Thank you readers for all of your comments. Congratulations to Nengchiang Thao, Huechi Lee, Shouamy Herr, Rosine Johnson, Amanda Ly, Alex Tungol, Lindsay Kail, Carolyn Strauss, Brady Johnson and Pangia Moua on each winning a free drink from ChaTime!
ChaTime (Level 3, South), has finally made its way from Taiwan to the Midwest! With over 400 shops worldwide, the Mall of America® location is only the third in the United States. As someone who knows NOTHING about tea, but certainly plenty about coffee, I was extremely intimidated looking at their menu. With no idea where to even begin, Jonathan Chong from ChaTime walked me through all the different options. Let me break some of it down for you:
Milk Tea: ChaTime makes their Milk Tea with Black Tea or as Chong referred to it “Sun Moon Lake.” In the simplest form, it is tea with a small addition of milk, however, ChaTime uses non-dairy creamer. I tried the Bubble Milk Tea which had pearls at the bottom. Pearls, which originated in Taiwan, are chewy balls made of tapioca. Generally they would appear white, but more commonly they appear black because of the brown sugar that is added while making them. This is their best-selling drink worldwide.
Mango Green Tea: This was by far the most refreshing drink that I tried! It was also the least intimidating. Chong explained that you can choose the degree of sugar in each beverage. The range is no sugar – 100 (100 being the regular form or most sugar). The Mango Green Tea also had jelly added to the bottom of the glass. Jelly comes in either a fruit or coffee form. It’s a very similar texture to jell-o but slightly more chewy.
Oolong Tea: Chong had me try the Oolong tea as a latte. This beverage is served unmixed. You can see the liquid split in the middle of the cup with milk on the bottom and tea on top. Tea does have caffeine but not as much as coffee. This beverage makes a great alternative if you are looking to change up your morning drink.
Drinking tea has so many great health benefits and at ChaTime it’s also a lot of fun to drink! While they have dozens of beverage combinations available, they pride themselves on the fact that your drink will be the same no matter where in the world you are drinking ChaTime! Ingredients are the same and everything is measured perfectly to order, making the flavor of your drink consistent across all countries.
ChaTime wants to convert more people like me to be tea drinkers! Comment below and tell us “What about Tea intimidates you?” for a chance to win a FREE beverage at ChaTime. We will randomly select ten winners! To enter, you must comment on this blog post by Wednesday, April 18 at noon and provide a VALID EMAIL ADDRESS. We’ll announce the winners via email and update the post to reflect that we’ve chosen a winner.
You won’t want to miss this festive beach bash! Join us at Kokomo’s (Level 3, South) April 13-15 for a weekend of fun in the sun featuring live entertainment, food and drink specials, prizes and much, much more!
Here’s a rundown of the Trop Rock Fest highlights:
Jambo Joe Bones Live Friday 6 – 9 p.m.
Live broadcasting with DJ Allen and Capn’ Calli from Beachfront Radio – Sunny California
Prizes & giveaways
Happy Hour pricing all night long
Pacifico Beer sampling and drink specials (portion of proceeds benefit Wishes & More)
The Moustache & Mini Skirt Duo Live Saturday 1 – 4 p.m.
Live broadcasting with DJ Allen and Capn’ Calli of Beachfront Radio
Drink and appetizer specials
Prizes & giveaways
The Great Duo of Jerry Gontag & Mike Broward Live 6 p.m. – close
Live broadcasting with DJ Allen and Capn’ Calli of Beachfront Radio
Drink and appetizer specials and Captain Morgan’s new spiced rum sampling
Live interviews with Wishes and More
Prizes & giveaways
Dave Herzog (Renown Steel Drummer) & Stoney Savanna Live Sunday 1 – 4 p.m.
Live broadcasting with DJ Allen and Capn’ Calli of Beachfront Radio
Happy Hour pricing starting at 1 p.m. – close
Drink specials (portion of proceeds benefit Wishes & More)
Face painting
Prizes & giveaways
A portion of proceeds from this event will benefit local charity Wishes & More.
