Cooking For The Crowd

Yes, as one, Americans can finally all agree on one thing, which is that it doesn't matter whether you are in the market for a spouse, a best friend, or a president, there is really only one quality that matters, that inspires, that wins! And that is to be all things to all people. Oh, glory day! I mean, think about it. What is more soothing than to look at someone and to know, deep down in your bones, that you will only ever see what you wish to see? Hugs for all!

If you are feeling all last week and thinking that you don't like things that are all things to all people, that is because you haven't been to Nochee, which pulls off this feat with remarkable style. You don't buy it? Well, I am telling you, I have been to this new restaurant on the edge of downtown quite a few times, and have seen it work as a nifty sports bar, as a fine business lunch, as a hopping nightclub, and even as a nice place for dinner. If you don't believe me, you can stuff some ribs and drummies in your ears and whistle "La Bamba."

Yes, I said ribs and drummies. Baby back ribs ($10) are one of the specialties of the house at Nochee, and the time I had them I found them to be shockingly good. Picture a big, gooey, well-sauced half-rack of ribs about the size of a trade paperback, made in a slightly Asian style, with hints of soy and anise, so well cooked and caramelized that they glisten like stones seen beneath the surface of a stream. Lift one to your mouth and the meat falls away from the bone with an almost theatrical tenderness. Follow a bite of the sweet and rich meat with a bite of the kimchi that accompanies it, and the fiery Korean cabbage slaw illuminates the richness of the meat and fires the senses for another round. I tell you, if folks figure out that these ribs are within walking distance of the Metrodome we will see tailgating redefined in our lifetime.

As a sports bar, Nochee excels. They have wonderful calamari, pale as dawn light, scantly breaded, quickly fried, and just as buoyant as a breeze. Lots of flat-panel televisions, a long bar with lots of bar-stool seating, and a big patio with an ever-burning fire complete this aspect of the experience.

Nochee (rhymes with gnocchi) is also, every single night, a nightclub. There are live, energetic, loud, real bands, usually with a Latin accent, here every single night, and once the bands take to the full stage that occupies one corner of the dining room, cuties in spandex and men in business casual stream in for margaritas and twirling in the dark. Most nights there are also live bands playing softly during dinnertime, which gives the olive-hued environment something of a Ricky Ricardo meets Structure vibe. There aren't that many places in Minnesota to go for dinner and dancing, especially if you don't care to move the car in between, and so already Nochee has joined the first rank of those particular nightclubs. If you're not a dancer, you can hang out in the neon-accented lounge by the front door and survey the lasses skittering back and forth from the ladies' room on their thin high heels, and while you do you can smoke a $40 cigar ordered from the cigar list. Please note that it is no fair to throw banana peels in hopes of playing the rescuing hero.

Overnight the staff does something miraculous to vanquish the cigar smoke, and by lunchtime they do a standup job of putting out a highly competent, budget-friendly, fully enjoyable business lunch. I had a lovely bowl of squash soup one day ($5)--it tasted biscuity and roasty, like something rich with chestnuts--and an odd, but still enjoyable, version of niçoise salad in which a tuna and olive dressing coated a pile of poached haricots verts ($9.) My lunch date had a perfectly nice crisp sandwich of prosciutto, arugula, and mozzarella that came with a vast pile of thin, crisp French fries ($9). I couldn't help but notice how desperate this part of town has been for a good business lunch spot; the nearest equivalent restaurant is all the way over in the IDS center.