More from Game Changer Bill Cardwell
In our April cover story, senior staff writer Ligaya Figueras spoke with 11 visionaries who have altered St. Louis’ culinary scene. They told us their experience in their own words. And all month long, we’ve been revealing the parts of the interview with these men and women that you didn’t see right here in Extra…
More from Game Changer Gerard Craft
In our April cover story, senior staff writer Ligaya Figueras spoke with 11 visionaries who have altered St. Louis’ culinary scene. They told us their experience in their own words. And all month long, we’ve been revealing the parts of the interview with these men and women that you didn’t see right here in Extra…
The Scoop: Gourmet hot dogs roll to downtown street corner
Have you noticed that 17-foot trailer parked downtown at the corner of Tenth and Walnut Streets in front of the Thomas Eagleton Building? It’s Papa Tom’s Gateway Dog House, now in it’s fifth week serving up fast, yet fresh, breakfast and lunch fare to hungry folks – especially those with a hankering for a hot…
Drink This Weekend Edition: Salt’s signature cocktails are a smashing success
We’ve always enjoyed drinks created by bartender Matt Obermark, so when we heard he was charged with the bar program at chef-owner Wes Johnson’s newly opened restaurant, Salt, in the Central West End, we were doubly excited. And being the antsy elixir enthusiasts we are, we headed over as soon as Salt had that liquor…
The Scoop: Nosh closes, Home Wine Kitchen to take the Maplewood space
An eagle-eyed reader tipped us off to the fact that Nosh, a small bistro located at 7322 Manchester Road in downtown Maplewood, closed this past weekend. Chef-owner Paula Anderson opened the restaurant in July of last year, fashioning a thoughtful, seasonal menu around locally grown, free-range, grass-fed and organic ingredients. Anderson was unavailable for comment,…
Ferguson restaurants give you a chance to help out with local tornado relief efforts
A couple of weeks ago, we gave you three reasons to patronize a trio of local restaurants that are making your night out on the town go to a good cause, (a growing trend we’ve been noticing, for sure). And now, as many St. Louisans clean up after the devastation from the tornadoes that swept…
The Scoop: Kampai Sushi Bar closed temporarily due to kitchen fire
An observant reader tipped us off yesterday that Kampai Sushi Bar may be shutting its doors for a while. Now, manager Joy Ba confirmed that the Central West End sushi spot is indeed temporarily closed due to a kitchen fire that occurred this past Monday. “It wasn’t too much damage, but we have to change…
Three Reasons to head to a forest-to-table dinner at Molly’s in Soulard
Next Wednesday, May 4, the ever-adventurous folks at Molly’s in Soulard are hosting a multi-course dinner featuring foraged mushrooms and wild greens alongside other locally grown eats. Light hors d’oeuvres will be served at 5 p.m., followed by a five-course sit-down dinner. Here’s why we will be attending: 1. We can’t eat enough morels and…
More from Game Changers Tom Schlafly and Dan Kopman
In our April cover story, senior staff writer Ligaya Figueras spoke with 11 visionaries who have altered St. Louis’ culinary scene. They told us their experience in their own words. And all month long, we’ve been revealing the parts of the interview with these men and women that you didn’t see right here in Extra…
The Scoop: Taste Wood Fired Fare first of many restaurant concepts for Friedrichs family
St. Louis Magazine’s George Mahe first announced the coming of Taste Wood Fired Fare, which will be located at 1201 Strassner Drive in Brentwood, back in March. The Scoop recently spoke to Casey Friedrichs about his plans to open Taste with his twin brother, Curt Friedrichs, and his father, Bill Friedrichs, as well as the…
More from Game Changer Trip Straub
In our April cover story, senior staff writer Ligaya Figueras spoke with 11 visionaries who have altered St. Louis’ culinary scene. They told us their experience in their own words. And all month long, we’ve been revealing the parts of the interviews with these men and women that you didn’t see right here in Extra…
Five Bistro’s burger receives national praise
