Nov. 7, 2019

Tasteas has added bubble waffles with an extensive menu of sweet and savory options. The waffles, a traditional treat in Hong Kong, are filled with ice cream or yogurt and then topping choices like Mr. Oreo, Tropical Storm or Mochi Jelly with rainbow Japanese rice cakes and jelly, Pocky sticks and condensed milk. Savory options include turkey, sausage, ham or bacon with cheese, lettuce, olives and a choice of sauce. Customers also can have nuts, chocolate chips, cheese, sweet corn or other ingredients baked into the waffle batter. The drink and treat shop is at 1018 W. 41st St.

Women from the Sioux Falls brewing industry gathered at Fernson Brewing Co. last month as part of the Pink Boots Society to brew a beer for The Bottle and the Ballot: Prohibition and Women’s Suffrage exhibit opening today at the Old Courthouse Museum. The brew team included women from Buffalo Ridge, Covert, Fernson, Lupulin, Miner, Obscure, Remedy, Severance and WoodGrain. Their creation, Tea-Totaled, is a dry-hopped saison with Earl Gray tea and lemon. The hop blend was picked by Pink Boots, which is an international collective of women in the brewing industry. The exhibit opening is from 5 to 7 p.m., and you also can find the beer on tap at Fernson Downtown, Covert Artisan Ales and soon at Lupulin Brewing Co.

Parker’s Bistro’s popular Harry Potter Night is back for its fifth year. The kitchen and bartending crews will serve wizard-themed small plates and cocktails from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday. The regular menu also will be available until 10 p.m. Here’s a sneak peek at one of the drinks: the Deathly Hallows features Appleton Estate 12-year-old rum, Luxardo liqueur, pumpkin puree, cinnamon syrup and rosemary tincture.

Only the die-hard food trucks are still out. My Place Mobile Cafe has found a permanent spot for Tuesdays near the Tea exit for I-29. The food truck will be in the parking lot at Picker’s Flea Market, Antique & Collectible Mall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Owner Maxine Montreal describes her menu as comfort food. It changes every week, but regular items include goulash and a deluxe cheeseburger. She plans to add breakfast hours if there’s enough demand. Every Wednesday, she’s at Rosenbauer in Lyons.

To celebrate 40 years of Happy Meals, McDonald’s is bringing back Furby, Hot Wheels and 15 other throwback toys for its limited-edition Surprise Happy Meals. They’ll be available through Monday, while supplies last.

Tinner’s Public House at 69th and Minnesota has a new feature menu. Appetizers include fried pickles – chips not spears – and a warm spinach artichoke dip. Entree options are Creole salmon, chicken margherita and the Public House Burger with two patties, served open-faced on Texas toast with Swiss cheese, marinated mushrooms and caramelized onions, all smothered with gravy.

Noodles & Company has added Caulifloodles to its noodle options. The cauliflower-infused pasta comes in two special dishes: cauliflower rigatoni in light onion cream sauce or cauliflower rigatoni fresca with shrimp. They also can be substituted in any dish.

The Alpine Inn is closed through Monday for a remodeling project.

Oh My Cupcakes has created a traveling cupcake bar for parties or corporate events. Guests get to tell the cupcake bar attendants how to fill, frost and accessorize the cupcakes. There’s a 30-person minimum with prices starting at $150.

S’mores desserts are showing up at lots of restaurants, but here’s an interesting twist. Woodys Pub & Grill at 900 S. Marion Road has a s’mores martini.

Here’s something from the did-not-know list: Royal Fork is known for its buffet, but customers can order several items to go, including fresh-baked cinnamon rolls. Get a half-dozen for $3.49 or a dozen for $6.69.

This isn’t a complete list, but here are a few free meals being offered in honor of Veterans Day on Monday. If you’re interested, check back until that day because we’ll add more offerings as we find them.

• 212 The Boiling Point in Brandon: Free lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for veterans and active duty.
• Applebee’s: All day for active duty and veterans.
• Bagel Boy: Free bagel with cream cheese and a small drink for veterans.
• The Barrel House: Veterans, active duty and first responders; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., free meal from the menu; 5 to 9 p.m., free hog roast and fish fry, with live music from 7 to 9 p.m. The restaurant also will donate 25 percent of Monday’s total sales to Midwest Honor Flight.
• Big J’s Roadhouse in Harrisburg and Humboldt: All day for veterans.
• Blue 42 Sports Grill: Free smoked pulled pork sandwich and a beer for veterans and active duty.
• Coffea Roasterie: Free drip coffee for veterans and active duty.
• The Co-op Natural Foods: Free coffee for veterans.
• Cracker Barrel: Free pumpkin pie latte or a slice of Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake for veterans and active duty.
• Crooked Pint: All day for active duty and veterans.
• Dairy Queen: Free medium blizzard to all veterans and active duty.
• Eileen’s Colossal Cookies: Free cookie for veterans and active duty.
• Golf Addiction: All day for veterans and active duty.
• Granite City Food & Brewery: Free lunch combo and nonalcoholic beverage from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for veterans.
• Hy-Vee: Free breakfast for veterans and active duty. Veterans also will get a 10 percent discount on groceries Monday.
• IHOP: Free red, white and blueberry pancake combo for veterans and active duty from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Johnny Carino’s: Free entree from special list for veterans and active duty.
• Kaladi’s Bistro: Free coffee for veterans.
• Little Caesars: Free lunch combo from 11 a.m.  to 2 p.m. for veterans and active duty.
• Lupulin Brewing Co.: One free beer for veterans and active duty.
• Oh My Cupcakes: Free cupcake and coffee for veterans.
• Pizza Ranch: Free buffet for veterans and active duty.
• Red Lobster: Free appetizer or dessert for veterans and active duty.
• Remedy Brewing Co: Free pint for veterans.
• Roam Kitchen + Bar: All day for veterans and active duty.
• Ruby Tuesday: Free burger or sandwich with fries or tots for veterans and active duty.
• Safari Bar & Grill: Free appetizer for veterans and active duty.
• The SandBar & Grill: All day for veterans, active duty and retired.
• Sassy Cakes & Coffee: Free cupcake and coffee for veterans.
• Scooters Coffee: Free drink.
• Starbucks: Free tall hot brewed coffee for veterans, active duty and spouses at participating locations. Plus, for every brewed coffee sold that day, Starbucks will give 25 cents to programs supporting mental health and well-being for veterans through Team Rubicon and Team Red, White & Blue.
• Teriyaki Madness: Free junior or regular bowl for veterans.
• Texas Roadhouse: Free lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for veterans and active duty.
• Villa Italian Kitchen: Free slice of cheese for veterans and active duty.
• Wileys: Free drink for veterans.

Here are other restaurant updates from throughout the week.

CheeseWorld shifts business model to online, pop-up events

Wine Time On Main celebrates first anniversary with new savings, events

Coffee roasting business to move downtown, eventually add cafe

Look inside Look’s Marketplace as it continues openings with retail, bakery

Myers’ Deli remodels to add event space

For all the news from the local dining scene, visit our Food & Drink section.