Stuff to do May 2013

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Microfest
May 3 and 4 – various times, Upper Muny parking lot, Forest Park · 314.227.7302
stlmicrofest.org

Now that St. Louis has become flooded with craft-beer goodness, festivals like Microfest get bigger and more interesting each year. This event is truly a who’s-who of the current craft-beer scene, as beer from the likes of Urban Chestnut, Square One, Civil Life, Cathedral Square, Alpha, New Albanian, Heavy Riff, 4 Hands and dozens of other breweries will be available for sampling. You can choose any of three sessions to attend over two days. While you’re there, enjoy live music, silent auctions, food from local vendors like Hendrick’s BBQ, brewing demos and even a homebrew competition during one of the sessions. Proceeds benefit Lift for Life Gym, which provides safe, free activities for children 8 to 18 years of age.


Ferguson Farmers Market
May 4 – 8 a.m. to noon, 20 S. Florissant Road
314.324.4298
fergmarket.com

As spring has finally arrived, so, too, has one of our favorite outdoor markets. The list of more than 45 vendors selling at this year’s Ferguson Farmers Market includes Becker Brothers BBQ, Christie’s Jamaican Foods, Fun Time Mini Donuts, Just Omelets (made-to-order omelets), Kamp’s Peach Orchard, Ludwig Farmstead Creamery, Mast Amish Produce & Bakery, Missouri Honey, Mustache Academy Farms, “R” Pizza Farm, Sugar Creek Piedmontese (beef), Thies Farm and Greenhouse, and Voss Pecans. There will be special events throughout the year such as cookie decorating, sheep petting, a pie contest and a German food day.


Cinco de Mayo on Cherokee Street
May 4 – 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Cherokee Street at Iowa Avenue · 314.632.6498
cincodemayostl.com

Reacquaint yourself with the Mexican delights of Cherokee Street at the annual Cinco de Mayo celebration, a whirlwind of a day that offers street food, live music, a dance party and the funkiest parade around. Authentic Mexican fare like burritos, tacos, quesadillas, sopaipillas and horchata just taste better when they’re purchased at outdoor booths. So enjoy them as you listen to live music and watch the parade, a surreal affair that puts the excesses of Mardi Gras to shame. Check out a great video of last year’s celebration at the site above.


Food Truck Friday
May 10 – 5 to 8 p.m., Tower Grove Park
314.772.8004
saucemagazine.com/foodtruckfriday.php

There’s no need to chase food trucks all over the city when so many of them convene at Sauce Magazine’s own Food Truck Friday. No less than 20 trucks are scheduled to form a monster food corral at this season’s opening event at Tower Grove Park. Cha Cha Chow, Chop Shop, Completely Sauced, El Gran Taco, Go Gyro Go, Guerrilla Street Food, Holy Crepe, Hot Aztec, Le Food Truck, Lulu’s Local Eatery, My Big Fat Greek Truck, Sarah’s Cake Stop, Sarah’s Meltdown, Seoul Taco, Shell’s Coastal Cuisine, Steam Roller, The Cheese Shack, The Sweet Divine, 2 Girls 4 Wheels and Zia’s are scheduled to be at this month’s event, with beer from Schlafly. This month, consider attending part two of the fun: the Food Truck Friday After Party at Sasha’s on Shaw (8 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., 4069 Shaw Ave.).


Taste of Edwardsville
May 18 – 7 to 11 p.m., Meridian Ballroom, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
618.977.4612 · tasteofedwardsville.com

Once upon a time, Taste of Edwardsville was a regional affair that may have piqued our interest, or frankly, maybe not. But with the culinary renaissance in that ‘burb (see page 28 for details), we’re making a beeline for the fest this year. Bella Milano, Big Daddy’s, Chava’s Mexican Restaurant, Cleveland-Heath, Craft Chophouse, Edison’s, Joe’s Pizza, Mike Shannon’s Grill, Olive Oils & More, Peel Wood Fired Pizza, Sunset Hills Country Club, TeaSpoons Café, Wang Gang Asian Eats and Wooden Nickel will all offer serious grub at this indoor party to benefit Edwardsville Neighbors in Need. So if you haven’t been out to this Illinois town yet, this sounds like a darn good reason to make the drive.


