Drink This Weekend Edition: When one tweak changes everything
As the revival of classic cocktails appears to be here to stay, area bartenders are finding ways to flex their creative muscles and still give a nod to tradition. At Robust Wine Bar, for instance, we noticed a couple of cocktails in which one tiny tweak is making a very big difference. Lauren Blake, wine…
The Scoop: Thai 202 opens, SOHA coming soon, La Dolce Via to say adieu
Thai 202 opened this week at 235 N. Euclid Ave., in the Central West End. The restaurant, located in the space formerly occupied by hot dog eatery Audi-K’s, offers numerous classic Thai noodle and rice dishes. The Thai 202 website is currently under construction. A bar and grill is coming soon to the Clifton Heights…
The Scoop: Jack Mac to head the kitchen at Schneithorst’s
Veteran chef Jack MacMurray III has been hired as the executive chef at Schneithorst’s in Ladue. MacMurray, who is moving on from the top culinary post at Kirkwood Station Brewing Co., will begin his tenure at the German restaurant located at 1600 S. Lindbergh Road next Tuesday, Sept. 4. MacMurray called the cuisine that he…
The Scoop: Mastermind Distillery making moves to go west of the Mississippi
Mastermind Distillery has been gaining attention since launching its vodka last winter. The distillery, located in Pontoon Beach, Ill., has yet to celebrate its first anniversary but has already earned a gold medal at this year’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition for its vodka, made from local corn and wheat. With product slated to increase…
Sneak Peek: Little Country Gentleman
Now that MEDIAnoche, the Mexican-in-the-evening restaurant at 8135 Maryland Ave., in Clayton has closed for good, chef-owner Mike Randolph and his staff are preparing to open another evening-only restaurant, Little Country Gentleman, in its stead. The space’s by-day restaurant, Half & Half, will still operate for breakfast, lunch and brunch. Randolph and his team recently gave Sauce…
By the Book: Anita Lo’s Unagi with Celery Root and Wasabi
Anita Lo is a big proponent of fusion cooking. In her cookbook, Cooking Without Borders, Lo shares her ideas for finding harmony among ingredients and techniques of different cuisines. Her recipe for Unagi with Celery Root and Wasabi explores a marriage between Japanese and French cookery. The dish intrigued me because unagi, known among Anglophiles…
Sneak Peek: Hendricks BBQ
Hendricks BBQ was days from opening last spring when a water main broke and caused extensive damage to the property at 1200 S. Main Street in historic St. Charles. Now that the renovation is complete, co-owners Dr. Gupreet Padda and Ami Grimes have given the green light to fire up the ‘cue. For a preview…
Baked: Apple Cider Muffins or “doughnut holes”
Each year, my friends and I put together a fabulous meal before spending Thanksgiving with our respective families. Since we’re all so busy and spread across the map, it’s wonderful to have Friendsgiving, as we call it, to look forward to. On one such occasion, these apple cider muffins were devoured so quickly, I barely…
Meatless Mondays: A Greek free for all
Chock full of belly dancers and cozy tables, Momos Greek Tavern always proves a fun night on the town. And with such an expansive menu – featuring a bevy of spreads, salads, gyros, and mezes both hot and cold – it’s also a tasty one, not to mention a great place for apprehensive Meatless Monday beginners.…
The Scoop: Longtime grocery store slated to close, another sees new life
Johnny’s Market is closing. The grocery store, which has been operating at 11555 Gravois Road in Sappington for nearly 70 years, will shutter on Oct. 13, as reported by Evan Benn of the Post-Dispatch. But while one grocery store is closing, another is seeing new life. Owned by the Droege family for over 100 years,…
The Scoop: Tucci & Fresta’s in Clayton is converted to The Pasta House Co.
