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Joy Summers

Food and Drink Reporter
Food and Drink Reporter
Joy Summers is a St. Paul-based food reporter who has been covering Twin Cities restaurants since 2010. She joined the Minnesota Star Tribune in 2021.

Latest from Joy Summers

It’s hockey tourney time: Best bets for eating near Grand Casino and Mariucci arenas

Here are 24 options for grabbing a bite when Minnesota hosts the World Junior Championships in St. Paul and Minneapolis.
December 26, 2025
Felix Verez spins the dough for a pizza at the COUNTER at Cossettas in St. Paul, MN. September 13, 2013.

The 5 best things our food writers ate in 2025

Popovers from the North Woods, a last meal at Lurcat, vegan ribs, chile cheese fries and seasonal salads make up this year’s favorite dishes.
December 26, 2025
A basket of popovers with compound butter.

10 Minnesota supper clubs that set the standard for classic dining

Popovers, prime rib, relish trays, grasshoppers and nostalgia — you’ll want to gas up the car before reading.
December 25, 2025
Editor's Pick

Editor's Pick

The elusive, enduring power of Minnesota supper clubs

They’re known for prime rib dinners and popovers, but what exactly makes a restaurant a supper club? “It’s not just one thing.”
December 25, 2025

14 of our favorite new burgers in the Twin Cities to close out 2025

Craggy edges, special sauce and kimchi-spiced — there’s a lot of love to find between two toasted buns.
December 19, 2025
Dark Horse burger

For better or worse, 15 restaurant trends we’ve noticed this year

It’s been quite a year for Twin Cities restaurants. From basking in the national spotlight to the rise of international flavors, here’s what 2025 had to offer.
December 18, 2025

Two Mixed Up and its smash burger are now in the Minneapolis skyway

Plus: Minneapolis bakery on the move, a restaurant refresh and so long to the downtown Bruegger’s.
December 16, 2025
A burger with cheese, special sauce and fries.

The Minnesota Star Tribune names its 10 best new restaurants of 2025

From fine dining to fast casual and barbecue to pasta galore, these are our favorite new eateries. But one stands out above them all.
December 14, 2025

The 5 best things our food writers ate this week

Those congee hash browns really do live up to the hype. Plus, unforgettable tortillas, obsession-worthy caramel rolls and dunking sauces.
December 12, 2025
Two hash browns with ginger scallion sauce.

A look back at the most notable restaurant closures of 2025

From decades-old restaurants that shaped our city to ones we barely had a chance to love, it’s always hard to say goodbye.
December 11, 2025
Cafe Lurcat's bar area. ] (AARON LAVINSKY/STAR TRIBUNE) aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com Restaurant review: Cafe Lurcat, a revisit to the 15-year-old D'Amico flagship on Loring Park reveals disappointments and happy surprises. We photograph the restaurant on Friday, April 8, 2016 in Minneapolis, Minn.

Farina Rossa staying open despite Fair State’s taproom closure

Plus OG Zaza keeps expanding, stoner subs, a new vegan cafe, bakery openings, holiday market and more.
December 9, 2025
A charred crust pizza on a picnic table patio is topped with fresh salad greens and fried crispy cheese bits.

3 bakeries for those special holiday breads

Where to order stollen, cardamom bread, potica and more.
December 8, 2025
A golden, braided loaf of bread studded with pear sugar.
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