Cheers to chef-owner Anthony Devoti and the talented crew over at Five Bistro, whose burger made the Eater Heat Map: the website’s list of 15 of the country’s hottest burgers. Another cheers to Riverfront Times’ dining critic Ian Froeb, quoted in the Eater piece for describing Devoti’s burger as “cleaner, lighter, with a definite mineral…
Stocking Up: Local farm shoots for spring
Kansas may be known as the Sunflower State, but some farmers in Missouri could make a case for us, too – especially the good folks at Claverach Farm, who stock their booth at the Maplewood Farmers’ Market with sunflower shoots. These tiny sprouts are nothing more than little baby sunflowers, although they look more like…
Massaman Curry
2 to 3
More from Game Changer Suchin Prapaisilp
In our April cover story, senior staff writer Ligaya Figueras spoke with 11 visionaries who have altered St. Louis’ culinary scene. They told us their experience in their own words. And all month long, we’ve been revealing the parts of the interview with these men and women that you didn’t see, along with their favorite…
The Scoop: Two new eating options coming to Plaza Frontenac
Two restaurants are slated to open at Plaza Frontenac by the end of this year. BrickTop’s, a national chain which serves up American bistro fare, will open in a 7,500-square-foot space at the north end of the mall near Clayton Road. The structure will be free-standing outside of the mall, similar to neighboring restaurant Brio…
More from Game Changer Pat Shannon-VanMatre
In our April cover story, senior staff writer Ligaya Figueras spoke with 11 visionaries who have altered St. Louis’ culinary scene. They told us their experience in their own words. And all month long, we’ve been revealing the parts of the interview with these men and women that you didn’t see, along with their favorite…
Sauce + Foodspotting = must-try dishes all around town
St. Louis’ culinary scene is always changing. New restaurants open their doors, old menus get facelifts and classic cocktails get new twists behind the bar. We know that the age-old question of where to eat is never ending, so we’re always trying to find new ways of delivering our recommendations to our readers, whether it’s…
The Scoop: Pi Pizzeria to add downtown address in 2012
Locally owned pizza chain Pi Pizzeria is headed downtown. News came today that the newest Pi will be located in the Mercantile Exchange (MX) Building, formerly known as St. Louis Centre, on Washington Avenue. Pi currently operates four brick-and-mortar locations as well as a food truck in St. Louis, and recently expanded into the Washington,…
Drink This Weekend Edition: Legendary libations at Araka
Even if you’re down to the last $20 in your wallet, entering into the sophisticated space at Araka in Clayton can make you feel like you’re rolling with rock stars. This spring, bar manager Tim Kosuge has extended that celebrity-like sensation to the brand new drink menu, complete with a slate of original cocktails named…
Southern-fried awesome at Franco
Is there a place for French’s yellow mustard in haute cuisine? While a former CIA instructor of Franco exec chef Chris Williams may say “no,” I can tell you, vehemently, that it does – and that Williams agrees. This classic condiment is a crucial ingredient in a sweet, tangy coleslaw currently available at Franco, one…
Stocking Up: Let red buds brighten your spring dishes
We’re not much one for the ultra-thrifty lifestyle of dumpster diving and “freegan-ism.” So when our friend suggested, at a recent dinner party, that we all go into the yard and pick red buds off a tree for a salad, we were a bit skeptical. After a quick Google search ensured that red buds were…
The juice on another wine with St. Louis roots
Scarpetta, Pushback, Calluna. These wine labels all entered the St. Louis market this year and have received plenty of local attention thanks to their ties to our fair city. Scarpetta and Pushback are both brainchildren of former St. Louisans, and the family of Gerard Craft, chef-owner of Niche restaurants, is among the investors in Calluna…
More from Game Changer Patrick Horine
In our April cover story, senior staff writer Ligaya Figueras spoke with 11 visionaries who have altered St. Louis’ culinary scene. They told us their experience in their own words. All month long, we’ll be revealing the parts of the interview with these men and women that you didn’t see, along with their favorite recipes,…
