Social Distance Dining: Edition 14

 Social Distance Dining: Edition 14

Since the order to close restaurants in Minneapolis came into being, I’ve dined every Saturday evening with one particular friend, Steve Backoff. I may have lost count, but it’s something like 14 Saturdays now. It’s been fun and it’s been evolving. For the first few weeks, we ordered take out from variety of restaurants then shared the meal outside on the patio at my building or at Steve’s home. When restaurants initially reopened we shiftedto dining outside. Since the beginning of July, we’ve eaten indoors if the restaurant has put sensible safety regulations into place and enforced them.

Tonight’s cuisine (Steve’s turn to choose) was Central-American in South Minneapolis. As a recovering picky eater, I’ve made it a priority to choose foods I’ve never experienced. Steve’s been a really terrific dining companion - expertly guiding me around the world in terms of cuisine and not judging my failures. This evening he made a reservation for us at Hola Arepas. The food was delicious, the distinct flavors a virtual party in your mouth. I ordered the Arepas with Chorizo Sausage, black beans, pickled cabbage and verde cotja. An arepas is a cornmeal griddle cake, sliced and used as a sandwich. The meal came with Yucca Fries with aioli verde and chimchurri sauces. Steve had the pork and sweet potato arepas with a refreshing non-alcoholic cocktail: an Uno (a mix of rhubarb shrub, strawberry, hibiscus, ginger and soda).

The restaurant is only open for patio dining right now and their pandemic guidelines are strict. We had a reservation and wore masks to the table. We were handed a spray bottle of hand sanitizer to take to the table. There was a flip card attached which told your server if you desired service or wanted to chill. The server asked if she could approach, requested we put on our masks while ordering and then whenever she approached the table. No problem. I anticipate the experience will be even more delightful when it isn’t mid-90’s and sultry out. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Saturdays are my cheat day for my Keto Diet. I find I can be very strict during the remainder of the week if I give myself a break once a week. Following our meal at Hola Arepas, Steve and I had dessert at Fletcher’s Ice Cream a few blocks from my building. What a treat!