Sunday in the suburbs means a few things: church, brunch and football, to name three.
But a Twin Cities restauranteur is mixing it up with the help of an Otsego favorite, bringing a bit of the South to the northwest ‘burbs, asking you to ditch those pancakes and eggs for a little bit of “swunky” fare straight from the city.
Jared Brewington’s no stranger to Wright County. The former business consultant made St. Michael and Wright County his home for years before settling in, most recently, at a rural farm owned by family in the Corcoran area.
Funk Grit owner and Wright County area resident Jared Brewington is bringing his pop-up concept to Otsego Sunday.
“I’d spent a lot of time developing a lot of people’s concepts and ideas and bringing them to life,” Brewington said of following his idea and establishing the Funky Grits brand. “I thought it was time to chase one of our own.”
The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive from city outlets like City Pages, Pioneer Press and the Minneapolis Journal. Brewington’s “pop ups” have brought literally hundreds of patrons to the latest destination, all so they can partake in some soul, fun and food and share the love the mastermind shares for funk.
“It’s really humbling,” he said. “You hope you have a good concept, and we think we do. The public has just loved it, and we’ve had so much fun so far doing it.”
Funky Grits should bring to mind old school music and comfort food, and rightfully so. That’s puts you in the right frame of mind for Brewington’s dream. Growing up in a house that was filled with music – his father’s friend toured with acts such as Sly and the Family Stone and an uncle was Sonny Tighlman of Sonny Til and the Orioles – the sounds and food went hand in hand.
Sunday, Sept. 25, that flavor comes to Pour Wine and Bistro, located just off County Road 39 in Otsego. The restaurant will be filled with Brewington’s sounds and smells, with a menu to include carcuterie meats from Red Table Meat, cheeses from the Lone Grazer Creamery and bread from Baker’s Field Flour and Bread. DJ Sadie Soul will provide the music, while Pour provides the atmosphere many a Wright County resident has come to know and love.
“They’ve [Phil and Diane Lutgen] done something pretty special up here, and we’re so glad we get to be a part of that for a little while. I’ve always loved what they offer with their plates and wine selection. It brings something you would find in a more urban setting out to Otsego, which is totally suburbia. And people here really have appreciated it,” Brewington said.
Seatings for the “End of Summer Wine Lunch” begin at 11 a.m. Sunday morning, and will continue until the event wraps some time Sunday afternoon. Tickets are available at Pour, or online via Funky Grits’ TicketSpice page, here. Cost is $60, and includes a four course meal with either meat or vegan selection. Both meal options include house-made sangria, with any selection from Phil and Diane’s extensive wine list also on sale (separately).
“It’s exciting to have an opportunity to bring something like this close to home. My family loves it out in this area. Living here is a dream come true,” Brewington said. “So we think Sunday will just be a lot of fun, a lot of love and just a good time for everyone.”
If you can’t make it Sunday, make sure to follow Funky Grits on Facebook. There will be more pop-ups to come, and a possible, more permanent home in Uptown Minneapolis is also on the way.