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: W.A. Frost & Company
It is the spot in St. Paul for marriage proposals, celebration dinners, and Sunday brunch, and it’s been in business for four decades.
2 MN Chefs Named James Beard Award Finalists
Two Minnesota chefs have a chance to be named Best Chef for the Midwest Region by the James Beard Foundation.
Cooking With WCCO: Red Lentil Crackers With Spicy Vegan Cream Cheese
Lentils have a big flavor and are rich in fiber, manganese and folate. They are so economical and can be served hot or cold, making them a fantastic staple for your pantry.
DeRusha Eats: Maker’s Mark
Ten years ago almost nobody was drinking bourbon. Today, it is everywhere. Bourbon is an $8 billion business and almost all of it is made in Kentucky.
Cooking With WCCO: Spinach Bites With Honey Mustard
Spinach, bread crumbs and parmesan cheese make these easy appetizers quick to throw together for brunch or impromptu gatherings.
DeRusha Eats: Sitting Down With The Real ‘Famous Dave’
The name on the door is Famous Dave’s, but for years there was no seat at the table for the real Famous Dave.
Are You Suffering From Man-O-Pause, Gents?
Some doctors call it “andropause” or male menopause. With a woman, it’s clear when menopause begins. For men, it’s less clear.
Cooking With WCCO: Citrus-Roasted Paiche In Collard Wraps
Whether looking to add a healthy spin to Taco Tuesday or a new dish for Fish Fridays, Citrus-roasted paiche in collard wraps makes an easy and delicious dish.
DeRusha Eats: The Kenwood Chef Goes From Addiction To Clarity
In his kitchen at The Kenwood in Minneapolis, Don Saunders works with precision, with clarity. But for most of his life as a chef, Don worked in a haze, fueled by addiction.
DeRusha Eats: What’s Next For The Women Behind Chef Shack
When you tell the story of Carrie Summer and Lisa Carlson’s Chef Shack, you have to start with the mini-donuts.
12 Twin Cities Chefs Named James Beard Award Semifinalists
Twelve chefs from 10 Twin Cities restaurants have been honored as semifinalists for the restaurant world’s most prestigious awards from The James Beard Foundation.
DeRusha Eats: Valentine’s Treats From Annie B’s & B.T. McElrath
It’s not Valentine’s Day without chocolate, and a Minnesota candy maker has a real love story to share. For nearly 20 years, B.T. McElrath has produced gourmet chocolate with popular truffles, the Salty Dog chocolate bar, and artisan toffee topped with almond in Northeast Minneapolis.
DeRusha Eats: Le Town Talk Diner
You would not expect a half-Italian, half-French woman, born in Marsailles, to open a restaurant on East Lake Street in Minneapolis. But Emilie Cellai liked the challenge.
DeRusha Eats: Zen Box Izakaya
It is not your sorry, broke, $0.99 packaged ramen noodle soup. The luscious, beautiful broth at Zen Box Izakaya is something quite special. “I call it a bowl of soul,” chef and owner John Ng said.
Chef Kaysen To Host 4 Top Chefs At Spoon And Stable For Charity
Spoon and Stable has earned national recognition since opening in 2014 in the North Loop of Minneapolis. From the finals of the James Beard award for Best New Restaurant in the nation to Restaurant of The Year in Food And Wine Magazine, chef and owner Gavin Kaysen’s restaurant has taken over headlines.
DeRusha Eats: The Herbivorous Butcher
The northeast Minneapolis storefront of The Herbivorous Butcher features a giant meat clever protruding from the façade, gleaming white butcher-style refrigerated cases inside. But there is no meat here.
DeRusha Eats: Eastside
There are new restaurants chasing trends, or trying to forge an identity as cutting-edge. Then there are restaurants that are just plain good; restaurants that open and instantly feel like they’ve been around all along.
DeRusha Eats: These Restaurants Have Banned Tipping, Raised Wages
For more than 100 years, we went out to eat. We got the check. We did some math in our heads and decided how much to leave as a tip. There’s a gratuity line right on your bill, where you get to help pay the wage of the server.
DeRusha Eats: Birchwood Café
For more than 20 years, Tracy Singleton’s Birchwood Café has been a trendsetter.
From Our Family To Yours: Jason DeRusha’s Favorite Holiday Stuffing
As the Christmas holiday approaches, WCCO This Morning is sharing some of their favorite recipes from their family to yours. On Tuesday, Jason DeRusha shared his mother-in-law’s Italian Sausage and Chestnut Stuffing.
DeRusha Eats: Birch’s On The Lake In Long Lake
It was a beloved spot on Long Lake just West of Ridgedale Mall: Billy’s Lighthouse. But Billy’s sat vacant for almost 10 years until another Long Lake restaurant owner spent huge money bringing it back to life. And it is gorgeous.
DeRusha Eats: Abdallah Candies
The holidays are a busy time for the hundreds of elves cranking out candy at a Twin Cities company that is the embodiment of the American dream.
DeRusha Eats: Broder Restaurant Family
A family-run restaurant just feels different. You can certainly feel that difference on one Twin Cities corner, with three restaurants run by one family.
DeRusha Eats: Kramarczuk’s Holidazzle Sausage
The Holidazzle will begin Friday evening and will be underway all month long. The event, which changed from a parade to a holiday village in 2014, is introducing some new changes in 2015. In addition to the new location in Loring Park, there is new food. Among the new dishes is a special sausage created by Kramarczuk’s.
Cooking With WCCO: Creamed Spinach Soufflé
This Thanksgiving, Open Arms of Minnesota will deliver hundreds of meals to people with terminal illnesses. Not only do they deliver turkey, they also do creative side dishes prepared in their Minneapolis kitchens. Executive Chef Steven Howard demonstrates his spinach soufflé in the Cambria Kitchen, Cooking with WCCO.
