Gobi Manchurian at Muddy Tiger Indian Bistro
Is the success story of the early 21st century the humble cauliflower? We've seen it become rice and pizza crusts and land on just about every type of menu in a battered, fried and sauced format that is almost always delicious. Cauliflower, how do you do it?
At Muddy Tiger, a new brick-and-mortar spot in Edina from the team behind this Marathi-cuisine food truck, cauliflower is given reverential treatment in one of the menu's boldly flavored west-central Indian street snacks.
For the Gobi Manchurian, tender florets are fried to piping-hot and crispy perfection, then coated in a sweet-savory sauce in an Indian-Chinese crossover dish popular in the Indian state of Maharashtra ($11). Topped with peanuts and green onions and brightened with specks of bell pepper, it's a fun (and gluten-free) place to start at a restaurant that proudly serves some of the only Marathi dishes in Minnesota, from owners (and spouses) Jyotiee and Andy Kistner.
On a recent lunch visit, Andy Kistner suggested that my dining companion and I try several dishes you won't see on any other menus in the Twin Cities, including Misal Pav, a bean and potato hash that you drown in rich tomato curry and soak up with white bread; a roti wrap filled with Kheema (minced lamb); and Moong Bhaji, or dal (chickpea) fritters with a falafel vibe. The only part of the menu we didn't get to sample was Chaat, as these savory street-cart snacks are only served nights and weekends. We'll be back for the pani puri (filled crispy puffs) alone. (Sharyn Jackson)
7015 Amundson Av., Edina, 952-600-7009, muddytiger.com

Blueberry muffin at Quixotic Coffee
Every time I walk inside this Cleveland Avenue coffeeshop, I have to scan the booths. Often I find a familiar face or two and we nod a greeting or catch up for a moment. This is one of the best things about a great neighborhood coffeehouse — it's an extension of the area. Inside here I've had school fundraiser planning meetings, mended friendships and spent countless hours making use of the lightning-fast Wi-Fi.
When I was dragging after school drop-off this week, I was in need of a boost of velvet jet fuel — made with the utmost care by the barista — and one perfect blueberry muffin ($4). Like a lot of metro-area coffeehouses, the treats are brought in and this one from Patisserie 46 is all that I could ever hope for: tender crumb, giant blueberries bursting with summer-sun sweetness and a crumbly little bit of a cookie coating up top.
It's a sunny way to kick off a day, even if you aren't lucky enough to live in this cozy neighborhood. (Joy Summers)