We were staying at a friend's cabin in Eveleth and looking for dinner when we heard about The Whistling Bird in nearby Gilbert. Caribbean food on the Iron Range sounded worth a short drive. I had no idea it would be one of the best meals I would had in Minnesota.

I love finding a place like this in a town I do not know well. The Whistling Bird feels relaxed and welcoming. The menu has jerk chicken, rice and peas, and sweet plantains. It was hard to decide where to start.

That is why I went straight for the jerk platter. You get chicken, bacon-wrapped shrimp, and pork tenderloin, plus rice and peas and sweet plantains. Everything was excellent. It is a good choice if, like me, you are not prepared to settle on one thing.

I kept coming back to the plantains. Their sweetness was lovely alongside the jerk seasoning. It is the kind of plate you want to share, though Jason seemed to have a pretty firm system for keeping track of his shrimp.

I was counting them for research. The blackened mahi is worth ordering too. It comes with pineapple salsa, rice and peas, and plantains. The food alone would bring me back. The tropical cocktails make the decision even easier.

The drinks are wonderful. They fit the food and the easygoing feel of the place. We were not in any hurry to get back to the cabin. That is a pretty good sign when a warm cabin is waiting for you.