Good golly Miss Molly

While popular chef, blogger and cookbook author turned Food Network host Molly Yeh has really put her stamp on the national culinary map, she’s also been shining a spotlight on our SimplyGrand cities.

Yeh currently resides in rural East Grand Forks with her fifth-generation farmer husband, Nick and darling little daughter, Bernie. However, that doesn’t stop Molly from sharing her love of cooking with the entire world.

Since its debut in 2018, Yeh’s television show “Girl Meets Farm”, which just happens to be filmed at her and Nick’s farmstead, has skyrocketed to the top of the ratings. Molly sprinkles (oftentimes literally) a love of food and family on every dish she makes, incorporating her Chinese and Jewish heritage with all things Upper Midwest. And yes, she has mastered the art of making the perfect tater tot hotdish! Her infectious smile, sweet personality and ease at which she can teach even the most unskilled cook how to make delicious dishes, have all combined to make Molly the star she is today.

The residents of Grand Forks/East Grand Forks are thrilled this Illinois native has decided to call our community home and is sharing with the world just what she thinks makes us #SimplyGrand. Molly is currently featured in the 2020 Greater Grand Forks Visitors Guide and was even willing to give us some insight into her favorite local hotspots! Here are five of “Molly’s Must-Tries” while in Forks.

Darcy’s Café

Ask any local, including Molly Yeh, you need to make a stop at Darcy’s Café! Open for breakfast and lunch, this quaint downhome diner dishes up plates filled with hearty homemade goodness that draw in regulars from miles around. In addition to fabulous flapjacks you’ll flip over, the cooks here know how to sling tasty savory hash like their Polka omelet, eggs Benedict, knoephla soup and turkey with all the trimmings. Molly’s go-to items include the meaty, cheesylicious patty melt and cinnfully good cinnamon roll pancakes.

King Pho

If you're searching for Vietnamese dishes that are royally delicious, Molly says to look no further than King Pho. Along with an assortment of slurpable noodle soups, they also serve simply delicious steamed buns, spring rolls and Banh mi: a Vietnamese baguette filled with grilled chicken, pickled veggies, cucumber, jalapeño, cilantro and spicy mayo.

Kittsona

Where does a modern, stylish gal go to add some local flair to her wardrobe? Do like Molly and get dressed up Downtown at Kittsona! This popular boutique specializes in fashionably cute women’s clothing, accessories, gifts and home décor, many with a uniquely ND/MN accent…you betcha!

The Toasted Frog

With its casual metropolitan atmosphere, extensive martini and wine lists, diverse food and superb staff, Toasted Frog has become a popular destination for foodies. Molly’s menu picks include the fried cheesy pickles, which she even showcased on the Cooking Channel’s “Best Thing I Ever Ate” show, along with their Bianca wood-fired pizza that comes topped with mozzarella, basil, roasted garlic, caramelized onions and prosciutto but Yeh puts her own spin on it by also adding pepperoni.

North Dakota Museum of Art

On the lookout for a cool, eclectic spot where you can discover everything from a life-size giraffe and one of kind gifts, to classical music from the nation’s top artists and amazing culinary creations from the area’s top chefs? Located on the beautiful University of North Dakota campus, our SimplyGraNDMOA is just the place. When Molly wants to peruse works from internationally acclaimed artists, grab a scrumptious lunch or perhaps even hear her father perform – renowned clarinetist John Bruce Yeh was featured this past weekend as part of the museum’s Sunday Concerts in the Galleries series – this is where you’ll find her!

If you’d like to read more about Molly Yeh and her Forks favs, pick up a copy of the guide at our Visitors Center (4251 Gateway Drive), request one by calling 800-866-4566 or go online at VisitGrandForks.com.

We also invite you to follow Visit Grand Forks on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to watch upcoming Molly videos plus get our take on some of best places to stay, play, dine and unwind.