Let’s Dive Into Lake Minnetonka on a Stick

When a fudgy concoction serves as a sweet jacket over creamy ice cream, why not indulge? Photos: Chris Emeott

It goes without saying, many Minnesotans appreciate the finer things in foodie life—even if they’re posted up on a stick. With the scent of next month’s Minnesota State Fair circulating and this being our Best of Lake Minnetonka issue, I figured now is a great time to highlight some of my local favorites that come “on a stick”—metal, wooden or otherwise.

A: I’m a dessert person. B: An ice cream bar would not be my first choice … until now. I saw. I considered. I ordered. And I fell in après dinner love. It’s no secret that Tommy’s Tonka Trolley, open seasonally at the threshold of The Commons in Excelsior, offers Sebastian Joe’s ice cream, but I had never indulged in the handmade Joe-Bar. Let’s talk about the first bite. It’s like biting into a milky chocolate truffle—dense yet light. The generous-size bar is now one of my crave-worthy summertime treats. Pair it with a stroll down Water Street or along Excelsior Bay, and it’s a double dose of lake life goodness. tonkatrolley.com

I have a thing for fried chicken. Ask me about national fast food chicken chains, and I’ll rank them for you. What about the long standing Up North grocery store on Highway 371? Get there early for the fried chicken, which is ideal for noshing around a picnic table, during a boat toodle or in front of a fireplace on a rainy day at the cabin. But what about around this neck of the woods? This time, let’s chat about diving into a bucket of fried chicken from Spring Park’s Minnetonka Drive-In. (“Wait,” you might exclaim. “Chicken doesn’t come on a stick.” It surely does if you count the handle end of a drumstick!) There really is something comforting and nostalgic about rolling up, ordering up and gobbling up warm, crispy chicken with enough crunch and flavor goodness to make all the taste buds happy. minnetonkadrivein.com

Is there a better way to order up a summertime dinner than at a drive-in? Go classic; go fried chicken.

Let the debates begin: Are corn dogs just for the younger dining set? I think not! Diners of all ages can appreciate a hotdog cloaked in a warm jacket of cornmeal breading. But there’s another debate adrift. Mustard or ketchup? I know the trend to “flavor up” food has hit the corn dog crowd, and while I appreciate a hit of honey, I contend—keep it somewhat simple. Don’t dress it up too much. For me, honey and mustard are the perfect additions at The Corn Dog Co.’s food truck. (Feeling adventurous? The Korean corn dog is rolled in panko breadcrumbs, dusted with sugar and drizzled with honey, dipped in a sweet chili sauce. Hmm. I might have to rethink my order.) If you didn’t get a chance to visit the food truck last month at Minnetonka’s Summer Fest, check out upcoming locations at thecorndogco.com.

Stick to Learning

If any member of the younger set in your household has a hankering for making food-on-a-stick recipes at home, Minnetonka Community Education (MCE) is the place to go. Since 2021, MCE has offered cooking classes for kids in grades 1–5 at Minnetonka Middle School West that happily lean into state fair fare. This year is no different with Chef’s Academy: Foods on a Stick from 12:30–2:30 p.m. July 20–23. Recipes could include: Fourth of July Fruit Kabobs, Monkey Bread Kabobs, Pizza on a Stick and S’mores on a Stick. Additionally, On a Stick: State Fair Foods will be offered from 1–2 p.m. August 14. Recipes could include Fudge Toffee Delight Brownie Pops and Loaded Tater Tot Kabobs. Talk about Blue Ribbon winners! minnetonka.ce.eleyo.com