The Lake
“There are only two places in Minnesota: the Cities and the Lake.” As jokes go, this one is tried and absolutely true. If folks are loading up the car, the smart money says they’re either heading south, to Minneapolis-Saint Paul (the Cities), or north, to explore the galaxy of options for lakeside recreation.
Minnesota is the Land of 10,000 Lakes. It says so on the license plate. In fact, it’s actually more like 12,000 lakes, even more if you count the big cow ponds. Leave it to the chronically humble descendants of Norwegian farmers to lowball their most famous geological attribute.
Minnesota lake culture is unique. Yes, I know other places have lakes. But inescapable proximity makes accessibility just a little bit more democratic, and that little bit makes all the difference. Everyone is in. Sure, you’ll see some waterfront mansions and quarter million dollar towboats. At the same time, though, pretty much anyone anywhere in the state can make it to the nearest public access to rent a canoe, fish off the dock, or grill lakeside.
The call of the water is intensified by the brevity of summer. Warm, sunny days on the lake are precious. When you cherish something, it creates a culture of respect and stewardship. I know my view is tinted by rose-colored glasses, but even so, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is one of the best funded in the country.
Every summer of my childhood, no matter where in the world we were living, we returned to my grandmother’s cabin on Lake Waverly. My aunts, uncles, and cousins, too. What I remember most is a feeling of unstructured time, a choose-your-own-adventure attitude, the kind that only marinates when everyone knows that no one is going anywhere. Some folks might relax on the porch with a glass of lemonade. Some might head out on the boat to fish or ski. There might be volleyball or croquet on the lawn. A group might head into town for groceries or Dairy Queen. No matter what, my grandma was cooking. And then everyone came together for dinner.
This is where I developed a taste for exactly the foods you might imagine: fried fish, bratwursts, roasted sweetcorn, watermelon, and tangy potato salad. What I like to imagine is that, on some of those days, everyone in the state of Minnesota was eating the same thing.
Sometimes the obvious things are the most beautiful. When everyone is in on something, what follows is a power and a calm.
Unfortunately, getting everyone on the same page is harder than ever. At Aster Pantry, we find our answers in the food, and right now, the answer is Rainier cherries. If you’re in Washington state at this moment, enjoy as many Rainier cherries as possible before the season ends. They’re one of Washington’s top contributions to the world, right up there with apples, salmon, and mountains. This week we’re serving grilled pork with smoked chili jam and pickled cherries.
Last but not least, we’ve added a new section to the website. It’s called Articles. This is where you’ll find Aster Pantry’s recommendations for things like tools, books, and the top recipes for the season. When a new Article drops, we’ll let you know about it right here on the Regular.
We’re glad you’re cooking with us.
Cheers,
Sten and Mac
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