Gateway Cookie-Eating Contest
May 25 – noon, Grandma’s Cookies, St. Charles 636.947.0088
grandmascookiesonmain.com

The winner of the annual Gateway Cookie-Eating Contest at St. Charles’ Grandma’s Cookies gets $100, and the winners within each age bracket get free cookies for a year. These are swell prizes, but based on past numbers, you gotta eat a heck of a lotta chocolate-chip cookies to win. One year, the overall winner ate 11 three-ounce cookies. That’s more than 2 pounds of dessert consumed in six minutes. Just in case you’re wondering, yes, you can have milk while competing. Register before May 13 for a discount on the competitor’s fee; that amount includes a T-shirt and a certificate good for a dozen cookies at a later date – when you’re not so full. The contest is a benefit for the Gateway Hemophilia Association.

Check out the events we are sponsoring...

Sauce Celebrity Chef Series: Marcus Samuelsson

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Join Sauce Magazine, in partnership with Left Bank Books, for the latest Sauce Celebrity Chef Series event with chef Marcus Samuelsson! Samuelsson is the award-winning chef-owner of Red Rooster Harlem as well as several other restaurants in New York and Stockholm, Sweden. During his impressive career, he has written four cookbooks, received the James Beard Foundation’s coveted Rising Star Chef Award and won Bravo’s Top Chef Masters. Chef Samuelsson will chat with the audience over dinner as he discusses and signs his new memoir, Yes, Chef.Samuelsson is the award-winning chef-owner of Red Rooster Harlem as well as several other restaurants in New York and Stockholm, Sweden. During his impressive career, he has written four cookbooks, received the James Beard Foundation’s coveted Rising Star Chef Award and won Bravo’s Top Chef Masters. Chef Samuelsson will chat with the audience over dinner as he discusses and signs his new memoir, Yes, Chef.

Webster Art and Air

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Webster Groves’ annual celebration of art, music and food returns for its 10th year with the work of more than 100 local artists, musical performers and, of course, great food and wine.

St. Louis Uncorked 2013

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Unwind with local wine, live music, craft beers and gourmet food. This year, Uncorked plays host to the region’s most popular food trucks at Sauce Food Truck Alley – a perfect complement to your beverage of choice.

Sauce Magazine's Food Truck Fridays

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There is something for everyone at this free monthly event, from tacos to bagels and don't forget the cupcakes. This year, the award-winning event series boasts live blue-grass music and activities for the kids sponsored by the YMCA. The fun keeps going at the Food Truck Friday after-party at Southtown Pub, from 8 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Dine out for the Cure

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Take action in the local fight against breast cancer by dining out for breakfast, lunch and/or dinner on Thursday, June 13, when more than 100 area restaurants will be donating a portion of their proceeds to Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s St. Louis affiliate.

St. Louis Art Museum Grand Opening

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The theme to the much-anticipated opening of the new East Building of the St. Louis Art Museum is “A World of Art.” Join in on a weekend of festivities that include interactive art, food and music.

Saucy Soiree: Reader's Choice Party

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Get a taste of your favorite restaurants and chat with the city’s top chefs at Sauce’s annual Readers’ Choice party. The price of admission includes unlimited tastes from more than 40 area restaurants and drink tickets for wine and beer. Later, head up to the rooftop of the Four Seasons for cocktails on the terrace. Mingle and taste goodies from your favorite establishments, estimated at 40 top restaurants, wineries and breweries. Tastes are plentiful, complimentary and top-notch. Some of last year's restaurants in attendance were Farmhaus, Annie Gunn's, Niche, Sidney Street, Pappy's BBQ, Modesto, Schlafly, Chaumette Vineyards, Companion Bakery, Kakao Chocolate, Eleven Eleven. Tickets just $35 which includes all tastings and two tickets for the beer and wine garden.