The End of an Era

Imagine my sadness to find this email this morning:

Arrivaderci and Au Revoir Auriga
Twin Cities fine dining establishment announces its closing
MINNEAPOLIS – Award-winning and celebrated by local, national and ineternational diners and “foodies” alike, Auriga announced today its plans to close the restaurant following dinner service on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007.
“We accomplished exactly what we set out to do when we opened,” said Doug Flicker, acclaimed chef and one of Auriga’s three owners. “We’re very proud of our work and appreciative of our staff and customers.”
Flicker’s upcoming plan includes an extended culinary working trip on the West coast, and owners Melinda Van Eeckhout and Jim Andrus plan time off to decide future endeavors.
“It’s simply time to move on…on a high note,” the Auriga owners agreed.
Those high notes include a variety of honors for Auriga ranging from being named City Pages’ “Best Restaurant Minneapolis” in 1999, 2000 and 2005, to being featured on the Food Network program “Tasty Travels” with Rachel Ray.
The culinary masterminds behind Auriga also received local and national praise as Flicker was the first Twin Cities chef inducted into Nation’s Restaurant News Fine Dining Hall of Fame and was also invited to cook at the James Beard House in June 2006.
About Auriga: Located on the corner of Franklin Ave. and Hennepin Ave. in Minneapolis, Auriga restaurant opened its doors in 1997 with young, passionate chefs driving a cuisine-focused dining experience. Committed to providing the Twin Cities with a common-sense approach to cooking with cuisine refined to uncommon sophistication, the restaurant incorporated fresh, locally-grown, organic fare and distinctive ingredients into every dish. Head chef Doug Flicker and collaborating chef Melinda Van Eeckhout garnered praise for their innovative cuisine and helped establish a long list of accolades for the restaurant.
Reservations at Auriga restaurant are suggested and can be made by calling (612) 871-0777.
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Thank you for being our guest.
Auriga ~ 1930 Hennepin Avenue ~ Minneapolis, MN 55403 ~ 612-871-0777
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WAH!!!! This is my favorite happy hour and they're leaving me!! In fact, I've only actually had dinner service at this place twice because I can't afford it, but each time was heavenly. I'm sorry to see them go, but I guess I'm not shocked what with all the other fine dining places tanking around town. But Five and Levain sucked. This was one of the finest meals in town. Sad. So, I'm going to scrape together some change from the floor of my car and try to find a little pizza and an amuse to soothe my sorrows.