Finest Dish: Breakfast Fried Rice with YUM YUM Sauce at NOLO’s Kitchen and Bar

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Breakfast Fried Rice with YUM YUM SauceNOLO’s Kitchen and Bar in the North Loop is consistently turning out what they call modern American comfort food. You can expect breakfast, lunch, dinner, brunch and happy hour to all be consistently tasty, made with the freshest ingredients, all while providing the elusive comfort factor. We noticed that one menu item received lots of glowing online recommendations – Breakfast Fried Rice with YUM YUM Sauce. We talked to co-owner Brett Johnson and Chef co-owner and Peter Hoff about the dish. Make plans to visit soon at 515 N Washington Avenue, order the dish and let us know what you think. 

Q:  Please tell us the history of the Breakfast Fried Rice (BFR). How do you balance traditional fried rice techniques with breakfast flavors?  

Peter:  We wanted to try something outside the box of the traditional breakfast options. Our BFR is made with jasmine rice, scrambled eggs, peas, sesame kale, bacon, homemade breakfast sausage and YUM YUM Sauce. The bacon and sausage help maintain the breakfast feel and flavors. The garnish with kale adds a different texture that really rounds out the dish. The BFR is hands down our top breakfast seller. 

Brett:  We have added BFR to the menu at The Hilltop in Edina because if its popularity. I was unsure if the reception to the dish would be the same as in the North Loop – because of slightly different demographics – but once diners realized how good the dish is – it speaks for itself and is very popular there as well.

I personally think that Chef Peter’s YUM YUM Sauce is the secret weapon in making the fried rice so unique and delicious. I think its popularity was definitely a little bit of a surprise to Chef Peter. 

Peter:  The dish is what led me to create Seven Bridges YUM YUM sauce. A little bit of the backstory: after decades as a chef, I got lucky enough to open a place of my own. And with the help of my partners in 2017 we created something special and opened NOLO's Kitchen and Bar. Although the YUM YUM sauce started out as a condiment on our Breakfast Fried Rice, I quickly noticed that our guests were putting it on everything. Some great ideas, others not so much. People were ordering excessive amounts of it on the side, buying quarts of it to take home and asking, “Why isn’t there something like this at the store?" I took their not-so-subtle hints as a call to action and here we are.

Q:  How did you decide on the balance of flavors in the sauce?

Brett:  I think it is the perfect blend of ginger, garlic and soy that gives it such a savory and appetizing flavor.

Q:  Was the YUM YUM Sauce originally intended to complement the BFR?

Peter:  Yes, originally intended for the breakfast fried rice but now you can find it complementing tacos, salads and entrees throughout the menu – at all times of the day!

Q:  Did the sauce evolve over time, or was it perfect from the start? 

Peter:  No tweaks needed!   

Q:  What’s the most surprising way you’ve seen that people use YUM YUM Sauce? 

Peter:  For me, I’ve seen lots of people, surprisingly, putting it on potatoes or chicken salads! Also smoked meats!

Q:  The YUM YUM Sauce story is so entrepreneurial and surprising – do you have any tips for aspiring food innovators? 

Peter:  Patience! Believe in yourself and the product. I also think networking with the right people can also help. We went all in pretty fast and we are already in not only larger grocery stores such as Kowalski’s, Von Hanson’s Meats but also some independent markets such as Brookies Fish Market in St. Louis Park. Don't be afraid to bet on yourself and put yourself out there. 

Q:  How may we follow your news? 

Peter:  Follow YUM YUM Sauce and me at @sevenbridgessauces on Instagram, and our website sevenbridgessauces.com. 

Brett:  Follow NOLO’s Kitchen on Facebook and Instagram @noloskitchen. Come on down and visit us in person and try the Breakfast Fried Rice with YUM YUM sauce!