For twenty-five years, Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl has been a fixture of Twin Cities life, telling the stories of our people, places, and (sometimes delicious) things. Together, Dara’s writings reveal a place brimming with unforgettable eccentrics—from libertarians at the gas station to Aquatennial Queens to artists working in the medium of dog hair. A place full of culinary adventurers and ambassadors— the Ann Kims, Sean Shermans, and Juicy Lucys in our midst. A place profound and complex—from George Floyd Square to the shores of mighty Lake Superior. A place uniquely Minnesotan.

Revisit more than two dozen cherished stories from Dara’s career, including columns, profiles, and restaurant reviews from City Pages, Minnesota Monthly, Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Gourmet, and Saveur. Each piece includes a brief introduction exploring why Dara chose it to be among her quintessential contributions to Minnesota life and culture.
Together these works capture the artistry of this voice of the Twin Cities, where a writer’s passion, humor, and curiosity are rewarded with secrets and wonders. This is a must-read for those who want to meet the people in that neighborhood of five million who call the land in and around the upper Mississippi home.

DARA MOSKOWITZ GRUMDAHL is an award-winning food
writer, cultural columnist, and contributor to Gourmet, Saveur, Food & Wine, Bon Appétit, City Pages, Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, and many other publications. A six-time winner of the James Beard Award for food writing, Grumdahl lives in Minneapolis.