Here's to 2013 - New Year's Eve Specials at Woolley's

In what's become an annual tradition, our famous Steak & Lobster Special is back for the entire New Year's weekend! Welcome the new year with a feast fit for 2013.

For just $100 per couple ($50 per person), you'll receive: 

• Freshly Baked Bread,
• Salads,
• 6oz Certified Angus Beef Filets, 
• Fresh Cold Water Lobster Tails,
• Vegetables Du Jour & Woolley's famous Scalloped Potatoes.
• PLUS, as an added holiday treat, couples who order the special will receive a bottle of house wine or champagne compliments of Woolley’s! (A glass of champagne or house wine will be offered to individuals partaking).

The Steak & Lobster Special will be available from 4:30 to 11pm throughout the weekend, and on New Year's Eve, we'll be featuring live musical performances from local musicians. For those that are hungry for something other than steak and lobster, the full regular dinner menu will be available as well.

Beginning on Friday, December 28 through Monday, December 31, join us for a feast worthy of ringing in 2013! Space does fill up quickly for this once a year event, so reservations are strongly recommended. Reserve your spot online at Open Table or by calling Woolley's at 952.854.1010. 

Happy New Year! 

Christmas Eve Specials at Woolley's - 2012

Once again, we've got a relaxing evening of celebration planned for Christmas Eve. We invite you to join us for a festive dinner on Monday, December 24, and kick-off your holiday in style!

Twas the Night Before Christmas
(Woolley's style)

'Twas the Night Before Christmas, when all through the room

Jazz music was playing, and conversations bloomed.

The steaks were all plated, prepared with such care, 

In hopes that our guests like them medium-rare;

Families and friends all merry and fine, 

Enjoying their meals and half-off sparkling wine!

Bring your loved ones and friends, as we will be open for regular dinner hours with service running from 4:30 to 10pm. We're bringing back the famous Kevin G. Trio to serenade your Christmas Eve meal with live jazz music.

In addition to the full regular dinner menu, Chef Peter has been very busy planning the perfect Christmas Eve Dinner specials for you to enjoy. Take advantage of a special Christmas Eve Wine Lovers' Night as well when you take half off any bottle of champagne or sparkling wine in our collection.

Make your party's reservation online via Open Table or by calling Woolley's at 952-854-1010.

Don't forget, if you're booking for a party of five or more, you get to take advantage of our special Customer Appreciation Month offer as well. (Throughout December, book any party of five or more and 50% (that's right, HALF) of what you spend on food purchases will be given back to you in the form of a gift certificate that you can use in 2013! )

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good steak!

Chef Peter Named Top Chef

With the December issue of Food Service News fresh of the press, we were so excited to see our very own Chef Peter Christenson included in their annual Top Chefs book. Included with the December issue each year, the Top Chef selections are awarded to chefs in the Twin Cities, not just at the hottest restaurants, but those that live out the embodiment of chef as their daily mission.

In the accompanying article, they define chef as, "A team leader, organizer, manager, inventory hard-liner and, sometimes, a business owner. All that on top of being a menu developer and the overall creative force in the kitchen."

Sounds like a pretty tough act in contrast with the glamorized world of a chef's life on popular television shows. Food Service News continues, "It’s not about the loudest voices or the most personable. It’s about who is doing their job—with all its pieces—at the highest level."

With that being said, we're just so proud of Chef Peter and this award. Along with our devoted guests, we knew that Chef Peter was a heavy hitter in the kitchen and a great member of the team, but now, thanks to Food Service News  we can let the world in on it! This was precisely Food Service News' intention with the awards this year. They specifically sought out chefs who, "Have simply kept their heads down and enjoyed the toil, their kitchens pumping out great food with few—or no—accolades. Yet they endure, and their business and reputation among “those in the know” has grown."

To read the Top Chef's article and see the full list of Chef Peter's distinguished comrades, CLICK HERE.

To see a Top Chef in action and congratulate Chef Peter in person, join us this Saturday, December 15, for a FREE Cooking Class. The man himself will be demonstrating preparation techniques for several go-to holiday appetizer and entree options. He's even thinking about demonstrating some seafood preparation techniques as well!

Reservations recommended but not required by calling Woolley's at 952.854.1010.


Congratulations to Chef Peter, our very own Top Chef! We can't think of a more deserving recipient. 

Customer Appreciation Month

December is Customer Appreciation Month at Woolley's!

All year long, you support Woolley's with your dining dollars and by referring your friends and family. This time, it's our turn to give back. This whole month, while you worry about the perfect gift for everyone on your list, we've got a little extra something just for you. The best part? You don't even have to go out of your way to get it.

Throughout December, book any party of five or more and 50% (that's right, HALF) of what you spend on food purchases will be given back to you in the form of a gift certificate that you can use in 2013! This is just our way of saying thank you for your business and patronage.

Not only is this is a great way to show your friends and family a fantastic time at Woolley’s (plus: no cooking or clean-up for you), but the free gift certificates also make wonderful Christmas gifts!

For parties of 12 and under, make your reservations online at Open Table or by calling Woolley’s at 952-854-1010.

For reservations for parties larger than 12, please contact Ben Berry via e-mail or directly at 612-309-3801.

Woolley’s also offers two distinctive private dining rooms as well as two open-air semi-private options for you and your guests' dining enjoyment. This holiday season, leave the cooking and the gifts up to us!

Happy Holidays!

Woolley's at Bouquets Wine & Food Tasting

Today being Giving Tuesday and all, we wanted to let you know about a great event that we are honored to be a part of. 

This Thursday, November 29, Woolley's is thrilled to be helping with Bouquets, Como Friends' wine and food tasting. A fundraiser for Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, Bouquets will be held in the breathtaking Marjorie McNeely Conservatory and Como Visitor Center.

From 7-9pm, guests will be invited to try more than 80 specially-selected wines as they meander through the lush, tropical conservatory. Plus, this year, Bouquets will be offering craft beer as well! This is all in addition to the fabulous fare from great local restaurants, live music, a preview of the Holiday Flower Show, and much, much more!

