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All life is is change. And I am not immune. This year has brought big shifts here at Hunter Angler Gardener Cook, and in case you had not heard about them before, I thought I’d catch you up.
First and foremost, I have moved from California to Minnesota, where I lived briefly 20 years ago. I bought a house in the Highland Park neighborhood of St. Paul; closed on it last weekend.
The reason for this is that back in February, Holly and I split up. You will still see her photos here and there on this site, as we did a lot of advance work on posts. But she won’t be doing any more photography with me. So I’ll need to step up my photo game…
I spent much of this year on the road, traveling, thinking, learning, reflecting. I’ve written a lot about this over on my other website, To the Bone, which is where I do all my writing that isn’t recipe-related.
I spelled out my reasons for moving to Minnesota over there in a post called California Leavin’, but the short version is that I have many friends here in the Twin Cities, many readers, and, well, I just love the state and the nearby Great Plains.
This website will continue to be the recipe site it has always been, although now that I’ll be in the Upper Midwest, I’ll be focusing a bit more on my new region’s wild foods, from walleye to mushrooms, berries, whitetail deer, you name it. I’ve already started with an article on birch boletes, which are common here in Minnesota.
Here in Minnesota. That’ll take some time to get used to.
But I am excited for this new chapter in my life. I’ve never bought a house before, believe it or not, and I haven’t lived alone in 22 years. Many adjustments, many highs — and lows — ahead. New places, new friends, new foods to explore and most of all, new recipes to bring to you.
Wish me luck, and if you have any Minnesota recommendations for me, let me know in the comments.
~ Hank
I once started over in Minnesota. As a place to land, it’s not half bad. ?
I look forward to a podcast featuring you and the Sioux Chef!
Wishing you well and lots of enjoyment on your new adventures!
Welcome to Minnesota, Hank. So sorry to hear about your relationship and congratulations on the big decisions you’ve made to move on. You made a great choice coming to this state with all that you love! Warmest of welcomes – we look forward to all that you’ll be sharing with us.
Great adventures ahead. Good luck. Great food and places ahead ?
Good luck, Hank! Best wishes to you.
We really enjoyed our meal of shared plates at the Smack Shack in Minneapolis.
Dear Hank,
We look forward to your future postings and books wherever you are! Minnesota is a great food place. And a great people place.
But do not forget to visit Jesse and us in Austin sometime soon.
Hank, welcome to Minnesota. Great to have you here in our great state. St. Paul is my home town.
Can’t wait to read your new articles and recipes about our wild plants and fauna
My thoughts, hopes and wishes are with you. Change is hard but often times very necessary and good! Keep your goals in sight and your chin up Hank! “This too shall pass.”
Hank sorry to see you leave the golden crazy cost of living state of CA, will miss your hosted events here and promoting dinners, hope you settle into your old stomping grounds and continue with the inspiring recipes, books and blog. To new adventures!
Best of luck to you.
You might enjoy this 🙂 Garrison Keillor
She lived in New York City,
And Melissa was her name.
Intelligent and pretty
And her life untouched by shame.
But nothing seemed to thrill her
So one morning before dawn
She left a note on her pillow
Saying, “Mother I have gone.”
I’ve gone to Minnesota
To discover what life means
A state where people know to
Wear long johns beneath their jeans.
I’ll miss you, darling mother,
And try to write or call,
But I’m bound for Minnesota and the city of St. Paul.
He was a prince of Wall Street,
In a long b lack automobile,
In a town where you see the false treat
Ed as if it were real.
Although wildly successful
As a man of many hats,
He found it rather stressful
Trying to race with younger rats.
So he went to Minnesota
To discover what life means
A place where people gota
Get away from limousines.
Where you thrill to every sunrise
And you hark to nature’s call
Out in Minnesota and the city of St. Paul.
From all across the nation
Fundamentalists as one
Said, “Why does predestination?
Mean we cannot have some fun?”
Why follow what John Knox taught
That life is a stone wall?
