Best dishes countdown #28: Chilled blue mussels at Heyday

A blanket of yogurt snow keeps the mussels snug yet chilled.
Jim Christiansen was named one of Food & Wine Magazine’s Best New Chefs in 2015 and anyone who has tried the chilled blue mussels at Heyday will know why. Like all of the dishes on the menu, the minimalist description – frozen yogurt, pickled cucumber, dill – doesn’t hint at the imaginative creation that arrives at the table.
The plate is covered in what looks like finely shredded Parmesan but is actually a yogurt "snow" that melts into a savory ice cream consistency with each bite. Hidden like jeweled treasures under the yogurt are mussels and pickled cucumbers, interlaced with dill. Each forkful is an adventure that delights not only with flavor, but with the whimsical presentation.
Heyday
2700 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis
612-200-9369
heydayeats.com
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