Lunch Specials, September 28 - October 3

Swiss Chard, Beer & Cherry Salad - Locally grown swiss chard with walnuts, goat cheese, sambuca and a black garlic vinaigrette - $9

Turkey Pesto Sandwich - Sauteed turkey with cranberries and fontinella cheese on ciabatta with pesto aioli and lettuce, served with sweet potato chips* - $9

Wild Boar Quesadilla - Braised boar and boar bacon with roasted peppers, onions, mangoes and pepper jack & cheddar, served with heirloom tomato salsa and sweet chili sour cream - $10

Pork Chops - Spiced panko crusted pork chops with a rhubarb chutney, grilled green beans and mashed mascarpone red potatoes - $10

(*sub fries, cup of soup, side salad or fruit + $1)

Lunch Specials, September 21 - 26

(Lunch specials are available in addition to our all-day menu, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Warm Swiss Chard Salad - Assorted locally grown swiss chard sauteed with saffron couscous, bacon and marinated chili peppers, topped with crispy spiced chick peas and shaved manchego - $9

Surf & Turf Sandwich - Grilled white wine and truffle marinated shrimp on braised beef with pink peppercorn aioli and spinach and finished with shaved fontinella cheese, served open faced on sourdough with sweet potato chips* - $11

Chorizo and Chicken Wrap - Grilled chicken and chorizo sausage with romaine, guacamole and papaya & tomato chutney in a garlic herb wrap, served with sweet potato chips* - $9

Sausage and Mushroom Pizza - Italian sausage with a wild mushroom cream sauce and gruyere cheese topped with a fresh tarragon & heirloom tomato - $10

(sub fries, cup of soup, side salad or fruit, +$1)

All It Takes Is a Washboard, a Rope and a Guitar

In the right hands, good music doesn't take much. In the case of The Brass Kings, the term "stripped down" is a bit of an understatement - one well-picked guitar, a washboard, and a one-string rope bass is all they need to create a sturdy blues/folk sound. Sub out the washboard for a djembe and they're tooling around with an Eastern meets Western design for added depth. The Brass Kings are a treat for blues, folk and bluegrass enthusiasts and for music fans in general, especially fans of "how'd they do that?" Check 'em out tomorrow night, Thursday the 17th, at 8 p.m. No cover, 21+.

*The Brass Kings on MySpace.

*See this event on Facebook.

*On YouTube:

Lunch Specials, September 14 - 19

(Lunch specials are available in addition to our all day menu from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Heirloom & Spinach Caprese Salad - Locally grown heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil with balsamic vinaigrette - $10

Curry Chicken Pot Pie - Carrots, onions, celery, peas, bamboo shoots and water chestnuts with a curry cream sauce in a puff pastry - $9

Braised Beef Sandwich - Open faced on sourdough with horseradish creme fraiche, spring greens, sherried red onion, St. Pete's bleu cheese and asparagus, served with sweet potato chips* - $10

Spicy Sausage Ziti in marinara with grilled zucchini and caramelized fennel - $9

(*sub fries, cup of soup, side salad or fruit, +$1)

Inside Out String Trio - It's a String Thing

While the geographic center of the bluegrass universe seems to be somewhere south of Duluth, some good stuff has been cropping up close to home. Exhibit A is the Inside Out String Trio, a tight Fargo-Moorhead outfit that pays homage to the great mandolin of David Grisman and explores the ever-widening field of acoustic jazz and bluegrass. It's a gratifying sound and well worth a listen, so stop on by the HoDo Lounge tomorrow night at 9 p.m. for a gander. No cover, 21+.

*See this event on Facebook

*The Inside Out String Trio on MySpace

YouTubeage:

Hat Freshness!

Our new hats came in! Look your HoDoiest with these flashy, embroidered lids available in Ninja Black or Blizzard White. Stop by and pick one up or call us at 701.478.1000 and we'll get one sent out to you.

(Blizzard White)

(Ninja Black)

Turn an outfit into an ensemble!

