is right at home. The lush sauce tempers the spicy bits inside the tortillas, and the spinach adds an herby flavor to counter the richness. Add a classic margarita with all of its sweet and sour, citrusy goodness, and you’ve got yourself one heck of a meal. $14.25. 4736 Washington Square, White Bear Lake; 651.407.7162.
Barbara's Garden Salad
When we think of green foods, salad is one of the first things that comes to mind. And so salad it shall be at Eat! Barbara’s garden salad, named after Barbara Smith who co-owns the lovable eatery with her husband, Shawn, is a fantastic jungle of green splashed with red, orange, black, white and yellow. Dark-green baby spinach and pale-green romaine leaves are the canvas for this expressionist masterpiece of carrots, sunflower seeds, chopped tomato, black olives, green and red bell peppers, onion, mushrooms, cucumber, broccoli and slices of hard-boiled egg. The dressing is up to you. Green goddess, perhaps? $8. 2202 Fifth St., White Bear Lake; 651.653.1225.
Spinach Artichoke Dip
Rudy’s Redeye Grill
One of the most popular appetizers in the history of appetizers is this crave-worthy, dip—a pale artichoke-green swirled with dark-green flecks of chopped spinach—and you can find a righteous version at Rudy’s. It’s creamy beyond belief, spiked with the perfect amount of garlic and kissed with a pungent Romano cheese. Heated up, it spreads in glorious goops on the accompanying toasted baguette and tortilla chips; once you start scooping, you won’t be able to stop till the crock is clean. It’s decadent as all get-out, but the delicate green color adds a bit of healthy reassurance. $9. 4940 Highway 61 N., White Bear Lake; 651.653.6718.
Mint-chip Mud Ice Cream Pie
Cravings’ dessert and bakery menu is staggering in length and scope. There are several tempting green treats to choose from, including a divine Key lime pie and a ridiculously good Key lime cheesecake. Ultimately, although it took us a while to decide which of the scrumptious, house-made dandies to choose from, we fell hard for the mint-chip mud ice cream pie. And who could blame us? The deep-dish 10-inch wonder rocks an Oreo cookie crust and a layer of gooey and rich chocolate fudge topping. In the middle of this chocolate heaven awaits mint-chip ice cream (or peppermint bon bon, as some folks take to calling it), sporting its instantly recognizable vibrant green. It’s the ideal mix of crunch and cool, creamy and minty. $10.50. 1600 E. County Road E, Gem Lake; 651.482.7742.
Kaiso Salad
Red Lantern Sushi is an izakaya, a popular type of eatery in Japan, which is basically the equivalent to our Irish pub—a drinking establishment with good food to accompany many drinks. Of course, the food is different in Japan, but worth the adventure, especially with some Sapporo beer or a pretty little carafe of sake. The greenest thing on Red Lantern’s menu is the seaweed salad of an eye-popping electric hue. Don’t let the thought of seaweed put you off: These delicate, translucent strands taste like just a hint of ocean breeze. The dish is mostly about the fantastic dressing, which is a simple combination of mild rice vinegar, a splash of soy sauce, a little sugar, ginger and sesame oil. Sesame seeds scattered on top are the final touch, sort of like sprinkles on an ice cream cone. When you’ve had your fill of seaweed, try some of the pub’s other treats: fresh wasabi or sea urchin. Here, Sláinte becomes Kanpai! $6. 2125 Fourth St., White Bear Lake.
Gang Keow Wan
Not up on your Thai vocabulary? Gang keow wan means sweet green curry. It’s made from coconut milk, green curry paste, a passel of herbs, bamboo shoots and other veggies like carrots, green beans and Napa cabbage. It also comes with your choice of protein, which can be anything from pork, chicken or beef, to scallops or shrimp. And if you’re in the mood for luscious vegetarian fare, go for the smooth as silk tofu cubes that blend seamlessly with the fresh veggies and creamy coconut milk. The curry is marked with two asterisks on the menu, which isn’t an indicator of heat but a suggestion to add heat—do as the kitchen says and stoke the fire. It comes with steamed rice, which handily doubles as a damper. $10.95. 4440 Highway 61 N., White Bear Lake; 651.653.9781.
