Main Ingredient

opens in downtown

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- The Main Ingredient, a restaurant, deli and kitchen store opened Thursday at 209 N. Minnesota, in the building that formerly housed the Edelweiss Flower Haus.

Decades ago, the building housed Weneeda Bakery and Cafe, according to owner Renee Retzlaff, who has been doing home-based catering for the past three years.

Beginning last Sep. 1, the entire building was gutted to the walls and a completely renovated 4,000-square foot business emerged.

Business goals include creating a restaurant with new tastes and traditional "home-cooked" food made from scratch. Smoked pork and beef sandwiches on wheat and white bread are the house specialty. Homemade breads, buns, soups and a variety of salads and sandwiches will be available.

Schell's beer is available.

The restaurant features unique foods like scratch eggs and lasagna. Recipe contests will be held and mobile chefs will be available.

The kitchen store in the front of the business features stainless steel cookware and utensils, hard-to-find cooking gadgets, pre-packaged foods, ingredients and cook books for beginners and professionals. Cooking classes will be offered next year.

Offerings include a variety of crackers, mixed olive spread, cranberry horseradish sauce, stuffed olives, grapeseed oil, quick bread and herbs.

December business hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and noon to 4 p.m. on holidays. There are no Sunday hours.

After Jan. 7, the business will close at 5:30 p.m.

The restaurant will be available evenings for private parties like weddings, showers and board meetings.