Life’s Flavors ~ Rochester, MN By Allison Libby-Thesing

Recently my husband and I had a chance to attend the wedding of one of his cousins, in Rochester, Minnesota. We were excited to get away to somewhere different and have a little break from the daily grind. Ironically, the weekend we were there, they happened to have a snowstorm which for them, this past winter has been pretty mild. With not a lot of snow or bad weather. That being said, we did not get out and do very much, beyond taking in the food.

While we were staying there, we rented a house, that caters a little more towards people who happen to be in town for the Mayo Clinic but we needed a spot that could host multiple family members, so we could visit and chat outside of a hotel room. The house location was convenient and efficient for our needs. I would always recommend a larger space for bigger groups, since a bed and breakfast is not always an option. The closest one for our trip was thirty minutes away and we wanted to be closer to the wedding venue, maybe next time.

We were able to try a variety of food options while we were there and explore downtown just a bit. I think a summer visit would have been nice, that way we could have taken a wine or brewery tour on the trolley. Or made our way through the sculpture garden, but that was a little too chilly for our tastes this time around.

While in Rochester we found and tried a vegan donut. I know what you are thinking, that had to taste like cardboard, but really it was actually pretty good. Light and fluffy for a cake donut and had great flavor. If you did not know you were ordering a vegan donut you would have thought the batter was just a little different from a standard cake donut and munched it down.

Of course, we had to find the local coffee shop and we found a couple that had some great lattes and cappuccinos. Coffee is one of our favorite ways to start out in a new city, and these ones did not disappoint. Lunch was in order and Thai food was on the list. This restaurant had so many plants inside that it made you think you were staying in a tropical forest instead of the“frozen North.” Plus, the food was great. Just the right amount of spice and fantastic flavor.

The highlight of the trip was of course the wedding. Held in a venue that was once an old hay barn owned by one of the Mayo brothers, the space was creatively used and looked beautiful. We enjoyed seeing family that we do not usually get to see very often and danced the night away with the couple and their friends. It’s always fun to see how other companies cater and serve food, in order to gather new ideas.

No matter how long or short a trip might be, we always try to find the best in each adventure. This one was no different. We were excited to celebrate the newlyweds and explore somewhere new. Our favorite restaurant stop was the Forager Brewery and café. It’s too bad we did not have more time to visit, we would have loved to have explored their craft beer options and their lunch or dinner menu. Next time! Where will your next adventure take you?

By Allison Libby-Thesing