Chefs leave Wise Acre and Co-op Creamery

After spending five years at the helm at Wise Acre Eatery (5401 Nicollet Av. S., Mpls., 612-354-2577, wiseacreeatery.com), chef Beth Fisher and general manager Caroline Glawe have moved on.

"It was an amicable parting of ways," said Glawe. "Wise Acre Eatery was a delicious five-year chapter in our culinary lives. We look forward to what life dishes up next. Food is in our blood, and service is in our hearts."

Owners Dean Englemann and Scott Endres got into the restaurant business when the frozen-custard shop across the street from their Tangletown Gardens store and nursery went up for sale. They bought it, converted it to a full-service restaurant and hired Fisher and Glawe, caterers and Lucia's Restaurant vets, to run it.

The Wise Acre is a Twin Cities original: The kitchen's meats, poultry and vegetables are raised on the Tangletown Gardens farm in Plato, Minn., about 30 minutes west of Chaska. Fisher did the cooking, and Glawe managed the beverage programs and supervised the service staff.

"As their days have ended at Wise Acre, we sincerely thank them for their contributions in making Wise Acre what it is today," said Endres. "We wish them well in the next chapter in their lives."

Fisher and Glawe's next move? "Stay tuned," said Glawe.

As for their replacements, they're all five-year Wise Acre vets: sous chef Brianna Baldus is now executive chef, bar manager Tim Schweitzer will manage the beverage programs and Kelly Murphy will oversee the front of the house.

Changes are also taking place at Co-op Creamery (2601 E. Franklin Av., Mpls., 612-230-5575, coopcreamery.coop), the restaurant operated by the Seward Co-op. Chef Lucas Almendinger and general manager Chad Snelson are out, and the restaurant has dropped its dinner hours. It's now operated from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.

One of the restaurant industry's busiest days is this Sunday, Mother's Day. Don't have a reservation at your favorite restaurant? Consider brunch at a private club. Well, one that's open to the public at Sunday brunch.

It's the Woman's Club of Minneapolis (410 Oak Grove St., Mpls., 612-813-5300, womansclub.org), and on Mom's day of days, the club will greet families in its lovely dining room, as well as spaces all over its gracious Loring Park building.

The meal includes breakfast, salad, entree and dessert buffets, and carving and grill stations. Beverages include wine, Champagne, sangria and sparkling cider.

Price is $41.50 ($12.50 for ages 12 and under), with a garnish-your-own Bloody Mary bar for an additional $5.95.

Seating times are at 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:45 p.m. and 1:15 p.m. Stick around to 3 p.m. and enjoy a free concert in the club's theater by the Metropolitan Boys Choir. Reservations required.

Asparagus party

Brasserie Zentral may be history, but its Spargelfest lives on.

"We are bringing the popular celebration of all things asparagus over from Zentral to Meritage this year," said chef/co-owner Russell Klein.

Translation? A menu loaded with European-imported AAA white asparagus ("They're huge, weighing between a quarter- and a half-pound per spear," said Klein), with dishes that range from scrambled eggs and caviar to poached chicken breast with morels.

Find it on the Meritage (410 St. Peter St., St. Paul, 651-222-5670, meritage-stpaul.com) dinner menu through May 15, with limited availability during lunch.

"It makes for a great Mother's Day dinner," said Klein.