The space at 15 N. Central Ave., in Clayton is no longer Tucci & Fresta’s. The trattoria and bar that owners Kim Tucci and Joe Fresta opened last September has been converted to another Pasta House Co., the casual Italian restaurant chain that Tucci and Fresta also operate. Matthew Hibbard of the St. Louis Business…
Drink This Weekend Edition: Bar talk with Angus Winchester
Angus Winchester is a leading figure in the world of bartending. The veteran bartender, global brand ambassador for Tanqueray and director of training for Barmetrix – a company that helps hospitality companies maximize profits while increasing customer satisfaction – was in St. Louis this week as part of a 20-city, 40-week tour geared toward the…
More from our conversation with Zoe Pidgeon
In this month’s Five Questions column (page 50), we spoke with Zoë Pidgeon, owner of I Fratellini, Bobo Noodle House and the soon-to-open Bar Les Frères, about her new digs, how she plans to run three restaurants at once and the surprising thing that makes her happiest on a Saturday night. Now, in the full…
The Scoop: Exec chef from The Crow’s Nest now perched at Cleveland-Heath
Jimmy Hippchen has left his position as executive chef at The Crow’s Nest in Maplewood. Hippchen’s new perch is across the river at Cleveland-Heath in Edwardsville, Ill., where he is working as a line cook. “He’s got a great resume,” said chef-owner Jenny Cleveland of her newest employee, noting that Hippchen’s employment history is less…
Cook Wise: Hand pies
What’s better than pie? Pie you can eat with your hands. Click here to learn how to make this super-yummy, highly portable dessert.
By the Book: José Pizarro and Vicky Bennison’s Summer Vegetable Stew
José Pizarro and Vicky Bennison’s cookbook, Seasonal Spanish Food, doesn’t look like all the other coffee table tomes that come across our desks. Its size is smaller than most. It doesn’t have a picture on every page. And its recipes are mostly humble, with simple titles like “Meatballs with Onion Sauce” and “Chocolate Toast.” But…
The Scoop: Tilford Bros. to open late-night taco joint in former Delmar Lounge space in The Loop
Adam and Jason Tilford have a project in the works: a late-night taco joint located in The Loop at 6235 Delmar Blvd., in the space previously occupied by the recently shuttered Delmar Lounge. The Tilford brothers are the owners of Milagro Modern Mexican, Tortillaria and Barrister’s. The restaurant, whose working name is Mission, will be “a twist on…
St. Louis Classic Cocktail Party to celebrate local distilleries
The St. Louis craft distilling scene is booming, and we can’t think of any better way to celebrate than with a toast. Area distillers Square One Brewery and Distillery, Pinckney Bend Distillery, Crown Valley Brewing & Distilling Co., The Big O, Mastermind Vodka and St. Louis Distillery will be showcasing their artisanal spirits at the St. Louis Classic Cocktail…
Just Five: Quinoa and Black Beans
Quinoa, you may have heard, is a “superfood,” along with blueberries, salmon, red wine, olive oil and whatever else the marketing people want to sell you this week. If you find the right website, you may be convinced that quinoa will clear up your skin, help you lose weight, make you smarter … it may…
Wildwood Pub & Grill owner to open cafe-market in Ellisville
A cafe-market is in the works for Jeff Allee, owner of Wildwood Pub & Grill. Allee’s newest venture will be called Windowsills Café & Market and will make its home in Ellisville at 1326 Clarkson Clayton Center, next to Dierbergs. At Windowsills’ counter-service-style cafe, patrons will be able to sit down to a meal of…
Meatless Mondays: Call off the diet, we’re eating mac and cheese
No one ever orders the side of mac and cheese with the intention of having it for their whole meal. Scratch that: No one ever admits to veering so far from the recommended daily intake of carbs and dairy. But as I pulled up a seat at Brasserie, the French-style eatery in the Central West…
