Category Archives: Travel/Food

Travel/Food

Dutch Baby recipe and review

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By: Nils Hilleson

Dutch baby slice on plate with fork, on table with red and white checked tablecloth

Ingredients:

  • 3 large eggs (room temp)
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup whole milk (room temp)
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • Pinch of nutmeg
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter

Equipment:

  • 10-inch skillet

Steps:

Heat oven to 425 degrees.

Combine eggs, flour, milk, sugar and nutmeg in a bowl and mix until smooth.

Place butter in a heavy 10-inch skillet and place in oven. As soon as the butter has melted add the batter to the pan and return the pan to the oven and cook for 20 minutes until puffed and golden.

Lower oven temperature to 300 degrees and bake 5 minutes longer.

Remove from oven and cut into slices and serve with toppings.

You can put whatever you want on these but they’re like pancakes so I ate some with maple syrup. Some people put powdered sugar on them and The New York Times, where I got this recipe from, also suggests preserves and cinnamon sugar as possible toppings. It tasted just like a pancake that was a bit crispier than usual; I’d say the crust got a good bit crispier than the main body of it though.

This was not a hard recipe to cook at all. The hardest thing for me to do was move the pan into the oven because it was pretty heavy and I was doing it with one hand. It’s definitely a good thing to cook if you don’t want to put too much effort into cooking something and still end up with some pretty good food.

Despite the name this food originated in Seattle, Washington; it also isn’t a baby. It was named Dutch Baby because of a mispronunciation of the word Deutsch, which means German and baby because they were originally served much smaller.

Entertainment, Events, Local, Travel/Food

2026 Minnesota State Fair highlights

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By: Josephine Feliciano and Collette Uran

This year’s State Fair was the 167th year of the official MN State Fair. It was also the 100th year of the Tilt-a-whirl! We broke another record for attendance on the first day; the record for us to beat next year is 155,185 attendees on the first day. Lots of new foods were brought into the fair’s collection of famous foods to get; some on sticks and some not. The hottest newest foods this year that were getting people to wait in lines for hours were the Pickled Pizza, Bao barbecue, and Hmong corn dogs.

But we also can’t forget the stands with classic fair foods that topped the charts, like Sweet Martha’s Cookies, Fresh French Fry’s and, of course, the Pickle Stand. In the 2026 year of the fair, Sweet Martha’s Cookies raked in 5.24 million dollars, The Fresh French Fry stand made 1.59 million dollars and last but not least, the Pickle Stand made 1.71 million dollars.

Another big hit at the fair every year is all the shows and live music. This year the artists that were playing at the Grand Stand were: Bonnie Raitt, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Sierra Ferrell,  Tommy James & The Shondells and Herman’s Hermits, Hairball, AJR, Brad Paisley, HARDY, TLC and Salt-N-Pepa with En Vogue, the Amateur Talent Contest Finals, and CeCe Winans. The most attended show was a tie between “Weird Al” Yankovic and the triple threat TLC, Salt-N-Pepa, and En Vogue. They were both sold-out shows, with 14,018 attendees. 

Other popular shows at the State Fair this year include Durry, Margo Price, The Sugarhill Gang, Yacht Rock Revue, Nur-D, All-Star Stunt Dogs Splash, and the Timberworks Lumberjack Show. There are more than 100 acts and 900 shows across all the free stages at the fair. 

Top attractions to see at the fair include classics like the butter sculptures, crop art, the midway, and all the animals. This year at the fair there was also The American Wheel Honoring America 250. It’s the world’s biggest traveling ferris wheel, standing at 230 feet tall. It has 45 river gondolas, each one themed after a different US president.

2026 Cactus Blossoms Band Performing at State Fair
2026 Cactus Blossoms Band Performing at State Fair, by Travellers & Tinkers via Wikimedia Commons

Even though we broke a first day attendance record at the fair this year, it doesn’t mean the rest of the week was bursting full of fair goers. Many attendance trackers for this year said that attendance the rest of the week was significantly lower than the rest of the previous years. About 1.92 million people attended the fair this year, which is slightly fewer than the previous two years. Yes, the overall attendance was low this year, but some certain parts of the fair saw record attendance. The transportation agency of the fair saw record ridership this year due to people getting sick of paying high amounts for parking and also just even trying to find places to park. The buses allow faster and more efficient ways to get to the fair.