It’s all happening NEXT WEEKEND at Kokomo’s Island Café (Level 3, South) at Mall of America®!
For more information on Kokomo’s Island Café Mall of America, visit www.kokomosislandcafe.com or call 952-698-3072.
With the weather heating up and spring in the air, there’s nothing better then a good smoothie! Mall of America® just recently added the master of all smoothies, Jamba Juice, to their roster! I’ve been a long-time Jamba Juice drinker but I also didn’t realize how many items they have that I was missing out on! I met with a Jamba Juice smoothie expert last week so I could get up to speed on all their great offerings and what they recommend for spring!
Wheatgrass Detox Shot: The sound of this has always grossed me out but the more I learned about it, the more I had to try it! It is literally 100% pure wheatgrass. Locally grown in Wisconsin, Wheatgrass contains Vitamin K, Iron and is good for your liver and digestive system. It’s not meant to be eaten in solid form but you can drink it. It’s only served in 1 oz or 2 oz shots and not mixed in smoothies. But be prepared. It does taste and smell like grass, but the regulars and experts will tell you it’s great for you! Are you up to the challenge? Ask for a 1 oz shot of Wheatgrass next time you visit Jamba Juice!
The Coldbuster: This pre-boosted smoothie is a perfect blend for all those trying to kick the spring time allergies! The Coldbuster contains orange juice, peaches, bananas, orange sherbet and immunity and antioxidant power boosts. There are 2.5 servings of fruit in the original size.
Jamba Juice, a California based company, includes all calorie counts on their menus. They explained that each drink is intended to be a full meal. The items listed under their “Fruit & Veggie” category have up to three full servings of fruits and vegetables. Sign up on Facebook to be a Jamba Juice Insider and receive loads of coupons! MOA™ employees also receive 10% off.
Mention that you read this Foodie Friday post and receive $1 off any smoothie until Friday, April 6… OR, show the back of your Theatres at Mall of America® ticket stub to receive $2 off any smoothie (only valid at MOA™ location).
Calling all hungry tummies! There’s a new sandwich shop at MOA and you can thank us after you demolish your first toasted-to-goodness sub. Quiznos (Level 3, North) opened it’s doors on Friday after much anticipation. This famous sub shop is perfect for those that crave quality as they deliver one-of-a-kind, toasted handcrafted sandwiches that satisfy minds, mouths and stomachs in a quick-serve environment.
What do Lindsay Lohan and Jesse Ventura have in common? They both have their own designated bar stool at Dick’s Last Resort! While Lohan and Ventura have yet to visit Dick’s Last Resort, they should!
Believe it or not, Dick’s Last Resort actually started as a fine dining concept.
Dallas, TX – 1985: An entrepreneur was building a fine dining restaurant when a supporting wall fell and ruined everything! He then noticed a near by empty warehouse. It was a cheap space and with not a lot of money left from the fine dining concept, he started to pull together random chairs, mismatched silverware and other consignment items that he could find. Once they opened, they noticed a regular who always sat at the bar. He was grumpy, never smiled and always smarted off – he became known as Dick!
Now, with eight locations across the U.S., Dick’s Last Resort has made their way to Minnesota! The uniqueness of this restaurant can be found in everything from the staff (who are characters themselves) to the walls. Everything is a play on the name, but their only goal is to leave you with a smile on your face. The jokes even run all the way to the bathroom! The southern comfort food is great, but that’s not what you’re going to remember… you will remember the crazy hats, napkin-throwing staff, stuffed kangaroo on the wall and shirts that say things like “They have Hooters, we have Dick’s.”
While Dick’s Last Resort is all about the fun and games, there is one component that is no laughing matter. Dick’s Last Resort supports many charitable organizations. One way to get involved is by purchasing a t-shirt in their gift shop. A portion of proceeds from the shirts, “Dick’s proudly stands up for our troops” goes to the Wounded Warrior Foundation.
