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.)

February's Flavor of the Month - Tapas Night

Our Third Wednesday explorations continue tomorrow (Feb. 18) with Tapas Night. Tapas dining - a Spanish tradition - is perfect for those looking for a satisfying meal built along a variety of tastes. Our menu has a little of everything ... and begs to have a couple friends along to share. Call 701.478.1000 or click here for reservations.

.Menu.

Empanada - Braised Doubting Thomas pork with chili sauce - $8

Fritata - Doubting Thomas ham and gruyere - $8

Olives and almonds - Marinated olives and roasted spiced almonds - $7

Mussels - Steamed in white wine with herbs and butter - $8

Croquettes - Tuna filled with saffron aioli - $8

Mac & cheese - With bacon and peas - $8

Squid - Fried with red and green peppers and green mayonnaise - $9

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

November's Flavor of the Month - Purveyor's Dinner

The HoDo uses products from local growers whenever possible, a practice that ensures quality and provides a distinct sense of place. Join us on Wedneday, "Mo"vember 19th at 6 p.m. for an evening with a handful of these growers. You’ll enjoy a five course meal (menu below) prepared from their products and hear remarks from each. Featured growers: Brad Hersch of Whiskey Creek Bison, Renee Gopal of Echo Lake Farm, Noreen and Evan Thomas of Doubting Thomas Farms, and Dick, Dick and Linda of Bethany Farm. We appreciate their commitment to quality and we believe you will, too.

Call 701.478.1000 for reservations. The cost is $35/person.

***

Menu

Lyonnaise Salad
Frisee greens, bacon, croutons & a poached egg

Bison Carpaccio
Seared bison drizzled with olive oil &
served with red onions, hard cooked eggs & capers

Braised Beef & Pork Ravioli
Braised beef & pork in spinach pasta tossed with mushrooms,
finished with gremolata

Lamb Chop
Grilled lamb chop served with smoked chicken risotto & baby carrots,
finished with port wine demi glace

Squash & Cranberry Bread Pudding
Topped with crème anglaise

October's Third Wednesday - Cline Cellars Dinner

We're continuing two traditions on October 15th. The first is our Third Wednesday of the Month series of special restaurant events, each designed to explore the many facets of cuisine. In the past, we've ventured into the territories of sushi, French cooking and tapas.

The second is our continuing effort to bring attention to the world of quality wine through tastings and pairings. Both traditions come together in the Cline Cellars Dinner, October's Third Wednesday of the Month. You can try five different Cline wines expertly paired with five different courses for $85 a person (tax and tip included). Plus, the tasting will be guided by Cline Cellars representative Coleman Craft.

Don't miss this perfect opportunity to learn about the art of winemaking while enjoying an excellent meal. The fun begins at with a social at 6:00 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m. Space is limited, so please call 701.478.8888 for reservations.

To learn more about the Cline family of wines, visit clinecellars.com.

August's Flavor of the Month - Sushi Night

Contemporary sushi preparation is a Japanese style of cuisine dating back as far as the late 1700s. Its worldwide popularity can be attributed to complex flavors and versatility with ingredients, the latter allowing skilled chefs to make one-of-a-kind dishes in a style all their own.

Tonight, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., our own foray into sushi will offer a solid representation of this delicate art, good for a sushi eater of any stripe. Call 478.8888 for reservations.

.small plates.
Miso Soup - cup $2 bowl $4
Edamame $4
Octopus Salad $4
Radish Salad $3

.rolls.
$11 each

Eel & Avocado - Eel, avocado & cucumber

Tuna Roll - Asparagus, roasted red peppers & tuna

California Crab - Crab, carrots, cucumber & avocado

Spicy Tuna - Jalapenos, cream cheese & spicy tuna

Mixed Roll - Red snapper, tuna & salmon

Fried Tofu Roll - Cucumbers, carrots, red peppers, daikon radish & fried tofu

Salmon & Mango Roll - Mangoes & salmon

Fried Roll - Cream cheese, jalapenos & roasted red peppers

.dessert.
Green tea ice cream with fresh fruit

July's Flavor of the Month - France

Imagine the streets of Paris - lively cafes, elegant bistros and a fromagerie on every block. Whether it's a brie panini in the Luxembourg Gardens or a five-course sauce lesson on plates along the Left Bank, the French have a legendary passion for their food, and we're happy to be bringing a taste of that to July's Flavor of the Month.

Voulez-vous manger a la Francais? Please call ahead for reservations at 478.8888. The menu will be available from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

April's Flavor of the Month: Seghesio Winemaker's Dinner

Our Third Wednesday/Flavor of the Month feature for April is the Seghesio Winemaker's dinner. If you love wines and great food pairings, then you want to be here tomorrow night. Edd Lopez of Seghesio Wines will be on hand to offer insider tasting tips and a bird's eye view of the craft of winemaking. On top of that, we've put together a monster menu to compliment these great wines. You can see the menu here.

Don't miss this opportunity! The fun gets started at 5:30 p.m. Please call 701.478.8888 for reservations.

Italian night!

Mambo Italiano! For your Third Wednesday consideration this evening, we've prepared anItalian menu that will put the clams in your linguine. Call us at 701.478.1000 for reservations and to hear about the menu.

Ciao!

Tapas night tomorrow!

Tomorrow night is Tapas night at the HoDo Restaurant! Swing by to share small plates with your friends.

Tapas dining is fun, eclectic and a wonderful social experience. If you haven't tried it yet, don't you think it's about time? If you're not in an adventurous mood, our regular menu is also available.

This special menu is part of our ongoing third Wednesday series of special menu nights. If you can't make it to this one, be sure to check it out in the future!