Chef Carl Hazel takes over Gamlin Whiskey House kitchen
Carl Hazel has quietly taken the reigns as executive chef of Gamlin Whiskey House. Most recently, he had been executive chef at West End Pub and Grill. Hazel assumed the role in July, and since then, he has worked with Gamlin Restaurant Group’s corporate chef Ryan Cooper to get a feel for the kitchen and…
Recipe: Eggplant and Tomato Bruschetta
What else is there to say about a late-summer tomato? There is nothing that can touch its flavor, and there is little reason to do more than throw slices on bread with salt and pepper and inhale them. Ah, bread. My other love. Specifically, Mr. Meowski’s sourdough bread. My daughters refer to Mr. Meowski as…
New owner discusses the future of Cleveland-Heath
Keith and Kari McGinness don’t plan to mess with success at Cleveland-Heath. As The Scoop reported earlier today, the McGinnesses bought the popular Edwardsville restaurant from owners Jenny Cleveland and chef Ed Heath. The founders plan to return to Heath’s hometown of Salt Lake City. The sale is final Sept. 1. Both McGinnesses grew up in…
Solera wine bar will open next month in Alton
Illinois oenophiles will soon have another spot to enjoy their vino. Solera, a new wine bar, will open soon at 212 W. Third St., in Alton. Co-owner Chris Aldridge said he plans to open Solera by mid-September. “We were in Mendoza, (Argentina) doing a wine tour, and they did such a nice job of educating…
Cleveland-Heath owners sell restaurant, will relocate to Utah
cleveland-heath in edwardsville // photo by jonathan gayman Big changes are afoot at Cleveland-Heath. Owners Jenny Cleveland and chef Ed Heath have sold the restaurant to Keith and Kari McGinness, restaurant industry veterans who have roots in the area, as reported by St. Louis Magazine. The sale takes effect Friday, Sept. 1. Cleveland said she…
Vista Ramen will helm kitchen at new Earthbound location
vista ramen chef-owner chris bork (center) // photo by carmen troesserEarthbound Beer will partner with fellow Cherokee Street denizen Vista Ramen to run the kitchen for its new tasting room at 2724 Cherokee St. Instead of Vista’s namesake noodles, Vista Ramen chef-owner Chris Bork said bill of fare will feature smoked meats, sausages and sandwiches. As…
Randolfi’s will close in The Loop Sept. 9
Randolfi’s, at 6665 Delmar Blvd. in The Loop, has announced it will be shutting its doors. The last day of service will be Saturday, Sept. 9. “We’ve thrown everything that we have into this restaurant. There have been a lot of tears, but it’s time to close the chapter. We are so proud of what…
Russell’s owner to open Lola Jean in former Grapeseed space
The former home of Grapeseed at 5400 Nottingham Ave., will have a new tenant next year. As reported by St. Louis Magazine, Russell Ping, owner of Russell’s on Macklind and Russell’s Café & Bakery in Fenton, will open a pizza restaurant there named after his daughter, Lola Jean. “I’ve kind of had this concept in…
Old North Provisions owner discusses plans for future grocery, restaurant
Old North Provisions owner James Forbes won the opportunity of a lifetime on Saturday, Aug. 19, and he’s ready to put his plans into action to be open by July 2018, with soft opening events in the fall. As The Scoop reported last week, Forbes won the Fantasy Food Fare Competition, a citywide competition for…
Recipe: Roast Carrots with Whipped Yogurt
I love roasting vegetables, but I’ve never been a fan of carrots. I think this was due partly to my dear mom forcing me to eat her rubbery carrot rounds with mustard seeds. To this day, I’m still not a fan of carrots sliced in rounds. But when I saw a gorgeous bundle of multicolored…
Old North Provisions wins Fantasy Food Fare Competition, restaurant space in Old North
After months of planning, presentations and competition, Old North Provisions has been declared the winner of the Fantasy Food Fare Competition. The winner was announced today, Aug. 19, at the Rise Up Festival downtown. James Forbes, who also operates urban farm Good Life Growing in north St. Louis, owns Old North Provisions. The five-month long…
First Look: Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria in Town & Country
Owners Katie and Ted Collier have opened the much-anticipated second location of Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria in Town & Country at 14171 Clayton Road. The restaurant opened its doors Wednesday, Aug. 16. The menu at Town & Country is the same as the flagship Rock Hill restaurant’s menu, featuring a seasonal array of house-made…
3 beers to try at Mojo Craft Beer & Music Festival
If you are as big of a fan of live music and fermented beverages as I am (and really, is there a better combo?), then head down to Jefferson Barracks Park this Saturday, Aug. 19, for 105.7 The Point’s Mojo Craft Beer & Music Festival. The event features nearly 30 local and national breweries and…
Sugarfire Smoke House to open in O’Fallon, Illinois
