MN's Top 50 Restaurants, Hating On Holiday Bars, and Helping Hungry Minnesotans
Food critic Kirstie Kimball has been to 600 restaurants across Minnesota in the past two years, and she has distilled her findings into a comprehensive list of the top 50 Minnesotan restaurants on her Substack Beyond Beurre Blanc. Host Sean McPherson is joined by contributor and Racket Co-Founder Em Cassel to chat with Kirstie about her methodology for reviewing so many restaurants and to learn why Em hates holiday pop-up bars so much. Later, Sean talks with Anne Laskey, the Cause Marketing and Events Manager at Second Harvest Heartland, about how to help fight hunger this holiday season, and producer Adam Sage joins the conversation to highlight an upcoming winter festival.
Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode:
- Beyond Beurre Blanc's Minnesota 50: 2025 (Beyond Beurre Blanc)
- Kirstie Kimball's methodology (Beyond Beurre Blanc)
- Get Festive at These Twin Cities Holiday Bars (MSP Mag)
- Second Harvest Heartland
Learn more about the sponsors of this December 18th episode:
- Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST
- Xcel Energy
Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at twincities@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637.
For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities.
Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Stay connected to City Cast Twin Cities and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
'Your City Could Be Better': Sean Hosts The Ultimate USA Trivia Battle. How Much Do You Know?
See if your Twin Cities knowledge serves you well! In the first-ever Your City Could Be Better trivia episode, City Cast CEO David Plotz...

Predatory Housing Scheme, Sean Sherman Decolonizes Food, and Civic Improv
A new chapter in Indigenous cuisine has arrived in Minneapolis. Today, we talk with James Beard Award-winning chef Sean Sherman about Ind...

Keep It Sexy On the River. Plus, Picnic Pro Tips and TC Rookie Mistakes
July will happily remind you that summer is a marathon and a sprint. There’s a lot to do and you can’t do it all. Let us plan your month...

Heat Dome Survival Tips, Insider’s Guide to NE, and a Backyard Concert Series
A heat dome has settled over the Twin Cities, and we’re sharing recommendations to beat the beat. Also tune in for a full roundup of the...

Can Small Businesses Save Uptown? Plus, Why All-Ages Venues Matter
It’s our first ever live show! We take the stage at Pilllar Forum to talk about the state of indie venues with owner Corey Bracken. FYI,...

Northeast's Brewery Boom Is Fading. Plus, the Future of the Northeast Neighborhoods
Today we head to Northeast Minneapolis – recording live at Pillar Forum – to dig into what's really happening with the neighborhood's bel...

Addiction Treatments in Peril. Plus, Remembering the Summer of ‘76
Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill implements new work requirements for Medicaid recipients. That could disrupt or disappear addiction treatm...

Downtown Developers Want Data Centers. Plus, Glassblowing Classes and Riverfront Upgrades
Minneapolis and St. Paul are both set to see some major developments along the Mississippi River in the coming years, and there's already...

Where to Get Falafel at 3 a.m. Plus, Off-Leash Dog Parks and Berry Picking
The Minneapolis Park Board is decommissioning the Minnehaha Off-Leash Dog Park, but there are plenty of other places to let your doggy ro...

ICE Is Still Here. Plus, Why Do So Many People Hate the State Flag?
As the national media has largely moved on from ICE's actions in the Twin Cities, Minneapolis council member Jason Chavez has continued t...
