Lounge and Restaurant Closed This Weekend

The HoDo Lounge and HoDo Restaurant will be closed all day Saturday, September 5th for a private wedding. The Lounge and Restaurant will also be closed all day Sunday the 6th and Monday the 7th in order to allow our teammates to observe the Labor Day holiday.

The Lounge and Restaurant will resume normal hours on Tuesday, September 8th. The Lounge will open at 11 a.m. for lunch and the Restaurant will open at 5 p.m. for dinner.

If you have any questions, please call 701.478.1000. Thank you and have a happy and safe holiday weekend!

Izakaya (Japanese Pub) Night - July's Flavor of the Month

(photo via Wikipedia Creative Commons)

Tomorrow night, the July installment of our Flavor of the Month series hops a plane for Japan, where pubs called "izakaya" serve from a menu of small plates shared by everyone at the table while sipping after-work drinks (think happy-hour appetizers).

Our version recalls the simplicity and fresh tastes common to izakaya menus through five prix fixe courses with two choices for each course. Bring a few friends and give them all a taste. $40/person. Seating is limited, so please make reservations by calling 701.478.1000. The menu is available from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; click here to see it.

(Every third Wednesday of the month, the HoDo Restaurant creates a special menu united around a different cuisine. In the past, we've done French night, Danish night and BBQ night, to name a few. Watch our website at www.hoteldonaldson.com or our Facebook page for updates.)

Corks & Canvas Art and Wine Walk

The Fargo Downtowner presents an evening of wine tasting and art exposition. Sample wine and treats from a variety of businesses and experience art presented by the artists themselves.

The HoDo will be previewing some of the Sokol Blosser wines slated for next week's winemaker's dinner and we'll have comments from Minnesota State University-Moorhead student artists on our current student show in the restaurant.

Corks & Canvas will be a monthly downtown feature all summer, every second Thursday through September.

June's Flavor of the Month - Sokol Blosser Winemaker's Dinner

We're honored to announce that June's Flavor of the Month will be a winemaker's dinner featuring Sokol Blosser wines on Wednesday, June 17th. We'll have seven courses paired with seven wines, three of which are vineyard exclusives, and hear comments from Alex Sokol Blosser, co-president of the Sokol Blosser Winery. Social hour at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at 6:00 p.m.

In 1977, Sokol Blosser wines were some of the first to come out of Oregon's Willamette Valley. Oregon now boasts some 300 wines and the confidence in those vintages arose from the success of Sokol Blosser wines. In recent years, the winery has championed sustainability by becoming certified organic and by shifting 1/3 of its power demands to an onsite solar array.

There is limited seating for this event. Call 701.478.1000 for reservations or details. Cost is $85/person with tax, tip and all food and wine included. This will be a tremendous opportunity to sample wines, learn about the craft of winemaking, and enjoy a beautiful meal.

.menu.

Spicy Prawn and Scallop
grilled and served with peas, white beans, bacon & an avocado puree,
finished with coriander cardamom oil and citrus zest
Evolution

Rose Wine Strawberry Flan
rose wine roasted strawberry flan with a
watermelon yogurt sauce, candied grapefruit,
kirsch tuille and a walleye pike quenelle
Rose of Pinot Noir

Mixed Greens
with apple vanilla vinaigrette, grapefruit segments, green apple, Delice cheese,
pink peppercorn dust, apple blossom honey roasted chestnuts and prosciutto
Dundee Hills Pinot Gris

Lamb Chop
grilled and served with saffron and turmeric scalloped root pave
with cilantro pea puree and a red curry berry compote
Meditrina

Venison Tenderloin
grilled mocha crusted venison, smoked pork belly,
black berry and cherry chutney, roasted mushrooms, and a balsamic cola sauce
Dundee Hills Pinot Noir

Cocoa Duck Breast
cocoa crusted duck breast served
over a mixed berry gelatin with roasted mushrooms
Estate Pinot Noir

Riesling Poached Pears
riesling poached pears served with salted taffy,
Montagnolo bleu cheese, apple chips with rose water and hazlenuts
Dessert White Riesling

Happy Memorial Day Weekend

The staff of the Hotel Donaldson wish everyone a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend. As you take the opportunity to spend time with loved ones, please remember to lend a few thoughts to our fellow Americans in the Armed Forces, especially those who have died in service to our country.

In observance of the holiday, the HoDo Lounge and HoDo Restaurant will be closed Sunday, May 24th and Monday, May 25th. Enjoy the long weekend!

Backyard BBQ - May's Flavor of the Month

We'll get the warm months off to a sizzling start by continuing the time-honored tradition of the backyard BBQ. We're going to throw open the big restaurant doors to let the air in and set the mood with music by the Inside Out String Trio. Call 478-1000 for details or reservations.