Wash U. steps up its game in name of college fare
My, has dorm fare changed since our college days. Sure, Pop-Tarts, pizza and late-night microwave popcorn can be the diet of a 20-year-old supposedly engaged in higher education, but at universities like Washington University, healthy choices abound. Wash U.’s dining services, operated by Bon Appétit Management Co., prepares myriad fresh, from-scratch dishes for pretty much…
The Scoop: Adobe Reds soon to bring New Mexican flavors to St. Louis
Tom Quinlan has worked in the food service industry for 35 years, most recently as an account manager with National Restaurant Supply. After living in Phoenix for a while, he has returned to St. Louis to open Adobe Reds, a new restaurant coming to Midtown Alley at 3108 Olive St., in the space formerly occupied…
The Scoop: Gay-friendly hamburger chain coming to Midtown
Hamburger Mary’s Bar and Grille, a national burger chain, is headed to St. Louis. According to Midtown Alley developer Mark Wegmann, the local franchisees are expected to sign a lease within the next few weeks that would bring the popular gay-friendly burger chain to 3037 Olive St. in the space formerly occupied by Lush Nightclub,…
Caramelized Onion and Fig Tart
2 to 3 as an entrée or 6 to 8 as an appetizer
The Scoop: Italian fare gets a heart-healthy overhaul as Trattoria Branica becomes Picasso’s Bistro
By day, Dr. Melda Dolan can be found at St. Louis University Hospital, where she has worked as a cardiologist for more than 20 years. Now, Dolan has added a night shift to her schedule. But she’s not at SLU – she’s running Picasso’s Bistro in Chesterfield. The restaurant, located at 138 Chesterfield Towne Center,…
Just Five: Caramelized Onion and Fig Tart
The onion is one of my favorite ingredients; it’s versatile in flavor – sharp and spicy when raw, mellow and sweet when roasted – and thanks to my recent purchase of a mandoline, slicing the tear-inducing vegetable is a cinch. While the combination of caramelized onions and thyme has long been a personal favorite, it’s…
Drink This Weekend Edition: Income Tax Cocktail
Whether you’ve already filed your taxes or, like millions of other Americans, you plan on getting the dreaded task done by midnight on Monday, you deserve a drink for all that paper pushing and number crunching. In recognition of the necessary evil that Uncle Sam first proposed in 1812 – and which was instituted upon…
The Scoop: Ernesto’s Wine Bar hires new exec chef
Chef Ryan Sexton has been hired to serve as the new executive chef at Ernesto’s Wine Bar. Tom Revie, owner of the Benton Park wine bar and restaurant, has been looking for an exec since chef Cassy Vires left the position last November. Revie told The Scoop that Vires had hired Sexton on a part-time…
More from Game Changer Karen Duffy
In our April cover story, senior staff writer Ligaya Figueras spoke with 11 visionaries who have altered St. Louis’ culinary scene. They told us their experience in their own words. All month long, we’ll be revealing the parts of the interview with these men and women that you didn’t see, along with their favorite recipes,…
UPDATE: The Scoop: Chef changes at The Crossing, Terrace View
There has been a change at the back of the house at chef-owner Jim Fiala’s The Crossing. Ian Vest, who had been running day-to-day operations in the kitchen, has left the Clayton restaurant to pursue a culinary degree from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y. Assuming the position is Matthew Abeshouse, who…
Meet Hector Santiago, “The Chile Whisperer,” and a cheftestant at this year’s Top Chef: The Tour
Last time we checked, Ina Garten wasn’t being hauled around the country in a trailer to emerge periodically and whip up brunch for her fans, but for four years now, Bravo’s Top Chef has pretty much done just that with its stars. The TV show, which just wrapped up its eighth season, sends a custom…
Stocking Up: Starting the season off at Maplewood Farmers’ Market
In St. Louis, you just have to accept that while the calendar says spring, it can feel like the dead of winter when you step outside. Of course, the next day it may feel like the dog days of summer. This bifurcated existence can be easily felt around area farmers’ market as some vendors show…