Woolley's will be on-site for the event, donating our time and a delicious food offering for guests, and we think it would be just swell if you joined us!

Tickets are still available and are just $55 per person ($45 per person for Como Friends). Please note, you must be 21+ to attend. Purchase your tickets by CLICKING HERE, or by calling 651-487-8229. 

We hope to see you there!

Thanksgiving at Woolley's - 2012

We're getting quite excited for Thanksgiving and our bountiful Thanksgiving Day Champagne Brunch. A great reason for Woolley's to put on a feast, we are just so thankful for all of our guests on Thanksgiving and the rest of the year as well.

All week, we've had Thanksgiving on the brain with our Thanksgiving-themed lunch specials. Featured through Friday, we're offering a Thanksgiving Salad: Mixed Greens, Chicken Breast, Bleu Cheese, and Sweet & Spicy Pecans all tossed in our Pumpkin Spice Vinaigrette, as well as an Open-Faced Ham Sandwich: Thick-sliced Pit Ham, Apple Maple Chutney, and Fresh Arugula on Grilled Sourdough with Gorgonzola Mashed Potatoes on the Side.

As our lunch specials warm up our appetites, our excitement for Thursday is building. If you missed it, the menu and additional details may be found in our blog post, Thanksgiving Brunch, from earlier this month. We're so pleased to offer our Thanksgiving guests such a huge brunch menu that includes all of their breakfast, lunch, and Thanksgiving favorites.

We're also excited to announce that the Kenny G. Trio will once again be serenading our Thanksgiving Brunch guests with some lovely live music.

If you can't make it to brunch, Woolley's will also be open for regular dinner service from 4:30 to 10pm on Thanksgiving. In addition to the full dinner menu, we'll be featuring some great Thanksgiving Dinner Specials as well. Perfect for pairing with the Thanksgiving bird, all bottles of Riesling and Pinot Noir wines will be HALF OFF the entire night as an extra way for us to show our diners that we're thankful for them.

Thanksgiving Dinner Specials

Turkey Dinner

Classic thanksgiving dinner. Sliced turkey, mash potatoes, sausage and corn bread stuffing, gravy, and cranberry sauce. 

Roasted Pit Ham 

Slow roasted ham, Thanksgiving sweet potatoes, and grilled asparagus. 

Lamb Shank 

Braised lamb shank, local squash hash with brussel sprouts and apple, apple cider reduction and demi glace. 

Prime Rib Dinner 

Slow roasted prime rib served with mash potatoes, glazed carrots and mushroom au jus.

Reservations are recommended and can be made by visiting Open Table online or calling Woolley's at 952.854.1010.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Italian Wine Specials - Available Now!

Through the end of the year, we're pleased to celebrate the joys of the season with the following Italian wine specials. Perfect for an evening spent soaking in the warmth of the holidays, each wine was meticulously selected with your enjoyment in mind.

Since antiquity, Italy has been praised for its remarkable range of indigenous grapes and wide

variety of winemaking styles. No other country in the world produces as many wines as Italy and

no other country can claim such a wonderfully varied range of local cuisines and wine pairings.

We welcome you to join us in exploring these gems. We have sourced these rare and

exceptional wines that we are sure you will love as much as we do!

“L’acqua fa male e il vina fa catare” -- Italian proverb

(Water is bad for you and wine makes you sing).

Tenute di Nozzole Le Bruniche Chardonnay (Tuscany) 9 / 34

Malolactically fermented with no oak. Wonderful acidity and ripe tropical fruit flavors.

Tenute di Salviano Turlo, Red Blend (Umbria) 10 / 38

Sangiovese, Cabernet and Merlot. Intense ripe fruit with soft subtle tannin. A delicious international style red wine.

Fattoria dei Graciano Svetoni Torcalvano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 13 / 50

A true small production winery, this wine is a beautiful expression of sangiovese. Bright and lively the fruit notes include strawberry and blackberry with background notes of coffee, toasted oak and vanilla.

Agricola Punica Montessu, Isola dei Nuraghi (Sardinia) 15 / 58

A blend of Carignono (Carignan) Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot, don’t miss an opportunity to try this rare Sardinian gem. And if you like this don’t miss its big brother Barrua!

Tenute del Cabreo La Pietra Chardonnay (Tuscany) 52

Single vineyard old vine chardonnay. This wine spends a year in oak followed by a six month rest in bottle. A beautiful expression of chardonnay.

Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto (Bolgheri) 85

Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from the famed producers of Sassicaia. Very limited cases were sent to Minnesota, so enjoy!

Agricola Punica Barrua, Isola dei Nuraghi (Sardinia) 85

85% Carignan from Sardinia, this world class wine delivers in a big way. Dark fruit notes complement an herbal spice flavor with hints of red pepper and licorice.

Setti Ponti Oreno, Arrezo (Tuscany) 120

A famous super-tuscan made of Merlot, Cabernet and Petite Verdot, this wine is a monster, a big, tannic monster. It may eat your steak for you if you don’t finish it!

Michele Chiarlo Nivole Moscato di Asti (Piedmont) 8 / 24

A delicate expression of moscato this is a great way to end the evening!

We can't wait for you to taste these amazing Italian wines and hear what you think. As we stated previously, we only have these wines on special and available through the end of the year, so make plans to join us before it's too late. Reservations online at Open Table or at 952-854-1010. 

And remember, every Wednesday and Sunday evening is set apart for wine lovers! On those special Wine Lovers Nights, guests receive half off any bottle in our collection with their dinner entree purchase. 

Cheers to good wine, better company, and a joyous holiday season! 

Thanksgiving Champagne Brunch - 2012

It's back! Our famous Thanksgiving Champagne Brunch is returning to Woolley's once again. On Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November, 22, join us for a feast of epic proportions. From 10am to 2pm, you'll be able to break bread and give thanks with those you hold near and dear without having to prepare and/or wash a single dish.