Menu:

.from the grill.
(served with choice of 2 sides:)

Walleye $23 - grilled in foil with lemon, onions and thyme
Chicken $22 - your choice of molee, Jamaican jerk or Chinese 5 spice
Smoked Brisket $22
Braised Beef Short Ribs $22
Pork Ribs $23 - with Ancho chili BBQ sauce
16 oz. T-Bone $35

.sides
($4 each)

Coleslaw
Grilled Corn & Scallion Hash
Potato Salad
Baked Bean with Bacon
Corn on the Cob
Dill Carrots
Roasted Potatoes

Give Your Mom a Hug

What would you do or have done without your mom? She's the lynchpin of your life, a firm rock to stand on and a treasured confidant. There should be more than one day on the calendar devoted only to her, really, but let us make that day special.

Our Mother's Day brunch will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Sunday, May 10th. Reservations are requested; call 701.478.1000 or make them online here. To view the menu for the day, please click here.

Also, Happy Mother's Day to every mom, mom-to-be and mom-no-longer-with-us out there. We at the HoDo thank you for putting up with us and loving us just the same.

Flatlands Tomorrow Night

Stop by for the fine acoustic rock stylings of Flatlands tomorrow night, 9 p.m., no cover, 21+. Special guest for the evening: Alex Rydell of Fargo-favorite Celtic group Poitin.

American Herro - A Film and a Feast

The film "American Herro" details Herro Mustafa's journey from a refugee camp fleeing terror in Iraq to Minot, ND where she overcomes her frightening first years to eventually achieve the American dream.

Herro is now the Senior Advisor to Vice President Biden for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Her work over the past two administrations has been instrumental in making progress towards peace.

The film will be shown this Sunday, April 26th, at 4 p.m in the Fargo Theatre. It is free and open to the public. Herro and filmmaker Kirk Roos will be available for a question and answer session following the screening of the documentary. A Kurdish dinner will follow at the HoDo Restaurant for a free will donation.

April's Flavor of the Month - Family Favorites

It's been a rough couple of weeks for us in the F-M area. Certainly, we'd all like the opportunity to take a deep breath and sit down for a comfortable meal.

Tonight's Flavor of the Month will provide that comfort. We're offering our interpretations of some family classics to share around our tables - true comfort food. Have a plate or two to share and remember that our dining room is casual, so come as you are. Plus, Tom Mooridian will be in the house to provide dinner music. Call 701-478-1000 for reservations.

Tonight's menu:

(all items serve 2-3)

.salads.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wedge
Caesar
Mixed greens
$12 each

.appetizers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Antipasto plate roasted and marinated cold vegetables with assorted meat and cheeses $15

Cheese curds $12

.entrees.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mac and cheese with truffle oil $18

Meatloaf with a sweet tarragon glaze, mashed potatoes and vegetable $29

Shrimp scampi over basmati rice with vegetable $32

Smoked chicken served whole with a sage cherry gravy, stuffing and vegetable $28

Roasted ND beef sirloin with a pan jus sauce, roasted potatoes and vegetable $33

.sides.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mashed potatoes
Rice
Roasted potatoes
Stuffing
$8 each

.desserts.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oreo & white chocolate cookie à la mode
Banana split
$10 each

Back to Normal

(Sigh of relief.)

After a marathon session of moving furniture, food, office machines and art yesterday, we've managed to get the HoDo back to looking like its old self. With that, we are pleased to announce that we're in the process of getting back to business as usual.

Huzzah!

A couple notices:

*The HoDo Lounge will be resume normal hours today, opening at 11 a.m. for lunch. The HoDo Restaurant will reopen tomorrow, Thursday, April 2nd.

*The Roster McCabe show scheduled for tomorrow is still on. Come on out and boogie your tension away. No cover, 21+.


*Thank you, too, for all of the warm thoughts that have come from far and wide as we endured this past week. It helped. It really did.

See you at the HoDo!

Flood '09 Update

(Photo courtesy Britta Trygstad)

It's the eleventh hour here in Fargo-Moorhead. Everyone with a pulse is out sandbagging right now, trying to hold back this tremendous river, and we probably will be for the next 48 hours.

Please send your thoughts and prayers to everyone in our area filling and placing sandbags, trying to save their homes, neighborhoods and businesses. You can find lots of coverage of the flood fight at www.in-forum.com and http://minnesota.publicradio.org. A cadre of area photographers have been out documenting the flood, too: Britta Trygstad, Dave Arntson, Penny Burns, Bruce Crummy, and Ann Arbor Miller. Check out their extraordinary coverage to get a sense of what's going on.

