Stacy Brooks

In which I get in *way* over my head at a local puzzle contest and learn about an awesome community

The Heavy Table | James Norton | Substack The Heavy Table is a team of writers, photographers, and illustrators telling the stories of food and drink in the Upper Midwest. We publish weekly. Click to read The Heavy Table, by James Norton, a S...

Anyway, if you're not backing Heavy Table, consider it. We're a team of Minnesota- and Wisconsin-based human beings out there in the world interviewing and photographing and illustrating other human beings and the food they make. It's good stuff. 4/4 heavytable.substack.com

Shane Oporto (left) and Sarah McDonough of Dark Horse in Saint Paul. He's gesturing as he talks, she's looking toward him. Joshua Feist / Heavy Table

Also tomorrow: killer interview with Shane Oporto and his partner Sarah McDonough from the newly revived Dark Horse in Lowertown, Saint Paul. Story by @tangledupinfood.bsky.social, photos by Joshua Feist. Plus details on the upcoming Level Up barista event here in Minneapolis. 2/4

Here's roughly what my tomorrow looks like. Can't wait to get out there with John Garland, Becca Dilley, @amyrea.bsky.social, @tangledupinfood.bsky.social, @jeannelakso.bsky.social, Joshua Feist, Andy DuCett, @wacso.bsky.social, @mccronin.bsky.social and Nathan Wold. Bring on the chaos!!!

Aww, thanks so much!

Senator Hoffman is my longtime state senator. He's a decent person who's just doing his job, he's pretty middle of the road and has a low-key profile. This is terrifying.

The comment period for this ends in 3 DAYS. Please leave a comment telling them EVERYONE should be able to get covid boosters.
www.regulations.gov/commenton/FD...

Four different foods from HmongTown in Saint Paul - from upper L, clockwise: steamed catfish in a banana leaf, a lotus cookie, a BBQ pork skewer and a stuffed chicken wing with two sauces.

Hell of a newsletter today with a big rundown on the flavors of HmongTown in Saint Paul - words by @amyrea.bsky.social and photos by @tangledupinfood.bsky.social - check it out here: heavytable.substack.com/p/kinsleys-a...

Still proofing Celebrating the Jewish-by-choice experience with essays about identity, ritual, and spirituality

If you're interested in occasional essays about identity, ritual, and spirituality through a Jewish-by-choice lens, subscribe to Still Proofing (it's free!) www.stillproofing.com

The Jewish Tourist: NYC—Eldridge St. Synagogue, Yonah Schimmel, Russ & Daughters The Jewish Tourist is an occasional series covering the Jewish sights, foods, and experiences I've encountered on my travels. Today we're heading to New York City for bagels, knishes, and an awe-inspi...

New post about eating bagels and delving into Jewish history in NYC

www.stillproofing.com/the-jewish-t...

Still proofing Celebrating the Jewish-by-choice experience with essays about identity, ritual, and spirituality

If you're interested in occasional essays about identity, ritual, and spirituality through a Jewish-by-choice lens, subscribe to Still Proofing (it's free!) www.stillproofing.com

My most Jewish book How a YA novel shaped my spiritual journey My synagogue recently hosted a talk by Rabbi Adam Chalom about how to define a Jewish book, exploring a wide variety of frameworks. Some were discarded as t...

www.stillproofing.com/my-most-jewi...

Who knew the Dear America series would have such a long-term impact on my life?

'Every day, every single customer': Tariffs hit close to home inside Asian grocers Asian grocery stores are a lifeline to the communities they serve. But store owners say the prospect of sweeping tariffs are threatening their ability to stock up on goods and keep prices affordable.

The rise of Asian markets has powered some of the most innovative and celebrated dining in Minnesota and been a lifeline for immigrants and their children. Tariffs that threaten those markets threaten the whole food ecosystem here.

Still proofing Celebrating the Jewish-by-choice experience with essays about identity, ritual, and spirituality

If you're interested in occasional essays about identity, ritual, and spirituality through a Jewish-by-choice lens, subscribe to Still Proofing (it's free!) www.stillproofing.com

A Mourner's Kaddish for a broken world I have spent the past several weeks filled with overwhelming grief. For trans and non-binary people whose healthcare, passport access, and dignity is being stripped away. For undocumented immigrants w...

The past several weeks have been...a lot. Here's to writing through the grief over all of this (*gestures broadly at the world*) and working towards something better.
www.stillproofing.com/a-mourners-k...

Nerdy Valentine's references are the way to my heart <3

Always proud of what the Heavy Table team gets up to, but tomorrow's spirits stuff by @louisgarcia12.bsky.social and @tangledupinfood.bsky.social is particularly strong (figuratively, and literally at least in the case of the whiskeys.)

Seven years in: Reflections on full-time freelance life | Tangled Up In Food Seven years after quitting my paralegal job, things are still chugging along at Stacy Inc. Over the past few years, I've settled into a groove of covering the Twin Cities food scene for the Heavy Tab...

www.tangledupinfood.com/seven-years-...

Time for my annual update on freelance life! It seems weird to report that in the midst of so much chaos things are going well for me career-wise...I guess I'll take it?

Music sets the tone at Minneapolis hangout Small Hours The record collection isn’t a background feature at the intimate hi-fi bar in northeast Minneapolis, it’s a main focus. Small Hours, which opened last September, is a collaboration between sommelier S...

www.thecurrent.org/feature/2025...

Huge thanks to The Current for assigning this to me—one of chillest evenings I've had in a long time

I'm looking forward to it, I need to get back there soon!

Still proofing Celebrating the Jewish-by-choice experience with essays about identity, ritual, and spirituality

Want to read more of my Jewish-focused writing? Subscribe to Still Proofing (it's free!) for occasional essays about identity, ritual, and spirituality.
www.stillproofing.com

The matter of time During my last semester of college, upon realizing that my B.A. in mathematics would be next to useless in the Great Recession job market, I took a couple of education classes. Both shaped the rest of...

New essay about how the oft-confusing Jewish calendar has led me to a deeper spirituality
www.stillproofing.com/the-unexpect...

I order them at nice bars occasionally and they tend to be good and very, very strong.

Itinerary: Experience Nordic Culture in the Twin Cities | Tangled Up In Food There's a good reason Minnesota's football team is named the Vikings—the state is home to more Nordic-Americans than any other state. About 28 percent of Minnesotans, or over 1.6 million people, have...

www.tangledupinfood.com/itinerary-ex...

My guide to experiencing Nordic culture in the Twin Cities in one food-filled day

Worth it: chocolate babka, lefse, pretzels, tomato sauce

Not: eggrolls—I attempted them as an inexperienced cook so maybe I’d have better luck now? But they were such a PITA and so awful I’ve never wanted to find out

Our 28 Favorite Racket Stories of 2024 - Racket Another big year down at the ol' news/arts/culture journalism factory.

All 28 of these stories have been temporarily UNLOCKED from the paywall—enjoy! 🔓

17 Best Things I Ate in 2024 | Tangled Up In Food I love compiling my annual "best things I ate" post because it's a chance to relive the year's most memorable moments. 2024 included trips to Japan and Montreal, an exquisite kaiseki meal and Laotian...

Just under the wire, here’s my annual roundup of the best things I ate www.tangledupinfood.com/best-things-...

That’s how it worked in my partner’s family (tree presents from parents, stocking from Santa) and even though I’m in my 30s it broke my brain a little when he told me

Hmm, I bake my own challah so I’m not super up on where it’s available outside of Shabbat…I’d start with Cecil’s, Breadsmith, Crossroads Deli, and Rustica. Good luck!