Three Reasons to try Kailey’s Nuts
About a year ago, Dawn and Karl Weber decided to take a big chance. They closed their coffee and nut shops at three area shopping malls and started wholesaling their Kailey’s Nuts to grocery stores instead. The response has been resounding – here’s why: 1. Kailey’s Nuts contain no preservatives and come in nine wild…
Drink This NYE Edition: Turn that bubbly into a cocktail this New Year’s
Predictable drinkers will be bursting out the bubbly tomorrow night. Nothing wrong with that. But if you want to really release those year-end inhibitions, opt for a Champagne cocktail. Dustin Parres, bar manager at Subzero Vodka Bar in the Central West End (where you can still make a last-minute res for the restaurant’s $75 all-inclusive…
Stocking Up: Volpi Salami
We’re pretty sure that when John Volpi left Milan in 1900 to come to America, he didn’t foresee the tremendous growth of his cured meats business. But thankfully, first for St. Louisians and then for the rest of the world, Volpi Foods has grown into a global business that has retained its Italian heritage. First…
Spaghetti Aglio di Olio (Spaghetti with olive oil and garlic)
4 as main dish, 8 as side dish
Extra Sauce: Bringing fresh pasta into your kitchen
In this month’s Seasonal Shopper column, Fresh, Flavorful, Fast: Local Pastas Pop, Sauce columnist Pat Eby revealed the various types of fresh pasta available in St. Louis. From ravioli and agnolotti to papardelle and angel hair, she showed us the difference fresh pasta can make. Here are some of her delicious recipes for using these…
More from Fresh, Flavorful, Fast: Local Pastas Pop
In this month’s Seasonal Shopper column, Fresh, Flavorful, Fast: Local Pastas Pop, Sauce columnist Pat Eby revealed the various types of fresh pasta available in St. Louis. From ravioli and agnolotti to papardelle and angel hair, she showed us the difference fresh pasta can make. Here are some of her delicious recipes for using these…
The Scoop: Mr. Lucky’s Restaurant & Lounge opens in St. Peters
Residents of St. Peters now have another nearby dining option: Mr. Lucky’s Restaurant and Lounge. The 80-seat family dining restaurant plus lounge recently opened at 229 Centre Pointe Drive, near Jungerman Road. The menu features Italian-American fare including pastas, pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, seafood and a variety of hand-cut steaks. According to general manager Ashley Lyon,…
More from our interview with Cielo’s Fabrizio Schenardi
You have worked at a few other Four Seasons locations, in Maui as well as the Regent Beverly Wilshire in L.A. What do you like about working in St. Louis? The people here are more relaxed. The building itself is beautiful. Seeing the city at night in winter is beautiful. And valet parking is free…
The Scoop: Demun Oyster Bar opens today
Seafood lovers have been anxiously awaiting the opening of Demun Oyster Bar and the day has finally arrived. Owner Alan Richman has finished construction at 740 Demun Ave., and the stylish art nouveau décor – plus a tightly focused food and drink menu – make this Clayton spot a must-visit destination. The very impressive space…
Drink This Weekend Edition: Local spirits make great last-minute gifts
Looking for a last-minute present for your boss, brother or BFF? Sure, you can grab a bottle of wine, but why not get ’em the hard stuff and, even better, support a local biz in the process. Square One Brewery and Distillery in Lafayette Square just released their Agave Blue. Made from agave nectar imported…
The Scoop: Mile 277 will be “Route 66 meets biker”
If you have fond memories of dancing the night away at prom or a wedding reception at the Holiday Inn on Watson at Lindbergh, get ready for some brand new experiences at 10709 Watson Road. This time, though, you’ll want to swap fancy clothes for some biker gear, because Mile 277 is all about the…
The Scoop: New CWE wine shop to offer a range of services
Think wine shop, and you likely picture yourself perusing the bins for a bottle, then forking over cash or plastic and walking out the front door. At Select Wines, debuting in mid- to late January at 4906 Laclede Ave., just west of Euclid in the CWE, it’ll be wine sales plus a whole lot more.…