2012 Thanksgiving 

Champagne Brunch Menu

Breakfast

Fresh Sliced & Whole Fruit

Granola & Yogurt Parfait -- with dried and fresh toppings

Fresh Baked Muffins, Croissants & Caramel Rolls

Cooked to Order Omelets

Scrambled Eggs | Eggs Benedict

Waffles --with assorted toppings

Bacon & Sausage

Salads & Sides

Tossed Salad -- with dressings

Jell‐O Salad | Pasta Salad

Crudités & Pickled Vegetable Platter

Hot Dinner Rolls -- with butter

Shrimp Cocktail | Oysters on the Half Shell

Smoked Salmon

Honey Glazed Carrots | Wild Rice Sauté

Whipped Yukon Gold Potatoes

Traditional Cranberry Chutney

Glazed Sweet Potatoes

Homemade Mac‐n‐Cheese

Sausage & Corn Bread Stuffing

Traditional Pan Gravy | Braised Red Cabbage

Main

Swedish Meatballs

Lemon Buerre Blanc Salmon -- over roasted leeks and wild mushrooms

Carved Prime Rib | Carved Ham

Carved Turkey -- with pan gravy

Dessert

Fresh Baked Pies -- Pumpkin, Pecan, Apple, Blueberry & Cherry

Bread Pudding -- with whiskey rum sauce

Cascading Chocolate Fountain -- with traditional accompaniments

Served with Assorted Beverages

We invite you to be our guests this Thanksgiving, so you can spend more time relaxing and focusing on what matters! Brunch prices are as follows: Adults: $29.95, Kids 4 to 12: $14.95, Kids 3 and Under: FREE.

Secure your reservations by calling Woolley's today at 952-854-1010.

Woolley's New Belgium Beer Dinner - November 15, 2012

We're super excited to be hosting our next Craft Beer Dinner at Woolley's. On Thursday, November 15, join us as we welcome New Belgium Brewing Company for a six-course dinner. Each course will be specially paired with the New Belgium brew that best complements the flavors of that fall dish.

New Belgium Beer Dinner
November 15^th -- 6:30 - 8:30pm

Social – Fat Tire Amber Ale

Fat Tire poached pear, crostini, sweet and spicy pecans, gorgonzola

1^st Course – Shift Pale Lager

Roasted beet and carrot soup, yogurt, seared scallop and crispy parsnip

2^nd Course – Ranger India Pale Ale

\Bib lettuce, apple cider vinaigrette, toasted pumpkin seed, prosciutto de parma, triple-cream bleu brie

3^rd Course – 1554 Enlightened BlackAle

Grilled venison tenderloin, local winter squash hash with apple and brussel sprouts, apple cider-lingonberry glaze

4^th Course – Snow Day Winter Ale

Smoked and braised lamb shank, cauliflower puree, braising jus and crispy sweet potato straws

5^th Course – Trippel Belgian StyleAle

Whiskey caramel bread pudding, Jack Daniels macerated black berries

Six different beers and a menu like that, and we're pretty sure that this is one event that you won't want to miss! Priced at just $45 per person, space is filling up fast, so make sure to call us today at 952-854-1010 to secure your reservation or for more information.

Hope to see you there. Cheers!

Fall 2012 - RESTAURANT WEEK: October 21 - 26

Mpls St Paul Magazine's Restaurant Week is back for their Fall edition. Join us once again for three-course lunches and dinners at a special price!

Lunch — $20

LUNCH ONLY: Free glass of house wine to start or non-alcoholic beverage

Appetizer (Choose one):

Soup & Salad Bar - Prepared fresh daily, featuring two house-made soups.

Entrée (Choose one):

Pasta Vodka - Ground spicy Italian sausage, roasted red peppers and Prosciutto ham, simmered in a creamy vodka tomato sauce, tossed with penne pasta and topped with freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Minnesota Walleye - Grilled, Beer Battered or Panko Crusted with wild rice, vegetable du jour
Petite Martini Steak - A flat iron steak grilled and seasoned with all the makings of a martini (shaken not stirred) and garnished with St. Peter’s bleu cheese crumbles and green olives. Served with vegetable du jour and scalloped potatoes
Black and Bleu Pasta - Spicy beef tips sautéed with red onion, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes and bacon. Tossed in linguini noodles with a Southwest sauce and topped with bleu cheese crumbles
Almost Famous Chicken Sandwich - Grilled chicken breast, jalapeno aioli, chicken fried bacon, butter lettuce, avocado, tomato slices, 7 grain Ciabatta.
Legendary Ken Burger - Ken Davis Sweet and Smokey BBQ, Cheddar, sautéed onions, bacon
Kielbasa Mac and Cheese - Macaroni noodles, knights vail gouda, cheddar, grilled kielbasa sausage and fried leeks
Pastrami Sandwich - Hot pastrami on Russian rye bun with horseradish mustard, Swiss cheese, spicy house made pickles and an over easy egg. Served with pasta salad

Dessert (Choose one):

Molten Chocolate Lava Cake

Creme Brulee

New York Style Cheesecake

Dinner — $30

Bottles of wine from our award winning wine list are available all week at ½ price!

