Kalika Valentine-Erickson/ Winonan

Blue Heron is a familiar place for me. I go there often and enjoy it every single time. This week, I visited Blue Heron twice, once for breakfast with a friend and once for lunch with my family.

When my friend, Olivia Stoltman, a CALT major at Winona State University, and I visited for breakfast, we both ordered frittatas with pork, sweet potatoes, cheese, and eggs. We also ordered large chai tea lattes. Our frittatas were big and served with toast so we had plenty to eat. Our lattes were brought to us in large glass mugs, the contents delicious and warming.

“The food was delicious,” Olivia said, after the meal. “Everything is local, so it makes you feel like what you’re eating has purpose. You’re supporting local businesses and farms and eating healthy, delicious food.”

The restaurant had a couple of people eating and having coffee, but we arrived during a lull so it wasn’t as full as usual.

“I thought that Blue Heron had a relaxing, laid-back and homey atmosphere,” Olivia said. “The employees were friendly, and they went out of their way to make sure we were comfortable.”

The price was definitely right, and it only cost around $20 for both of us to eat and have a drink. For local, organic food, that is a great price.

The second time I went was with my husband, my two children, and my grandparents. I ordered a salad made with greens, pears, carrots, toasted pecans, goat cheese and a maple-mustard vinaigrette and a bowl of tomato, white bean, and fennel soup. Both the soup and the salad were delicious.

My 74-year-old grandfather, who is normally a hamburger or a meat and potatoes kind of guy, ordered the Italian sandwich with ham, salami, provolone, herb vinaigrette, lettuce and pepperoncini. After finishing his meal he said, “It’s no hamburger, but it will have to do,” with a smile on his face.

My four-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Sophia, ate part of my salad and soup and part of a turkey sandwich and enjoyed them both.

My grandmother compared the pricing to McDonalds and said, “For just a little more than the price of a McDonald’s value meal, you’re getting food that is not only actually good for you, but also local, organic and delicious.”

Overall, my experience at Blue Heron was phenomenal, and I would highly recommend it to anybody looking for a relaxing experience with great food and coffee.