Lunch Specials, Sept 8 - 12

(Lunch specials are available in addition to our all-day menu 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Mixed Vegetable Salad - Spring greens and sundry fresh vegetables with your choice of dressing - $8

Fish Tacos - Fried cod with chipotle remoulade, spring greens, shredded cheddar & smoked tomato pico in corn tortillas, served with sweet potato chips* - $9

Roast Beef with roasted potatoes, mixed vegetables and gravy - $10

Pepperoni Cavatappi - Red and green peppers, onions and kalamata olives in an herb cream sauce - $9

(*sub fries, cup of soup, side salad or fruit + $1)

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!

It's a Madhouse!

They'll be swinging, they'll be swaying, they'll be climbing the walls and tearing them down. The Fenders are always full of mirth and mischief, whether they're leading conga lines around the block or resurrecting Elvis. The lounge will be hopping with their raucous dance sets, so set your phasers to fun and come on down tomorrow night, Thursday the 3rd at 7:30 p.m. No cover, 21+.

*The Front Fenders home

*See this event on Facebook

Lunch Specials, Aug 31 - Sept 5

(Lunch specials are available in addition to our all-day menu 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Sweet and sour shrimp - Tempura fried shrimp with sweet & sour sauce, served over fried rice - $10

BLT & A - Bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado and mayo on ciabatta, served with sweet potato chips* - $8

Triple Pork Burger - Ground pork stuffed with BBQ braised pork, topped with bacon, chipotle gouda and chipotle aioli, served with sweet potato chips* - $10

French Dip - Sliced prime rib, grilled onion and havarti on a baguette, served with sweet potato chips* - $10

(*sub fries, cup of soup, side salad or fruit, +$1)

The Revolution Will Not Be Wearing Footwear

This seven-piece, horn-driven funk ensemble stuffs every nook and cranny in the joint with red-hot groove. Based out of Minneapolis, they've been spotted at the 10,000 Lakes Festival and are continuing to make the summer festival rounds with a spot on the upcoming Harvest Fest roster. They'll also make a stop over in the HoDo Lounge tomorrow night, Thursday, August 27th at 8 p.m. Highly recommended if you're craving a funky concoction with a smooth aftertaste. No cover, 21+.

*Shoeless Revolution Home Page

*Shoeless Revolution on MySpace

*See this event on Facebook

YouTubeage:

Lunch Specials Aug 24 - 29

(Lunch specials are available along with our all-day menu 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Avocado & Spinach Salad with toasted pumpkin seeds, spiced pears, shaved manchego and a garam masala vinaigrette - $8

Hawaiian Stromboli - Ham and pineapple with roasted red peppers, Thai chili sauce and provolone, served with sweet potato chips* - $9

Hot Brown - Turkey, bacon, tomatoes and alfredo sauce with parmesan on marble rye, served with sweet potato chips* - $9

Braised Beef Bolognese - Beef marinara with ziti and parmesan - $8

(*sub fries, cup of soup, side salad or fruit, +$1)

Lunch Specials, August 17 - 22

(Lunch specials are available in addition to our all-day menu, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Jambalaya - Shrimp, chicken, bison sausage and corn bread served over dirty rice - $10

Chicken Alfredo Pizza with roasted onions and peppers - $9

Teriyaki Beef Burger with grilled pineapple, teriyaki leeks and wasabi mustard, served with sweet potato chips* - $9

BBQ Pork Sandwich on ciabatta with lettuce, tomato, grilled onion and cheddar cheese, served with sweet potato chips* - $9

(*sub fries, cup of soup, side salad or fruit, +$1)

Tonight We're Gonna Rock You Tonight - Dalefest 2

Tonight's the night, folks! Join us on Broadway at 7 p.m. for our 2nd annual block party (cosponsored by Summit Brewing) celebrating our man, Dale. Post Traumatic Funk Syndrome kicks off the music with plenty of horns and funky flair, then Roster McCabe will kick out the reggae jams for the rest of the evening. Check out art demonstrations from our friends over at the Upfront Gallery, plus a lot of random madness. $7 gets the 21+ crowd in the gates.

Above all, have a great time. Dale would ask for nothing less than a hoot and a half.