Appetizer (Choose one):

French Onion Soup

Caesar Salad

Classic Wedge
Winter Green

Entrée (Choose one):

Filet Mignon - 6oz center cut filet mignon, roasted shallot demi-glace, asparagus, roasted fingerling potatoes
Short Ribs - Slow braised short ribs, carrot ginger puree, foie gras butter, whipped Yukon gold potatoes, braising jus
Chicken Marsala - Chicken breast, classic marsala mushroom sauce, whipped yukon gold potatoes
Panko Crusted Walleye - Minnesota’s state fish hand breaded with parmesan seasoned Japanese bread crumbs, pan seared and served with lemon aioli sauce and rice pilaf
Grilled Salmon - Heirloom tomato-caper relish, lemon buerre blanc, fingerling potatoes
Top Sirloin - 8oz top sirloin on a bed of sautéed mushrooms and onions. Served with vegetable our famous scalloped potatoes
Kielbasa Mac & Cheese - Macaroni noodles, knights vail gouda, cheddar, grilled kielbasa sausage, fried leeks
Pork Tendorloin - Center-cut tenderloin, sweet potato hash, apple, brussel sprouts, apple cider lingon berry glaze. Candied bacon, cheddar ale biscuit
Martini Steak - A flat iron steak grilled and seasoned with all the makings of a martini (shaken not stirred) and garnished with St. Peter’s bleu cheese crumbles and green olives. Served with our famous scalloped potatoes

Dessert (Choose one):

Molten Chocolate Lava Cake

Creme Brulee

New York Style Cheesecake

Sounds great, right?! Well, we hope you'll join us through Friday for Restaurant Week. Secure your reservations by calling Woolley's at 952.854.1010 or online at Open Table. 

Woolley's New Menu Out Now - Fall 2012

Without further ado, we're so happy to announce that Woolley's Fall 2012 menu is out for your dining enjoyment. After a huge thank you to our culinary team (and in collective appreciation for their creativity), we just can't wait for you to try some of the new dishes.

For starters, we've added some great fall salads to our menus, an Apple Proscuitto Brie, a Woolley's Steak Salad, and a Winter Greens Salad. For lunch, we also added several new sandwiches that are sure to please. We've got a Chicken Apple Brie that features an apple cider-lingonberry glaze, a Southwest Wrap, a Ham & Cheese with Knight's Vail gouda and grilled pear, and an Almost Famous Chicken Sandwich with jalopeno aioli and chicken fried bacon.

If you're more of a burger and fries guy or gal, you're going to love our new burgers. They're hand-pattied in house using our special beef blend and then accessorized with all sorts of delicious toppings. Our Bacon & Bleu Burger features that famous chicken fried bacon, while our Breakfast burger is topped with ham, cheese, and a fried egg! And don't worry, we're still featuring our lunch sized steaks priced right for a noontime feast.

Then, really warm up that appetite with some of our brand new Small Plate dinner offerings that allow you to try some of our famous dishes without filling up too fast. Remember the Marcona Almond Purses or our famous Short Ribs with carrot-ginger puree from events we've participated in recently? Great, because we added them to our Small Plates along with Duck Sausage, Sea Scallops, Pork Tenderloin, and even Foie Gras.

Sea Scallops - Seared scallops with heirloom tomato-chili jam, sauteed fennel, and candied bacon

Foie Gras - Crustini, apple cider, lingonberry relish

We've also added a great cold-weather favorite in the Pasta Category, Kielbasa Mac & Cheese! We toss our macaroni noodles with Knight's Vail gouda, cheddar, grilled kielbasa sausage, and fried leeks. To ensure you stay nice and warm, we've expanded our Comfort Foods offering this season as well. From our Chicken Marsala and Swedish Meatballs to our Pork Tenderloin and Deluxe Burger (with our special beef blend ground in-house), no detail is spared.

As always, we'll continue our weekly fish specials that give you a chance to try the freshest catch of the season offered at market price.

Not only have we updated our offerings for Lunch and Dinner, but we also revamped The Corner Bar Menu and our drink menus as well, so make sure to visit us for Happy Hour soon so you can check out any of our delicious appetizers and fun drinks at a great price.


For reservations, please visit Open Table online or call Woolley's at 952.854.1010. We'll see you soon!

WOWs -- Shameless Employee Recognition Post

It's been a while since we had some great WOWs on the blog. Not that our employees haven't been going above and beyond (because they have, they totally have), it's just that so much else has been going on that demanded our blog-worthy attention.

Here at Woolley's, we like to recognize WOW moments. These moments occur when our employees go out of their way to give our guests such a unique experience that they can't help but to say, "Wow!" While these moments don't always find their way to the blog, the comments do reach our managers' ears, so hopefully everyone knows how much we appreciate the extra effort.

In no particular order, here are last week's WOWs. A little late, but they definitely deserved to be shared. Kudos to the following individuals for going above and beyond, giving our guests one great night.

JAIME

Jaime waited on a gentleman who ordered an Old Fashioned Crown Royal, saying, "If it doesn't taste right, I'm sending it right back."  The guest later told Jaime that the drink was outstanding and that a lot of places don't make them like they used to. 

(Note: Our bartender, Chad, received a lot of compliments on his drink mixing skills that night too!)

GRANDMA SUE

One of the guests from a Surprise Birthday Party we were hosting came down from the piano lounge and said, "Your chef really knows how to fry a fish. He should be teaching others how to do it."

Grandma Sue presented a birthday card to Jim (the birthday boy) with the wait staff's signatures on it. Grandma also had them laughing with a few jokes, which really added to their experience. They said tonight they received the best food and service they had ever had. 

SHAWN & JESSE

Shawn and Jesse took great care of a Homecoming Party. They made sure the bar was stocked for non-alcoholic Strawberry Daiquiris, and the kids applauded when they found out. Shawn and Jesse also poured sparkling cider for the kids to toast and took several pictures for them. Finally, Chef Peter did a flambee and ice cream for dessert which was a huge hit. A few of the girls raved to me about the dinner and I also overheard a guest say, "This was the best night since ever."

Great job, everyone! We're so proud to be part of such a wonderful team. 

Woolley's LOVED Taste! Mpls. St. Paul's Ultimate Wine & Dine

Well, we may be a little biased, but we have to say Mpls. St. Paul Magazine's Taste! event was pretty awesome! This annual food and wine event featured 40 chefs, 300 wines, and 100 specialty beers this past Friday and Saturday. 

We sent our very own Chef Peter along with our culinary team to the Friday evening session. Armed with a killer offering of Zinfandel Braised Short Ribs with Carrot Ginger Puree, the Woolley's crew was well-prepared to wow the crowd. 

Chef Peter even got interviewed by Mpls. St. Paul Magazine, so make sure you check their site and next issue for any follow-up on the event. 

