North Dakota is an agricultural state that supplies the world with a bounty of the highest quality food ingredients. So, it stands to reason the state would also serve delicious local culinary delights and beverages to a guest’s table when they visit. Across North Dakota, there are chefs, bakers, vintners and brew masters bringing amazing flavors to life.

One great example of a place creating farm-fresh foods is Cows and Co Creamery in Carrington. This family-owned, on-farm creamery uses milk from their own dairy cows to make artisan gouda cheese, fresh cheddar cheese curds and authentic Italian-inspired gelato. Travelers should check store hours and make plans to stop here for a scoop of gelato or a steaming hot cup of mocha.

The state’s farm-to-table restaurants use fresh, locally sourced ingredients and seasonal produce to create the best flavors of North Dakota. Depending on the specialties of each restaurant, food enthusiasts could enjoy breads and pastas made with flour milled from North Dakota wheat and durum; the finest cuts of North Dakota beef or bison; a vegetable medley made with locally grown beans, sweet corn or squash; and more. Consider adding these farm-to-table restaurants to your itineraries:

• Butterhorn, Bismarck
• Ely’s Ivy, Grand Forks
• Mezzaluna, Fargo
• Outlaws Bar and Grill, Watford City
• Pirogue Grille, Bismarck
• Rosewild, Fargo
• Souris River Brewing, Minot

Your plans should also include the North Dakota Culinary Trail, a group of mapped lists on the North Dakota Tourism website featuring some top dining recommendations. They include fine dining, sweet treats, funky uptown dining, farm-to-table restaurants, roadside eateries and more.

Along with raising vast crops of wheat, North Dakota also grows barley and hops, grapes, honey and a variety of berries. Vineyards and wineries mix hybrid grapes, local fruits and honey to create uniquely North Dakota flavors of wines and ciders. Plan to visit and taste the product at wineries throughout the state, including:

• Pointe of View Winery, Burlington
• Maple River Winery, Casselton
• Fluffy Fields Vineyard & Winery, Dickinson
• Bear Creek Winery, Fargo

North Dakota is one of the world’s top producers of malting barley, wheat and other grains that supply some of the biggest breweries in America. The state’s local craft breweries malt these grains into a wide variety of full-bodied stouts, rich porters, hoppy IPAs and smooth-tasting lagers. Here is just a small sampling of some favorite breweries:

• Laughing Sun Brewing Company, Bismarck
• Drekker Brewing, Fargo
• Stonehome Brewing Company, Watford City
• Rhombus Guys Brewing Company, Grand Forks

Throughout summer and fall, North Dakota has plenty of food festivals to celebrate the state’s bountiful harvests and favorite local flavors. These include events centered around specific locally grown fruits, such as chokecherries, juneberries (closely related to blueberries) or rhubarb. Other events focus on the smoky flavor of barbecued ribs and slow-roasted turkey.

Many North Dakotans come from German, Ukrainian and Scandinavian heritage. So of course, the state frequently celebrates the foods from these cultures. Norsk Høstfest, an annual fall event in Minot, is the world’s largest Scandinavian heritage festival. Visitors enjoy lefse (a traditional Norwegian soft flatbread made from potatoes), ebelskivers (a fluffy Danish pancake with fruit filling) and more.

The town of Enderlin has an annual celebration of sunflowers, which grow abundantly across North Dakota. Not only do sunflowers supply delicious snacks and useful oils, but they also provide stunning scenery in late summer when miles upon miles of fields bloom in bright yellow.

Another notable festival happens every autumn in Grand Forks, located in the heart of red potato country—an area known as one of the nation’s top producers of French fries for quick-service restaurants and your grocer’s freezer. Potato Bowl USA in September is a celebration of the Red River Valley’s favorite starchy crop, featuring a parade and home football game of the University of North Dakota.