More from The List: Westphalia Vineyards
Westphalia Vineyards Hidden away in Osage County, Westphalia Vineyards, a local winery that began making vino back in 2005, is turning out Missouri’s only sulfite-free wine. This absence imparts a fresh, vigorous flavor – not unlike the difference between a Missouri tomato and a picked-green California one. Westphalia produces red, white and rosé varieties, including…
Stocking Up: A caffeinated Christmas
Though you think you’ve covered all your bases, there’s likely someone who managed to slip right under your gift-giving radar. Hairdresser? Massage therapist? Piano teacher? As long as they’re coffee lovers, we’ve got a great last-minute suggestion for you. Head down to any of the Kaldi’s around town and pick up a 12-ounce bag of…
More from The List: Truffle Salumi
Truffle Salumi To the few dozen of you who enjoy a great piece of cured meat as much as I do, here is one of my favorite parts of the holidays: the truffle salumi at The Wine Merchant in Clayton. These silky little links are absolutely studded with tasty black truffles, though their irresistible perfume…
Extra Sauce: More of the people, places, products and plates we love right now
In the December issue of Sauce, we presented The List, an annual collection of the people, places, plates and products we can’t get enough of at the moment. Think of these as suggestions straight from the Sauce staff on where to eat, who to meet and what to check out in this foodie-filled city we…
More from The List: Fleur de Vallee
Fleur de Vallee Baetje Farms Brevibacterium Linens. You don’t have to be a cheese geek to appreciate the soft, moist, mildly tangy and golden exterior it gives this Reblochon-style cheese. B. linens are the bacteria that gives certain cheeses – most notably Limburger – their pungency. Baetje Farms relies on natural B. linens to colonize…
More from The List: Lasagna Matta
Lasagna Matta House of Savoy Who dares to use pappardelle noodles in lasagna? House of Savoy executive chef Paola Bugli. To prepare her lasagna matta, fondly referred to as “crazy lasagna” – both by Bugli and on her menu in a nod to the loose translation of “matta” – she tosses the wide fettuccine egg…
Edwards makes first change to Blueberry Hill burger in decades
“A few years back, when Aerosmith was beginning their U.S. tour in St. Louis, [guitarist] Joe Perry was on the CBS news and said, ‘I can’t wait to be in St. Louis and have a great hamburger at Blueberry Hill,'” recounted Joe Edwards, owner of the Delmar Loop eatery. Joe Perry – and everyone else…
Monarch lets you “pay what you like” in January
Monarch owners Jeff Orbin and Aaron Teitelbaum have rolled out a “pay what you like” promotion to patrons of their Maplewood restaurant. On Mondays and Tuesdays throughout the month of January, patrons can pay what they deem their meal to be worth. At the end of the meal, diners will be handed two checks –…
Short List Runner-Up: Sweetbreads
Sidney Street Café This is the one that got away: Nicely crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with great winter flavors. There was just a touch of acid and sweetness in the apple cider gastrique to compliment the faintly bitter Swiss chard, all rounded out by spiced pecans. Sidney Street turned out…
The Scoop: French Gourmet Bakery and Café to become Oak Barrel American Bistro and Artisan Bakery
Todd Kussman, owner of French Gourmet Bakery and Café, has retooled the concept of his O’Fallon establishment. Within the next few weeks, the space at 957 Waterbury Falls Drive will become Oak Barrel American Bistro and Artisan Bakery. While patrons will still be able to enjoy fresh Euro-style baked goods and desserts, the bistro component…
Extra Sauce: Short List Runner-Up
Each month, we scour the city for the best version of a single dish. Be it French fries or foie gras, Buffalo wings or BLTs, we report which three spots are dishing up St. Louis’ best – and exactly what we loved about them. But who says we have to pick just three? Our writers…
