Les Dames in Duluth- Edible Gardens

Last weekend my husband and I joined several members (and husbands) of the Twin Cities Les Dames d'Escoffier on an outing to Duluth. We were hosted by the Duluth Dames and they treated us to a delightful weekend! We had a catered dinner along the shore of Lake Superior including a visit from the local fox, who looks well nourished! and then live music by the campfire. The second night our hosts prepared pizza on their a wood-fired outdoor oven and from the top of the hill, we gazed at the Port of Duluth and the reflection of the sunset as we devoured the pizza. Briefly we rushed indoors as the rain fell and the sky lit up with double rainbows! Besides great food and lots of fun we also toured several edible gardens.

The Duluth Grill (featured on Diners, Drive-in and Dives on the Food Network) has an urban garden where they are also building a koi pond. There has been a lot of discussion about the kind of fish to stock and if the fish will eventually be added to the menu. Francois, the farm manager, said that carp is a good choice for the pond but Americans need to be educated to eat it- it is a very popular fish in Europe and has high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. Plants will grow in buckets suspended above the pond. They also grow edible flowers and herbs and seasonal vegetables in large planters outside the restaurant. We enjoyed a amazing lunch at Lake Superior Brewing, catered by the Duluth Grill featuring local foods. The photos are from the catered luncheon. It was almost too pretty to eat! But there was little left when we departed.