The Scoop: New Asian eatery opening in The Loop
Get your chopsticks ready, Fork & Stix appears to be coming to The Loop. Located at 549 Rosedale Ave., in the space formerly occupied by Selam, Fork and Stick will offer Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese dishes. Butcher paper is still covering windows, but look for this new spot to open in late September. More as…
Drink This Weekend Edition: Where to sip Cardinal Sin
Area bartenders are eager to shake and stir local, quality products into their cocktails. When it comes to vodka, they’re giving a nod to Cardinal Sin, a small-batch vodka that St. Louis Distillery launched a few months ago. Like many vodkas, Cardinal Sin is crisp and clean. Contrary to many unflavored vodkas, though, it has…
Downtown Restaurant Week is just around the corner
Besides those must-haves from Target that always “accidentally” end up in your cart, what can 25 bucks buy you these days? Not a whole lot. But don’t despair. Downtown Restaurant Week is back and ready to stretch your dollar quite a long way. Starting Monday, August 20 and running through August 26, at DRW, you can…
The Scoop: News on Eclipse’s new exec chef
Last week, The Scoop reported that Patrick Viehmann had replaced John Stuhlman as executive chef at Eclipse Restaurant. Stuhlman left the hotel restaurant amicably earlier this summer. The Scoop has since learned more details about Viehmann’s culinary career. The St. Louis native is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu and, after working at beach clubs…
The Scoop: Comet Coffee hoping to be another spot for coffee nerds
Artisan coffee enthusiasts in need of a high-quality caffeine jolt may want to check out Comet Coffee, which opened today. Comet Coffee is located at 5708 Oakland Ave., in the space formerly occupied by Sabu’s Coffee. Manager Zach Althaus told The Scoop that Comet will feature hand-brewed coffee from artisan roasters such as Intelligentsia and Blue…
Sangria
6 to 8
By the Book: Luke Nguyen’s Stir-Fried Ginger Chicken
My Vietnam is such a beautiful book, it could serve as a cookbook and a coffee table book and make all your foodie friends a little jealous. In the gorgeous tome, author Luke Nguyen and his partner, Suzanna Boyd, travel all over Vietnam from the quiet villages in the northern hills of Sapa to the…
The Scoop: Sappington Farmers Market to close
Sappington Farmers’ Market is shuttering on Friday, August 24. As reported by Feast and the Riverfront Times, supporters of the Missouri farmer-owned cooperative learned of the imminent closure in a letter that cited “declining sales, outdated equipment and competition from larger markets in the neighborhood” as reasons for the decision. The statement also noted, “Our company, Impact…
Dressed Up Dogs
You’ve boiled ’em, broiled ’em and barbecued ’em till their skin is charred and crackled. But have you ever had a hot dog with ghost peppers? How about pickled carrots? Forget measly ol’ mustard; hot dogs have taken a turn for the better as local chefs tuck just about anything you can think of inside…
Baked: Chocolate-Chai Spiced Cakes
Chocolate and chai are two of my favorite flavors. All winter long, I drink a cup of hot masala chai to get me through the cold days, but in summer, the thought of a hot beverage is unbearable. In this heat, I’d rather bake this lovely chocolate cake infused with all my favorite chai spices.…
Meatless Monday: Decisions, decisions at The Mud House
Whenever I have a friend in town, I always try to stop by The Mud House, an ideal place to rest our feet after antiquing along Cherokee Street. Here, the hardest decision of your day (harder than deciding if you need that set of antique coupe glasses or that shoe-shaped ash tray) will be which dish…
Barman T.S. Ferguson creates all-star cocktail list for Galliano’s pop-up
