Handsome Hog

From the moment millers such as the Pillsbury family brought grain down the Mississippi River to be made into flour, the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, have been a mecca for innovative local chefs, restauranteurs and food artisans. Today the Twin Cities boast one of the most vibrant culinary scenes in the country. Unique Eats & Eateries of the Twin Cities offers a tasty tourfrom downtown fine dining destinations to dive bars, food trucks and the beloved State Fair. Along the way food lovers will explore great neighborhoods, visit thriving avenues of ethnic eateries, sample a few of the region's quirkiest food traditions and discover its rich history, culture and personality. If you're a life-long resident or a traveler ready for your first taste of the Cities, Unique Eats & Eateries of the Twin Cities offers a feast for your palate, for your senses and your sense of humor.

Ask children where food comes from, and they’ll probably answer: “the supermarket.” Ask most adults, and their replies may not be much different. Where our foods are raised and what happens to them between farm and supermarket shelf have become mysteries. How did we become so disconnected from the sources of our breads, beef, cheeses, cereal, apples, and countless other foods that nourish us every day? Ann Vileisis’s answer is a sensory-rich journey through the history of making dinner. Kitchen Literacy takes us from an eighteenth-century garden to today’s sleek supermarket aisles, and eventually to farmer’s markets that are now enjoying a resurgence. Vileisis chronicles profound changes in how American cooks have considered their foods over two centuries and delivers a powerful statement: what we don’t know could hurt us. As the distance between farm and table grew, we went from knowing particular places and specific stories behind our foods’ origins to instead relying on advertisers’ claims. The woman who raised, plucked, and cooked her own chicken knew its entire life history while today most of us have no idea whether hormones were fed to our poultry. Industrialized eating is undeniably convenient, but it has also created health and environmental problems, including food-borne pathogens, toxic pesticides, and pollution from factory farms. Though the hidden costs of modern meals can be high, Vileisis shows that greater understanding can lead consumers to healthier and more sustainable choices. Revealing how knowledge of our food has been lost and how it might now be regained, Kitchen Literacy promises to make us think differently about what we eat.

“Justin uses his cooking to transcend geography, connect with his family, and share a bit of his history, and our history, with the world. Slow down, give it a read, and get cookin’.” ―Guy Fieri, host of “Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives” and “Guy’s Ranch Kitchen” In 90+ soul-satisfying recipes, beloved Top Chef star, chef, and restaurateur Justin Sutherland offers his take on easy Southern-inspired home cooking…with a Northern Twist. Justin owns multiple restaurants in the Twin Cities, though his reputation is national. You may know him from television, where he won an Iron Chef episode, competed on Season 16 of Top Chef, and is one of the chefs featured on Fast Foodies and is producer and host of Taste the Culture, both airing on TruTV/TBS. In his highly anticipated first cookbook, Justin shares the inspiration and foundation behind his approach to his signature Southern cooking, which includes his upbringing in the Northern Midwest and the South, as well as his African-American and Asian heritage. Northern Soul features his signature recipes for lunch, brunch, dinner, snacks, late-night meals, and cocktail recipes. Justin shares how you can make easy, traditional Southern recipes with a Northern flair, in your own kitchen. From recipes like Chicken and Waffles and Creole Jambalaya to Bourbon Pecan Pie with Maple Whip and Hot Mac and Cheese, plus spice blends, sauces, rubs and pickles, you’ll learn just how deliciously southern soul and northern heart blend. Praise for Northern Soul: “I am covered in chills reading Justin Sutherland’s book. It’s mindful, soulful, important, and truly American—because it is a global story. We are one. We are all connected if we choose to be. With Justin’s cookbook, we all come one step closer, and one meal closer, to one another.” ―Rachael Ray, host of “30 Minute Meals” and “The Rachael Ray Show” “In Northern Soul, Justin Sutherland elevates southern comfort dishes in a unique way that speaks to the power of how food fuels us as individuals, connects to us spiritually, and forges the bonds of community.” ―Marcus Samuelsson, chef and author of The Red Rooster Cookbook “This book is a deep dive into soul food from a clear and fresh perspective, one that feels familiar and approachable, creative and craveable. Justin Sutherland beautifully demonstrates how food connects us all, but also is an integral part of how we can seamlessly celebrate our individuality together. I cannot wait to cook my way through this book!” ―Brooke Williamson, chef and winner of Food Network’s “Tournament of Champions”

The Hog Book is one of the most radical works in the annals of classic animal literature. This is the definitive work that touched off the whole recent revolution in our hog awareness leading to the ever-spreading acceptance of pigs as pets, as working partners, organ donors, movie stars, and so many other fresh manifestations of the barely tapped porcine potential. The Hog Book is also a lot of fun.