More from Game Changer Joe Edwards
In our April cover story, senior staff writer Ligaya Figueras spoke with 11 visionaries who have altered St. Louis’ culinary scene. They told us their experience in their own words. All month long, we’ll be revealing the parts of the interview with these men and women that you didn’t see, along with their favorite recipes,…
Three reasons to dine out and give back
St. Louis is one of the nation’s most generous cities, ranked 8th nationally, based on per-capita giving among large cities in 2009. We in the Gateway City know that charitable giving is important; it’s just a matter of deciding who should get our charitable dollars. Here are three ways to make your dining dollars support…
Extra Sauce: Short List Runner-Up
In this month’s Short List, we told you about three grilled cheeses that had that perfect bread to butter to cheese ratio. Now, we reveal which ‘wich fell just shy of taking home a medal. Whose slice of cheesy heaven is this? Click over to this month’s Extra Sauce section to find out. — Photo…
Local food bloggers are baking for charity – and you’re invited
If you’re a regular reader of local food blogs like Cupcake Project and Rhubarb and Honey, you know that these bloggers know their way around a kitchen. Cooking is their passion, and their photos and recipes of tempting, tasty dishes can inspire just about anyone to spend some time by the stove (not to mention…
The Scoop: We all scream for I Scream Cakes
What happens when a tattoo artist finds herself with a bit of free time? She heads to the kitchen to sculpt artsy cakes. Kerry Soraci began baking cakes in 2009 after an accident left her recuperating at home. The cakes served as gifts of appreciation to well wishers. “I slowly realized that I could cut…
Short List Runner-Up
In this month’s Short List, we told you about three grilled cheeses that had that perfect bread to butter to cheese ratio. Now, we reveal which ‘wich fell just shy of taking home a medal. Sandrina’s Restaurant and Lounge 5098 Arsenal St., St. Louis, 314.601.3456 The crew over at Sandrina’s has this whole grilled cheese…
Short List: Grilled cheese
A great grilled cheese is something you build memories around. I can still taste the grilled cheese I’d nibble on as a kid in between dips in the pool during steamy St. Louis summers and, come winter, the one I dunked piece by piece into a bowl of thick, creamy tomato soup. The bread, sliced…
Drink This Weekend Edition: Yia Yia’s sets sights on sporty spring drinks
Food fanatics and sports fans have something in common: we both enjoy having a drink in hand. A food-lover may not need an excuse to order a craft cocktail, but if a sports fan needs a reason, come spring, baseball season and horse racing are grounds enough. At Yia Yia’s in Chesterfield, bar manager Jay…
The Scoop: Steven Becker Fine Dining hires exec chef
Steven and Kathy Becker are busier than ever. Their new wine bar, Vino Nadoz, opened last week and they continue to keep with up the daily demands of operating two Nadoz Cafe locations, as well as off-site and on-premise catering at The Coronado Ballroom in Midtown through their catering business, Steven Becker Fine Dining. To…
The Scoop: Cedar Lake Cellars set for grand opening
Some St. Louisans may have heard of Cedar Lake Cellars, a 95-acre winery located in Wright City, Mo., about an hour west of St. Louis City. The venue opened to the public in 2008, hosting only private events in a charming, rehabbed barn. In 2009, the winery was built, and then a tasting room opened…
Extra Sauce: More from our conversation with Wes Johnson
In this month’s Chef Talk column, Whimsically Serious, chef Wes Johnson spoke with us about Salt, his restaurant opening today in the Central West End. From the menu to the unique space to the atmosphere he envisions, Johnson revealed what owning his own restaurant means to him. Now, in the second part of this interview,…
More from our conversation with Salt chef-owner Wes Johnson
In this month’s Chef Talk column, Whimsically Serious, chef Wes Johnson spoke with us about Salt, his new restaurant opening today in the Central West End. From the menu to the unique space to the atmosphere, Johnson revealed what owning his own restaurant means to him. Now, in the second part of this interview, Johnson…
