The last decade in American food culture has borne a bacon frenzy that shows no signs of slowing, and why on earth would it? Bacon is beloved by all; even vegetarians are not safe from bacon-induced slipups. The arbiters of food trends keep insisting that the bacon rush is “over,” but how can that be when bacon was never “out?” It just has better publicity now, and we have seen gazillion ways to ingest the heavenly substance. If you need proof, just Google “bacon” and you will come up with 11,700 results; sites like bacondtoday; baconbacon; royalbaconsociety and baconfreak will top the list. But we’re drooling by now, so let’s get to it. We did all the legwork for you and tracked down the best bacon treats around here, so just enjoy.
Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza (pictured above)
DeLeo Bros. Pizza
Pizza is one of those foods that generally needs no improvement, yet bacon has the magic ability to gild that lily to remarkable effect. DeLeo Bros.’ bacon cheeseburger pizza is pretty clever: it’s got the usual crispy-chewy crust smeared with their nicely seasoned red pizza sauce (sub barbecue sauce if you’re feeling like a bacon burger) and it’s piled with sautéed, seasoned ground beef, diced white onion, lots of bacon and melted cheddar cheese. There’s even a dill pickle for authenticity, though it tastes a little funny on the pie. But even though the ingredients sound weird, they add up to infinitely more than the whole; not too burger-y, not too pizza-y, and totally bacon-y. Large, $18.99. 803 Bielenberg Drive; 651.714.9315.
Bacon and French Toast Cupcake
Nadia Cakes
Nadia Cakes won the $10,000 prize on television’s Cupcake Wars, and now we have a Woodbury location that opened in February—hallelujah! Flavors include not one but two bacon cupcakes: the bacon and French toast or the bacon bad (after the TV show). We love that they didn’t throw out a standard bacon cupcake just to shut up the clamoring bacon-heads; no, Nadia Cakes actually invented clever and off-the-hook delicious, bacon-inspired and bacon-containing cupcakes. The bacon and French toast is our personal favorite, made with heavy cream, maple syrup, cinnamon and crisp bacon; it’s topped with coffee cream cheese frosting and a cute little chocolate dipped espresso bean. Before you rush over there, call in advance. It’s not on the menu every day, but you can order a dozen any old time, with 48-hour notice. $3.25 for one, $33 per dozen. 429 Commerce Drive; 651.314.4444.
Bacon and Cheese Omelet
Ze’s Diner
Let us welcome Ze’s Diner, which has opened a branch of this fun ‘50s diner for us lucky Woodburians. It’s full of old-fashioned favorites, which means there’s something for everyone. Before bacon snuck into everything from your chocolate to aftershave (don’t believe it? Google it), it was primarily a breakfast food and a stalwart companion to the egg. Ze’s is a great place to satisfy the yen for a simple egg-and-bacon breakfast, especially when the bacon is stuffed into a fluffy pillow of egg with a bunch of gooey cheddar cheese. $7.75. 2190 Eagle Creek Lane; 612.384.6875.
Millionaire's BLT
Craft Beer and Kitchen
One of the most well-known and beloved uses of bacon is the BLT—a sandwich of bacon, lettuce and tomato. Craft Beer and Kitchen makes a BLT with a twist: millionaire’s bacon. Don’t know what that is? It will blow your mind (and your taste buds): it’s bacon caramelized in sugar and spiced with cayenne and black pepper; like bacon candy with a kick. Craft keeps this magic meat company with crisp iceberg lettuce, fresh sliced tomato, and a bright lemon aioli on toasted white bread. There’s an unassuming pickle spear too, because a little bite of sour here and there really hits the spot. $10.95. 700 Commons Drive; 651.735.1997.
Beef Liver Dinner
Key’s Cafe & Bakery
Everyone wants nostalgia on the plate these days, which isn’t always a good thing. The dreaded liver dinner of yore may be best forgotten, but we contend that liver-haters just never had it cooked correctly, and you’d be surprised, then delighted, to try the liver at Key’s where calves’ liver is expertly grilled with onion and bacon. The bacon doesn’t just serve to make the liver more palatable (though it can’t hurt); it keeps the quick-cooking cut moist and tender, preventing the off-putting mealy texture we remember as kids. $9.95. 1750 Weir Drive; 651.731.5397.
Ugly Chicken
Lake Elmo Inn
Once upon a time, bacon was more of a flavoring rather than the whole point of a meal; its smoked flavor added the je ne sais quoi that elevates any dish from good to great. Coq au vin (chicken with wine) is a case in point. It’s a hearty French stew, usually made with an old, tougher bird stewed to the max in wine laced with, herbs, garlic, and, you got it, plentiful chunks of bacon. You may not notice the bacon when you eat it; but it adds a beautiful meaty depth that is one of the hallmarks of this classic. Lake Elmo calls their version “ugly chicken,” though it could also be called “happy chicken,” since it’s made from a local, free range and drug-free bird. The sauce is to die for, thanks to the bacon cameo; slurp it up with bread. You’ll be served an entire half bird, so you’ll probably have some for lunch tomorrow too. $22.95. 3442 Lake Elmo Ave. N. Lake Elmo; 651.777.8495.
Tamarack Clubhouse (pictured above)
Red Rock Bar and Grill
The club sandwich is a restaurant menu staple with murky origins, though sightings in early history documents go back as far as 1899. It’s one of the most beloved of the sandwich genre, a hearty stack of meat, cheese and a bit of green stuff for color and crunch. Red Rock’s Tamarack club sticks to the tried-and-true formula: turkey, black oak ham, thick-cut bacon, plus provolone and cheddar cheeses on toast. A generous swabbing of mayo binds it all together; lettuce and tomato add a bit of freshness. $14. 676 Bielenberg Drive; 651.209.3280 ext. 2.