While we're certainly curious to see what the 'experts' thought of our Braised Short Ribs, we know they sure were a hit with event guests! We were busy all evening, as guests coming back for more.

We can certainly understand the attraction and hope to see all of their friendly faces in the restaurant for dinner soon.

If you missed the event, don't fret! While we don't have that exact dish on the menu, you have the opportunity to try the fantastic Short Ribs entree we do have on our menu at Lunch or Dinner. Our Short Ribs are served with Potato Gnocchi, Foie Gras, Wild Mushroom, Braising Jus, and Fig Balsamic Jam.

Did you make it to the Taste! event this weekend? If so, what was your favorite part? Did you get a chance to try our Short Ribs on Friday? We'd love to hear what you thought!

Woolley's at Taste! Mpls. St. Paul's Ultimate Wine & Dine - September 28, 2012

We're so excited to be a part of Mpls. St. Paul Magazine's annual food and wine extravaganza that's come to be known as Taste! Lauded as Mpls. St. Paul's Ultimate Wine & Dine, the Taste! event features 40 great chefs, 300 amazing wines, and 100 specialty beers over two days.

Beginning tomorrow, September 28, the Friday session runs from 7-10pm with the following highlights: 

• VIP Ticket Holders - Receive access to the VIP Tent, filled with exclusive fine wines from around the world
• First 500 VIP ticket purchasers receive a gift compliments of Realm Promotions
• Sample 300 wines and 100 specialty beers
• Sample signature dishes from top local chefs
• Try Andrew Zimmern’s new food truck AZ Canteen
• Chef demonstration and book signing by Andrew Zimmern, Mpls.St.Paul MagazineFood Writer and host of Bizarre Foods on the Travel Channel
• Self guided tours of the Gopher Athletics Hall of Fame
• Self guided tours of the football locker room
• Appearance by Goldy Gopher
• Live Entertainment

Then, if you can't make it Friday, or if you simply want to relive the experience all over again, Taste! runs on Saturday, September 29, as well, from 12-3pm.  Highlights from that session include: 

• Sample 300 wines and 100 specialty beers
• Sample signature dishes from top local chefs
• 12:30 pm – Tasting presentation of President Obama’s home-brew, White House Honey Ale
• Tile Shop Culinary Stage Chef Demonstrations
• 12:15-1:00 – Chef Van with Le Cordon Bleu "Pumpkin Ravioli with Sage Butter"
• 1:15-2:00 – Russell Klein with Meritage "Oysters 101"
• 2:15-3:00 - Landon Schoenefeld with Haute Dish
• Live Broadcast of myTalk107’s “Weekly Dish” featuring Stephanie March and Stephanie Hansen
• Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl book signing and wine tasting 
• Self guided tours of the Gopher Athletics Hall of Fame
• Self guided tours of the football locker room
• Watch the Gopher vs. Iowa Hawkeye game on the jumbotron

Our contribution to the event again rests in Chef Peter's capable hands. If you want to catch the Woolley's crew and our offering of Zinfandel Braised Short Ribs with Carrot Ginger Puree, make sure you plan on heading to the Friday night session, as that's the only one we'll be attending. 

You certainly don't want to miss this great event! To purchase your tickets,visit the Taste! site. 

We hope to see you there!

Off-Site Catering at Our Client Appreciation Event

Guess what? I know we've mentioned it before, but we felt it was worth saying again: Here at Woolley's, we are both happy and able to do off-site catering! For weddings, graduations, corporate events, reunions, and any other reason you could dream of needing a caterer, Woolley's is your go-to source. We have a truck, a catering truck, mind you, and we're not afraid to use it.

Earlier this month, we participated in a fantastic Client Appreciation Event with our sister restaurant Chez Daniel as well as the lovely Embassy Suites Bloomington and Embassy Suites Minneapolis Airport. Not only did we get a chance to thank all of our current clients for their patronage, but we also got to showcase new trends and all of our capabilities in the meeting, events, and catering arena. While the event was held at Chez Daniel, we got to get out the truck (can you tell how much we love that thing?!), and send Chef Peter on over to do an off-site, outdoor catering demonstration.

Here in the biz, we like to call 'em "cater-outs". Below are some pictures we got of our catering demonstration as part of the event. Pig Roast, Corn on the Cob Display, Specialty Linens, Chairs, and Tents from Midway Party Rental, Cocktails in Mason Jars, and yes, of course, our truck.

  

   

  

   

Even if it's not on-site, we'd love to be a part of your next event! And don't worry, weather is not a deterrent, just check out our photos from our rainy cater-out earlier this summer. 

For more information or to book a cater-out, please contact Woolley's today at 952.854.1010. We can't wait to hear from you!

And, to see the full album from our Client Appreciation Event, please CLICK HERE. 

Woolley's at Bloomington Heritage Days - September 15, 2012

We're so excited to be a part of the Bloomington Heritage Days festival once again. If you're in the neighborhood, swing on by tomorrow and join us as we celebrate the 3rd Annual Bloomington Heritage Days.

Not only will Woolley's be representing with $6 Diablo Bites and $5 Prime Rib Sandwiches in the food area, but there's a parade, live music, contests, additional food options, games, and much, much more!

In its third year, the festival is all about celebrating the community. From showcasing local businesses to just encouraging the community to come out in support of one another, Heritage Days is a wonderful, family-friendly event, packed with things to do, eat, and see!

The best part of all? The festival is free to enter and attend. Through wonderful sponsorships, all you have to worry about is showing up and bringing a little spending money for food and other fun. Located on the corner block of 98th and Lyndale in Bloomington, there is even a free Park N' Ride to get to and from the festival.

One day only, make sure you join us; otherwise, you'll have to wait a whole year for the opportunity to reappear!

Share Our Strength - No Kid Hungry Partnership

Please join us from Sunday, September 16 to Saturday, September 22, as we partner with Share Our Strength in their No Kid Hungry Campaign. According to their website, Share Our Strength works to combat the following startling statistics:

• 1 out of 5 (16 million) kids in America struggle with hunger. 
• 62% of America's teachers regularly see kids who come to school hungry because they aren't getting enough to eat. 
• 15.7 million children in America live in poverty. 

