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Jason DeRusha
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VITALS FAVORITES THIS OR THAT |
Jason DeRusha filed his first report for WCCO-TV on April Fool’s Day in 2003. Since then, he’s earned nine Emmy Awards, his food coverage was a finalist for Outstanding TV Segment in the prestigious national James Beard Awards, the Jaycees named him one of the Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans, and the city of Minneapolis proclaimed Sept. 21 “Jason DeRusha Day.” No fooling. Today, Jason co-anchors WCCO This Morning weekdays from 4:30 a.m. until 7:00 a.m., WCCO Mid-Morning from 9 to 10 a.m., and WCCO 4 News At Noon. He is also the station’s food reporter, producing “DeRusha Eats”. While at WCCO, he was among the first television reporters on the scene and on-the-air at the Interstate 35W bridge collapse. He answered “Good Question” for 5½ years. In 2013, he was named one of the “40 under 40,” the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s list of young community leaders. Minnesota Monthly named him to the “Power 75” list, writing, “If anyone understands where mass media is going … it’s DeRusha.” Marquette University named him the Young Alumnus of the Year in 2012. Before coming to WCCO-TV, Jason spent three years as a reporter at WISN-TV in Milwaukee. Prior to that, he anchored the weekend news at KWQC-TV in Davenport, Iowa, reported for WREX-TV in Rockford, Ill. and interned at “ABC World News Tonight” in New York. Jason’s been nominated for more than 20 Regional Emmy Awards, and he’s won Regional Emmys for Anchoring WCCO This Morning, for breaking news coverage, reporting his DeRusha Eats segment and the Good Question segment. In the Twin Cities, Jason is a past-President of the Board of Governors of the Upper Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. He’s a frequent speaker and host for charity fundraisers. He is a frequent fill-in host at WCCO Radio, and has been writing for Minnesota regional magazines since 2009. He’s currently the food critic for Minnesota Monthly. Jason’s a glass art collector, and he’s been a judge for the Uptown Art Fair. He’s also tried to blow a couple glass art pieces, with limited success. Jason graduated from the Honors program at Marquette University with political science and broadcast communication degrees, magna cum laude. Jason lives in Maple Grove with his wife Alyssa (a Wayzata High graduate), and their sons Seth and Sam. |
DeRusha Eats: Jason Talks With Isaac Becker & Nancy St. Pierre
His three Minneapolis restaurants are almost always packed. It started 10 years ago when Isaac Becker and his wife Nancy St. Pierre opened 112 Eatery. This week in DeRusha Eats, Jason chats with the award-winning culinary couple behind Bar La Grassa and Burch.
DeRusha Eats: Seven Sundays’ Muesli
When you think breakfast, you probably think about cereal or oatmeal. But a Twin Cities couple wants you to think about muesli.
DeRusha Eats: Black Forest Inn Turns 50
Long before anyone called Nicollet Avenue near Downtown Minneapolis Eat Street, there was a young German immigrant with a dream. Erich Christ was just a kid. This Friday his restaurant turns 50.
DeRusha Eats: David’s Famous Frozen Custard
A stockbroker had a dream, but was told he couldn’t do it — until he called the University of Minnesota. So, Thursday morning Jason DeRusha eats David’s Famous Frozen Custard.
DeRusha Eats: Gray Duck Chai In St. Paul
It started with one cup of chai tea a young chef brought to her restaurant coworker. That tea sparked a growing, successful company — and a loving, romantic relationship. DeRusha Eats takes a look inside Gray Duck Chai, a commercial kitchen and small – but growing – bottling line in St. Paul.
DeRusha Eats: Smashburger
Last year, Forbes named it one of the most promising companies in America, and its founder lives in Minneapolis part of the year. So, this week Jason DeRusha decided to eat at Smashburger.
DeRusha Eats: The Capital Grille
Kobe beef. It is supposed to be some of the most flavorful beef in the world. And it’s usually found on high end steak menus. Kobe beef burgers can cost as much as $50! Crazy, right? But now you can get a similar flavor for a fraction of the cost at one Minneapolis restaurant.
DeRusha Eats: Hola Arepa
Five years ago virtually no one in the Twin Cities had heard of an arepa. Now, thanks to one couple, arepas became a red hot food truck and a red hot restaurant. This week, DeRusha eats at Hola Arepa at 35th and Nicollet in South Minneapolis.
