St. Louis journals make a lasting impression in the literary world
If you think literary journals are full of stuffy, inaccessible writing meant mostly for other writers, think again. Literary journals are full of interesting prose and poetry by great writers, all written and published for the love of the words. And St. Louis readers are lucky; of at least a dozen journals in Missouri and…
With this double bill, true-crime-lovers can immerse themselves ‘In Cold Blood’
Acouple of years ago in this column, I spotlighted a sinister double feature of “Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer,” a documentary about mass murderer Aileen Wuornos, and “Monster,” the dramatized account of the Wuornos story. Watching both films back to back, I suggested, would be an interesting perspective on the events, comparing…
A tribute to Frederick’s at the end of its final era
To many, the reality of Frederick’s Music Lounge began to take shape only half a dozen years ago when Fred Friction and cohort Paul Stark took over the space. But it had long been home to the esoteric vision of Friction’s late father. Those who were lucky enough to be around before the modern version…
Stop, Drop and Quaff: Dennis and Emily defrost with these blazing-hot beverages
Crackling fires, cozy blankets and, especially, the joy of a hot drink in between cold hands. These are the joys of winter. The rest pretty much stinks. Dennis’ hot-drink profile: Not picky, just a warm drink in a nice setting. Emily’s hot-drink profile: The hotter the better. E: Icy roads. Bulky coats. Short days. I…
Toasted Ravs: This St. Louis tradition is a labor of love
Let’s face it – if you’re from St. Louis, you take toasted ravioli for granted. Along with the gooey butter cakes and Provel-cheese pizzas of traditional St. Louis fare, toasted ravioli tends to get lost amidst the hubbub over the city’s newest sushi lounge or its slickest Friday night hotspot. In our fervor to renovate…
Review: Red Carpet Lounge at Brandt’s Cafe in St. Louis
GUY’S PERSPECTIVE My social anxiety was palpable upon setting foot in the Red Carpet Lounge at Brandt’s Café. Momentarily, the friendly hostess – five steps inside the door – caught my attention. But the fact that I, when talking to said hostess, was also five steps from the band and a mere six steps from…
Review: Finale in Clayton
Valentine’s Day, whether you embrace it with every fiber of your being or you espouse it as a Hallmark holiday, is about intimacy. It’s not a communal holiday like Thanksgiving or Festivus; heck no, this is one-on-one street-ball romance, baby. You have no help from family or friends; it’s just you, your significant other and,…
Shrimp with Creamy Alfredo Sauce
4 servings
The Blushing Bride is sweetness personified
If you, like me, were once a bride but never a “blushing” bride, then The Ground Floor in Belleville has a drink for you. The Blushing Bride cocktail proves it’s never too late to be sweet – and just in the nick of time for Valentine’s Day. The Blushing Bride is a delicious, innocent-tasting mix…
Missouri’s delicious fortified wines make it easy to pull into port
If the folks doing the Gallup Polls were to ask, “What is port?” the top answer would likely be, “What old men drink when they smoke cigars.” Although the port-and-cigars connection still has merit, there is certainly a great deal more to this wonderfully sweet wine. To understand what makes port unique, we must first…
In Missouri, the Storks bring trout and shrimp
Imagine sitting down to a Valentine’s Day dinner of Missouri-farmed rainbow trout, freshly harvested and shipped overnight for the special day. Now visualize pairing the trout with Missouri-farmed shrimp. Can’t quite picture Missouri freshwater shrimp? It was a novel concept for farmer Bill Crites, too, when he heard about it on an outing to a…
Mathew Rice has carved a Niche in the world of gourmet desserts
Interactive will take on a whole new meaning this Valentine’s Day at Niche in the Benton Park neighborhood. “Think finger foods,” said chef/owner Gerard Craft. “The entire menu will be fun, romantic, sexy.” Because Valentine’s Day is for sweeties, pastry chef Mathew Rice will have a special dessert menu planned. Although he hasn’t worked out…
Wei Hong demystifies dim sum
As a dim sum novice, I was a bit apprehensive of writing about this Chinese custom. Dim sum (Cantonese for “heart’s delight”) is a selection of small dishes – both sweet and savory. Traditionally, it’s served from a cart, usually mid-morning to afternoon, with a variety of items presented by servers as they make their…
Sugar: The sweet stuff from A to Z
When we think of sugar, most of us conjure up an image of a sugar bowl filled with the white granulated stuff, but it’s not the only sweenter available. Making sugar by evaporating sugar cane juice is believed to have been developed in India around 500 B.C. Westerners discovered sugar during military expeditions into India,…
