Set your alarm clocks! The Ultimate St. Louis Breakfast will begin sharp at 9 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 27, at Cedars Banquet Hall at 939 Lebanon Drive just outside downtown St. Louis.
While all six participating chefs may be familiar to many, one name may ring a slightly louder bell. Fr. Dominic Garramone (aka The Bread Monk), was host of the PBS show “Breaking Bread with Father Dominic” from 1999 to 2001, and is the author of six cookbooks. Father Dom says he will be bringing his brand of scone which – we assure you – will bear zero resemblance to the miserably dry varieties found in chain coffeehouses these days. For one thing, Father Dom’s (for this particular event) will be made from a crushed bushel of homegrown tomatoes, and herbs from the Saint Bede Abbey garden in Peru, Illinois, where he lives. “Scones are my forte,” he said. “I have thoroughly explored this category [of baked good] … and have even been known to churn my own butter.” Coupled with his gravy made with homemade Italian sausage (light on the basil, heavier on the oregano and perfumed with fennel seed) and this, for sure, will be a breakfast of the gods. And that’s even before you’ve paid a visit to the five other notable local chefs.
Lia Holter, owner of Made. by Lia and winner of TLC’s “Next Great Baker” will be serving a variety of baked things that spell Delicious. (Her scones are no joke either, btw, and she plans to bring her No.1 seller – the blueberry lemon variety. “The best part is, it’s gluten-free and you’d never know it.”
Meanwhile, Mathew Unger, co-host and author of “Missouri Comfort” will partner with Anne Carpenter, author of “You Had Me at Pie” and “Soup for You!” to dish chicken and waffles to the crowd. Bethany Budde-Cohen, owner SqWires Restaurant and Market is planning on bringing a veggie strata to the party, drizzled with homegrown basil pesto olive oil. She said she will be using local vegetables which will be layered with cheese and a thick savory egg custard. “Perfect for this time of year,” Budde-Cohen said.
And Matt Sorrell, mixologist and author of “Matt’s St. Louis Food Story” will be popping corks for mimosas, mixing up bloody marys, and doing his best to tell everyone that an espresso martini is a perfectly fine way to start the day. (Limit two per ticket). Sorrell’s bloody mary mix will be his own creation – made with michelada spices, sriracha and chile paste; and he’ll be squeezing the oranges for the mimosas by hand.
The $50 ticket buys you tastings from six chefs and a chance to mingle. Chat them up, twist their arms for culinary secrets, then call an Uber. (Where to? The couch). Books, where applicable, will be available for purchase. A portion of each ticket will benefit St. Louis ArtWorks.