Barbecue powerhouse Sugarfire Smoke House is making its way across the Mississippi to open a franchise at 1405 Green Mount Road in O’Fallon, Illinois by early 2018. As reported by the Belleville News-Democrat, co-owners Mike Johnson and Christina Fitzgerald said plans are in place to break ground at the site this October. Fitzgerald said they are…
Frankly Sausages announces details, location on Cherokee Street
The Scoop reported in July, Frankly Sausages co-owners Bill and Jamie Cawthon announced their intent to open a brick-and-mortar location somewhere on Cherokee Street. Now, the concept and the exact location have been revealed, as reported by St. Louis Magazine. Jamie Cawthon said the restaurant will be called Frankly on Cherokee in the space that once…
Recipe: Grilled Carne Asada Skewers
Though the phrase literally translates to “roasted meat,” carne asada is much more than a charred hunk of flesh. An asada is the Latin American equivalent of a barbecue, a gathering of hungry folks around an open flame. More than a meal, it’s a communal carnivorous feast. A fitting companion for this outdoor fete, this…
First Look: Half & Half in Webster Groves
Webster Groves residents will set their alarm clocks a little earlier when Half & Half opens at 220 W. Lockwood Ave. Co-owners Mike and Liz Randolph hope to open the second location of their popular Clayton breakfast and lunch spot by the end of August, pending final inspections. As The Scoop reported in January, the…
Seoul Taco will open new location in Chesterfield
seoul taco owner david choi // photo by michelle volanskySeoul Taco continues to grow, and this time it’s headed to West County. The popular Korean-Mexican eatery will open its fifth location in Chesterfield at 46 Four Seasons Shopping Center later this fall. In addition to the Seoul Taco food truck and the original brick-and-mortar location…
Nixta earns spot on Bon Appétit’s top 10 new restaurants list
from left, Nixta executive chef Tello Carreón and owner Ben Poremba // photo by carmen troesserThe hits just keep on coming for the St. Louis restaurant scene. As The Scoop reported earlier this month, Nixta and Vicia earned slots on Bon Appétit’s Top 50 Best New Restaurants in America list. Today, Bon Appétit announced Nixta…
4 spots to dine and drink during the total solar eclipse
Only one week remains before the total solar eclipse occurs around 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 21. In case you somehow missed the memo, St. Louis and the surrounding area finds itself in the direct path of a solar eclipse for the first time in more than 500 years. Many viewing parties around town sold out…
Blueprint Coffee will open new location in Lindenwood Park
Lindenwood Park will soon become a destination for those in search of a quality cup of coffee. As reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Blueprint Coffee co-owners Mike Marquard and Kevin Reddy have announced they will open a second location at 4206 Watson Road this November. “The two things that attracted us to the space is its…
Recipe: Frozen Pimm’s Punch
There’s a month or two of sno-cone weather left – take advantage with a frozen riff on a favorite cocktail. Pimm’s is a highbrow British gin-based liqueur flavored with bitter herbs and citrus that you might find in fancy Wimbledon box. This recipe turns the original Pimm’s Cup into a summertime adult treat that goes down…
3 more tasty events this weekend
Whether you love tiki drinks or community gardening, there are plenty of ways to fill up this weekend. Here are three more events for those who’re still peckish: 1. Veneto Italian Wine DinnerTravel to Veneto with Five Bistro’s Wine Dinner. Enjoy five different summer dishes, each paired with a different Italian wine. Take an international vacation without the…
Beyond Sweet builds Instagrammable monster milkshakes
While a normal milkshake might be topped with a modest dollop of whipped cream and perhaps a daintily placed cherry, Beyond Shakes from Beyond Sweet in The Loop are Instagrammable monsters topped with baked goods that loom precariously over their cups and ooze enticingly down the sides. Perhaps the most impressive is the Chocoholic. “This…
First Look: Baileys’ Chocolate Bar in Lafayette Square
Earlier this summer, restaurateur Dave Bailey announced he would shut down Baileys’ Chocolate Bar, at 1915 Park Ave., in Lafayette Square, and reopen the space as two new, completely separate entities – a new version of Chocolate Bar and a Cajun-Creole restaurant called L’ Acadiane. The later is still a work in progress (look for…
4204 Main Street Brewing rebrands as The Perfect 10 in Alton
4204 Main Street Brewing in Alton recently closed its doors, only to rebrand and open as The Perfect 10 Pub & Grill on Friday, July 28. As reported by the Belleville News-Democrat, the new restaurant occupies the same space behind Alton Square Mall at 180 E. Center Drive. 4204’s director of marketing Rebecca Wuest said the…
First Look: Good News Brewing in O’Fallon, Mo.
