#Amuse: @thelefthandedmn Eclectic, hearty dishes w/ an edge. Kimchi yes! Could kick up the heat, but def. a winner.goo.gl/11343
— Josh Page (@ILikeFoodJP) December 10, 2012
I love the concept of the Midtown Global Market—an assortment of diverse eateries under one roof—but I rarely venture to the old Sears building to eat. It feels too much like a subterranean mall with uncomfortable chairs. But I recently put aside my prejudices to check out The Left Handed Cook, a four-seater oasis with a rocker vibe that dishes out robust, soulful food. Defying categorization, the menu includes everything from mac and cheese and poutine to Korean rice bowls and Asian-tinged BBQ sandwiches.
Left Handed Cook is known for tasty, eclectic food made with care. The two dishes I had (Hot Tofu and Beef Short Rib Bop Bowl) did nothing to challenge this reputation. (I was impressed that the kitchen kicked out quality dishes on a crazy busy night—it was the first evening of the super popular No Coast Craft-o-Rama, but even the soft-boiled egg on the Rice Bowl was cooked to perfection.) My only quibble was that the food was not edgy enough. Although the Hot Tofu tasted great, it wasn’t hot (even by Minnesota standards), and the tofu hadn’t absorbed any of the purportedly spicy sauce. The Rice Bowl was equally delicious, but a stiff shot of sriracha was needed to turn up the heat.
The Left Handed Cook is truly one of a kind—a refreshing blend of punk rock ethos, well-crafted cuisine, and an inventive enough menu to draw me back into the depths of the Midtown Global Market (its IKEA warehouse environs notwithstanding) sometime soon.
From the Eater Crew
Letta, curmudgeonly craft-slinger: After working for two days at the No Coast festival, I followed Josh’s recommendation and ventured further into the Market for caloric refreshment at the Left Handed Cook. Unfortunately, a quick perusal of the menu—and a chat with an eager staffer to confirm—showed that the eponymous cook may be many things, but he or she is likely not, like me, a vegetarian with a general soft-boiled egg aversion. Alas! I’ll wait for the next iteration of the menu to give the southpaw a shot.
Theme Song
X-Ray Spex, “Oh Bondage, Up Yours!”
I stop by the MGM often and what impressed me about The Left Handed Cook, was the open cook book from Momofuko which was being used there.
Stuofnankinchowmein, Momofuku cookbook is definitely a good sign. The honeycrisp apple kimchi (with jowl bacon) at Momofuku ssam bar is one of my all-time favorite dishes. Thanks for the comment.
What do you mean by “punk rock ethos”?
Brian, I mean punk rock character and devil-may-care attitude. Left Handed Cook seems to have a DIY ethic typically associated with punk rock. Thanks for the question.
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Great write-up! I too experienced LHC for the first time, what seems to be the day after you did.
I was impressed by the effort of their team under pressure (transparency is a challenge, always!) and their knowledge of their foods! Tight knit team working together is a beautiful sight!
Food was artfully prepared, tasty, and generous in portion! How long before they find a larger location? Not long I hope!