Share Our Strength works to end this vicious cycle, because the child who is too hungry to succeed in school is ill-equipped to be able to feed her own family in the future. With all the food available and programs to help in this country, it's hard to believe that kids can still go hungry. However, for many families, access to available programs and acquiring knowledge of healthy and affordable options can be difficult. Without this access and knowledge, many parents struggle to feed their children. The No Kid Hungry Campaign serves to, "provide access and education to families nationwide, so that every child, regardless of circumstances, can get the healthy food [he/]she needs to thrive." 

Starting on September 16, over 8,000 restaurants across the nation are partnering with Share Our Strength to Dine Out for No Kid Hungry with special fundraising promotions. Here at Woolley's, we're offering guests the opportunity to donate $5, $10, or $25 to the No Kid Hungry Campaign, and in return, we'll give you a gift certificate to Woolley's for the matching amount that you donate. Doing good's never been so simple (or so tasty)! 

For more information or for more fun activities that go along with the Dine Out for No Kid Hungry event, please visit their website by CLICKING HERE. 

We hope you'll join us next week and consider partnering with us and Share Our Strength, because no kid should have to go hungry. 

Happy National Cabernet Day - Thursday, August 30, 2012

Here at Woolley's, we love wine! So much so, that we have two entire evenings every week dedicated to Wine Lovers. (Every Sunday and Wednesday night you get half off any bottle in our extensive collection with your dinner).

Additionally, we take meticulous pride in our list and were awarded Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence and Wine Enthusiast's Award of Distinction as well.

And if that wasn't enough, we get to celebrate National Cabernet Day this week too. On Thursday, August 30, we'll be celebrating all things Cabernet by offering guests half off bottles of any Cabernet Sauvignon or Cabernet Franc on our list ALL day!

So, come on in tomorrow and enjoy half off any bottle of Cabernet in our award winning collection.

Happy Cabernet Day & Happy Thursday, friends!

How Does Our Garden Grow!

We're pretty excited by how well our garden's taken off, and we've sure taken to it as well. From incorporating our garden fresh produce into our Weekly Lunch Specials to supplementing our farmer's market finds, our garden has served us well this season.

When we started our little kitchen garden out back in May, it was full of promise. 

In June, it was growing well, despite the rabbits attempts at dining at Woolley's.

Now, just three months later, it's lived up to all of its potential and we're so thrilled to be able to share our garden's bounty with all of our guests.

This week, our lunch specials included a Bacon, Lettuce, and Fried Green Tomato Sandwich, and guess where the tomatoes came from. If you guessed our garden, you were right on the money! A few weeks ago, we were even able to use Smith Farms' grilled zucchini with our garden fresh cucumbers in a delicious Farm Fresh Salad lunch special.

We're also pretty excited about our indoor herb garden. We can use fresh herbs even during those long Minnesota winters. This whole green thumb thing is working out nicely.

How about you? Do you have a backyard garden or maybe even a kitchen herb garden? What's your favorite way to use your garden's bounty?

Grandma Sue is Employee of the Week

Please join us in congratulating our latest Employee of the Week, Grandma Sue! With over a decade of service under her belt, Grandma is a long-time Woolley's veteran and boasts her own share of regulars that come, not for just our wonderful steaks, but to see her as well.

As a server at Woolley's, Grandma Sue consistently goes out of her way to make sure her guests have not just a great meal, but a wonderful experience. Ensuring that any event they might be celebrating is noticed and properly acknowledging, remembering preferences from previous visits, and even working with kitchen staff to accommodate special requests, Grandma is an asset to our team.

A multiple-time recognized Diamond Award Finalist and even a grand prize Diamond Award Winner for Server, Grandma Sue is a jewel in our team.

Please join us in congratulating her when you stop in, or even just extending a nice high-five when you see her.

Keep up the good work, Grandma!

Calling All Secret Shoppers - We Need You!

Throughout the month of August, Woolley's is looking for secret shoppers to help us improve our guest experience! It's simple if you want to participate, and you even get a free meal out of it.

 

Simply let us know you're interested, and we'll send you a certificate for lunch, dinner, The Corner Bar, or brunch along with a secret shopper form and a postage paid envelope. Then, you use your certificate to enjoy the meal specified. (Lunch, Bar, and Brunch certificates are all good for $25, while dinner is good for $40). 

Once your experience is complete, we simply ask you to complete the enclosed secret shopper form and return it to us using the enclosed postage paid envelope.

Simple, right? Plus, we get to use all of the great feedback we get to improve the guest experience at Woolley's, so you always can expect a great meal and exemplary service. 

If you think you'd like to be a secret shopper - Great! Either e-mail us at a-r@tricitymanagement.com or call us at 952-854-1010, mentioning that you saw this post and you'd like to help us out. 

5-Course Beer Dinner with Brau Brothers - August 24, 2012

As we get more into the craft beer scene, we're happy to oblige its devoted fans with a five-course beer dinner. Brau Brothers Brewery out of Lucan, MN will be supplying the brews and we, of course, have a killer menu all laid out.

Join us on Friday, August 24 as we celebrate a great brewery's offerings.

Beer Dinner Menu - $40/person

August 24th 2012 

Charcoal Grilled Oysters

Topped with a citrus butter 

Bancreagie

Hearts of Romaine Salad 

Served with candied bacon, heirloom tomato, poached quail egg and sherry vinaigrette

Sheep Head

Roasted Capon 

Complimented with creamed greens, white bean cassoulet and sharp cheddar. Served with a Ring Neck ale biscuit. 

The Ring Neck

Gorgonzola Crusted Beef Tenderloin 

Slow roasted then finished with a gorgonzola crust. Served with fingerling potatoes and in a bing cherry compote. 