Drink This Weekend Edition: Liquid “exhibit” at Vino Gallery showcases Dumante Verdenoche pistachio liqueur
So you thought The Vino Gallery, the newest addition to Gallery Row on McPherson Avenue in the Central West End, was only about fine art and wine? Think again. Owners Rachel Buehrer and Alex Head have created the Dumante Series, a liquid “exhibit” that introduces imbibers to Dumante Verdenoche, a primo Italian pistachio liqueur. Today,…
3 Reasons to head to Ruth’s Chris in Clayton on Fridays
Most folks think of Ruth’s Chris for prime time sizzling steak dining. But since the steakhouse began opening its Clayton location on Fridays for lunch and offering an $8.95 Power Lunch menu, they’ve given us a trio of reasons to head to Forsyth Boulevard and Brentwood Boulevard when our tummies rumble at lunch time. Here…
The Scoop: South City gets a bar, a bistro and a bit of Lebanese eats at each
A bar and a bistro are both headed to south St. Louis City. Opening today at 3819 Meramec St., in the Dutchtown neighborhood is Sonny’s Saloon. The bar at Sonny’s, open Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1:30 a.m., is stocked with standard booze items while a limited food menu that’s set to launch this…
The Scoop: Water Street adds to downtown Maplewood drinking and dining scene
Gabe Kveton has long held hopes of operating a cocktail bar. He’ll get his wish when he opens the doors to Water Street at 7268 Manchester Road, next to Acero, scheduled for February. Water Street, nostalgically named for Kveton’s father’s now defunct publishing company, will be both cocktail bar and café, with a focus on…
Extra Sauce: More from Five Questions For Claus Schmitz
For this month’s Five Questions, Byron Kerman spoke with Claus Schmitz, owner and chef of several restaurants throughout the St. Louis area, including new downtown steakhouse Prime 1000. The first part of the interview is in the December issue of Sauce. For the rest, visit the Extra Sauce section of SauceMagazine.com. – photo by Wesley…
More from Five Questions For Claus Schmitz
For this month’s Five Questions, Byron Kerman spoke with Claus Schmitz, owner and chef of several restaurants throughout the St. Louis area, including new downtown steakhouse Prime 1000. The first part of the interview is in the December issue of Sauce. Here’s the rest. There’s some really inventive stuff on the Prime 1000 menu, like…
The Scoop: A trio of Planet Subs now orbiting in St. Louis’ sub sandwich galaxy
Zach Oldham has opened his third Planet Sub shop. The newest oven-baked subs in the St. Louis galaxy are being made in Maplewood at 1805 Maplewood Commons Drive, next to San Sai Japanese Grill. Why did Oldham select Maplewood as the sister site to locales in the Central West End and downtown? “Because it’s a…
The List: The people, places, plates and products we love right now
Pull up a plate and get eating, because St. Louis’ vibrant and creative culinary scene makes it a town foodies are proud to call home. There’s much to take in, from flavor-packed dishes to artisanal products, inspiring chefs to experiences both trendy and timeless. Here’s what’s got our attention at the moment. Pat Eby, Ligaya…
Teetotaler: Horchatas are a cool, creamy accompaniment to Cherokee Street fare
Walk into most eateries on Cherokee Street and you’ll find an array of agua frescas (cold, flavored drinks). Some are fruity, touting flavors like mango and watermelon, while one, the horchata, substitutes milk for citrus. Drinking a tall glass of milk with your torta, burrito or enchilada may not sound as appetizing as a beer…
Castagnaccio: Chestnut flour lends earthy sweetness to this rustic dish
Like most Americans, when I think of chestnuts, I imagine them roasting on an open fire, and then suddenly Nat King Cole’s velvet voice is swimming through my ears and it feels like Christmas. But chestnuts, and the fine, mildly sweet flour they produce when dried and ground, have been a staple in Tuscan cuisine…
The Scoop: Froyo expansion includes store in CWE
