You are in or you are out

Heidi Klum "In or Out"

Small business, especially the family-owned, small restaurant business brings to mind Heidi Klum's oft-repeated line on "Project Runway".....you are either IN or you are OUT.

In:  China Express
We've mentioned them previously, just after they opened in Arden HIlls.  But they've changed a little already to adapt to customer needs.  The $1 a scoop buffet is now during the day, with menu service after 5:30 PM(I think it's 3 PM on Sundays).  The $1 scoop concept is great...especially for lunch.   Sometimes you want a little, sometimes a little more.  At $1, you can tailor your lunch to your appetite.

But I've found a new favorite on the menu....egg foo young.  Now it's hard to beat the absolutely delicious egg foo young at Pink Flower in Mounds View.  It's my personal favorite, along with the Asian chow mein and about 10 other dishes.  At China Express, the egg foo young is served like a stack of pancakes....with rice and gravy on the side.   Tasty, tasty, tasty.  Totally different than Pink Flower's but just as fabulous in its own way.  This would be a meal for 2 people, so leftovers came home for tomorrow.  This is not food for everyday consumption....like most Chinese food, it's fried. so have your cholesterol checked after eating a healthy portion with gravy.  But as an occasional treat, I highly recommend it.  The Hunan Chicken, served with pork-fried rice and egg roll was nicely spiced, just hot-enough and complimented with pea pods, broccoli, water chestnuts and baby carrots.  The owners are very friendly and attentive.  

Closed: Dauber's

Out:   Dauber's Cafe
This breakfast & lunch place in Little Canada (near the bingo hall) lasted a few years.  Okay food, and I appreciated getting an occasional doughnut.  Another family trying hard to make it, serving food to the bingo players next door.  But now they are 'out'.

Coming Soon to the Dauber's Cafe location:  El Sombrero
We're looking forward to seeing the menu at Dauber's replacement, El Sombrero.  It's not open yet, but it looks like they're making good progress in redecorating.  It would be nice to have some decent Mexican food in the area since there are really no decent choices close by.  We'll hope for the best.  Of course we'll be there soon to check it out.



So... small family restaurants in the area that are out of the game (Golden Quince, Cafe Zia, Cajun Potluck, Green Ginger, Dauber's) plus bigger places (Kozlak's, Blue Fox, Asia's Finest [forced out by a big corporate player--Noodles and Company] Roman Anthony's, etc.).  Those still in the game:  Bistro La Roux, Mansetti's (a franchise), Jade House, and the ever-popular Marianne's Kitchen : )

So, when you're going out, stop in....to a local family-owned restaurant so that we can continue to have some non-corporate food choices in the area.  Keep the locally-owned dining options in the game.