*See this event on Facebook

*Roster McCabe's home page

Bad Mojo Kicks Off Dalefest ... Sort Of

In the sense that a band could open for another band 24 hours into the future, well, you could call this a Dalefest opener. For sure, plenty of Dalefest madness will be in the HoDo Lounge air tomorrow night as Bad Mojo spins a musical yarn that will certainly prime the pump for the next day. It's jam/rock for the people and it'll getcha on your feet. No cover, 21+. Show starts at 8 p.m.

40 Watt Bulb - Paradise by the Low Lamp Light

In a perfect world, 40 Watt Bulb is what all popular music would sound like. Their easy going and capricious tunes, with no shortage of real instruments played by real people in a room, carry a palpable, quirky quality. Sure, they've got a country/bluegrass feel, but you get the idea that any genre would benefit from this much feeling or this much attention to lyric and melody. In short, 40 Watt Bulb's got soul. The HoDo Lounge should be a fun place to be this Thursday night. No cover, 21+. The show starts at 9 p.m.

*RSVP to this event on Facebook.

*Forty Watt Bulb on MySpace.

*Aquarium Records, with some nice reviews

YouTubeage:

Lunch Specials, August 3 - 8

(Lunch specials available in addition to our all-day menu 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Berry Salad - blackberries, blueberries and raspberries
with spring greens and tossed in a strawberry balsamic dressing, $8

Shrimp Curry - peppers, onion and pineapple with coconut curry sauce, served over basmati rice, $10

Mediterranean Turkey Wrap - romaine, bruschetta, mozzarella and nicoise spread, served with sweet potato chips*, $8

Philly Cheese Steak - bison, beef and elk with onions, peppers and mushrooms on a baguette and covered with cheddar & provolone, served with sweet potato chips*, $9

(substitute cup of soup, fresh fruit or fries, +$1)

Blues Festival Weekend - A 3-Day Funk

The Fargo Blues Festival begins this weekend and is now in its 14th year of pulling quality national acts into town. That's 14 years well spent, in our book. This year, the Blues Fest brings in slide virtuoso Sonny Landreth and the pyrotechnic blues/rock of Indigenous, among others, and promises another quality year of entertainment.

We're putting on a weekend of blues in the HoDo Lounge to compliment the festival. Thursday at 8:30 p.m. and Friday at 10:30 p.m., come out to see our old friends the Blue Wailers. Saturday at 10:30 p.m., Stage Door Johnny (featuring members of the Deb Jenkins Band) will rock the joint the day after their afternoon show at the festival. If blue is your favorite color, this is the weekend for you. All shows no cover, 21+.

*RSVP for these events on Facebook here, here, and here.

*Learn more about the blues at Allmusic.com.

Lunch Specials, July 27 - August 1

(lunch specials available in addition to our all-day menu 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Spinach Salad with prosciutto-wrapped asparagus, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes and mushrooms tossed in a garlic-parmesan vinaigrette - $9

Shrimp Mac & Cheese - cheese sauce with shrimp and cavatappi - $9

Hot Beef & Sausage Sub - Roast beef, Italian sausage and giardiniera with provolone cheese on a baguette, served with sweet potato chips* - $10

Tuna Melt - Tuna salad with Wisconsin cheddar on sourdough, served with sweet potato chips* - $9

(*sub fries, cup of soup, side salad or fruit, +$1)

Lunch Specials, July 20 - 25

(Lunch specials are available in addition to our all-day menu from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Chevre Medallion Salad with caramelized onions and confit tomatoes tossed in a raspberry vinaigrette - $8

Elk Patty Melt on sourdough with black garlic aioli, sherried red onions and havarti, served with sweet potato chips* - $12

BBQ Beef Brisket Sandwich - open faced on sourdough with red cabbage slaw and topped with onion straws, served with sweet potato chips* - $9

Asparagus & Ham Pizza topped with tomatoes, caramelized onions and fontinella cheese - $9

(*sub fries, cup o' soup, side salad or fruit, +$1)

This Weekend: A Trailer Park Musical?

So, you're in downtown Fargo for the street fair. You had your cheese curds, your lemonade and you browsed all of the goods. What next?