When The Scoop reported that Gelato Di Riso would be closing its Central West End location early last month, we suspected that the space near the heavily trafficked intersection of Euclid Avenue and Maryland Avenue wouldn’t stay unoccupied for long. Froyo owner Jason Jan has now confirmed that he is signing the lease today to…
Drink This Weekend Edition: One-year anniversary at Sanctuaria brings celebratory specials, cocktail club and late hours
Has it already been a year since Sanctuaria first opened its doors? The last 12 months are a blur to us, but maybe that’s just the effect of sampling a lot of cocktails and wild tapas at 4198 Manchester Ave. Today is Sanctuaria’s official anniversary, and there’s quite a bit to celebrate. First, the restaurant…
Three Reasons to Eat at Fozzie’s Sandwich Emporium
Fozzie’s Sandwich Emporium is an unassuming little joint. Witness the simple green awning on the exterior and the modest little walk-up counter with tiny seating area on the interior, pretty standard stuff. But the Fozzie’s menu and the unusual flavors proffered therein are anything but humble. This is the sort of fare that raises a…
Stocking Up: Reach for locally raised grass-fed beef this Christmas
This holiday season, let’s not talk lamb or turkey or ham – let’s talk beef, specifically locally raised grass-fed beef from farmer Jeremy Parker of Missouri Grass Fed Beef. This year, Parker is offering rib roasts, whole beef loins and whole beef tenderloins – any of which would be a festive addition to your Christmas…
Choosing the Cover
The List is about everything we keep coming back to – the things that are more than just a short obsession, more than just a fleeting love. So, technically, any item on our list is cover worthy. But the brownies from Sweet Art were a perfect cover choice for the season: they’re chocolate, decadent and…
The Scoop: Whiz-Tech Café will combine tech services with café fare downtown
“Where’s the IT guy when I need him?” is a frequent lament among small business owners. Whiz-Tech Café will look to unburden entrepreneurs of their IT frustrations when doors to the tech café open downtown at 1629 Locust St., later this month in the spot formerly occupied by Simply Fondue. The 6,000-square?foot facility will offer…
Extra Sauce: Choosing the Cover
The List is about everything we keep coming back to – the things that are more than just a short obsession, more than just a fleeting love. So, technically, any item on our list is cover worthy. But the brownies from Sweet Art were a perfect cover choice for the season: they’re chocolate, decadent and…
The Scoop: Former Mia Rosa chef de cuisine ventures into chicken wings
When Mia Rosa shuttered in August, Bobby Tessler, the chef de cuisine at the Italian eatery in The Grove, decided it was time to open his own place. Although Tessler has accumulated 15 years of cheffing experience, including time in the kitchens at the now defunct Once Upon a Vine, The Wild Flower in the…
Teetotaler: White coffee at Cafe Natasha’s
The white coffee at Cafe Natasha’s on South Grand Boulevard is, in fact, not coffee at all. Deceiving? Maybe. But manager and co-owner Natasha Bahrami sees this misnomer as a way to engage her customers, rather than mislead them. Lebanese-inspired white coffee, or café blanc, is simple: water boiled with a bit of sugar and…
The Scoop: Michael Del Pietro’s newest Italian restaurant to have highly vegetarian menu
Del Pietro’s House of Pasta. Sugo’s Spaghetteria. Babbo’s Spaghetteria. Via Vino. Michael Del Pietro knows Italian food. He also knows that no Italian eatery in town focuses primarily on vegetarian fare. That will change when Del Pietro opens Trattoria Spezie at 6118 Delmar Blvd., in the old Original Cast Lighting location in The Loop. Del…
Drink This Weekend Edition: At The Ritz, Santa’s sleigh is filled with cocktails
You thought you knew Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixen, but you’ve never seen them on display quite like this. Right now at The Ritz-Carlton in Clayton, the big guy and his reindeer helpers are featured in merry drinks. Among the 10 menu options on the December Santa’s Little Helpers cocktail menu, you’ll find Santa, made…
The Scoop: Restaurant “Thai-coon” to open No. 4 in O’Fallon, Ill.
