Appetites: Destination dining across the St. Croix

To many Minnesotans, Eau Claire, Wis., is a low-key college town about 90 minutes drive east of the Twin Cities. 

But a recent downtown revitalization has turned it into a hip food and beverage destination. 

Rachel Hutton, editor of Minnesota Monthly magazine, joined All Things Considered host Tom Crann to set the scene.

From a big-picture perspective, Hutton said, the internet drove the revamped downtown in Eau Claire. Creatives and entrepreneurs used to think they needed to work in a big city, but the web has given them a platform to get attention from almost anywhere.

That's helped a few Eau Claire natives stay in their hometown and still pursue their careers, she said. 

Here's a few picks from Hutton:

For the whole story, use the audio player above.