Domres Productions, a local, independent theatre group, presents "The Great American Trailer Park Musical" at the Fargo Theatre, and it might prove to be what completes your street fair experience. A little tawdry and a lot of fun, "Trailer Park" offers a taste of life in - you guessed it - an American trailer park and promises both humor and dimension. The show has received raves around the world and the local production should be a natural accompaniment to the festivities of the weekend. Show times are 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $18 and the show is recommended for mature teens and older. Call (701) 235-4152 for advanced sale.

There was a nice John Lamb piece about the show in today's Forum. Read it here. (Photo via the Forum)

Roster McCabe - A Dalefest Sneak Peak

Roster McCabe brings a lot to the table. They practice a tight and infectious meld of reggae, funk and rock, a sound that has them tearing up the summer festival circuit and keeping audiences on their feet at every stop. They cover a lot of tonal and rhythmic ground and find a nice home between booty-shakin' and ear candy. See them in the HoDo Lounge tomorrow night at 8 p.m.

Roster also will headline this year's Dalefest on August 14th, making this an excellent chance to give them a sample. No cover, 21+.

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.)

Dalefest is Just a Month Away!

Save the date! Dalefest returns August 14th at 7 p.m. with another round of music and art on Broadway. There will be live art demonstrations from the Upfront Gallery crew and music from Post Traumatic Funk Syndrome and Roster McCabe. And, Hawaiian shirts? You better believe there's gonna be Hawaiian shirts.

Details to follow. In the meantime, check out last year's Dalefest. It was a hoot.

Lunch Specials, July 13 - 18

(Lunch specials available in addition to our all-day menu from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Chicken Saltimbocca - Prosciutto and sage-wrapped chicken with mushrooms and vegetable - $10

Panzanella Salad - Greens with roasted vegetables, grilled bread, chevre cheese and sherry vinaigrette - $9

Wild Mushroom & Havarti Burger - Natural beef burger with black garlic aioli and balsamic reduction, served with sweet potato chips* - $10

Ham and Pear Sandwich - Open-faced on sourdough with arugula, whole-grain mustard and gruyere cheese, served with sweet potato chips* - $8

(sub fries, cup of soup, side salad or fruit, +$1)

Charlie Parr: To Quote Mason Jennings...

"Nobody says the things he says, nobody moves like he moves."

Jennings may have written the song "Duluth" about the love between a well-meaning girl and an absent railroad man, but he could have been talking about Duluth native Charlie Parr, a musician whose fingerstyle blues invoke a similar working aesthetic and solemn power. If you haven't had a chance to see Charlie, come on out. He's tremendous. The show starts at 9 p.m. in the HoDo Lounge tomorrow night. $5 cover, 21+. Seating is limited, so come early to get a good view of the action.

Lunch Specials, July 6 - July 11

(specials are available in addition to our all-day menu from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Grilled Bleu Cheese & Bacon Sandwich - St. Pete's bleu with havarti and tomato on sourdough, served with sweet potato chips* - $8

Chipotle BBQ Pork Sandwich on a toasted hoagie with avocado, roasted red pepper salsa and cheddar, served with sweet potato chips* - $9

Meatloaf - Bison and beef with house demi, buttermilk mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetable - $10

Wild Mushroom Cavatappi with onion, spinach, parmesan and a cognac pan sauce - $8

(*sub fries, cup of soup, side salad or fruit, +$1)

Go On a Fender Bender.

In a marriage made in heaven, or maybe Detroit, Thursday's Front Fenders show in the HoDo Lounge coincides with the Downtown Community Partnership's "Cruisin' Broadway," an event that brings out all kinds of car enthusiasts in their snazzy rides. Not only do the Front Fenders fit the automobile mold, but they also provide the rock chutzpah that you expect to hear pumping out of a sweet Mustang convertible on a summer afternoon. Thursday night, 7:30 p.m. No cover, 21+.

Volunteers, Let's Clean Up Downtown!

Show your downtown pride! The High Plains Reader, AM 1100 The Flag, The Downtown Neighborhood Association and the Downtown Community Partnership are sponsoring "The Great Downtown Clean-Up" tomorrow (Tuesday) evening. Volunteers are needed to (among other things) scrape pesky gum from the sidewalks, remove spray paint and pick up all those cigarette butts.

