Land of 10,000 Lakes, Left Turns, and Lefse Recipes
Your Minnesota Guide is your discerning insider for the hidden gems that only a local could know.
Minnesota isn’t a flyover state, and Eva Phan knows it
Born in Minneapolis and raised in Bloomington, Eva Phan is a proud Minnesota native whose travels have taken her to more than 28 U.S. states and 30 countries.
Eva’s father made his way from Vietnam to Minnesota, where he met her mother, a savvy Minnesota-grown woman through and through.
Today, her Vietnamese-American family balances Saigonese style with homegrown Minnesotan tradition, encompassing the spectrum of culture, cuisine, and hospitality that the state has to offer.
Home is hotdish, Hmong markets, and helping out
Eva grew up dancing with Minnesota Dance Theatre, frequenting her family’s restaurant at the Eden Prairie Center, and spending weekends at her grandfather’s hand-built cabin on Lake Waukenabo, near Aitkin.
It’s through these experiences that Eva’s been able to uncover the constellation of culture and experiences that cement Minnesota as “L’Étoile du Nord,” from humble Ethiopian restaurants to expansive Hmong markets and, of course, life on the lake, whether it be in the neighborhood she grew up in or Lake Superior.
Find your North Star, one lake at a time
If you’re not convinced to make the drive or book the flight yet, we’re here to ensure you do. Discover Eva’s favorite hangouts in Minnesota below.
