Minneapolis restaurant Barbette bubbles over with champagne-based addition

Barbette (1600 W. Lake St., Mpls., barbette.com) is about to get a sibling. Owner Kim Bartmann has taken over the adjacent storefront and is converting the former hair salon into Trapeze (1602 W. Lake St., Mpls.), a Champagne bar.

"We're going to try to make this slice of the wine world more accessible," she said. "Unless you have a great relationship with someone at the liquor store, or you have a lot of money, how will you get to try all these amazing things?"

She's aiming for a dozen by-the-glass options. "We'll use a chalkboard system, and rotate our way through," she said. "There are all kinds of fun things out there. I just tried a Lambrusco that blew my mind. "

As for the food, chef Kevin Kathman is going to specialize in toasts.

"Maybe some whipped duck fat with roe on top, a salt cod brandade, along with pâtés and rillettes," said Bartmann. "We'll do some charcuterie and cheese, and cold shellfish, of course. All the snick-snacks that pair with bubbles."

Bartmann said that the 20-seat space will probably open in July.

Global flavors continue to pop up in south Minneapolis with the debuts of two quick-service restaurants: Pimento Jamaican Kitchen (2524 Nicollet Av. S., Mpls., pimentokitchen.com), specializing in the same lively jerk chicken, jerk pork and slow-cooked curried goat that has made its original Burnsville Center location such a destination; and Moroccan Flavors (920 E. Lake St., Mpls.), serving couscous, tagines and salads in the Midtown Global Market (midtownglobalmarket.org).

A sure sign of spring? The return of four popular outdoor dining destinations in Minneapolis parks. Sea Salt Eatery (4825 Minnehaha Av. S., Mpls., seasalteatery.wordpress.com), Sandcastle (4955 W. Lake Nokomis Pkwy., Mpls., sandcastlempls.com) and Tin Fish (3000 E. Lake Calhoun Pkwy., Mpls., tinfishmn.com) are up and running, and Bread & Pickle (4135 W. Lake Harriet Pkwy., Mpls., breadandpickle.com) is set to open in mid-May.

Can't get a Sunday brunch reservation at Burch Steak (1933 Colfax Av. S., Mpls., burchrestaurant.com)? The restaurant is now serving brunch (hello, lobster croque madames, fried oyster scrambles and blood orange Mimosas) on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Attention, vegan diners: Tongue in Cheek (989 Payne Av., St. Paul, tongueincheek.biz) chef/co-owner Leonard Anderson is offering a daily meat- and dairy-free special, which could mean curried ramen with zucchini, or crispy parsnip ravioli.

Lent has passed, but Friday fish fries go on. At least at Urban Growler Brewing Co. (2325 Endicott St., St. Paul, urbangrowlerbrewing.com), where co-owners Jill Pavlak and Deb Loch keep the Wisconsin tradition going year-round.

Chef Mike Eichten features breaded pollock served with rye bread with a slab of butter ("just like in Wisconsin," said Pavlak), fries and coleslaw.

It's served 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday. Cost: $13, or $9 for a pint-size portion. It's not an all-you-can-consume situation. "But it's plenty," said Pavlak. She suggests pairing it with the brewery's Cowbell Cream Ale, City Day Ale or Midwest IPA.

"But all beer goes with fish fry," she said. "So you really can't go wrong."

The Bachelor Farmer (50 N. 2nd Av., Mpls., thebachelorfarmer.com) is kicking off the summer season with a pop-up beer garden in its courtyard on Saturday. Starting at 10 a.m., nearby Fulton Brewing is providing the beer. At 2 p.m., the fourth-annual bubble hockey tournament from neighboring Askov Finlayson begins, and at 5 p.m., Bachelor Farmer chef Paul Berglund will send out the restaurant's sausage cart.