Irma's Kitchen hosted a soft opening with complimentary food last week to give area diners a chance to see the reboot of a historic eatery.
The name was chosen to acknowledge the important role that Irma Cragun played in the food service at Cragun's Resort over the years, Chef Brian Diumenti stated in a news release, adding all food items will be made in house using many of Irma's recipes and the freshest local ingredients.
In fact Irma's handwritten recipe cards hang by clothes pins in the restaurant's main entry along with a marketplace showcasing the ingredients.
"The Market at Irma's Kitchen will include retail menu packages for "cook in your cabin" family meals, as well as local produce, meats and cheeses and soaps, salves and honey from Kowalzek's Soothing Salves. The Kowalzeks who are beekeepers of 15 years who raise bees in
Morrison County and practice natural beekeeping, will provide this line of products for the Market," Cragun's reported.
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Irma's Kitchen, on the resort's south end, was formerly the Hungry Gull Restaurant.
"The building is one of the most historic Brainerd restaurants dating back to 1926," Cragun's reported. "Walter and Lena Frampton were the original developers serving early fishermen and adventurers at Island View Resort. Lena cooked and served three hearty meals a day, lumberjack style. In 1946, Ben and Eleanor Curry became the new owners and added the dining room's north wing with timbers coming from the Pine Beach Peninsula. In 1988 Dutch and Irma Cragun purchased Island View Resort and connected it to Cragun's Resort. The building's interior has been refreshed and includes the dining room, a market area and a lounge."
In addition to Irma's Kitchen, Cragun's is refreshing its poolside food offerings with food available there as well. Guests for Irma's Kitchen may arrive by car or boat, with docking available on the south end.
Cub Foods in Baxter recently completed its makeover and remodel to the grocery store and entrance.
Wal-Mart reported it is introducing Walmart Pay in Minnesota for use with iOS and Android smartphones allowing any major payment type via the Wal-Mart app.
William Gautsch of Crosby won $227,331 playing Gopher 5, the state lottery office reported. Gautsch claimed the prize June 22, The U-Pump-It, 29 W. Main St. in Crosby, sold the winning ticket.
RENEE RICHARDSON, associate editor, may be reached at 218-855-5852 or renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com . Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Dispatchbizbuzz .