Feel like lending a hand? Meet up in the US Bank plaza on Broadway at 5:30 p.m. No need to bring any supplies (although a pair of gloves might not hurt). Read up on the clean-up in the most recent HPR.

Lunch Specials June 29th - July 3rd

(Lunch specials are available in addition to our all-day menu from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. NOTE: The HoDo Lounge will be closed Saturday, July 4th and Sunday, July 5th)

Grilled Shrimp & Avocado Salad - Romaine, red onion and poblano peppers topped with corn tortilla chips, shredded cheddar & havarti cheeses and spicy tomato dressing - $9

Chicken Margherita Pizza with roasted garlic, tomato, basil and provolone cheese - $8

Roast Beef & Arugula Sammy - Truffle horseradish aioli, sherried red onions and havarti on toasted sour dough, served with sweet potato chips* - $9

Smoked Turkey Pasta with zucchini and leeks in a roasted fennel tomato sauce - $9

(*sub fries, cup of soup, side salad or fruit +$1)

A Roots Party with the Johnson Family Band

All it takes is a condenser mic and some floor space to get something cooking with the Johnsons. Luckily, the HoDo Lounge floor is perfect for capturing their hard-stomping bluegrass thumps as they romp through a celebration of a prominent strain of American musical DNA. Lots of strings, lots of howlin', lots of chunky rhythms and plenty of fun.

Tonight, y'all, at 9 bells. No cover, 21+

*The Johnsons on MySpace.

The Johnsons on YouTube:

Lunch Specials, June 22 - 27

(specials served in addition to our all-day menu, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Arugula Salad - Arugula tossed with Marcona almonds, caramelized onions, Montagnola blue cheese and apple & vanilla vinaigrette - $9

Greek Bacon Cheeseburger - Beef pattied with kalamata olives and roasted red peppers with spinach, mascarpone and tzatziki, topped with crisp prosciutto and feta cheese, served with sweet potato chips* - $10

Weuben - Walleye, sauerkraut, gruyere and 1000 island dressing grilled on marbled rye, served with sweet potato chips* - $9

Bucatini Florentine - Spinach, artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes and pancetta in a creamy fontinella and gruyere sauce - $9

(*sub fires, cup of soup, side salad or fruit, +$1)

Fleischkeuchle Week!

If you've been following our Facebook chatter for the last week, you know that there's been a lot of talk about fleischkeuchle, a delicacy of the German-Russian population in central North Dakota. Your humble narrator, a native of Garrison, N.D. (deep in the heart of fleischkeuchle country) felt such pangs of nostalgia for its deep-fried meaty goodness that I needled our kitchen until we finally tried it out as a lunch special. Our chef made as authentic of a version as he could - it's a very simple recipe - and the result became a minor phenomenon.

The Milestones Photography crew was gracious enough to come down for a taste and provided the above fan photo to our Facebook page. You can read an account of their trip here on the Milestones blog. Thanks, guys!

*Today (Friday) is the last day of the fleischkeuchle special, but it was successful enough to try again someday. If you're interested in finding out the next time we have it, send me an email.

*Also, did you try the fleischkeuchle? Send me your thoughts or suggestions.

Fargo's Queen of the Blues - The Deb Jenkins Band

When the HoDo first opened, the Deb Jenkins Band was one of first, if not THE first, acts to play in our lounge. Over five years later, Deb and Co. are still going strong.

Deb's efforts haven't stopped at being one of the most in-demand acts in the F-M area; she writes a food column for the High Plains Reader and is currently organizing the Celebration of Women and Their Music, an event that has been gaining popularity since 1998 (you can read about last year's event here).

Stop in and hear blues and soul by a stalwart of our community tomorrow night at 8 p.m. No cover, 21+.

Lunch Specials, June 15 - 20

(specials are served in addition to our all-day menu from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Tandoori Chicken Kabobs with cilantro oil, served on saffron rice pilaf - $10

Bison Fleischkeuchle with sauerkraut and roasted root vegetables - $10

Smoked Turkey Sandwich with tomato basil aioli, lettuce, avocado & provolone on a baguette, served with sweet potato chips* - $9

BBQ Pork & Avocado Salad - greens tossed with chipotle herb dressing and topped with roasted corn, black beans, peppers, onions and tortilla crisps - $9

(*sub fries, cup of soup, side salad or fruit, +$1)

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.

