Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern Season 7 Episode 1 Twin Cities

In season 7 episode 1 of Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern, titled "Twin Cities," the host heads to his hometown of Minneapolis and explores the diverse culinary scene of the so-called "Twin Cities" of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Zimmern begins his tour at the Hmongtown Marketplace, which features a bustling indoor and outdoor market selling traditional Hmong cuisine. He samples a variety of dishes, including papaya salad, grilled lemongrass skewers, and fish head soup. He notes that the Hmong population in the Twin Cities is one of the largest in the country and that their cuisine is a unique blend of Southeast Asian and Midwestern flavors.

Next, Zimmern heads to Meritage, a French bistro in St. Paul, where he tries the classic French dish of escargot. He also samples pâté en croûte, a pastry stuffed with various meats, and tarte flambée, a thin, crispy pizza-like dish topped with crème fraîche, bacon, and onions.

Zimmern then visits Kramarczuk's, a family-owned Eastern European deli in Minneapolis that has been in business for over 60 years. He tries their famous kielbasa, a smoked sausage made with beef and pork, as well as their pierogi and kapusta (sauerkraut). He notes that the deli also has a bakery that specializes in traditional Eastern European pastries like babka and strudel.

Moving on to the Somali community in Minneapolis, Zimmern visits the Safari Express restaurant and tries traditional Somali dishes like sambusas (similar to samosas), goat curry, and camel burgers. He also speaks with the owner, Ahmed Jama, who immigrated to the United States in the 1990s after escaping civil war in Somalia. Jama and his family opened Safari Express to share their culture and cuisine with the Twin Cities.

Zimmern then heads to Brasa Premium Rotisserie, a restaurant that serves Southern-style comfort food with a Latin twist. He tries their rotisserie chicken, pork shoulder, and beef brisket, as well as their sides of black beans and collard greens. He notes that the restaurant's owner, Alex Roberts, was named the James Beard Foundation's Best Chef Midwest in 2010.

Finally, Zimmern visits Patisserie 46, a French bakery in Minneapolis that is known for its croissants. He tries a variety of pastries, including croissants, éclairs, and macarons. He notes that the bakery's owner, John Kraus, trained at the French Pastry School in Chicago and worked at several Michelin-starred restaurants before opening his own bakery.

Throughout the episode, Zimmern emphasizes the diversity and vitality of the Twin Cities' culinary scene, noting that it reflects the many different cultures and communities that call the area home. He also highlights the importance of supporting small, local businesses and preserving culinary traditions.