Prairie Kitchen and Bar will open at Hyatt Regency Minneapolis May 24, 2012

PRAIRIE KITCHEN & BAR WILL OPEN AT HYATT REGENCY MINNEAPOLIS ON MAY 25
Elegant new restaurant is part of the $25 million renovation at the newly transformed downtown hotel

To celebrate the opening of Prairie Kitchen & Bar, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis offers rates starting at $89 for May 25 through May 29

Hyatt Regency Minneapolis is proud to announce that the 168-seat Prairie Kitchen & Bar will open on May 25. The opening of the chic 5,500 square foot new restaurant marks a key milestone in the $25 million renovation of the hotel's guestrooms, suites, and public areas.

“We are thrilled to announce the launch of Prairie Kitchen & Bar,” said Randy Thompson, General Manager, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis. “This new venue is a sophisticated addition to the vibrant Twin Cities dining scene,” said Thompson.

Prairie Kitchen & Bar will specialize in locally grown and seasonal items that evoke the Scandinavian and farming heritage of Minnesota. Executive Chef Aaron Hagerdorn is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. “Our new menu is a tribute to Minnesota’s unique cuisine, with an emphasis on fresh regional produce, meat, grains, and dairy products. We look forward to offering our guests a stellar dining experience in a refined atmosphere,” said Hagerdorn.

Architecture and interior design firm Stonehill & Taylor, responsible for the latest renovation of the property, designed the new restaurant space. “Our inspiration for the restaurant came from the region. We heavily researched Minnesota’s Scandinavian heritage and the historic flour milling industry to add cultural texture into our contemporary design of the space,” said Michael Suomi, principal and vice president of interior design at Stonehill & Taylor. “We also wanted to support the regional economy as we sourced many elements of the restaurant in the area, much like in the rest of our renovation work for the hotel.”

Begin the day at Prairie Kitchen & Bar with hearty PB&J on griddled cinnamon bread with chestnut butter and lingonberry jam; smoked trout cake benedict; or a savory smoked ham and cheese omelet. For lunch, guests will enjoy a selection of fresh salads and soups made from scratch, such as chilled honey cucumber and waterzooi. Sandwich selections include the Meyer natural angus burger, the salmon BLT, and the Northwoods club. For dinner, the menu offers wild rice bratwurst; parmesan crusted walleye; garlic and veal meatballs; and more. The sumptuous dessert menu features a chocolate hazelnut torte; a strawberry rhubarb tart; and several other tantalizing selections.

An array of vegan, vegetarian and gluten free choices are available for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert such as the cherry soy smoothie; vanilla and soy milk pancakes with berry blast sugar free syrup and gluten free granola; roasted spring beets with shaved fennel, radish and arugula with a sweet and tart sherry dressing; caramelized artichoke and morel quiche; sweet potato and leek frittatas; and red berry pudding with basil anglaise and candied pecans.

The luxurious bar, made of 13 foot tall walnut and mirrored panels, is the centerpiece of Prairie Kitchen & Bar. The dramatic design offers 80 linear feet of seating for guests and is accessible from all sides. The bar features an extensive wine and domestic and imported beer list, including a vast selection of beers from local breweries including Summit Brewery, Lift Bridge Brewery and Big Bay Brewing Company. Signature cocktails are the Honey Crisp Prairie with Prairie Organic Vodka, cranberry juice, and Crispin Honey Crisp Hard Cider; the Bee’s Knee’s Martini with Tanqueray gin, Ames Farm honey and lemon juice; and the Purple Rain with Absolut Citron, Parfait Armour, cranberry and lime juice.

Prairie Kitchen & Bar serves breakfast from 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and dinner from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. A lounge menu is available from 2 p.m. to midnight. For reservations, call 612-596-4640. The website for Prairie Kitchen & Bar, www.prairiekitchenandbar.com, will be launched soon.

To celebrate the opening of the Prairie Kitchen & Bar, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis is offering special rates over Memorial Day weekend, from May 25 through 29, starting at $89.00. To book, call 800.233.1234 or visit www.minneapolis.hyatt.com.

About Hyatt Regency Minneapolis
Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, 1300 Nicollet Mall, is a convention center hotel located in the heart of downtown Minneapolis. The property features 533 rooms, 74,000 square feet of flexible function space, a full service business center, WIFI Internet access, renowned dining outlets, an indoor heated pool and a new health club. The hotel’s prime location on Nicollet Mall allows guests to easily explore an incredible array of Twin Cities’ attractions from shopping to sports and anything in between.