DeRusha Eats

S3 - Episode 22 - Hoyt Hill, the $25k bottle of wine at one of America's best restaurants

Hoyt Hill is the sommelier at Forepaugh's Restaurant in Saint Paul, in late April he got the opportunity to stage a couple days at Chef Thomas Keller's yountville, California restaurant The French Laundry. He talks about the experience, what makes a 3 Michelin starred restaurant different, and the guest who bought a $25,000 bottle of wine. Imagine what the tip was! Well don't imagine, listen to Hoyt talk about it in this edition of DeRusha Eats.

S3 - Episode 21 - Bucheron

A 38-seat restaurant in South Minneapolis is the Best New Restaurant in America! Bûcheron was named James Beard Foundation's best new restaurant for 2025, built by two veterans of fine dining, both with experience in Gavin Kaysen's Minneapolis restaurants. But Jeanie Janas Ritter and her chef/husband Adam Ritter are trying to do something different: a new version of fine dining where high technique is matched with casual and friendly service as well as a family-friendly life for their team. Bûcheron joins Jason on DeRusha Eats.

S3 - Episode 20- Kitchen and Rail Co-Owner Joe Newhouse

On this episode of DeRusha Eats, Jason is joined by Kitchen and Rail Co-Owner Joe Newhouse as they discuss opening a second location, opening during challenging times, their tribute to "Mort's Deli", what makes a good pastrami sandwich, having an "approachable menu" and more.

S3 - Episode 19 - Megan Luedtke: Bar Director For The Twin Cities Busiest Restaurant Group

Megan Luedtke is the most significant voice in deciding what cocktails Minnesotans are drinking, and no one's talking about her. DeRusha Eats is. Megan shares what inspired her to start creating craft cocktails, the challenges of being a woman in a part of the restaurant world that's stereotypically male, and how she finds flavor inspiration for Daniel del Prado's restaurant group. You can find her cocktails at Porzana, Minari, Rosalia, Martina, Dexter's, Colita, Cardamom, Flora Room, and Thérèse, newly open at 50th & France in Edina.

S3 - Episode 18 - From Fire and ruin to Restaurant of the Year: Khue's Kitchen

In 2024, Chef Eric Pham got the call that his restaurant was on fire, days before opening. He considered calling it - but he found a new location and opened Khue's Kitchen. In 2025, the Minnesota Star Tribune named it the New Restaurant of the Year. Eric talks about growing up in his family's restaurant, Quang; he talks about dropping out of college to get a job at Spoon and Stable, and his goal as a 25-year-old to create a restaurant perfect for younger diners. High technique, affordable prices, and lined up with his experience as a Vietnamese kid growing up in Minnesota.