St. Louisans hungry for Southern-style fried chicken and fish have been salivating ever since chef Josh Galliano announced his one-day pop-up restaurant. But the food is only half of what will be available when All-Star Fried Chicken & Fish opens doors tonight at 5 p.m., at 8133 Maryland Ave., in the space that’s home to…
The Scoop: Josh Galliano to pop-up again next month
Chef Josh Galliano’s fried chicken pop-up hasn’t even opened yet and there’s already news of another rolling in. Galliano, who has kept the culinary scene guessing his next moves ever since the restaurant where he was executive chef, Monarch, closed in March, told The Scoop that he will launch another pop-up restaurant next month. On…
Drink This Weekend Edition: New cocktails hit the mark at Milagro
A new cocktail menu debuted last week at Milagro Modern Mexican in Webster Groves. Among the five mixed drinks recently created by bar manager Lawrence Ballard, three caught my attention for their creative use of products typical of the Southwestern U.S. Not for the feint of heart, Amante Picante is a fiery spin on a margarita…
The Scoop: Chef change at Eclipse leads to saucy side gig
Chef John Stuhlman is no longer executive chef at Eclipse Restaurant. Former sous chef Patrick Viehmann has taken his place. Stuhlman told The Scoop that, although he saw Eclipse as “the perfect fit” during the two years he helmed the kitchen, he was ready for a change and that his leaving was an amicable departure between…
Cook Wise: DIY granola bars
Who knew you could make crazy-good chewy granola bars from scratch and that you already have the ingredients in your pantry? Me – and now you. Click here to learn how to make this delicious, nutritious treat in this week’s Cook Wise.
By the Book: Francis and Edward Mayes’ Baked Peppers with Ricotta and Basil
As much as I loved Francis Mayes’ memoir Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy and the subsequent gorgeously filmed movie, I was a little leery of an Italian cookbook created by someone who wasn’t Italian. It turns out, though, that Mayes and her husband’s newest book, The Tuscan Sun Cookbook: Recipes from our…
The Scoop: Get stranded at Castaway’s in Grafton
Being stranded on a deserted island doesn’t have to be a miserable experience. At least that’s the viewpoint of Fred Ingrim, owner of the newly opened Castaway’s Bar & Grill, located at 220 W. Main St., in the space formerly occupied by the Rotten Apple, in Grafton, Ill. Castaway’s gets its name from the 2000…
The Scoop: Circle 7 Ranch to open in Ballwin, boasting Missouri’s only personal table tap system
Beer drinkers in West County, get ready: Circle 7 Ranch Taphouse and Grill is preparing to meet your beverage needs. The restaurant, slated to open in mid-September at 14412 Clayton Road in Ballwin, claims to offer Missouri’s only Personal Table Tap system. A draft beer dispensing system will be outfitted at nine of the restaurant’s…
The Scoop: Smash Bar hits a wall
Smash Bar has closed. The nightclub, located downtown at 1405 Washington Ave., had become a favorite of late-night revelers looking to curb midnight hunger pangs when it launched last year on New Year’s Eve. “I’m taking a bar and smashing it with a fast-food restaurant,” was how Jessie Jones, charged with creating the menu and…
Just Five: Bacon Jam
Bacon is the Marcia Brady of foods; truly “bacon, bacon, bacon” is all I hear about. I wish I could say I’m over it, but … I just can’t quit you, bacon. From breakfast sandwiches to pastas to “vegetable dishes,” I am guilty of prolonging the bacon craze all on my own. Bacon plus sweet…
The Scoop: Old Arcelia’s space now home to Laredo on Lafayette Square
After being closed for more than a year and a half, there is new life at 2001 Park Ave., in Lafayette Square. Laredo on Lafayette Square opened last week, dishing out classic Mexican fare and Mexican fusion in the space that was formerly occupied by Arcelia’s Mexicana Restaurant. The restaurant will only be serving lunch…
Meatless Monday: East meets West at Thai Pizza Co.