The St. Louis craft beer boom continues, and it’s finally starting to take root out west. Case in point: Good News Brewing Co., which opened a brewpub in mid-July at 330 Sonderen St., in O’Fallon, Missouri. As The Scoop reported in January, co-owners Dan Tripp, Josh Miller and Matt Fair announced they would turn their…
Ari Jo Ellis to open The Cut inside The Fortune Teller Bar
Editor’s Note: The Cut has closed. Ari Jo Ellis has worked in some of the top kitchens in town, including Quincy Street Bistro, Southern, Bolyard’s Meat & Provisions and Kitchen Kulture. Now Ellis, a member of the Ones To Watch class of 2016, is striking out on her own. As reported by St. Louis Magazine,…
New bakery Sweetfixx offers cupcakes, cake pops in The Grove
Satisfy your sweet tooth at a new bakery in The Grove. Sweetfixx, located at 4420 Manchester Ave., opened July 29, and is serving up sweet treats. Owner Katina Mims described her cake pops, candy apples and cupcakes as “old-fashioned homemade desserts with a more contemporary look and feel.” Mims, a self-taught baker, ran her business…
The Sweet Divine reopens today in Soulard
After a fire destroyed The Sweet Divine in October last year, the Soulard bakery reopens its shop at 1801 S. Ninth St., today, Aug. 3. Throughout the renovation, The Sweet Divine relied heavily on its cupcake truck to continue business. Co-owners Jason and Jenna Siebert used MacArthur’s Bakery on Delmar Boulevard served as a temporary commissary kitchen until the…
Recipe: Grilled Eggplant Salad
I recently discovered that seared eggplant serves as a phenomenal blank canvas for a grilled salad – a dish I usually dismiss as a trendy waste of produce. But this warm, delightful Mediterranean-style salad loaded with soft feta and drizzled with a tangy lemon-garlic yogurt dressing is more than enough to make me a believer…
Pan-Asia Supermarket opens in Manchester
Manchester has a new specialty store: Pan-Asia Supermarket at 14246 Manchester Road. The 30,000-square-foot grocery hosted its grand opening Saturday, July 22, and offers a wide variety of Asian products, including fresh seafood, dry goods, fruit and veggies, international liquors and spices. This is the third location for the supermarket chain; it also has stores in…
Budget Crunch: 9 delicious deals to try now
Got $10 and a friend? Then Kevin Korinek has 9 delicious deals to try now. 1. Yemanja Brasil in Benton Park is one of the few places in The Lou where you can sample authentic Brazilian cuisine. The flavors are intense, and during happy hour, you can enjoy a plate full of its famous Brazilian-style chicken wings…
Stage Left Diner closes in Grand Center
the exterior of stage left diner in grand center // photo by michelle volanksy Stage Left Diner quietly closed its doors on Monday, July 31. The diner, located at 541 N. Grand Blvd., debuted in September 2016, when owner Steve Smith and restaurant consultant Brad Beracha took over the space next-door to the Fabulous Fox…
Pie Hard pizza truck launches in Belleville, will expand to STL
Another chef with fine dining creds has left the white tablecloths behind and opted for a more low-key culinary approach. Chef-owner Michael Pastor debuted his new pizza-themed food truck, Pie Hard, on Saturday, July 29, at a soft opening event at his commissary kitchen, located at 8201 W. Main St., in Belleville. Pastor has worked…
Review: Twisted Tree Steakhouse in Sunset Hills
What happens when two sons from successful restaurateur families – one from the city, the other from the country – collaborate to open a steakhouse? With six eponymous restaurants, plus Helen Fitzgerald’s, the Syberg name is as familiar to St. Louisans as Ted Drewes and Budweiser. Before a 2012 fire destroyed it, the Abbadessas’ The…
Review: The Monocle in The Grove
Edison bulbs encased in a delicate chain link chandelier glow invitingly against the dark walls of The Monocle. Dotted with framed vintage Italian posters advertising wine and spirits, the eclectic bar hearkens back to a time of speakeasies and burlesque shows. The ambiance is interrupted, however, by a discordant, spinning, color-changing light that looks sourced…
3 Fail-Safe Wine Regions to Remember
Choosing a wine is a lot like traveling: You don’t always understand the language, you’re trying really hard not to look like an idiot and it’s easy to get lost. Sometimes getting lost leads to the best experiences, and sometimes it leads to terrifying episodes you’d rather forget, but either way you’re probably a little…
Nixta, Vicia make Bon Appetit’s top 50 new restaurants list
Bon Appétit has announced its list of 50 Best New Restaurants in America, and two of St. Louis’ hottest eateries, Vicia and Nixta, made the cut. The Mole Negro de Abuelita Concepción, an homage to a recipe from chef Tello Carreon’s grandmother, was singled out as a must-try dish at Nixta, while the Goose Egg,…