Choosing the Cover
In the office we call them the Thai kings, and we call their business the Thai empire. Maybe that’s why I couldn’t get brothers Suchin Prapaisilp and Pat Prapaisilapa out of my head for the cover this month. I settled on using Pat because I had a stronger idea. I wanted to see Pat facing…
The Scoop: Bocci Bar is first of a trio of new Italian spots
Get ready; the newest wave of Italian restaurants is arriving. This week, Frank Schmitz opened Bocci Bar at 16 N. Central Ave., in Clayton. The restaurant and wine bar is located next door to Mosaic Bistro Market, operated by his sister Ellen Schmitz, and down the street from his other restaurant, Barcelona Tapas. Posited as…
Poaching from the Pros: A home cook’s quest to master the fried poached egg
For a video on how to make fried poached eggs click here. I have this charming (to me)/annoying (to everyone else) personality quirk: If someone can do something, then I’m positive I can do it too. Which is why it is vitally important that you never, ever tell me you need your oil changed. Or…
Stocking Up: Market season is upon us
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. No, we’re not talking Christmas, the World Series or the return of Mad Men. Break out your piggy banks folks, it’s farmers’ market season. Area market masters have set their opening dates and most are right around the corner (one actually opens today). Before you head out,…
Extra Sauce: Choosing the Cover
Each month, Sauce art director Meera Nagarajan thumbs through hundreds of beautiful photographs to pick the perfect image for the issue’s cover. Want to know how she landed upon the gorgeous photograph on this month’s? She tells all in Choosing the Cover. Also, don’t forget to check our Extra Sauce page throughout the month for…
The Scoop: Gragnani’s says goodbye to breakfast, hello to late night
Gragnani’s Bistro, a restaurant and catering company in St. Peters, has recently downsized. According to owner Beth Bruening, the establishment, located just south of Interstate 70 at 235 Jungermann Road, now claims just three suites instead of five, with seating capacity for 65 in the dining area, plus another handful at the bar. Gragnani’s operating…
Kevin Willmann named among 2011 Best New Chefs by Food & Wine Magazine
A Saucy congratulations to Kevin Willmann! The chef-owner of Farmhaus is one of 10 chefs across the country named a 2011 Best New Chef today by Food & Wine Magazine, according to the Post-Dispatch’s Joe Bonwich and Evan Benn. Since leaving Erato on Main and opening his own restaurant in South City early last year,…
Pasta Carbonara
4 servings
Five service rules to live by from Tony’s Vincent J. Bommarito
Tony’s was recently named among OpenTable.com’s 2011 winners in the Best Service category. The fine dining restaurant, located downtown on Market St., is the only winner in Missouri and one of just 50 establishments throughout the country to receive the award, which is based on a vote by OpenTable diners. So we thought it was…
The Scoop: Chill Frozen Yogurt biz heats up with location No. 3
Fresh on the heels of the grand opening held this past weekend at the newest Chill Frozen Yogurt location, company spokesperson Liz Summers informed The Scoop that a third location is now a done deal. So where can you find those 30 rotating flavors and 26 toppings? The original location, which opened in April of…
The Scoop: Salume Beddu to offer lunch
Patrons of Salume Beddu know how much fun it is to visit the artisanal salumeria at 3467 Hampton Ave. Besides drooling over the guanciale, salsiccia and coppa offerings, shoppers inevitably end up chatting with the shop’s affable duo of Mark Sanfilippo and Ben Poremba. Soon cured meat- and cheese-lovers will have another reason to linger.…
Just Five: Pasta Carbonara
When my family wants breakfast for dinner they don’t mean pancakes and sausage. Sure, they want bacon and eggs, but they want them tossed with pasta, crisp onion and nutty cheese for some ultimate kitchen comfort. Carbonara is a family favorite, and I make many variations. “Carbonara 3 ways” includes bacon, pancetta and prosciutto (no…
Game Changers: 11 visionaries who have altered St. Louis’ culinary scene. Their experience. Their words.