There’s even more to discover throughout the year. Below are some additional favorite annual food festivals:

JUNE

• Ribfest, Fargo
• Rhubarb Festival, Rugby and Grand Forks
• Turkey Barbecue, Aneta

JULY

• North Dakota State Fair, Minot
• Ukrainian Festival, Dickinson
• Watermelon Days, Hebron

AUGUST

• Best of the West Ribfest, Watford City
• Chokecherry Festival, Williston
• Deuce of August Icelandic Festival, Mountain
• Watermelon Feed, Washburn

SEPTEMBER

• Norsk Høstfest, Minot
• Oktoberfest, Hankinson, Hazen, Jamestown, Mandan, New Leipzig and Walhalla
• Potato Bowl USA, Grand Forks
• Pumpkinfest, Walhalla
• Sunflower Festival, Enderlin

OCTOBER

• Burgers + Brew Fest, Crosby
• GooseFest, Kenmare
• Oktoberfest, Ashley, Fargo and Napoleon
• Sauerkraut Day, Wishek

 

Plan a tour of the flavors of North Dakota soon.

Courtesy of North Dakota Tourism.

Much like the relevant and timely information found in the Groups Today eDaily, this hub is host to a bevy of videos and information that travels right from the expert minds on our team straight to your ears. Listen in to any of the videos below to hear the latest in what matters most to group travel professionals today. And don't forget to check back, as this page is consistently updated with video content you won't want to miss!

Trade Show Tips & Tricks - As owe venture into trade show season, we thought we would share some helpful tips for making the most out of your trade show experience.

Post Pandemic Do's and Don'ts - From sparkling blue oceans and bustling cities to picturesque mountain ranges and woodsy retreats, all eyes are on where groups are looking to venture in this post-pandemic world. But before the vacation begins, there are some critical things to do—and don't.

Tips for Reengaging Past Clients - We all know those loyal clients; the ones who are always pleased with our offerings and service, and who do business with us time and time again. Unfortunately, the pandemic made it difficult to keep those relationships active and thriving. Consider these tips and strategies for reconnecting and reengaging with your past travelers.

Responding to Negative Feedback - Getting your first negative review feels a bit like having an unexpected fall—it takes you by surprise, stings pretty bad and takes a hot minute for (for our egos, in this case) to heal. And though garnering negative reviews of any kind are never the desired outcome, how you respond to them could steer you in a more positive direction and might even change the mind of the unhappy client in question.

Creating a Succession Plan - It's not easy to think about having your valuable team members leave the company, whether that's through retirement or otherwise. Yet to remain successful, it's important to take a look at your company's plan—or create one—for when they do go. Keep reading to learn more about succession planning and its benefits.

Expanding into Student Travel - People across all industries are setting their sights on expanding their businesses to match our ever-changing world. Group travel professionals are no exception! One such area of expansion worth considering is student travel. Check out these considerations to keep in mind if you're thinking about adding the highly fulfilling offering to your portfolio in the future. 

How to Stretch Your Content - Creating and sharing content is essential in making your presence known online. To help save time, check out these tips to repurpose content you've already created.

Broadway Is Back - Broadway is back! Learn how your groups can have a safe and successful experience!

Keeping Up with Social Media Trends like TikTok - Beyond getting your daily fortune told by an adorable and squishy elderly pug named Noodle, TikTok is a goldmine for businesses and organizations looking to branch out in their social interactions with users. Check out some of the reasons why you're missing out if you don't join the TikTok crowd.

Self Care Tips - Self-care is essential in order to be your best self for your clients, friends and family. Check out these self-care tips, that you can add to your daily routine, for when times get stressful.

Cyber Security Tips - Tune in as the Groups Today team reviews some cyber security tips that you should know to help protect your information and your clients' information.

Building Trust with Your Clients - Tune in as the Groups Today team reviews a few ways you can build trust with your clients and how to keep that trust moving forward.

Having a Social Media Presence is Beneficial for Your Business - Having a social media presence is beneficial for your business. Tune in as the Groups Today team reviews some social media do's and don'ts.

When to Consider a Rebrand - How do you know when it's time to rebrand? Tune in the hear what a rebrand might look like and when to act on it.

Tips for Rebounding from the Unexpected - When a crisis arrises it could feel like you are being pulled in a million different directions. Here are some tips and strategies to offer some critical advice for when you're rebounding from the unexpected.