Håkan Lundberg

To plan for 2020, Håkan Lundberg is keeping one eye on the past. What worked, what didn’t, what guests enjoy most and how the Minneapolis Club has changed – he devotes as much time to thinking about where the Club’s cuisine is now as where he wants to help take it in the future.

“I definitely look at what worked in previous years,” Håkan says. “If there’s something we do and I get a lot of positive feedback on it, I don’t mind repeating that.”

The annual Open House, a make-your-own pizza event in the kitchen and other favorites could get a chance to return. But that doesn’t mean Håkan and his staff won’t try new things in the coming year – just that he knows how to make a good thing last.

“Everything kind of runs its course,” he says. “You get a couple years out of something and then members want to experience something new. But if I find something they really enjoy, I try to give them as much of that as I can.”

Chef recently shared some of his culinary secrets with eager members during his cooking demo in the third-floor kitchen. His first secret? After your food is in the pre-heated pan, just let it be. Resist that urge to stir, nudge or flip. Other secrets revealed included how to slow roast tenderloin so even when guests are late, you can serve a perfect meal. Want to learn more? Stay tuned for Håkan’s Culinary Class, new in 2020.

“Everything kind of runs its course”

In the nearer term (Thanksgiving and Christmas, for example), Håkan has high hopes for the kitchen – so high that he doesn’t want to mention some of his plans in case they don’t pan out in 2019. Growing up in Sweden, he didn’t grow up celebrating Thanksgiving, but he knows how important the holidays are to members and guests of the Minneapolis Club in particular.

The Club’s kitchen staff is diligent about creating beautiful buffets and menus to excite and impress; about buffets that help families connect over their favorite flavors; about helping members forge new friendships over a tasty side dish.

Before putting 2019 in the rearview, Håkan hopes to give the Club a few more memories by filling plates with classic dishes and new favorites. To schedule your private party or find out more about holiday cuisine at the Club, call Catering at (612) 334-0218 or get in touch with Jodie (jodiew@mplsclub.org) or Ashley (ashleyb@mplsclub.org).