The 5 best things our food writers ate this week in the Twin Cities

We all knew Elvis had a favorite sandwich consisting of peanut butter and banana (in some accounts, bacon was also part of the equation). So if “The King of Rock and Roll” also had a favorite muffin, it might just be this one. Appropriately named the Elvis Muffin ($5), it’s a banana, peanut butter and chocolate muffin.

Biting into it, the muffin reads like banana-chocolate chip bread with hints of peanut butter, so lovers of the loaf form should find this more portable version right up their alley. It’s a popular item, and available daily while supplies last (I snagged the last one on a recent Saturday afternoon). But it’s not a lost cause if that does happen, since the south suburban spot stocks a variety of muffins, along with scones, Danishes and other goodies. Teas and coffee drinks made with beans from around the world, ground in-house, are available to wash it all down. (N.N.)

We were likely noticeably bedraggled when we stepped inside George and the Dragon. A long workday followed by an adventurous approach through traffic during construction season had me down to one final frayed nerve. Immediately, we were greeted and whisked into the warm embrace of this longtime neighborhood restaurant and the comforts contained within.

My dining companion lives nearby and assured me the can’t-miss dish is the Asian Hangover ($18). On the menu since day one, it’s a simple bowl of 5-spice seasoned pork, saucy and tender, served over rice with an egg and snap peas. Paired with an icy bottle of one of our favorite rosés, it was exactly what we needed to right all wrongs of the day. Well-cooked food and exceptional service, it’s no wonder George and the Dragon still fills with families and neighbors night after night. (J.S.)