Flatlands, *Not* Flat Earth Theorists

Flatlands may hail from a flat place, but they do consider the world to be round. Additionally, they consider the round world a place with catchy, quality songs that sound great with acoustic guitars and whatever else happens to be laying around. See the lay of the 'Lands tomorrow night, Thursday the 11th at 9 p.m. No cover, 21+.

Lunch Specials for June 8 - 13

(Specials are served in addition to our all day menu from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Spinach Salad with dried blueberries and cherries, sherried red onions, feta cheese and paprika yoghurt dressing - $9

Tempura Shrimp Baguette with spicy sweet chili sauce and sesame seaweed and cucumber salad. Served with sweet potato chips.* - $9

Grilled Chicken Bucatini with roasted red pepper pesto, grilled artichoke hearts and zucchini. - $9

Braised Beef Sammy, open faced on sourdough with grilled leeks and St. Pete's bleu cheese sauce, served with sweet potato chips.* - $10

(*sub fries, cup of soup or fruit, +$1)

Rock Hard with the Legionnaires

Lock up all your valuables. F-M's favorite tribe of wandering nogoodniks, The Legionnaires, returns to the HoDo despite our best efforts at keeping their intoxicating rock/country/jam grooves out of our heads. Might as well make the best of it, what with the fine weather we're having 'n' all. Check 'em out tonight at 8 p.m. No cover, 21+.

Lunch Specials June 1 - 6

(Lunch specials available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Ham & Gruyere Sandwich, open-faced on sourdough with greens, whole grain mustard and sherry vinaigrette, served with sweet potato chips* - $8

Blackened Chicken Sandwich on foccacia with roasted red pepper & black bean salsa, jalapeno aioli and smoked gouda, served with sweet potato chips* - $9

Carpaccio Salad - Beef tenderloin carpaccio with Asian noodles, greens, peppers, onions, cucumbers, cashews and Sriracha vinaigrette - $8

Spicy Pork Ragu - spicy tomato, meat, and vegetable sauce on cavatappi with shredded provolone - $8

(*sub fries, cup of soup, side salad or fruit, +$1)

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

Nick The Feelin' and You: Together, You're Stronger

Nick "the Feelin'" Mrozinski is gaining attention for his passionate songs that echo strains of Randy Newman and James Taylor. Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine picked him as June's "Artist of Note" and his new album, "Together We're Stronger" will be formally released on June 5th. An earlier Feelin' show at the HoDo generated serious interest and we're glad to have him back tomorrow night at 8:30 p.m. No cover, 21+.

You can hear some samples here, at his home on the interwebs.

Lunch specials, May 26th - 30th

(Lunch specials are available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the HoDo Lounge.)

Fried Portobello Sammy on focaccia with marinated veggies and classic aioli, served with sweet potato chips* - $8

Roasted Guinea Hen Pasta - Ziti with peas, sun-dried tomatoes and pine nuts in a garlic cream sauce - $9

Roasted Lamb Sandwich, open-faced on sourdough with blanched asparagus, greens, mint pesto and an orange port reduction, served with sweet potato chips* - $9

Pork Loin Cutlets with ancho BBQ sauce, roasted potatoes, vegetable and avocado relish - $9

(*sub fries, cup of soup, side salad or fruit, +$1)

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!

Front Fenders - Be Alive Again!

It's one of the best weeks for weather we've had so far this spring and downtown Fargo has livened up considerably. Folks are out walking around, businesses have their doors and windows open and the trees are beginning to green. It's a fitting time to welcome back the Front Fenders, whose rollicking shows got us through a frosty winter and gave downtown a chance to shake off the '09 Flood blues. Stop on by, check out Sky Prairie (open 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. tonight, weather permitting) and enjoy the sounds of early summer at the HoDo. Music starts at 7:30 p.m. No cover, 21+.

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