In Minnesota, every conversation starts with the weather. Good or bad, it is our civic duty to pay homage to Mother Nature’s supremacy. So let’s get it out of the way. Yes, this is winter, it’s cold and we are allowed to complain. We won’t take it lying down, though: it’s time to summon every coping strategy we can muster. Eating helps. Frigid days and dark weeks call for extra comfort, extra stamina and extra energy—especially when there are snowy driveways, iced windshields and burst pipes to contend with. Here are some dandy fillers to sate the heartiest of appetites, whether for a farmer, lumberjack or a Minnesotan in winter.
Black and Bleu Sirloin
Gordy’s menu is full of fortifying red meat; their signature is the black and bleu sirloin, a 12-ounce slab blackened on the grill and liberally stuffed with blue cheese. If that weren’t enough, the beast is smothered in an egg-yolk-rich, tarragon-inflected Béarnaise sauce. The beef packs a wallop of solid protein; the cheese and the sauce contribute a good deal of fat. This time of year, fat is our friend, especially when paired with protein: It’s the ultimate concoction to keep you humming for hours. $29.99. 301 Stillwater Road, Willernie; 651.762.9662.
Pork Chops
Established in 1946, this joint is expert at shoring up our energy reserves with hearty, good food. Simply cooked, quality ingredients is the formula here. Two 10-ounce pork chops are tender and juicy; start with an order of white cheddar cheese nuggets ($8.45) and you’ll be anchored for the worst winter assault. $21.50. 10 Old Wildwood Road, Mahtomedi; 651.777.4097
Big Mike's Barbecue Baby Back Ribs
Bierstube Steakhouse and Grill
What better stick-to-your-ribs food than ribs? Barbecue baby backs at the Bierstube are super-meaty on and between the bones; it’s a splendid workout for the bicuspids. The sauce is satisfyingly sweet, sticky and tangy, but beware: You’ll be wearing some of it without the proper pile of napkins. A hearty appetite makes quick work of a half-slab; a whole one is sure to sate the hungriest of lumberjacks. Half-rack, $15; full rack, $20. 2670 E. County Road E, White Bear Lake; 651.773.5854.
Gnocchi Bolognese
Roma Market
Gnocchi are Italian mini-dumplings: pillowy, tender and at their best when swimming in sauce. The ones at Roma are made from starchy potato, one of our most stalwart winter fillers. A Bolognese sauce does a nice job of standing up to the intensity of each little potato bundle: It’s full of beef and pork, and simmered for hours till melty and rich. The dish is crowned with a little shaved Parmesan for a welcome bit of tang. Winter weather hardship calls for extra vitamin C, too, so don’t neglect your side salad. $15. 460 Stillwater Road, Willernie; 651.653.4733.
Mozzarella-stuffed Chicken Breast With Marinara Sauce
Piling on the protein is an easy way to build fortitude, and meat and cheese are exponentially powerful when combined with one another. A monster chicken breast—10 ounces, that is—gets royal treatment at Rudy’s Redeye Grill. It’s seasoned, grilled and stuffed with as much molten mozzarella as it can hold. Sweet tomato marinara sauce keeps the meat moist; a cloak of melted provolone cheese keeps it all together. A side of carbs—angel hair pasta—is a good soaker-upper and it’s doused with more of that silky, slurpy marinara sauce. $19. 4940 Highway 61 N., White Bear Lake; 651.653.6718.
Smothered Steak Burrito
Mexican food is a classic rib-sticker, a great sponge for the day after an evening in the bar. The family-owned Casa Lupita has been connecting us to Mexican food therapy for more than a decade. The only thing better for a monster appetite than a burrito is a smothered burrito. Filled with refried or black beans and your choice of meat—we like their tender steak—the burrito is deep-fried, covered with chili and topped with your choice of fixings, like sour cream, pico de gallo and cheese. Definitely add guacamole for another 50 cents; it’s creamy-delicious and full of heart-healthy, energy-boosting fat. $8.50 1350 Highway 96 E., White Bear Lake; 651.348.7571.
Five-item Omelet
Cobblestone Cafe
Eggs have a nifty ability to fill you up without weighing you down, and they keep you satisfied for hours. When you’re facing a long day in the fields (code word for office), fill up with one of Cobblestone’s three-egg omelets with five ingredients. Choose from ham, bacon, sausage, kielbasa, Italian sausage, onions, spinach, tomatoes, green peppers, jalapenos, mushrooms and American, Swiss, pepper jack or cream cheese. We’re thinking Italian sausage, onions, green peppers and mushrooms—a hoagie captured in a cloud of egg. It’s like a football on the plate; the only way to tackle it is with gusto. Served with hash browns or fruit and toast. $9.95. 4760 Washington Square, White Bear Lake; 651.429.6793.
