Ted Capser & Mike Runyon
Articles
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FACES: TED CASPER (Pioneer Press interview 07/07/07)
Occupation: Co-owner (with Mike Runyon) of Casper & Runyon's Shamrocks (995 W. Seventh St., St. Paul; 651-228-9925) and Casper & Runyon's Nook (492 S. Hamline Ave., St. Paul; 651-698-4347)
Age: 27
How did you choose your current location? Originally, we were looking for another small space like the Nook to open another restaurant. We weren't having much luck, so people told us to take a look at this place. It's bigger than what we originally were looking for, but we liked the fact that we could own it.
Why did you get into the restaurant business? I grew up in the restaurant business. My father, Tom Casper, was one of the original owners of Casper's Cherokee Sirloin Room in West St. Paul and Eagan. He eventually sold his share of the restaurant to his brother and later ran the former Ciatti's in Woodbury for 10 years.
What dish on your menu are you most proud of? The same burgers and fries that we offer at the Nook. Everything's fresh - we get the buns from P J Murphy's bakery in St. Paul, and we cut our own fries.
Who in the food business do you most admire? My father. He's taught me everything I know about the restaurant business. He's now the general manager at Shamrocks.
What's your favorite restaurant? Mancini's Char House in St. Paul. I've been going there for as long as I can remember - it's where I go if I'm looking for a decent steak, great service and good company.
What's the most bizarre food you've ever eaten? Kangaroo ribs. My friend was cooking at this restaurant called the Creamery just outside Menomonie, Wis. One night, they were hosting a wine dinner, and kangaroo ribs were part of the menu. They were tough and didn't have a lot of meat.
What's in your refrigerator at home? Newcastle beer, a couple of steaks, eggs and hash browns.
What's your favorite junk food? Brownies.
Where is home to you? St. Paul - it's where I was born and raised. I live there now - about five blocks from the Nook.
If you weren't running a restaurant for a living, what would you be doing? I'd like to be making commercials or creating ads. Or I'd be in construction. I like creating things where you can physically see what you've accomplished.
Where do you see yourself in five years? Where I'm at right now; owning two places is enough. I'd only consider opening another restaurant to give people who've worked with me for a long time a chance to run a place.
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The owners of the Nook are getting ready to run another St. Paul spot. Ted Casper and Michael Runyon have taken over the former Shamrock's on West Seventh Street and are changing the name to Casper and Runyon's Shamrock. Look for a late-January debut with a menu of Nook burgers as well as fish and chips and corned beef sandwiches. 'We want customers to still be able to get Irish food,' says Casper.
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