I’d rather do the foxtrot
So I’m heading for St. Paul.
They went to Minnesota
To find out what life means.
Where there is no daily quota
We must produce on machines.
Goodbye Calvinism,
And minds that are too small.
A brighter day has risen on the city of St. Paul.
BREAK
She lived in San Francisco
In the cool Pacific mists
Where she danced all night to disco
With the other hedonists.
A life of ease and sushi
And yet she felt– depressed.
And one afternoon at two she
Took a plane to the Midwest.
She went to Minnesota
To discover what life means
That’s where Fitzgerald wrote a
Book about romantic scenes.
Goodbye literary
Parties soaked in alcohol
I’m headed for the prairie and the city of St. Paul.
I am sorry about your split. Relearning, is hard and easy. Lots of crying and adventure. I love learning about new areas. Since you have lived there before, be good to revisit some areas and gives us so much to read about.
I wish you the best in all your new and old adventures.
California to Minnesota – hmmm. I get it though. As far as places to see, the north woods, Boundary Waters is wonderful. I did a semester research project there (feeding habits of pond-dwelling beaver) – sleeping in a tent, getting to study sites in boat or canoe, cooking on a campfire. It was awesome! Late August, early September, so no mosquitoes, but there was rain. No big. It was one of my favorite (so far) life experiences. I’m looking forward to your new perspectives.
Hi Hank,
I’m so sad to hear about your separation…that is a very difficult time in one’s life. I hope it was amicable and for the best. I’m happy you’ve landed here in Minnesota and I look forward to your take on local game dishes and more.. I wish you the best of luck and hope to get the opportunity to meet you again soon (we met at Fulton Brewing a couple of years back!)
Just a quick welcome (back) to Minnesota — and a recommendation that you immediately buy a good snow thrower! Unless you decide to become a snowbird. You can decide of course after your first winter — just around the corner! Keep cookin’
Good luck Hank, I hope everything works out for you the way you want it to. I’m not a big fisher or hunter here in England, but I do very much enjoy your recipes, especially the game and fish ones which we can buy in abundance here. I’ve just made your tomato confit recipe with home grown tomatoes and it’s delicious. All the best, Lesley
Ahhh you went the opposite way as me! I spent 11 years in Minnesota in the far North and being from Eastern Washington it was quite a change. I am back home in WA now but the time i spent there was wonderful and I miss it a lot and we talk of moving back constantly. Most my exp.s are four to six hours North of you so take what you can. 1st – MN offers a recreational whitefish gill netting permit. Lots of fun but a long slow learning curve. I always wondered if the meat would be higher quality if taken NOT during the spawn however but then you would miss out on the amazing caviar though.
Great. Lakes. Salmon.
The Hericiums and chicken of the woods mushrooms are much higher quality thatn any I have found out west yet and I miss them. It is possible to find black trumpets there but I never really dialed them in like i did in california. I think they might be more numerous down by the cities (thats you). The Chaterelles up north can be phenomenal.
Wild. Rice.
I found a couple time where Minnesota DNR was culling white tail populations to prevent spread of disease between cattle farms and the venison is unlimited. All animal cleared by biologist before being released to the public. Doesnt happen all the time but keep your ears open and you can play around with more venison than you’ll be able to process.
Great luck to you and i look forward to what you find. Ive loved the site for years and have come to depend on it so thanks soooo much – Cheers
You should check out north central Minnesota if you haven’t already. We have some of the best deer hunting in the state, and lots of off the beaten path gems. I am a quasi-organic farmer here. We have a vibrant community of farm to table producers, from old hippies to the Amish.
As they say in shotgunning, baseball and bowling – “swing through”. Turmoil and chaos bring a steep learning curve and gobs of experience if you are open to it. Reflect backward and forward as you move through this new adventure and stay focused on your objectives.
Erik Zinn
It is amazing to have you in Minnesota. It will give everyone a chance to get your take on some of the local food. my friend and I do field to freezer with everything we hunt and catch so this will be awesome.