Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

It really depends. I made gumbo the other night which tasted like comfort in a spoon (or ladle). :)

I had a chance to "sample" (read "devour) macarons from Laduree in Paris earlier this year. The Fruits Rouge macaron's intense berry flavor still makes my mouth salivate! I also loved their Lily of the Valley macaron with its delicate, floral profile. I am all for macarons being the new cupcake- BUT I find it hard to find a good macaron with the right texture / flavor / consistency.

When you say apricot, I say almond- what about doing one layer with the apricot curd and another that's a kind of creamy almond? The bee sting cake has a great name and sounds terrific. Good luck!

I just came back from my yearly trip to Minneapolis. Check out my photos of food ordered in Minnie on my website if you want.

My all-time favorite restaurant (of the moment) is Spoon River. It's located by the Guthrie and the river, which makes for a good walk after dinner. They are very creative with their cocktail concoctions and house-infuse most of their alcohol. The food is top-notch, organic and features great vegetarian dishes as well as delicious seafood and other protein. I had the fish tacos last weekend and left very satisfied. :) If you like Spoon River, check out the proprietor's first restaurant, Cafe Brenda. Their veggie burger is top notch and their menu has some good variety. A good place (albeit a bit loud) is the celebratory Chino Latino in Uptown. Their portions are big and intended for family-style eating. I am fond of the plantain-crusted chicken among other dishes in their vast Latin-American / Asian-inspired menu. If you visit Hell's Kitchen, plan on shelling out the $6 for a small tub of their housemade peanut butter. It is worth the rage. Their Mahnomian porridge is a must-try (as is the Sausage Bread). Have fun eating your way through Minneapolis!