Real Bites

Pedal Pushers Cafe

Do you ever have one of those days when you get so busy that you forget to eat?

And then long after lunch time, your stomach reminds you that you’re running on empty.

This past week, I had one of those busy days.  And, I had some traveling to do.  So, I called Pedal Pushers Cafe for a carryout order.

They’re one of our family’s favorite stops.

There was one time when our kids were young enough to ride in one of those covered bike trailers that parents get to tow behind their bicycle.  My wife and I biked from Fountain downhill to Lanesboro with the kids riding in the bike trailer, and we ate at Pedal Pushers Cafe.  The ride back uphill to Fountain just about killed me, partly because I ate enough food to take a nap and also because I was fighting gravity with roughly 100 pounds of children in tow. 

Here’s the best part of the story.  After biking 11.2 miles down to Lanesboro, and then another 10.2 miles back up to the one mile marker right before you climb the hill into Fountain, my wife felt bad for me having to haul the kids the whole way.  So, we switched the trailer over to her bike and she hauled them the last grueling mile to the Fountain trailhead.  It was at that moment when my brother-in-law and his wife (my wife’s sister) were driving on County Road 8 and saw both of us biking on the trail.  Of course, they saw my wife hauling the kids while it looked like I had it easy all the way into Fountain.  I still get to hear about how my wife had to haul the kids while I was slacking.

And, then I recall back when Pedal Pushers owners Scott and Angie Taylor organized an annual burger-eating contest.  They drew contestants from all the tri-state region.  It was quite an event.

Pedal Pushers Cafe has been a cornerstone of Parkway Avenue in historic downtown Lanesboro, Minn.  And, the Taylors have continuously looked at ways to enhance their menu while at the same time rebranding the identity of their successful restaurant.  They keep things fresh.

So, this past week, I ordered the grilled fish tacos with a side of brussel sprouts.  It took me a few years to try fish tacos, but my wife somehow convinced me to step out of my comfort zone.  Now, I’m sold.  On their menu, it reads “blackened tilapia fillets on flour tortillas topped with chipotle mayo, crumbled queso fresco, lettuce, and black bean corn salsa.”  And, for those of you who are not sure about trying brussel sprouts, these are worth a try.  They are not your mom’s brussel sprouts (no offense mom).

What my wife and I really like about this restaurant is all of the tasty AND healthy options.  And our kids love their food, as well.

As Pedal Pushers Cafe says on the homepage of their website, “At Pedal Pushers Cafe we love real food.  Real food comes from real farmers.  We work directly with local men and women who are growing the food we serve and they usually bring that food right to our back door.”