For the rest of our interviews with these Game Changers, click here. Karen Duffy | Co-owner of Duff’s Restaurant 1972 – no one could believe that we would move into this neighborhood with two kids. I lived right upstairs when we opened. We rented: $125 a month for the apartment, $125 for the restaurant. Thank…
Recipe: Acero’s Egg Raviolo
Jim Fiala’s egg raviolo – paper-thin pasta encasing a beautiful yellow egg yolk nestled in a bed of cheese – has become something of a legendary dish around town. If you’ve never had it before, the round yolk visible through the pasta is a delightful surprise when it arrives at the table; if you have,…
Five Sausage Sellers to Try at Farmers’ Markets This Spring
The farm-fresh breakfast sausage sputtered and spat as I hovered near the stove, my hand wafting its delightful aroma towards my face. The scent of good pork, black pepper and salt came on clean and strong. A few well-browned bits jumped onto my spoon. Pared down to the basics, the salt and pepper sausage Karlios…
Review: The Wicked Lady Pub in Bevo Mill
Editor’s note: The Wicked Lady Pub has closed. We’re not sure if The Wicked Lady is a quarry owner or a mason, but she is a sinfully good cook. The new pub, which opened last fall in the Bevo Mill neighborhood, sports a strange décor of brick, tile, stone and Formica booths, ironically separated by…
Wes Johnson gets whimsically serious at Salt
Chef Wes Johnson has worked in kitchens in his native Springfield, Mo., in Seattle and in St. Louis. During his 18 years in the biz, he’s helped launch eight restaurants, most recently Eclipse in the East Loop’s Moonrise Hotel. Now he’s ready to venture out on his own. “I’ve looked at a lot of buildings…
Review: Via Vino in Frontenac
Via Vino, 10427 Clayton Road, Frontenac, 314.569.0405, viaviavino.com Michael Del Pietro’s latest offering, Via Vino, comes not only on the heels of his wildly successful Sugo’s Spaghetteria, it’s joined at the hip. The adjacent restaurants are located in a sliver of a strip mall just west of Le Château Village and across from Plaza Frontenac.…
Review: Urban Chestnut Brewing Co. in St. Louis
The most recent in the string of new microbreweries popping up around our fair city, Urban Chestnut Brewing Co., mixes innovative flavor with traditional, Old World style. Drowning out corporate stereotypes, the barkeeps here shell out tall frosty ones that remind drinkers why St. Louis is the beer capital of this hemisphere. Moreover, this is…
BC’s Kitchen’s Bloody Mary
4 to 6 servings
Half & Half’s Pork Belly
6 servings
Sopa de Menudo
6 to 8 servings
Fried Poached Egg Over Greens
4 servings
Acero’s Egg Raviolo
6 servings
Half & Half’s Corpse Reviver No. 2
1 serving
Half & Half’s Veggie Hash
4 servings
Half & Half’s Fruit Salad
6 servings
Drink This Weekend Edition: Imbibe between raindrops on Eclipse’s rooftop patio
Snow claimed the headline last weekend and showers are in the forecast for Sunday, which means patio-lovers in The Lou have just a couple days to get their outdoor fix. Make the most of it and head to Eclipse’s rooftop terrace bar atop The Moonrise Hotel, which opens today at 4 p.m., and you can…
Trattoria Marcella: Still That Good
Four girlfriends are sitting in a corner booth at Trattoria Marcella in South City. They’re gabbing about wedding dresses and relationships, hopes for the future, reminiscing about the past. There is a slight pause in the conversation as big white bowls descend before each of them, then they launch into a new topic: pasta. They…
Egg-Centric
We’re on an egg hunt this month, but we’re not looking to fill our basket with hard-boiled, pastel pretties. We want them raw and we want to drink them. Cocktails that call for raw eggs are not new – think Pisco Sour, Ramos Gin Fizz or Clover Club. With bartenders in town showcasing more fizzes…