As for the HoDo, we're on a bare-bones operating schedule and may not be open. Tonight's Front Fenders show has been cancelled. Please call ahead at 701.478.1000 to ensure that we're open for business. And, if you're able, please get out and help sandbag.

Duckhorn Wine Dinner Benefiting the Red Cross

Reservations are still available for tomorrow's Duckhorn Vineyards wine dinner, a spectacular lineup of five wines paired with five courses. In addition, Executive Winemaker Bill Nancarrow will be on hand to guide you through the tasting process. March is National Red Cross Month, and proceeds from the dinner will go to our local American Red Cross chapter. View the menu here.

--

Co-founded by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn in 1976, Duckhorn Vineyards has been crafting Bordeaux varietals from the Napa Valley for over 30 years. Duckhorn Vineyards' seven meticulously farmed estate vineyards, located throughout the various microclimates of the Napa Valley, are an essential element in making wines of the highest quality. One of the first wineries to focus on Merlot as a premium varietal, Duckhorn Vineyards now produces four elegant Merlot and four distinctive Cabernet Sauvignon bottlings to showcase the characteristics of its various vineyard sites. In addition, the winery produces a full-flavored Sauvignon Blanc, and an exceptional red Bordeaux blend under the Decoy label. (www.duckhorn.com)

March's Flavor of the Month - Beer ... Is There Anything It Can't Do?

March will have its Ides. It might come in like a lion and go out like a lamb, or vice versa. It should also be the month when our snow shows signs of retreating (fingers crossed). This is a cause to celebrate.

What better way to celebrate than with a delicious meal paired with equally delicious beer? The seven courses paired with six beers of March's Flavor of the Month will take you on a true taste odyssey and local beer experts will be on hand to decipher it all. Sound delish?

Celebrate March. Celebrate spring. Celebrate beer this Wednesday, March 18th starting at 5 p.m. Beer experts will speak at 6:30 but the menu will be offered all evening - $65/person, tax and tip included. Call 701.478.1000 for reservations.

Upcoming events

Here's a look ahead at upcoming events at the HoDo. If you have any questions, just give us a call at 701.478.1000. You can also see event info at our website or at our Facebook page.

Thursday, February 26th - The Funk Commission (jazz/funk groove) - 8 p.m., no cover, 21+.


Monday, March 2nd - Artist Reception and 50th Birthday Party for Jay Pfeifer - See Jay's new exhibit in the HoDo Restaurant. Appetizers and cake served. 5 p.m., open to the public


Thursday, March 5th - Jon Wayne and Friends & Fear and Loathing Costume party - Wear your Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas gear and check out the reggae sounds of Jon Wayne. 9 p.m., no cover, 21+.


Thursday, March 12th - Charlie Parr w/special guests The Johnson Family Band. $5 cover. 7:30 p.m., 21+.

Wednesday, March 18th - March's Third Wednesday Flavor of the Month - Five courses with beer pairings, plus a talk from local beer experts. Call 701.478.1000 for reservations.


Thursday, March 19th - The Legionnaires (country/jam). 8 p.m., no cover, 21+.


Thursday, March 26th - The Front Fenders (rock/dance). 7:30 p.m., no cover, 21+.


Thursday, April 2nd - Roster McCabe (reggae/rock). - 8 p.m., no cover, 21+.

Upcoming HoDo Events

For you long term planners out there:

*Thusday, Feb. 5 - Simonette and Young (of Trampled By Turtles) - bluegrass/folk in the HoDo Lounge - 9 p.m., no cover

*Friday, Feb. 6 - Readings from "I Bring You Dead Things" by author/MSUM faculty member Kevin Zepper in Stoker's in the Basement - 8 p.m.

*Thursday, Feb. 12 - Mike Holtz (of Carmen the Cactus) - folk/rock in the HoDo Lounge - 9 p.m., no cover.

*Saturday, Feb. 14 - Valentine's Day dinner in the HoDo Restaurant - five course prix fixe menu, $69/person - 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Call 701.478.1000 for reservations.

*Thursday, Feb. 19 - Two Many Banjos - Blugrass/country in the HoDo Lounge - 8:30 p.m., no cover.

*Thursday, March 12 - Charlie Parr - Blues/folk in the HoDo Lounge

*Thursday, March 19 - The Legionnaires - Country/jam in the HoDo Lounge - 8 p.m., no cover.

Foot ... ball?

Ok. So the HoDo Lounge isn't necessarily the place to go for football. Lots of other places do sports a lot better than us. We'll admit that.