Hop Session 

Chocolate and Berry Duet 

Tobago chocolate torte with nougatine center & Grilled pound cake topped with our bourbon berry medley 

Moo Joos

Seating is limited to 35 guests, so act now! For more information or to secure your reservations for this fun event, please call Woolley's at 952.854.1010.

We'll see you there. Cheers!

Back to School Shopping - Make a Date of It!

We can't believe that it's almost time for back to school with the shopping, organizing, schedules, getting the kids to bed earlier (wishful thinking, right?), and everything else it brings. This year, why not make a date of the whole back to school ritual?


Since Woolley's is located within the Embassy Suites Minneapolis - Airport, it's the perfect way to shop, dine, and stay. With our close proximity to the Mall of America (and not to mention FREE shuttle for hotel guests), you can spend the afternoon stocking up on clothes, shoes, and other back to school essentials. Then, swing back to the hotel to drop off your purchases and relax poolside until dinner.

Before dinner, enjoy snacks and complimentary beverages during our nightly Managers' Reception in the atrium, available to all hotel guests. Then, enjoy the perfect ending to a great day, a relaxing meal at Woolley's. Peruse our award winning wine list and see why Chef Peter is a celebrity in his own right.


After dinner, don't worry about making the trek home, retire to your suite and get a good night's rest in. Breakfast in the morning is on the house and cooked to order to boot! The kids will love watching our chefs prepare their omelets to their specifications. After a great day and a great stay, you'll be ready to great the new day and the new school year.


This year for back to school, don't just make lists, make memories!


To reserve your room at the Embassy Suites Minneapolis - Airport, click HERE. Then, make your reservations at Woolley's Steakhouse by calling 952.854.1010 or reserve online at Open Table.

Woolley's Receives Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence (Again!)

We are pleased to report that once again, Woolley's has received Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence! 

 

Wine Spectator issues the Award of Excellence to restaurants, "for [wine] lists that offer a well-chosen selection of quality producers, along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style. Typically, these lists offer at least 100 selections."

The 2012 Award of Excellence was only awarded to 2,842 restaurants nationwide. Given the total number of restaurants in this country, this means that less than 1% of all restaurants in the U.S. receive this award.

We're pretty proud of our wine list. Hand-selected by our own director of restaurants and sommelier, Ben Berry, our list offers the perfect varietals to complement our menu and our guests' unique preferences and palettes.

Stop in on Wine Lovers Night, which occurs every Sunday and Wednesday from 5:30 to 10pm, and take half off any bottle in our entire collection with your dinner. A great way to sample a bottle you might not necessarily try otherwise.

Cheers!

Weekly Lunch Specials

Did you know that every week on Monday (unless it's a rare holiday week or we've got something way cooler going on), we unveil two lunch specials that run only until that Friday. It's a chance for our chefs to get a little creative and take advantage of the season's up-to-the-minute freshest ingredients. Usually a sandwich and a salad, we suggest you bring a friend, so that you don't have to choose between the two items.

For the week of July 16, our specials are:

Smoked Salmon Sandwich - Cured and house smoked salmon on a toasted 7 grain bun with dill cream cheese and caper Dijon. Served with mixed green. 

Steak Salad - Blue cheese crusted steak medallions. Served with mixed greens, roasted tomatoes and crisp cucumbers from Woolley’s garden. Tossed in a horseradish vinaigrette

Previous specials:

Chilled Asparagus Salad - Grilled and chilled asparagus on a bed of mixed greens tossed in a creamy lemon pepper vinaigrette, with charred red bell pepper, bacon bits and a poached farm egg.

Roasted Pork loin Sandwich - Slow roasted pork loin with apricot chutney and bleu cheese on a toasted ciabatta bun. 

Spicy Calamari Salad - Calamari breaded and dusted with Diablo seasoning, served over a fresh tossed Caesar salad. 

Burger  - Hand-pattied 8-oz burger topped with avocado, Churasco mayonnaise, heirloom tomato and Bibb lettuce on a brioche bun. Served with tator tots.

Roast Beef Sandwich - Thinly sliced tender roast beef encrusted with bleu cheese and spicy almonds, with Dijon mayonnaise on a toasted 7 grain ciabatta. Served with mixed greens tossed with balsamic vinaigrette. 

Summer Salad - Mixed greens tossed in a strawberry vinaigrette with toasted coconut, mandarin oranges, fresh raspberries and grilled shrimp

Copper River Salmon - Mixed greens with lemon dressing, toasted pistachios, goat cheese, pickled red onion, blackberries and topped with seared Copper River salmon. 

Chicken Caprese Sandwich - Grilled chicken breast on a toasted brioche bun with balsamic aioli, heirloom tomatoes and melted fresh mozzarella cheese.

As you can see, they're always different and only available for lunch during the week (on weekdays). Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, so you know what we've got going on each week. That way, you won't miss out!

RESTAURANT WEEK July 8 - 13, 2012

Mpls St Paul Magazine's Restaurant Week is back for Summer 2012. Join us once again for three-course lunches and dinners at a special price!

Lunch — $20

LUNCH ONLY: Free glass of house wine to start or non-alcoholic beverage

Appetizer (Choose one):

Soup & Salad Bar - Prepared fresh daily, featuring two house-made soups.

Entrée (Choose one):

Chicken Salad Sandwich - Grapes, pepper bacon, smoked cheddar.

Pastrami Sandwich - Hot pastrami on a Russian rye bun with horseradish mustard, Swiss cheese, spicy house-made pickles and an over easy egg. Served with pasta salad.

Tuna Salad Sandwich - Tuna salad with red onion marmalade, harvarti dill and seven grain bread. Served with chips.

Pasta Vodka - Ground spicy Italian sausage, roasted red peppers and Prosciutto ham, simmered in a creamy vodka tomato sauce, tossed with penne pasta and topped with freshly grated parmesan cheese.

Petite Martini Steak - A flat iron steak grilled and seasoned with all the makings of a martini (shaken not stirred) and garnished with St. Peter’s bleu cheese crumbles and green olives. Served with vegetable du jour and scalloped potatoes.

