`Outstanding` Finalists Named for Charlie Awards Restaurant and

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Molly Steinke, Nemer Fieger, 952-278-3142 or 612-309-1677
‘OUTSTANDING’ FINALISTS NAMED FOR CHARLIE AWARDS
RESTAURANT AND FOOD TRUCK ITEM
Winners to be announced on November 17
Minneapolis (October 28, 2013) --- The votes are in and the finalists have been chosen for the 2013 Charlie Awards
Outstanding Menu Item and Outstanding Food Truck item. These are just two categories affiliated with the Charlie
Awards, a celebration that recognizes the exceptional contributions of the Twin Cities metro area restaurant, food and
drink community to be held on November 17, 2013.
For the Outstanding Menu Item category, more than 125 participating establishments each chose an item on their menu
that best represents the establishment. That dish was then posted on the Charlie’s website, charliesexceptionale.com, for
public voting. A panel of experts will taste test each of the finalist selections to choose one winning food item.
The following received the most votes and are thereby finalists for Outstanding Menu Item:
Downtown Minneapolis
• FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar Minneapolis – Bison Bone Marrow
• Murray’s – Blue Cheese Crusted Filet
Northeast Minneapolis/North Metro
• Masu Sushi & Robata – Tonkatsu Curry Ramen
South Minneapolis
• Corner Table – Crispy Pork Belly
• Rainbow Chinese – Szechuan Wontons
St. Paul/East Metro
• Cahoots Coffee Bar – Lavender Infused White Mocha
• Lindey’s Prime Steak House – Lindey’s Special Sirloin
South Metro
• Tavern 4 & 5 – Wood Fired Rotisserie Chicken
• Porter Creek Hardwood Grill – Woodfired Pork Chop with Apricot Chutney
West Metro
• Sushi Fix – Tuna Poke
The below three food truck items received the most votes and will be taste-tested by a panel of experts to determine the
Outstanding Food Truck Item:
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•
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Hot Indian Foods – Indi Frites (Indian-Seasoned Fries)
Red Wagon Pizza Company – The Monty
The Moral Omnivore Food Truck – Fried Tomato BLT
The third annual CHARLIE AWARDS will be held on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2013 at the Pantages Theatre in downtown
Minneapolis (710 Hennepin Avenue) beginning at 3:30 p.m. Included with each show ticket is admission to a reception
th
immediately following the show from 5 – 6:30 p.m. at the IDS Center Crystal Court (80 S. 8 St.).
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Charlie Awards Finalists
New to this year’s festivities is a Chef’s Four-Course Dinner to be held in the Skyline Room at The Walker Art Center
(1750 Hennepin Ave. So.) at 6:30 p.m. The dinner features a menu created by the 2012 Charlie Award-winning chefs:
Doug Flicker of Piccolo and Sandcastle, Steven Brown of Tilia, Lenny Russo of Heartland Restaurant, and Michelle Gayer
of the Salty Tart.
Tickets for the CHARLIE AWARDS are available online at charliesexceptionale.com at the box offices of the State,
Orpheum and Pantages theatres; or at any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets for the main show and after-party are $35 ($25 for
members of the restaurant, food and beverage community). Tickets for all three events (main show, after-party and VIP
dinner) are $125 each; with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Open Arms of Minnesota. Open Arms is the only
nonprofit organization in Minnesota that cooks and delivers free meals specifically tailored to meet the nutritional needs of
individuals living with life-threatening illnesses.
Awards for individuals and businesses are determined by a vote of all participating restaurants in the seven-county
Minneapolis / St. Paul area. Each restaurant participating has one vote in each category, and the organizations and
individuals that receive the most votes will receive a Charlie Award in the following categories: Lifetime Achievement;
Community Hero, Outstanding Neighbor; Outstanding Chef; Emerging Food Professional; Outstanding Pastry Chef;
Outstanding Restaurant Service; Outstanding Bartender; Outstanding Restaurant; and Outstanding Restaurant Design.
The Charlie Awards were created to recognize the outstanding contributions our metro area food and restaurant industry
makes to ensure a diverse, vibrant and creative lifestyle and economy. The event will showcase restaurants, corporations
and businesses, institutions, beverage manufacturers, suppliers, culinary schools, chefs, and restaurant staff.
The awards are named after the legendary restaurant, Charlie’s Café Exceptionale, which was a mainstay in downtown
Minneapolis until the 1980s. The inspiration for the Charlie’s was Minnesota’s own culinary expert and James Beard
award-winning food journalist, Sue Zelickson.
Sponsors are General Mills, U.S. Foods, Mingle, Open Table, Bellisio Foods, Intermix Beverage Co., Palm Trading
Company, Kohler Signature Store, Colle+McVoy, Minnesota Business, Tiger Oak community publications, Minnesota
Monthly, Minnesota Public Radio, Open Arms, and the Minnesota Restaurant Association.
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