In honor of the Minnesota Vikings kicking off their brand-new season and stadium, gather with your football-loving friends and family and go restaurant hoppin’ around Woodbury before the big game to try the best purple foods, drinks and spreads. From baked blueberry goods to a mouthwatering mojito, your taste buds will be big fans of these purple picks. Every Woodbury Vikings fan will be anticipating a victory in this season’s football games with a full and satisfied stomach.
Lavender Margarita
Sovereign Kitchen and Bar
Lavender might be one of the softest purple colors, but the lavender margarita has a little bit of a kick. This drink is a top seller and Sovereign favorite for a reason—the lavender-infused Cabrito silver tequila, fresh lime, organic agave and kosher salt rim pair together to make for one awesome drink. $10.
Eggplant Carpaccio
Osteria at Prestwick
Try this elegant and flavorful appetizer containing a naturally purple vegetable that is also naturally yummy: eggplant. This hearty dish is complete with grilled eggplant, goat cheese, sundried tomatoes, pine nuts, croutons and a balsamic reduction. Eating like a king before the big game is always a must and starting off the meal with this appetizer is a great head start. $9.
Bubble or Loose Leaf Tea
Sencha Tea Bar
The options are endless at the Sencha Tea Bar with blueberries galore in many bubble tea and loose leaf tea flavors. Try one of Sencha’s own special creations, or try your hand at your own recipe by mixing flavor shots. Have a little friendly competition before the intense competition on the field: Who can make the brightest and “purplest” drink? Prices vary.
Baked Blueberry Oatmeal
Dorothy Ann Bakery
Game day starts as soon as you jump out of bed. And thanks to Dorothy Ann Bakery, the first purple food of the day can be with breakfast. This breakfast dish puts a delicious spin on regular oatmeal. The blueberry oatmeal is baked to a crisp and served warm with brown sugar and milk. In a hurry? No problem—try the to-go version: a baked blueberry oatmeal muffin. $3.65.
Zydeco Old-Fashioned Blueberry Pancakes or French Toast
Woodbury Café
Start off game day with the breakfast of a true Viking. Choose between two golden buttermilk pancakes served with powdered sugar and a heaping pile of blueberries, or three slices of thick-cut sourdough bread dipped in French toast batter, adorned with plump blueberries, pecans and fresh bananas and sprinkled with powdered sugar. These dishes will fill you up so you can cheer on those Vikes. $6.90 pancakes, $10.95 French toast.
Kinky Mojito, Blueberry Mint Soda, Blueberry Cheesecake
Crave
Can you think of a better combination than a cold, fizzy cocktail and sweet dessert? The addition of Kinky purple liqueur puts a fun spin on a typical mojito. The purple Kinky paired with fresh mint, tangy lime and fizzy soda is a mouthwatering combination. It’s the perfect drink to pre-game the football game. There’s even a non-alcoholic version for the kids—the blueberry mint soda. Follow your drinks with an equally yummy dessert: The blueberry cheesecake has a graham cracker crust, real blueberries and shaved white chocolate. Mojito $5 during happy hour (Monday-Friday, 3-6 p.m.); cheesecake $3.95 for an individual serving.
(A purple trio from Crave: blueberry cheesecake, blueberry mint soda and Kinky mojito.)
Wild Blueberry Cream Cheese and Bagel
Panera Bread
If you are looking for a quick bite to eat, stop by Panera for a French toast, cinnamon crunch or just a plain bagel to pair with the colorful and delicious reduced-fat wild blueberry cream cheese with tasty chunks of blueberry. And if you are looking for a double-batch of blueberries, try the scrumptious blueberry bagel with blueberry cream cheese. Bagels $1.05–$1.34; cream cheese $1.25.
