On my first visit, I asked for menu recommendations, and the man behind the counter raved about the carnitas al pastor ($13.99, three tacos). He was not wrong. Braised pork is glazed and shredded, served with pineapple, onions and cilantro. I got some good jiggly, rich, fatty bits in with the meat — unctuous and deeply satisfying. The side of salsa verde brings a welcome heat and the doubling up on tortillas kept all those juicy pieces where they belong. (J.S.)
Coconut cake at Flour and Friends Bakery and Coffee. (Sharyn Jackson/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
The team behind this new bakery and coffee shop, with an elaborate little-kid play space and an adorable sloth logo, is making all their baked goods in house. And the lineup of cakes available by the slice is one to behold. I chose the coconut cake ($6.50) and found the coconut flavor a nice, subtle counterpart to the buttery and fluffy-as-can-be layers, the bittersweet chocolate ganache on top and a not-too-sweet buttercream holding it all together.
The recipe comes from owner Jennifer Auger’s sister, and it’s one of her favorite slices, along with the bakery’s pistachio cake.
Flour and Friends, which Auger opened as a community gathering place and a supportive workplace for adults with disabilities, as well as young adults “who just need someone to give them a chance to work,” is on a compelling food-and-drink intersection in Crystal. It’s next-door to Milton’s (hurry, they’re closing Oct. 31, unless a fundraiser keeps them open longer), and diagonal from the Wine Thief & Ale Jail, a terrific beverage shop. And at Flour and Friends, you’ll find a wide variety of sweets and pastries, some breakfast sandwiches, coffee drinks and Sebastian Joe’s scoops. (S.J.)
Dining and Cooking