DeRusha Eats: Cook Saint Paul
When you take a neighborhood that’s been down and out and add some business owners like Eddie Wu. You have a recipe for a rebirth. This week, Jason DeRusha eats at Cook Saint Paul.
DeRusha Eats: Joan’s In The Park
When Chef Susan Dunlop and her partner in business and in life, Joan Schmitt, bought a former pizza place in St. Paul, they had to pick a name. “‘Joan’s In The Park’ sounds better than ‘Susan’s In The Park,'” Susan said.
DeRusha Eats: Pieology Pizzeria
It’s been around for thousands of years, but right now it doesn’t get hotter than pizza. Matt Kalil is a 25-year-old offensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings, and the big name behind Pieology Pizza in Maple Grove, St. Paul and Mankato.
DeRusha Eats: Crapola
It started as a joke, an offhanded remark about granola between an Ely man and his wife. Eight years later, that joke has turned into a full time job and a company with a name you won’t forget: Crapola.
DeRusha Eats: Patisserie 46 Eclairs Among World’s Best
A national semifinalist for best baker and an international competition winner, all tucked away in a South Minneapolis neighborhood. John Kraus is winning awards and has been winning over customers here for nearly five years.
Jason & Jamie Test Out Midwest Hand-Crafted Bloody Mary Mixes
This Saturday and Sunday is the Minnesota Monthly Food and Wine Experience. Dozens of restaurants and more than a hundred wines will be featured, but that’s not all. Jason DeRusha and Jamie Yuccas had the chance to test out five brands of Midwest hand-crafted Bloody Mary mixes.
DeRusha Eats: Sea Change At The Guthrie Theater
With Sir Tyrone Guthrie overlooking the front door, it’s almost a given that every dish at Sea Change would be a little theatrical. Chef de cuisine Ryan Cook has worked in restaurants since he was a teenager — no fancy culinary school for him.
DeRusha Eats: Red Cow
In a town where there’s a Juicy Lucy on almost every menu, Red Cow is going all-in on one 7-ounce hand-pattied burger. Luke Shimp created Red Cow in 2013. “When you do ’em right, people just love it,” Shimp said.
DeRusha Eats: Decadent Honey Bon-Bons For Your Valentine
On Valentine’s Day, Jason DeRusha turned his attention to chocolate. More so. That’s because one of the top 10 chocolatiers in North America is right here in St. Paul.
DeRusha Eats: Cured Meats At The Red Table Meat Co.
In his restaurants, he was known for his incredible skill in creating delicious cured meats — salamis and coppas and sopressatas. Now, a local chef has created his own company hoping to create world-class charcuterie right here in the Twin Cities.
DeRusha Eats: Murphy-Goode Winery
As a kid growing up in Edina, his dream was to be a rock-and-roll drummer. He didn’t quite make it. But, that’s a good thing for thousands of people who love wine.
DeRusha Eats: Franklin Street Bakery
The Super Bowl is just one week away, which means it is also just one week until an event that’s become a huge part of Super Bowl Weekend – Taste of the NFL. Taste of the NFL was founded by a Minneapolis bakery owner and restaurant guy when the Super Bowl was in Minnesota in 1992.
DeRusha Eats: The Sioux Chef
Minnesota is a state known for its large Native American population. But, can you name a single native restaurant? Not yet. A local chef who grew up on a Lakota Indian reservation is looking to change that.
DeRusha Eats: Life Cafe
It is the New Year, and folks are filling up local gyms. But did you know you can also fill up at many local gyms? At nearly 20 Life Time Fitness locations around the metro you can get in shape by working out on the machines and eating a nutritious meal at the café.
DeRusha Eats: Juice So Good
Earlier this week, WCCO showed your pick for the Best Juice Bar in Minnesota. No doubt in the coming days, you’ll hear from friends or family who are going on a juice cleanse for the start of the New Year.
Get Movin’ Monday: 6 Tricks For Home Improvement
We’ve got a little bit of a different Get Movin’ Monday for you this week. The holidays are pretty much over, you’re cleaning up from parties and perhaps starting to think about some projects around the house.
DeRusha Eats: World Class Wines
It’s New Year’s Eve, so you know what that means! The champagne toast! But this year, why not step out of your comfort zone and try something different? Jason DeRusha visited World Class Wines and found easy ways to find the perfect bubbly, some even without breaking the bank!