Chef Tour: Chris Ladley and Wil Pelly
Both longtime fixtures in the restaurant industry, Wil Pelly of Nudo House and Chris Ladley of Snax Gastrobar have been friends since the early 2000s, when they spent most their time hanging out at local music venues like the late, great Hi-Pointe. “If you saw one of us at a bar or a show, you’d…
Hit List: 3 new places to try in August
From two new breweries to a seafood boil hotspot, don’t miss these three new places you must try this August. 1. The Mad Crab 8080 Olive Blvd., University City, 314.801.8698 The Mad Crab brings a classic Gulf meal to the Midwest with built-to-order seafood boils. Settle in at a paper-lined table, then consult with your…
Recipe: Summer Berry & Rosemary Jam
Gather ye berries while ye may for this simple, sweet jam. Place 24 ounces total mixed blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and quartered strawberries in a large pot with 3 tablespoons lemon juice, 3 tablespoons sugar, 2 tablespoons water and 1 tablespoon fresh chopped rosemary, then crush the berries with a potato masher. Cook over medium heat,…
What I Do: Colleen Clawson at Milque Toast Bar
Chef Colleen Clawson can do wonders with a piece of toast. Like an artist with a blank canvas, she piles vibrant ingredients into colorful, edible works of art that are devoured in short order at Milque Toast Bar. Clawson spent years in fine dining kitchens (Five Bistro, Remy’s Kitchen & Wine Bar, Sidney Street Cafe,…
Why you must eat the Kitchen Kulture Breakfast Sandwich at Tower Grove Farmers’ Market
Do not be deceived by the menu of add-ons at Kitchen Kulture’s The Kart stand at the Tower Grove Farmers’ Market. There is only one way to order The Classic Breakfast Sandwich: with everything. Thick, soft slices of sourdough bread are sprinkled with sea salt and topped with sharp cheddar, a fried farm egg, crisp strips…
Summer Shakshuka
4 servings
Easy Roasted Beets
2 cups beets
Summer Berry & Rosemary Jam
INGREDIENTS Gather ye berries while ye may for this simple, sweet jam. Place 24 ounces total mixed blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and quartered strawberries in a large pot with 3 tablespoons lemon juice, 3 tablespoons sugar, 2 tablespoons water and 1 tablespoon fresh chopped rosemary, then crush the berries with a potato masher. Cook over medium…
Tomato Tartine
4 to 6 servings
Roasted Tomato Compote
2 cups compote
Cornbread Panzanella
6 to 8 servings
Heirloom Tomato Tart
8 servings
Goat Cheese-Stuffed Roasted Tomatoes
8 servings
Tomato and Watermelon Radish Salad
4 servings
Off the Vine
Hello peak tomato season, we’ve been waiting for you! Summer means a whole different breed of tomato: deep red, succulent and flavorful – firm to the touch but bursting with juice when you take a bite. It’s almost a crime to eat them any way but fresh off the vine with a pinch of salt,…
Roasted Beets
A funny thing happened recently when I announced I was working on beet recipes – not one of my friends offered to taste test. In fact, all conversation awkwardly ceased. Eye contact was avoided. One friend physically recoiled, though she swore it was just a muscle cramp throughout her entire body. Beets, it turns out,…
7 tantalizing tomato recipes to try this summer
Hello peak tomato season, we’ve been waiting for you! Summer means a whole different breed of tomato: deep red, succulent and flavorful – firm to the touch but bursting with juice when you take a bite. It’s almost a crime to eat them any way but fresh off the vine with a pinch of salt,…
Review: Rise Coffee House in The Grove
Rise Coffee House in The Grove is one of those spots it simply feels good to be in. You step in the door and … exhale. What sets its quietly buzzing coffee shop vibe apart, however, are the brilliant dishes coming out of chef Scott Davis’ kitchen. Previously of Brasserie by Niche, Elaia and Three…
Elevate your sidecar with Pierre Ferrand
Pierre Ferrand dry curaçao is our favorite orange liqueur. While most offer only straight orange flavor, Pierre Ferrand’s emulates an older style, incorporating an herb and spice blend that lends complexity, depth and richness to its lush orange flavor. Not too cloying, it’s made with barrel-aged toasted sugar to ensure that even its sweetness is…
Recipe: Tandoori Red Snapper
Tandoori masala is a mixture of spices often applied to meat and then cooked in a tandoor, or a clay oven. Masala is made of many ingredients, including garam masala, garlic, ginger, cayenne pepper and cloves. My family likes to save the trouble of making the powder and instead purchases the Shan brand of Tandoori…