Many leaders of the fair staff say that a reason for lower attendance this year is because of the late start of the fair and its overlapping with many school start dates. This year, over half the schools in the Twin Cities started school either before or during the time of the fair, which makes it harder for families and teens to come to the fair on weekdays. But due to this overlapping, it made the weekends busier and full of families with young kids wanting to go to the fair on the few days they could.

Over the course of the ten days at the fair this year, we experienced high temps and high humidity. Even though the fair dates were closer to fall starting, we still had seasonably hot temps. The hottest days were the first Friday to Monday. Those temps reached 90 degrees or slightly above, but also, due to high humidity temps, it made the already hot air feel hotter. 

All in all, the 2026 Minnesota State Fair was a hit as always! Hundreds of thousands of visitors walked through the gates every day, and had a blast with both the new and the old state fair staples. 

Travel/Food

Will beaches see more people?

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By: Simon Pluger

Main Beach on Lake Nokomis, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
August 2005 by: Ryanjcole via Wikimedia Commons

When summer finally arrives in Minnesota, everyone will know what to do: pack a bag and head to the beach in Minneapolis. We have several urban beaches such as Lake Bde Maka Ska, Lake Nokomis, and also Cedar Lake. All of these lakes offer a place to cool down when it is unbearably hot out with temperatures always fluctuating and sometimes breaking records across the state. One thing is for sure, beaches will be crowded, but will we actually see record swimmers this year or will it be another average summer?

If you think about it, hot weather means more crowded beaches of people wanting to escape the heat when the forecast is constantly in the high 80s and 90s. Staying inside with the air-conditioning feels nice but is sometimes very boring for people on summer break or for families looking for free activities to do, or anyone trying to cool off that wouldn’t have AC. The cities urban beaches are go to destinations.

However, predicting or even thinking about a record-breaking swimming season isn’t as easy as just looking at the forecast for the next week or two. For records to break, a lot of environmental science is also at play and the extreme heat just adds to it .

Even though hot weather draws people to the sandy beach, it also creates one of the most known problems in all of these urban lakes: toxic algae and bacteria. Minneapolis lakes are pretty, but they are also delicate ecosystems. When temperatures rise in the cities, there are often heavy summer rain storms which wash city pollution and other chemicals into the lakes. Nutrients like phosphorus overflow into the water and this mix of extreme heat and runoff can cause quick blooms of toxic algae.

We’ve already seen this happen with a lot of lakes in Minneapolis. The parks and recreation board has had to give out a ton of safety warnings and temporary closures to popular swimming areas, including around Lake Nokomis, due to water safety issues. If you swallow the water or even touch the water with the algae it can cause serious skin irritation, rashes, eye irritation, and severe stomach issues. So even if it’s hot out, and there’s one of these warnings, the beach’s swimmers will drop to zero.

Another key factor is that how many people work at these beaches? The city works really hard to keep everyone safe but hiring staff to be lifeguards has been a really big problem in the last couple of years because there’s been a big shortage of people wanting to work as lifeguards. This is because the beaches usually have to limit how many lifeguards they have, and sometimes they won’t have any making the beach closed, or swim at your own risk. This leads to large crowds gathering at just a few specific beaches because there are no lifeguards. 

My final verdict is that we will most likely see higher than average crowds relaxing on urban beaches this summer. People are eager to escape the heat, but this won’t mean that there will be more than average people swimming. If we get enough cool breaks throughout the summer, we will likely see more people swimming because there will be less algae in the water, but if the heat remains being up and staying up, this will cause more algae.  This will mean that people will be stuck on the sand and not in the water.

Travel/Food

Rating different energy drinks

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By: Amir Salaad

Energy drinks are important to me because they help me feel more awake and focused. They all taste different and some drinks are more healthier than other drinks. Here is a ranking that I made on some of the energy drinks based on their taste and energy.

1. Red Bull 8/10

Red Bull tastes pretty sweet to me and it has a fruity taste like a mix of citrus and berry. The carbonation is pretty strong and it has a fizzy and sour taste. I would give Red Bull an 8/10.