Join Dick’s Last Resort on Friday & Saturday nights for LIVE music starting at 8 p.m. – the only restaurant at MOA™ to feature LIVE bands every weekend!
Enter to win a $25 gift card to Dick’s Last Resort by commenting on this blog post and telling us what the craziest thing you have hanging on the wall in YOUR house is. You must comment by midnight on Sunday, March 18 and provide a VALID EMAIL ADDRESS. We’ll announce the winner via email and update the blog post to reflect that we’ve chosen a winner.
The following MOA™ restaurants will generously donate a potion of their proceeds to Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys during the Great Girl Gathering.
On Sunday, March 11 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Noodles & Co. at MOA™ will donate 25% of purchases to Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys. Just let the cashier know that you’re there to support Girl Scouts!
A portion of proceeds from any item purchased from the CRAVE CARES menu will be donated to Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys during the entire month of March.
Mall of America® McDonald’s will donate a portion of the proceeds for every Shamrock Shake sold during the Great Girl Gathering to support the Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys Centennial Celebration.
Tucci Benucch will donate $2 for every Strawberry Shortbread Trifle ($4.99) purchased during the weekend. The dessert features Trefoil and Savannah Smiles cookies. At the end of the event, Tucci Bennuch will match the total with an additional donation.
Girl Scouts Discounts
In order to receive the offer(s), guests must be wearing Girl Scouts gear including an official uniform piece and/or a Girl Scouts clothing item. *Offers are valid March 10 & 11 only*
With my spring break trip quickly approaching, I caught up with Healthy Express (Level 1, South & Level 3, North) owner Rae Lee to learn more about their all natural, low cal, healthy food options. I’m not a crazy health food nut but Lee explained to me that, “You don’t need to be a health nut to eat good, healthy food.” You can tell Lee is very passionate about her product. She said the best part about their food is, “What you see is what you get.” Lee picked her three favorites for me to try:
Tropical Sunset Juice: Fresh pineapple, strawberries, kiwi and oranges. Their juices are made with 100% fresh squeezed fruits and vegetables with no sugar added.
The Eye Opener Smoothie: Strawberries, banana, honey, protein powder, granola, apple juice and frozen yogurt. The granola gave the smoothie great texture and made it filling enough that it could be a meal on its own.
Chicken Caesar Wrap: Lean chicken, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, croutons, alfalfa sprouts, low-fat cheese and Caesar dressing. YUM, YUM, YUM!
One other great option is the Build Your Own Salad. You can combo this with any smoothie! Healthy Express isn’t your average food court restaurant. They offer a great variety of quick options that wont make you feel guilty when you’re done eating. They just want to promote better, healthier living.
What to give Healthy Express a shot? Enter to win a free combo meal by commenting on this blog post with your favorite smoothie ingredients to be entered to win. You must comment on this blog post by Sunday, March 4 at midnight and provide a VALID EMAIL ADDRESS. We’ll announce the winner via email and update the post to reflect that we’ve chosen a winner.
What goes together better than an awesome steak and a ride on a mechanical bull? Not a whole lot. Cadillac Ranch (Level 3, South) offers free bull rides on the only mechanical bull at MOA™ with any purchase!
How long do you think you could last? “Like” Cadillac Ranch on Facebook to receive 20% off your next meal. Cadillac Ranch features an awesome happy hour, a casual, laid back atmosphere and they show a variety of music videos on their 30 different TV screens. They describe themselves as having a “confused personality” playing a mix of country, pop and hip hop music. Recently under new ownership, they expect a lot of great changes coming soon so stay tuned!
For a chance to win a $25 Cadillac Ranch gift card, tell us who your favorite musical artist is? To enter, you must comment on this blog post by Sunday, Feb. 19 at midnight and provide a VALID EMAIL ADDRESS. We’ll announce the winner via email and update the post to reflect that we’ve chosen a winner.
