Readers, I am excited to welcome you to our table this month, where we are celebrating our annual food and entertaining issue. In these pages, I hope you feel inspired to take a bite of something new—figuratively or literally.
Now, as I began to plan this issue and looked at all things entertaining, I was reminded of the time I visited New York City in high school. It was a group of 100 or so students, and we had the wonderful opportunity to attend The Lion King on Broadway. It was a transformative experience—I’d never encountered the arts in that way before, and I had a newfound appreciation for all that goes into the world of theater. It inspired me to attend more local shows in our community, and the years following were spent attending performances around the Metro.
Meet Emma Lai, founder of Picnic Basket Theatre and Woodbury native, who shares how she landed in the arts and began her theater, and, with a recent move to the Big Apple, you may even see her land on Broadway someday.
Hungry for more? Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and I encourage you to explore all the tasty topics in this issue. First, why not take things easy on Turkey Day? I round up a list of local restaurants eager to cater your meal. Then, meet celebrated chef Diane Moua who shares her inspiring story of opening Diane’s Place; on the restaurant, she says, “I hope that Diane’s Place becomes a staple for Minnesota. We have one of the largest Hmong populations here in the Twin Cities, and this is a space where I can continue to showcase my culture.” Lastly, get a taste of a local tradition. The Goette family shares recipes through their business, Kempston Farms.
Happy Thanksgiving,
—Hailey Almsted