2. Monster Energy Zero Ultra 10/10

Monster Energy Zero Ultra tastes like a lemon and lime soda. It’s not too sweet and it has nice carbonation. I like that it doesn’t have a hard sugary or syrupy aftertaste. I would give it a 10/10

3. Celsius Sparkling Orange 9/10

Celsius Sparkling Orange tastes like Sunkist but with less sugar. It tastes like fresh orange juice, and it’s pretty refreshing to me. I would give it a 9/10

4. Bang Blue Razz 8/10

Bang Blue Razz tastes like those blue raspberry candies and cotton candy. I find it very sweet and it also has a strong artificial flavor that stays in your mouth after drinking it. And for that, I’m giving Bang an 8/10.

5. Rockstar Energy Fruit Punch 6/10

Rockstar Energy Fruit Punch tastes like sweet fruit punch. It’s very sweet and syrupy with a hard artificial aftertaste that I don’t really like. So, I’m giving it a 6/10

My Favorites, Monster Energy Zero Ultra and Celsius Sparkling Orange are my top picks because they taste pretty clean, they’re both refreshing, and they’re both not overly sweet and don’t have weird aftertastes.

Travel/Food

Pike Place Market 

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By: Alexsia Williams

Two summers ago, in July, 2024, me and my family took a trip to Seattle, Washington to visit some of my dad’s  family. Given that this had been our first time going to Seattle, my dad made an itinerary of all the popular places to visit in Seattle. That included the Space Needle, the Seattle Great Wheel, the beautiful hiking trails, and most importantly Pike Place Market. When first  arriving there I was taken aback by how crowded it was and the amount of people, but then as we started walking around I realized why Pike Place is so popular and one of the absolute best markets in the U.S. 

Pike Place Market was opened in August of 1907, and was opened to combat high produce prices. Thomas Revelle, who at the time was Seattle’s city councilman, initiated the idea to allow the farmers to sell directly to consumers, bypassing middlemen who had increased onion prices. With its opening in August, 1907, the market immediately became successful.

Although there were many years of success and compliments that the market had achieved, the positive also came along with the negative. The sanitary market building, which was the first purpose-built permanent structure within Seattle’s Pike Place Market, burned down days after the bombing of Pear Harbor. In April 1942, the market had  lost most of its farmers due to the interment of Japanese Americans during World War II. 

Despite some challenges and rough patches that the market had to confront, moving forward in later years, the market moved in a positive direction. This included being renovated in 1975, to the Pike Place MarketFront grand opening celebration which was held in 2017.

Every year over 20 million people visit the Pike Place Market and that population contributes to the market’s $26 million in operating revenue. 

There are over 500+ vendors, which include 220+ independently owned shops and restaurants, 180+ craftspeople, and 70+ farmers. 

As someone who has visited Pike Place twice on two different trips, I recommend people to visit Pike Place Market, because of how amazing it is.     

Travel/Food

Ranking niche fast food restaurants

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By: Brayden Marsh and Dahlia Man

Nashville Coop – 5.5/10

Ever wondered what the origins of the Nashville Coop seasoning was? It’s a blend of Southern, Jamaican, and Ethiopian flavors- how unique! Nashville Coop specializes in their chicken which is fresh, tender, and juicy. Aside from the chicken, the fries are always crisp and warm. As every other restaurant that is strongly rooted in chicken, the prices are similar ranging from $10-$16 for a single meal.

We personally found their meals to be appetizing, but nothing typically special. As you go higher on the spice scale, the chicken begins to lose flavor and commences a taste of a powder seasoning that doesn’t blend well with each other. The spice is present, but the flavor doesn’t hit the satisfaction. This is why we rated this restaurant a 5.5/10.

My Burger – 6/10

My Burger is a great local alternative to regular fast food burgers. They are less processed and we personally would rather go here than a McDonald’s or Wendy’s. Their prices aren’t anything special that sets them apart from a regular fast food restaurant, but we’ve also never been disappointed by a meal here, which can’t be said about most fast food chains. They also serve their fries and burger with their garlic or spicy mayo, which is a great addition to the food.

We give My Burger a 6/10 because it’s better than most fast food chains, but it isn’t anything super special that sets it apart from a regular burger.

