Book Signing and Dinner at Agra Culture

Richard Dobson

Often we venture out to find dining away from the food wasteland of the northern burbs.  Wednesday evening we fought traffic and headed to Edina.  Our friend, Richard Dobson, had a book signing at Barnes & Noble at Galleria in Edina.  Entitled "Power Your Career: The Art of Tactful Self-Promotion" we anticipated and left with a few tips on engaging peers, vendors and customers from his new book.  Here at Marianne's Kitchen we make a point of learning our customer's names, thanking them and engaging in conversation as time permits.  That is why the kitchen is the communication center of everyone's home; it's where you talk and listen.  Tactful sharing is always good.

Agra Culture offers a 'made for you' healthy menu.  Similar to Marianne's Kitchen you order at the counter, find a place to sit and the food is brought to you.  It's an interesting combination of industrial and legacy design features dominated by large tables which undoubtedly become multi-party during busy periods.  A visit to their web site indicates locations in Uptown and at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts in addition to Edina.

We ordered a Harissa Chicken Sandwich and Chicken Tacos with brown rice.
Our own Marianne's Kitchen's Harissa is more traditionally seasoned, infused with cumin and coriander. We might give them a sample. The idea of fresh food is great but we like a wider range of flavors plus freshness.  One of the wait staff asked about our meal and confirmed that the harissa was weakly flavored.  The sandwich and the tacos were $9.50 each.  The portions were small.  We left considering more food elsewhere.  It would be a great place to try for breakfast.

Our original intent for dinner was Mozza Mia just down the street from Agra Culture.  We'll make a point of visiting soon.