Beer gets a push onto the mixed-drink bandwagon
Springtime in St. Louis: Time to sit on the porch, knock the mud off your shoes and enjoy a Bud Light Orangutang. A what, you ask? The Orangutang is one of many Drink Innovations created by Anheuser-Busch to liven up our beer-drinking experiences – or, perhaps, to stay competitive in a market where mixed drinks…
Grounds for Change: Fair-trade and organic coffees provide a socially conscious cup
Something is always brewing in the coffee world. It’s no longer enough to walk into your local coffee house and coolly order a tall latte, extra shot, skinny, no foam. It’s impressive if you can name a preference for beans from a specific region, but even that doesn’t let you off the hook. Now social…
Lyrically and professionally, Magnolia Summer carries on in life’s tug of war
Bands come together at different times for different reasons. Chris Grabau knows that as well as anyone on the local scene. His longtime band, the country-rockin’ Stillwater, was a collection of college friends who actually broke well beyond the Saint Louis University campus and grabbed some nice opening slots while releasing a couple albums. With…
From reluctant teen to Restaurateur of the Year, Bill Gianino is at the top of his game
I’m just the guy in the limelight, just the guy waving to the crowd,” said Bill Gianino, owner of Bill Gianino’s and Frankie G’s Bar and Grill, commenting on being named the Greater St. Louis Restaurant Association 2005 Restaurateur of the Year in January. “I should chop the plaque up into a hundred pieces and…
Hunting for eggs? Look no further than Sasha’s
One of my favorite neighborhoods is DeMun. Nestled between Forest Park and Concordia Seminary and consisting of a handful of shady streets, this quiet enclave evokes a European-village feel. The always-bustling Kaldi’s Coffee House reigns at the north end, right next to Jimmy’s on the Park. In 2003, Sasha’s Wine Bar opened, adding a perfect…
In ‘Sophie Scholl,’ it’s the journey that matters
Nothing is so unworthy of a civilized nation as allowing itself to be governed without opposition by an irresponsible clique that has yielded to base instinct. Do not forget that every people deserves the regime it is willing to endure! Every individual human being has a claim to a useful and just state, which secures…
After troubled times, lamb producers see the market improving
I grew up thinking Lamb Chop was a puppet and Easter lamb was a cake baked in a lamb-shaped mold, frosted in buttercream and covered in flaked coconut. My experience is not unique. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Americans consume less than 1 pound of lamb per year. Still, Missouri farmers David Hillebrand…
Smart art: Everyone can study at universities’ art collections and exhibits
In contrast to the steadfast popularity of the Saint Louis Art Museum and gallery districts such as Washington Avenue, the visual art collections at regional college campuses maintain a low profile. Yet some of St. Louis’ most varied permanent collections and rotating exhibitions can be found at these academic institutions. Whether they focus on modern,…
McCormick’s stills haven’t run dry in 150 years
I recently discovered a great gem of Missouri’s beverage history: Missouri has the oldest distillery in the United States. During the American bicentennial in 1976, the federal government recognized McCormick Distilling Co. in Weston as the oldest distillery in the country operating at its original location and placed it on the National Register of Historic…
Emerald Irish Stew
6 servings
Going All In: Don’t settle for average food at your next poker night
Poker used to mean a group of guys in a smoky room playing late into the night. Not anymore. With the popularity of televised and celebrity poker tournaments, more and more Americans are taking to the game. It’s drawing female players and moving out of the basement and into the family room as a result.…
No More Soggy Cabbage: Ireland is reinventing its dining scene
St. Patrick’s Day is here again, but if you simply can’t face the prospect of another holiday dinner of stringy corned beef and mushy cabbage, you’re not alone. The Irish themselves are breaking out of the culinary traditions that have kept their food best described as overcooked and bland; today’s young and creative Irish chefs…
Review: Café Balaban in Chesterfield
When someone brings up St. Louis icons, what comes to mind? For me it’s the Arch, the reflecting pool leading up to the Saint Louis Art Museum and the chubby French guy perennially panhandling on Euclid Avenue just north of McPherson in the Central West End. I’ve always had an affinity for this guy; he…
Review: The Maryland House at Brennan’s in St. Louis
GUY’S PERSPECTIVE Ilike design. I like symmetry, matching colors and fingertip-pleasing textures. Hence, many times my opinion of a bar hinges on this higher order. Although I enjoy seeing Captain Morgan’s goatee on the Mardi Gras poster while doing Car Bombs as much as the next drunken rube, I also enjoy explicating an obscure painting…
Grilled Baby Vegetables
8 servings
Braised Lamb Shank and Scotch Broth
6 servings
Stationery, candles and … crêpes!
There’s no question that downtown has been a buzzing scene for quite some time now, and Washington Avenue is at the center of it all with its hot nightlife and hip dining spots. Given the neighborhood’s trendsetting status, it should come as no surprise that many of its shops offer something a bit out of…
It’s bombs away for St. Patrick’s Day
It’s the night before St. Patrick’s Day, and you’re going to bed early so you won’t miss a minute of the parade. No? Let’s be honest: You’re drunkenly trying to locate your running shoes, so you can win that 5-mile race in the morning, as you say you’re going to do every year, despite starting…
Sake: This Japanese libation is more complex than piping-hot shots
Say “sake” and the image many people conjure will likely be of a piping-hot drink served in a ceramic shot glass not much bigger than a thimble. But that’s only the beginning. What many people don’t realize is that this spirit boasts a degree of complexity comparable to that of wine; it just lacks wine’s…
St. Louis holds many surprises for Busch’s Grove’s executive chef
The lead proprietor of the new Busch’s Grove, Lester Miller, wanted to create an “out-of-town experience” for St. Louisans. He purchased the old Busch’s Grove, which had closed in 2003, and rebuilt, reshaped and redefined the space. One of the people Miller lured into realizing his vision was executive chef Todd Weisz. Weisz and his…
Wine 101: All you need to know for a basic wine tasting
Many years ago, when I first began teaching wine classes, I quickly learned that most people do not want to receive too much information. Wines can be intimidating and confusing, and many times we overwhelm the new wine drinker with unusable facts. There is a great deal to learn about grapes and wines, but until…
Miniature veggies are cute, tasty and perfect for spring gardens
March might still offer plenty of cold, blustery days, but the gardeners among us are already preparing for this summer’s harvest by purchasing, preparing and planting the seeds that will produce beautiful flowers and delicious vegetables throughout the coming season. Steffie Littlefield, seed buyer and assistant manager for Garden Heights Nursery in Richmond Heights, suggested…