Hook Fish & Chicken – 7/10

If you love lemon pepper seasoning, Hook Fish & Chicken is the place to go. Hook Fish & Chicken specializes in their signature seasoning coated in their freshly cooked meals. They have a wide variety of seafoods starting from cod dinners to oysters. As for their chicken, they have the classics of tenders, wings, and nuggets.

Although their prices may seem unreasonable, each meal comes in a large portion that could even be split for two. We rate this a 7/10 because they serve fresh foods with flavors that exceed our own tastebuds, but it is easy to become accustomed to. There are great options to get seafood and chicken, and Hook is a great place to start.

Dino’s Gyros – 7/10

Dino’s Gyros is a distinct fast food restaurant in comparison to our well known restaurants- they serve  unique ethnic foods originating from Greece; specializing in gyros. At Dino’s, you build your own gyro; a choice of protein, sauce, and toppings. On their menu, there is a wide selection of different meals you can choose from, such as soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, plates, bowls, and desserts. They serve fresh, high-quality, and flavorful Greek foods that peaks the interests of people who explore different ethnic foods.

We rate this restaurant a 7/10 because the food itself is very delicious and a step away from the usual fast food stereotype, however the portions could be improved for the price you pay, which is why we give it a 7/10.

Davanni’s Pizza and Hot Hoagies – 8/10

Davanni’s is a very versatile restaurant because they have so many different foods. They may be a little more expensive than most fast food, however the food makes up for it. They serve an assortment of delicious foods that most fast food chains wouldn’t be able to pull off.

We think Davanni’s is a great option because it’s almost like a dine-in, formal restaurant with the quality of the food they present. They also have very large portions just for a couple more dollars than other fast food, so you’re still getting your money’s worth. Davanni’s food is great, but it’s just slightly pricey which is why we think they deserve an 8/10.

Naf Naf Grill – 8/10 

We think the reason Naf Naf Grill isn’t more popular is likely because most of the time it’s overshadowed by the other fast food restaurants nearby since most of their locations are in malls or shopping centers. However, for the same price as all of these other restaurants, you can get a delicious chicken shawarma wrap that’s put together to your liking. They have an assembly line style menu, so you get to choose exactly what you get and try a variety of options.

This restaurant is great if you want to try something new, however there isn’t anything particularly special about them that would put them above other chicken shawarma restaurants, which is why we give it an 8/10.

Punch Pizza – 10/10

Punch Pizza could be argued as one of the best fast food restaurants in the Twin Cities. Their menu ranges from a price of $10-$16, and for that price you get a freshly oven baked pizza made out of high quality ingredients. We’ve also never had a bad experience at Punch Pizza, and the pizzas always taste better than what you paid for them.

For the price they offer, you could go to any big fast food restaurant and only get a mystery meat burger that sat out for a week prior and fries drenched in oil that’s been sitting in the deep fryer for a month. The food quality and taste for the price at Punch Pizza is ridiculous, which is overall why we gave it a 10/10.

Travel/Food

Protein coffee review

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By: Norah Hoglund

I am definitely the type of person who wakes up in the morning and isn’t hungry. I rarely eat food in the morning because right when I wake up it always sounds so unappetizing. Even so, it’s important that I consume protein in the morning to give me energy for the day. That’s why I tried this protein coffee.

The brand I tried is called Javvy. I got it at Target and they have a ton of different flavors to choose from. I tried the French vanilla and the mocha.

The brand stuck out to me because it has natural ingredients and uses stevia as a sweetener, which is a really good and healthy alternative to sugar. The coffee has no added sugar and it has 10g of protein per scoop.

Review

This coffee is super easy to make. I filled up a cup with half water and half whole milk, added a scoop of the coffee, and used a frother to mix it. If you don’t have a frother you can put it in a bottle and shake it up, it works just as well.

When I tried this coffee, I was actually very surprised at how good it tasted. It tasted pretty much like how you would expect a normal latte to taste. It is the perfect amount of sweetness, in my opinion, without having the weird flavor that sometimes accompanies an alternative sweetener to sugar. The coffee flavor is not particularly prominent, but I like that because I don’t like strong coffee flavors.

Overall, I think that this is a great product and I would definitely recommend it to anybody. I love lattes and this gives me that without the unnecessary sugar and with extra protein added. I now drink it every morning! I rate this product a 10/10.