Community garden at butter

    Walking the Green Path: Being Counter Cultural

    At Butter, we try to be a daily advertisement for efforts to build community and restore our earth through the connections we make with each other, our food, and the world around us. Now, more than ever, this seems like a counter-cultural message.
    Rebirth of soil

    Walking the Green Path: Growth Beneath the Surface

    I’ve been aching for something that could feed my soul and give me the fuel I need to carry on in a business that at most times is all-consuming and in a world that has been particularly cruel and hate-filled.

    Holiday Dinner

    How to Get Through the Holidays Without Talking About the Election

    Having just finished one of the most contentious presidential elections in American history, lots of people are going to be coming down with something to avoid spending the holidays talking about politics. So how do we get through the holidays without someone brandishing a turkey leg or having people challenge each other to snowballs at ten paces?

    Geese flying in formation

    Walking the Green Path: Support for the Journey

    I understand that on long journeys one person cannot be expected to carry the full weight. When it is shared, the burden is lighter, the investment is deeper, and there is a benefit to having a range of experience to draw upon.

    Fresh summer cherry tomatoes on the vine

    Why We’re so Giddy Over Late Summer Tomatoes

    I get a little giddy when fresh tomatoes take over my favorite farmers market in late summer. Giddy because it takes tomatoes forever to show up and they’re gone in an instant.

    Doug at work in Piccolo

    At the Table with Piccolo’s Doug Flicker

    In this At the Table, we talk with Doug Flicker the owner and chef at Piccolo located in Southwest Minneapolis about what’s important and what it’s like to run a small highly acclaimed restaurant.

    Dan with local business owners who are working on being locally-climate oriented

    Walking the Green Path: The Microclimate of a Village

    The image of village resonates with me as a way to take our large-scale urban environment down to a more natural level. In doing so, I’m learning more about my role in this unique climate that is the neighborhood around Butter Bakery Café.

    Lake Titicaca

    Discovering a Shore Thing at Lake Titicaca

    On the border between Peru and Bolivia sits Lake Titicaca, considered sacred by the Incas, who believed that the creator god Viracocha rose from its depths to create the sun, moon, stars, and first humans. As I hiked along the winding path next to the lake I wondered what treasures it might hold?

    Sunset over Quebec

    Exploring the Lived-In History of Old Quebec

    Old Quebec is a city worth exploring for anyone who loves food or history. Quebecers have worked hard to preserve their city and are proud of its long history and French heritage.

    Fresh Raspberries

    Walking the Green Path: An Abundance of Raspberries

    As a café owner, most of my time is spent being concerned about scarcity; but at times I can see that what we do have to share happens by tending to the things that matter.

    Maple Leaf

    There’s Something Americans Should Know About Spending Time in Canada

    On a recent road trip across Canada, I learned there are a few things every American should know before they pack up the dogsled and make a run for the border.

    Cucumber Lemonade

    Going Beyond the Stick to Find Food Worth Eating at the Minnesota State Fair

    There’s a lot worth eating at the Minnesota State Fair that doesn’t come on-a-stick. Check out all of Umami’s recommendations for finding everything worth eating and drinking at the Great Minnesota Get-Together.

    A few good salad dressings help farmers market veggies disappear

    How a Few Good Salad Dressing Recipes Can Help You Eat Better

    The farmers market can be a challenge during the summer with all those beautiful veggies begging you to take them home. All it takes to make sure everything gets used up before it goes bad, are a few good salad dressing recipes.

    Sandstone arch at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

    The Sleepover: Hiking Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

    Rising hundreds of feet above Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore offers visitors a chance to see towering arches carved from sandstone, waterfalls, and lighthouses.

    Summer strawberries for canning don't need to be picture perfect

    Canning Nostalgia One Strawberry at a Time

    Canning strawberries in the summer always makes me feel nostalgic for the generations of my family who canned before me and for how this summer’s strawberries will help us weather the cold winter nights ahead.

    The white bread test is a great way to see how your grill really works

    How to Use the White Bread Grill Test to Grill Better Food

    Using the white bread grill test is an easy way to see how your grill really works and is a great way to learn how to grill better food.
    Grapefruit Jasmine Aperiti

    7 Cocktails Perfect for Summer

    Here are seven great cocktail recipes full of interesting flavors to quench your thirst this summer!

    Bee foraging for pollen

    Walking the Green Path: Supporting the Butterfly and the Bee

    A challenge for restaurants and cafes trying to practice sustainability is figuring out their role in making sure there is a sustainable food system and a sustainable eco system to support their work.