I ❤ Heartland

We finally made our way to Heartland at it's new location.  We frequented Heartland when we were living in St Paul, but had yet to see the new place by the Farmer's Market.  A reminder came last year when they won the prestigious James Beard award for Best Chef for a Midwest restaurant.

If you are unfamiliar with the place it is a must visit.  They specialize in indigenous and cultivated ingredients from the Canadian and American Midwest that are artfully combined on a menu that changes daily.  The new locale is warm and welcoming in a renovated building that we once looked at when we were considering moving to a loft.  In fact it is large enough to accommodate a not-so-small Farm Direct Market (or deli) with fresh produce and home-made canned delicacies.  Brick walls and large wooden beams running through the ceiling give the place the right ambience.

The food did not disappoint.  The menu maintains the Flora and Fauna options from the old location (two tasting menu options offered at a good price; one vegetarian and one with animal protein).  The lamb ordered by our friend Mike was so beautifully cooked that drove me to write this post.  Sharon had a trout over bok choy that was crispy, light and delicate.

I ordered a traditional cassoutlet, a rich, slow-cooked casserole originating in the south of France, containing white haricot beans, pork sausage, pork, and topped with a duck leg confit.  The picture did not turn our very clear, but I would highly recommend it if you are into beans and stews.

Lamb, beautifully cooked

Trout and bok choy