Slather creamy coconut curry or rich peanut sauce on anything, and I go crazy for it. So I couldn’t wait to grab a seat at Thai Pizza Co., the sister restaurant to a handful of Thai eateries in The Loop. This casual restaurant screams comfort food, uniting some of the best flavors from the east…
Drink This Weekend Edition: How to make a proper poptail
Making popsicles is easy: Freeze juice in a mold then shove in a stick. Making booze-sicles is a bit harder. The problem, of course, is that hard alcohol does not freeze in its natural state. In Erin Nichols’ new cookbook, Poptails: 60 Boozy Treats Served on a Stick, she explains that the trick to achieving a perfect…
The Scoop: Wal-Mart and CostCo beware, Randall’s is movin’ west
Randall’s Wine and Spirits, the area’s beloved Toys “R” Us for adults, is opening a new location in West County later this month. As reported by Kevin Cronin for the Riverfront Times, the liquor megastore will make its home at 14201 Manchester Road (at the intersection with Highway 141). The grand opening is set for…
Recipe: Eleven Eleven Mississippi’s Chicken with Ragout and Balsamic-Strawberry Sauce
Figuring out ways to make grilled chicken new, fresh and flavorful never gets old. By topping bone-in breasts with a ruby-colored sauce that’s sweet and deep with an acidic kick, chef Carl Hazel of Eleven Eleven Mississippi has done just that. But it’s the chunky ragout that had us jonesing for the recipe. It’s packed…
Review: O’Shay’s Pub in The Grove
Medicine for the Irishman’s diseaseThe Irish Slinger satisfied on a sleepy Sunday morning. A pancake of mashed potatoes gets topped with house-made potato chips that double the dose of taters but add little crunch to the plate. Next comes thinly sliced corned beef that’s been browned until the fat caramelizes and the edges crisp. Two…
Review: Norah’s Crafted Food & Spirits in Berkeley
Norah’s Crafted Food & Spirits, Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel, 9801 Natural Bridge Road, Berkeley, MO 314.429.1100 It’s not as if hotels don’t have good restaurants. The Four Seasons has Cielo, The Chase Park Plaza has Eau Bistro and there’s Eclipse at the Moonrise. But these are quality restaurants that just happen to be inside…
Review: Orbit Pinball Lounge in Maplewood
Orbit Pinball Lounge7401 Hazel Ave., Maplewood, 314.769.9954 There’s a certain kind of twisted satisfaction to be found in the strict entry policy at Orbit Pinball Lounge, the swanky new Maplewood arcade that forbids minors. So, to all those under 21 clamoring for a seat inside, let me be the first to offer a Nelson Muntz-esque,…
Cóctel de Frutas
4 to 6 Servings
Apricot Conserves
8 cups
Gingered Rhubarb Jam
5 to 6 cups
Blueberry-Lavender Jam
6 cups
Blackberry-Red Wine Preserves
6 to 7 cups
Fig Jam
3 cups
The Scoop: Tee’s Golf Grill permanently shuttered
With temperatures still soaring, golf (and air conditioning) enthusiasts will need to find a new indoor facility where they can practice their swing. Tee’s Golf Grill, located at 103 Chesterfield Valley Drive, announced its permanent closure this past Monday via Facebook. The grill, having been open for a year and a half, had just hosted…
“Bacon”-Wrapped Figs
We all knew we’d be here someday. Like Fred and Ginger in a 1930s film, we’ve danced around it, bringing you vegetarian versions of crab cakes, biscuits and gravy, even beef stew. But now it’s time to shine the spotlight on what could be our culture’s favorite cut. It’s found its way into everything from…
Beet the Heat
You’ve roasted them, pickled them, even blended them down to slurp spoonfuls of borscht. This year, slice your beet bounty for sandwich filler, purée it for baking and shred it for hash browns. 1. Panini Generously spread chevre on 2 country bread slices. Slice half a raw, peeled beet thinly. Slice half a peeled Granny…
Jam Session
When the mother lode of sweet peaches and finger-staining berries arrives, you either move it or lose it. Making fruit preserves – jams, jellies, conserves, marmalades and the like – has long been one of the easiest ways to enjoy summer’s bounty long after the harvest has ended. But rather than turning to sugar and…