Black and Bleu Pasta - Spicy beef tips sautéed with red onion, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes and bacon all tossed in linguine noodles with a Southwest sauce and topped with bleu cheese crumbles.

Dessert (Choose one):

Molten Chocolate Lava Cake

Carrot Cake

New York Style Cheesecake

Dinner — $30

Bottles of wine from our award winning wine list are available all week at ½ price!

Appetizer (Choose one):

French Onion Soup

Caesar Salad

Classic Wedge

Entrée (Choose one):

Black and Bleu Pasta - Spicy beef tips sautéed with red onion, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes and bacon all tossed in linguine noodles with a Southwest sauce and topped with bleu cheese crumbles.

Grilled Caprese - Grilled chicken breast, heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil polenta cake and sherry vinaigrette.

Panko Crusted Walleye - Minnesota’s state fish hand breaded with parmesan-seasoned Japanese bread crumbs, pan-seared and served with lemon aioli sauce, vegetable du jour and rice pilaf.

Grilled Walleye - Walleye grilled with lemon over sautéed spinach and cherry tomatoes. Served with rice pilaf and lemon buerre-blanc.

Top Sirloin - 8-oz top sirloin on a bed of sautéed mushrooms and onions. Served with vegetable du jour and scalloped potatoes.

Martini Steak - A flat iron steak grilled and seasoned with all the makings of a martini (shaken not stirred) and garnished with St. Peter’s bleu cheese crumbles and green olives. Served with vegetable du jour and scalloped potatoes.

Dessert (Choose one):

Molten Chocolate Lava Cake

Carrot Cake

New York Style Cheesecake

Sounds great, right?! Well, we hope you'll join us beginning this Sunday for Restaurant Week. Secure your reservations by calling Woolley's at 952.854.1010 or online at Open Table. 

Fourth of July - Woolley's Independence Week Specials

In honor of the 4th of July and celebrating Independence Day, Woolley's decided to offer a few HOT deals to complement the weather!

50% OFF for Armed Service Members

Beginning today, June 29, and running through Saturday, July 7, we will be offering all current and past members of our nation's armed services 50% off. We can't say thank you enough to those brave men and women who gave of themselves so we, as a country, might be free. Bring in your special service man or woman for half off their meal this week!

25% OFF Steak Entrees for Facebook Fans

We wanted to express our gratitude to our Facebook Fans, and what better way than with a new Facebook Deal. To get your steak entree at 25% off, which runs from July 1 through July 7, simply like us on Facebook and claim your Facebook Deal when you check-in with your mobile Facebook app at Woolley's.

Please note, that Woolley's will have special hours this holiday week, so you can plan accordingly:

Monday July 2 & Tuesday July 3 

Woolley’s Restaurant: Open for Dinner Only (4:30 - 10:00pm)

Corner Bar: Open from 11:00am-11:00pm 

Wednesday July 4th 

Woolley’s Restaurant: Closed in observance of the national holiday

Corner Bar: Open from 11:00am-11:00pm

Hope to see everyone in for the HOT deals this week. 

Have a safe and happy 4th of July, everyone!

Beer Cocktails

America's favorite summertime adult beverage, whether for the barbecue or even after just mowing the backyard, remains the ice cold beer. This summer, mix it up a bit and try a beer cocktail. We know we don't need to completely reinvent the wheel, but some of the latest craft beer cocktails are a great way to mix it up. Literally.

 

From Alchemy's South Park Punch that incorporates a summery saison with southern comfort and Aperol to   the Bloody Mary-esque Michelada (beer, lime juice, and hot sauce in an ice-filled, salt-rimmed glass), beer cocktails are as diverse as the brews that make them up to the people that enjoy them. 

Around here, we've experimented and really like mixing IPAs (India Pale Ales) with a hard cider like Crispin. Similar in theory to the Snakebite (Guinness and Cripsin) and Black and Tan (Guinness and a Light Colored Ale), these "Apples of our IPA" are a light, fruity and delicious summer concoction, if we do say so ourselves. 

Another great summery concoction is the Shandy. Combining beer with ginger ale, ginger beer, or carbonated lemonade, it's a light, sparkly option.

For a dessert beer cocktail, top a rich stout with ice cream that complements the beer flavors for a float. Think root beer float, but better!

No matter what you decide to mix with your beer, choose liquors and other elements that draw out the flavors and essences already present in your favorite brews.

Happy mixing, and make sure to let us know if your inner mixologist stumbles upon something we just have to try!

Father's Day at Woolley's

Instead of that tie, golf balls, or even an electric razor he just plain doesn't need, get Dad what he really wants and bring him to Woolley's! This Father's Day, we're all about celebrating dads.

All day on Sunday, June 17, we'll be offering 50% off any of our mouthwatering steaks, 50% off all craft beer selections, and 50% off all scotches for dads.

So, go on, make some reservations and plan on treating Dad right this Father's Day! See you Sunday, and Happy Father's Day, dads!

Taste of the Twin Cities Originals 2012

The seventh annual Taste of the Twin Cities Originals is right around the corner. From 6-9pm on Thursday, July 26, Twin Cities Originals' member restaurants will be showcasing their best dishes at TCF Bank Stadium! 

This year, attendees can expect live music, Bacardi OakHeart cocktails, and even a craft beer tasting from Great Waters Brewing Co. Don't worry, just like last year, all attendees still receive complimentary Riedel crystal wine glasses .

Tickets are going fast, so make sure you get yours before they sell out! Regular admission tickets are just $50 each and get you in the door to experience not just all of the above plus the 20-course food and wine pairing. You'll also receive complimentary iron-rich food from Memorial Blood Centers, a chance to see Randy Meier of Fox 9 News and Dave Dahl of KSTP Channel 5, all while supporting the Fish Smart program of the Minnesota Zoo. 

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit: https://www.powercard.com/secure/tickets.php?tid=13&ref=PowerCard.

We'll see you there!