Ger-Nis INTERNATIONAL, LLC

New/Notable Restaurants

BRASA
Minneapolis
600 E. Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN  55401
612-379-3030

St. Paul
777 Grand Avenue
St. Paul, MN. 55105
651-224-1302
http://www.brasa.us

Family Style Dining
Minneapolis and Saint Paul, the Twin Cities, have been blessed with a pair of restaurants that will please your gourmet foodie and a family of four’s monthly dinner out! Alex Roberts is the chef behind the mastery of Brasa Rotisserie and Restaurant Alma in Minneapolis.  He has proven that he can deliver a 5 star restaurant as well as a creole inspired rotisserie joint. The amazingly succulent meat might be the centerpiece but the sides, sauces and accoutrements could easily steal the show.   Brasa North is the closest thing to South American soul food I’ve seen in these parts – not an easy task to pull off!

Roberts puts his soul into Brasa with the same tenacity that he built Alma with, his first restaurant.  He chooses his ingredients with diligence and care as proof by his investment in local ingredients. Year round nearly 100% of his meat, dairy, eggs, flour, sweet corn and corn meal is produced in Minnesota on small family owned farms and cooperatives.  All of the signature meats and eggs are from local cage free and non-confinement producers. All meats are 100% naturally raised without hormones or antibiotics.

The vibe at Brasa is as vibrant as the ochre walls that welcome you.  A simple décor that is warm and comforting, often times the place is buzzing and you may have to wait for a seat. In the summer the patios are perfect, and you can order a homemade pineapple ginger ale or a guava lime soda, or one of the many thoughtfully chosen house wines or beers .  There is no high-fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, or msg to be found in this place.  Brasa is dedicated to basic whole foods as the foundation for their recipes: Fresh vegetables & herbs, fresh unsalted butter, full fat milk & cream from pasture based dairies, extra virgin olive oil, organic whole grains and sea salt.

The only real dilemma at Brasa is what to order and to manage to eat all of the dishes that are fantastic. You cannot go wrong with the any of the meat choices; the rotisserie chicken is perfectly seasoned with crisp skin.  The braised beef has gotten lots of tlc to for a rich, tender, and deep flavored beef. Any of the meats go well with the house sauces -  a cool ginger aioli that uses quite a bit of cilantro and fresh mint and cilantro are highlighted in the Smoked Pepper Sauce – two sauce stars at Brasa.  The sandwiches should not be overlooked either; they are packed with flavor and fresh bread. The roasted pork sandwich is sunshine in the mouth, fresh cilantro paired with pickled cucumbers and ginger mayo, a meal in itself. It is one of those moments when you wish you could eat twice as much, just to indulge in all of the flavors.

The beans and rice, whether it is yellow or black, or red beans are perfection.  A house made sofrito that indulges in a barrage of fresh herbs including cilantro, a sometimes difficult herb to find is necessary in their Caribbean sofrito.  A family favorite is the fried yucca. I am often hesitant to order yucca, because so many people just cannot pull it off and bad yucca is devastating to your palate. But Brasa flawlessly lightly fries the yucca and tosses it in a citrus sauce, paired with the ginger aioli. Most children prefer this over French fries and ketchup any day. 

If you can save room for dessert, you won’t be disappointed. The sweet ginger biscuits, with pear-orange compote and candied ginger are not too sweet but thoroughly refreshing. The chocolate dessert has a surprising twist, with an oatmeal raisin cookie crust, a chocolate bourbon tart with caramel sauce. This is irresistible.  Brasa is an example of a well nurtured soul, every detail of freshness and excellence has been prepared and strived for on a daily basis.

5 of 5 herbs