However, we are pretty good at culture. We get that. So when one biggest cultural events of the year comes around we pay attention, and so it will be with Super Bowl Sunday. When the ... team, um, takes on ... um, well, ... that other team, we'll be showing it in larger-than-life form and pairing it with chili (on the house!) in the HoDo Lounge. Come on down for plenty of discussion about commercials and the place of sports in our society.

And watch the game, of course.

Sparks Will Fly...

It seems fitting that Valentine's Day occurs on the day after Friday the 13th this year, no matter what your take on this rather contentious holiday. Still, it's a great reason to get out of the house (the days are getting longer) and enjoy a meal with someone special.

Our Valentine's Day lineup includes a five course, prix fixe menu with a host of tantalizing options for $69/person. Call 701.478.1000 - or click here - for reservations:

.soup/salad.

Mixed Greens
with strawberry vinaigrette, chocolate curls and candied walnuts
with toasted marshmallows and goat cheese

Borscht
with horseradish creme fraiche

.small plate.

Seafood Ravioli
over sauteed pancetta and mushrooms with lobster sabayon

Baked Brie
with fruit chutney, burgundy wine reduction and micro greens

.sorbet.

Blueberry Basil

.entree.

Roasted ND Beef Tenderloin
with cauliflower puree and rosti cakes,
topped with caramelized onion relish and fried jalapenos

Eggplant Zucchini Pappardelle
pasta with sun-dried tomato pesto, vegetable ragu, and fried eggplant steak
drizzled with 25-year aged balsamic vinegar, organic extra virgin olive oil
and toasted almonds

Seafood Bouillabaisse
mussels, prawns, clams and skate stew, served with crostinis

Pork Noisette
with brandy macerated cherry risotto and fennel sauce

.dessert.

Strawberry Ice Cream Sandwich
with honey graham cracker and Oreo crust

Frangelico Mousse
in a chocolate cup with braised pears and almond tuiles

Follow us on Twitter!

Hey, Twitterheads! The Hotel Donaldson is now up and streaming on Twitter! Click here and follow us to hear tidbits of HoDo life, receive updates on menu options and specials, and hear about upcoming events. As our Twitter base grows and we learn how to incorporate it, we will surely expand into new avenues of outreach. We're also adding a Twitter stream to the HoDo Dispatch so you can follow us here.

Not familiar with Twitter? It's a service that allows people to communicate through short, quick messages similar to the "status updates" on Facebook. Twitter is easy to use with mobile devices, making it a must for those on the go. It's simple and effective ... and it's one of the hottest trends in social networking. Try it out at http://twitter.com. It's completely free and easy to use.

Third Wednesday Flavor - Cajun Night

Heyyyyy-eeeeeee!

This Wednesday, January 21st, we'll continue our monthly explorations into the world of flavor with Cajun Night. Cajun cuisine represents a truly American experience, one that combines native ingredients with methods and sensibilities carried in from other cultures (via Wikipedia):

Cajun cuisine developed out of necessity. The Acadian refugees, farmers rendered destitute by the British expulsion, had to learn to live off the land and adapted their French rustic cuisine to local (i.e. Louisiana) ingredients such as rice, crawfish, and sugar cane. Many households were large, consisting of eight to twelve people; thus, regardless what other vocations may have been followed by the head of household, most families also farmed. Feeding a large family, all of whose members did hard physical work every day, required a lot of food. Cajun cuisine grew out of supplementing rice with white meat, game or other proteins were available such as crawfish or any other type of river creature.

The result is plates full of lush, brawny flavors that engage the entire palate and are perfect for a satisfying mid-January meal. Here's our interpretation and the menu for the evening. Call 701.478.1000 for additional details or to make reservations. To reserve a table online, click here:

. soup.
Shrimp & chicken gumbo with jalapeño & bacon cornbread
cup $4 bowl $6 entrée portion $11

. salads.
Fried oyster with mixed greens tossed in an herb dijon vinaigrette with pumpkin seeds & Brie $9

Spinach with warm andouille sausage vinaigrette, chipotle gouda, tomatoes & zucchini $8

.appetizers.
Spicy crayfish fricassee served in a puff pastry $13

Hush puppies with a creamy oyster sauce $9

.entrées.
Grilled Highland beef NY strip with crayfish étouffée and
candy mashed sweet potatoes $31

Andouille sausage stuffed Spring Prairie pork loin with red beans & rice and
a creole mustard sauce $24

Shrimp & scallops with dirty rice and a white wine pan sauce $27

Shrimp stuffed blackened Spring Prairie chicken breast with boiled potatoes, zucchini noodles and a blue cheese sauce $20

.desserts.
Crȇpes with sweet potato and pecan filling $7

Raisin bread pudding with a Sailor Jerry’s rum sauce $7