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. 

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!

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 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.