Joey Puribhat is creating a veritable Thai town in the Metro-East region of Illinois. The owner of Basil Thai Cuisine in Fairview Heights, Sala Thai in Belleville and Aroy Thai in O’Fallon will be opening his fourth Thai restaurant soon. Zapp Noodle & Market will be located in O’Fallon at 1407 W. Highway 50, Suite…
Three Reasons to eat at O! Wings Plus
Welcome to Three Reasons, an online column that tells you exactly what you’ll find at various stops around St. Louis. We won’t just tell you that a new restaurant has opened, we’ll tell you what to get there. We won’t simply report that a festival is happening this weekend, we’ll tell you what parts of…
The Scoop: Froyo expanding all across town
Frosty weather hasn’t stopped the frozen yogurt devotees who line up at Froyo in The Loop from pulling the lever on 16 different flavors and piling on their favorite toppings. In fact, business has been so brisk that owner Jason Jan is adding a slew of new stores in the metro area to the Froyo…
Holiday Gift Guide: The home cook
For more gift ideas: The Baker, The Food Snob, The Locavore and The Merrymaker THE HOME COOK Avid cooks already have pantry staples and basic kitchen gizmos, but we’ll bet most of them don’t have the goods on this list. Wrap up an award-winning cookbook, razor-sharp ceramic cutlery or a selection of floral waters, unique…
Review: HandleBar in St. Louis
The crew at HandleBar, the newest saloon to take up residence in the space at 4127 Manchester Ave. in The Grove, is intent on redefining the biking and boozing concept. They’re talking Huffys, not Harleys. It might sound hokey at first, but even if the environmentally minded, cyclist-friendly theme doesn’t appeal, the alcoholic substances will.…
Fabrizio Schenardi serves up new Italian fare at Cielo
Fabrizio Schenardi may hate his mom’s spinach (“Boil it, squeeze out the water and sauté again with olive oil – all the flavor is gone. Why not cook it just once?” he pleaded.), but Schenardi can thank his Piedmontese mom and her bakery near Torino, Italy for exposing him to pastry and cooking. It led…
Review: Bistro 1130 in Town and Country
You can count the number of St. Louis French restaurants on one hand – and maybe a couple of fingers of the other, if you’re generous (and I mean true French restaurants, not French-inspired or Creole or Cajun or restaurants that happen to have the occasional duck confit or some crêpes on the menu). Name…
Review: Nora’s in Dogtown
Situated in a small storefront that used to house a coffee shop, Nora’s is a quaint place in Dogtown. Cozy booths and banquettes line the walls and small, intimate tables dot the middle of the room. Slate blue walls and mahogany-stained furniture give the place a trendy, sophisticated feel, while the huge chalkboard menu, historic…
Get Fresh, Local Pasta from Mangia Italiano and Stellina Pasta
Whether bathed in fragrant sauce and freshly grated cheeses, layered in hearty lasagna or cooked in perfect-for-winter soups, who doesn’t love pasta? But don’t limit yourself to buying mass-produced varieties at the supermarket, because St. Louis is home to two pasta makers, both in south St. Louis, who turn out pastas so fresh and flavorful…
Recipe: Duff’s Gingerbread Cobbler
Peach might be the gold standard for cobbler, but the beauty of this all-American dessert is its adaptability. Cobbler lends itself to whatever fruit is in season, and the version currently at Duff’s is the essence of cold-weather comfort fare, with tart apples, sweetly floral pears and plump golden raisins topped with a spiced gingerbread…
Scape Eggnog
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The Scoop: Craft sells Taste to Adam Altnether
Official today, Adam Altnether has become the owner of popular mixology and charcuterie bar Taste by Niche. Previous owner Gerard Craft will remain an investor. Altnether, a 24-year-old St. Louis native, has served as executive chef at another of Craft’s restaurants, Brasserie by Niche, for the last four months and has been with the Craft…
Nuts for Nog
If the theory is true that the “nog” in “eggnog” hails from the word “noggin” – a small wooden mug used to serve drinks in taverns – the eggnog ritual at Scape is even more apropos. Every December, servers at the Central West End restaurant present all adult patrons with a petite espresso cup of…
Technique, Taste Still Stand Tall at Harvest
Harvest has been around for over a decade, but it remains as vigorous and current as any newbie on the scene. Although recent months have seen a transfer of ownership from founder and chef Stephen Gontram to long-time executive chef Nick Miller, the restaurant’s tradition of cooking with the seasons and using local products continues.…
Stocking Up: A local break from all that cooking
Go a little overboard on the turkey this weekend? One slice too many of pumpkin pie? If you’re like many of us, you may be ready for a break between the carb-loading of Thanksgiving and the overall hedonism of the winter holidays – not to mention, a few days to put the apron down and…