I’ve worked for Mall of America® for four years and I hadn’t ever visited Kokomo’s Island Café until this week. I couldn’t have been more pleasantly surprised by the wonderful management team and the amazing food! This restaurant is the Mall’s best kept secret that I now want to share with you!
The flashy Caribbean décor and colorful entrance can be intimidating but once you taste their food, you will be coming back over and over again. Here are a few secrets I learned that I just have to share with you:
Their happy hour is the best at MOA™! It’s available Sunday through Friday, 3 – 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. – close. They offer ½ price appetizers, $3 16 oz. tap beers, well cocktails, select frozen drinks and select wine. I tried their Mango Lava Flow and it was a vacation in a glass!
Their food, which they call “Ameribbean – American and Caribbean” is all made from scratch. Here is what I tried and would absolutely recommend (I know it’s a lot but it was perfect to share):
Koko Crab Cakes- Two fresh premium meat crab cakes pan-seared to a golden brown. Served with a ginger lime aioli & topped with pickled pineapple relish.
Sweet Chili Wings – Glazed with a sweet chili sauce and fried to a crispy perfection. Soooooo good, no sauce is necessary!
Jerk Chicken Pasta – Classic jerk chicken pasta made the way the islanders like it! Grilled jerk chicken, corn succotash, pepper jack cheese and cavatappi pasta tossed in garlic cream sauce, then topped with chopped tomatoes and cilantro.
Captain Jack’s Chicken Sandwich – A grilled boneless chicken breast brushed with an amazing raspberry inferno sauce, topped with freshly grilled pineapple, pepper jack cheese and served with a side of avocado ranch.
3. They also have a large banquet room called “The Lagoon Pavilion” that seats up to 100 people. Having a party somewhere besides The Lagoon Pavilion? No problem, Kokomo’s caters! They will help you plan fun interactive games, hula hoop or limbo contests or even create a special cocktail inspired by your group.
It was like being on the islands without ever leaving Mall of America – it was the next best thing to being there!
Want to check out Kokomo’s? Comment on this blog post and tell us what your favorite island is to be entered to win a $25 gift card to Kokomo’s Island Café. You must comment by Sunday, Feb. 5 at midnight and provide a valid email address. We’ll announce the winner via email and update the post to reflect that we’ve chosen a winner.
Thank you readers for all of your comments. Congratulations to Britta Mitby Gagner on winning the $25 gift card for “The Lounge” at House of Comedy.
JOKE: What does the richest person in the world make for dinner every night? (Punchline at the bottom)
Their food is no laughing matter. This weekend, get your party started in The Lounge at House of Comedy! There are four menu items that I just can’t get enough of.
Their NEW flatbreads: Made from Naan bread, they are shaped like tear drops. The shape was inspired by pizza makers throwing the dough against the wall and letting it drip down.
R-Sauce: They wouldn’t share the secret recipe with me, so you are just going to have to try it for yourself! It’s great on burgers or for dipping your sweet potato fries in.
Sweet Potato Fries: House of Comedy is one of the only places at MOA where you can find these.
D.F.T Dessert: Best treat for a late night show (pair it with a glass of bubbly). It’s a deep fried Twinkie with vanilla wafer crumbs, strawberry topping and whipped cream.
MORE WAYS TO LAUGH:
Looking for a unique way to raise money for your non-profit organization? Check out Comedy for a Cause. Receive 50% of all tickets sold.
Join the Birthday Club to receive a free ticket to an upcoming show!
Who is your favorite comedian or who would you like to see at House of Comedy? Comment below to enter to win a $25 gift card for “The Lounge” at House of Comedy. To enter, you must comment on this blog post by Sunday, Jan. 29 at midnight and provide a VALID email address. We’ll announce the winner via email and updated the post to reflect that we’ve chosen a winner.
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