First Look: Cork & Barrel Chop House and Spirits in St. Peters
Cork & Barrel Chop House and Spirits opens doors with brunch service this Sunday, Jan. 29. As The Scoop reported in June, the 7,000-square-foot restaurant is located at 7337 Mexico Road. Executive chef Lee Gustin worked with co-owners Joel and Jill Ragan to develop a menu focused on chop house cuts of beef and pork,…
First Look: New Day Gluten Free in Clayton
New Day Gluten Free has a new home in Clayton. After closing their Ellisville location three months ago, co-owners Garrett and Kelly Beck have reopened their gluten-free, peanut-free restaurant and bakery at 7807 Clayton Road on Monday, Jan. 16. Kelly Beck said the kitchen is twice as big as the Ellisville location, which makes it…
Snax Gastrobar to open in former J McArthur’s space
Arlene Maminta Browne and Stanley Browne have announced their first non-Robust Wine Bar concept: Snax Gastrobar, set to open in early March, as reported by St. Louis Magazine. As The Scoop reported last month, the Brownes, who own both locations of Robust Wine Bar in Webster Groves and downtown St. Louis, announced in December that…
Fire breaks out at Giovanni’s on The Hill
Giovanni’s On The Hill at 5201 Shaw Ave., was damaged by fire on Wednesday, Jan. 26. Co-owner Carmelo Gabriele said no one was hurt, but the building did suffer substantial damage. Gabriele said the fire most likely started as a result of some electrical work being done on the restaurant’s second floor. He said that…
White Rooster Farmhouse to open brewery in Sparta, IL
White Rooster Farmhouse Brewery is set to start brewing in Sparta, Illinois, in the near future. Co-owner Mike Deutschmann said the brewery should be up and running at 113 W. Jackson St., this spring. White Rooster will specialize in wood-aged beers in a variety of styles, including saisons, sours, stouts and barleywines. The name of…
Smokin’ Monkey food truck has closed
The Smokin’ Monkey food truck, which specialized in “barbecue with a tropical twist,” is officially off the road. “It was just time,” said co-owner Kimberly Patterson. “The market is oversaturated. There are a million food trucks now, and people aren’t as excited about it as they used to be.” Patterson said she and her husband…
James Beard Foundation declares Gioia’s Deli an American Classic
The James Beard Foundation has announced the five recipients of its 2017 America’s Classics award, and one of St. Louis’ longtime favorites has landed on the list. Gioia’s Deli is the first St. Louis restaurant to receive the honor since the award’s inception in 1998. “It’s a whirlwind. It’s been crazy,” said co-owner Alex Donley. He…
Kakao wins third Good Food Award
The annual Good Food Awards were announced Jan. 20, and area chocolatier Kakao Chocolate has earned top honors in the confections category with its Norton Pâtés du Vin, a fruit gel made with Augusta Winery’s Norton. The Good Food Awards are given each year to producers who “push their industries towards craftsmanship and sustainability while…
Onion Jam
2 cups
Katie’s Pizza & Pasta to open Town & Country location
Katie and Ted Collier, owners of Katie’s Pizza & Pasta, will take their popular concept west. As reported by St. Louis Magazine, the duo will open a second Katie’s location at 14173 Clayton Road in Town & Country. Katie Collier said the space, which once housed Einstein Bros. Bagels and the adjacent storefront, will undergo…
Wolpertinger at Urban Chestnut Brewing Co.
Prepare thy livers: it’s time for Urban Chestnut’s birthday party and the return of a mythological beast, Wolpertinger, this Sunday, Jan. 22 from 1 to 5 p.m. With live music including funk-centric Saint Boogie Brass Band, delicious UCBC kitchen fare, more than 35 local breweries pouring tasty suds and guest Bell’s Brewery bringing its seasonal…
Good News Brewing Co. to open in O’Fallon, MO
Chalk up another player on the area’s growing roster of craft breweries. Good News Brewing Co. is set to open at 330 Sonderen St., in north O’Fallon, Missouri. Co-owners Dan Tripp, Josh Miller and Matt Fair are planning for mid-June opening. The three have backgrounds as homebrewers, but this will be the first time they’ll brew…
Grub Go delivery service appears to be closed
From all appearances, it looks like local restaurant delivery service Grub Go is no longer doing business. Layla owner Jason Sparks said he found out Friday, Jan. 13, when Grubhub, the online platform Grub Go uses to process orders, contacted him about an overdue meal delivery. Sparks said he contacted the Grub Go office and…
Pizzeoli owner to open Pizza Head on South Grand
South Grand will soon have an old-school pizza joint to complement its array of international restaurants. Scott Sandler, owner of Pizzeoli in Soulard, has announced he will open a new restaurant called Pizza Head at 3196 S. Grand Ave., in the former Absolutli Goosed and Brickyard Tavern space. Sandler described the concept as “can beer,…
Salt & Smoke to open second location in Southampton
Delmar Loop favorite Salt & Smoke is getting ready to expand its barbecue empire to South St. Louis this summer. As reported by St. Louis Magazine, owner Tom Schmidt has announced that he will open a new location of the restaurant at 5625 Hampton Ave., the former home of Mathew’s Kitchen that shuttered last year. “I’ve actively…
Recipe: Onion Jam
Onion jam: a phrase that will either horrify or intrigue you. When I brought a jar to a party recently, one woman wrinkled her nose and asked if I was joking, while the host (a true gourmand) merely raised an eyebrow and smiled. After the woman bid farewell, we agreed good riddance to that riffraff.…
Tom & Chee closes in O’Fallon, Missouri
The Tom & Chee location at 1280 Highway K in O’Fallon, Missouri, has closed. The chain specializes in custom grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soups, as well as gluten-free and vegetarian fare. The closing was announced on the location’s Facebook page yesterday, Jan. 9, citing “circumstances beyond our control.” According to franchisee Doug Mating, those…
Prioritized Pastries to launch with pop-up
Pastry chef Alex Feick is bringing her baking game to area restaurants and retailers. Prioritized Pastries aims to supply area restaurants, stores and individuals with quality artisan breads, pastries and desserts. Feick is an industry vet who’s worked in kitchens like Pie Oh My!, The Libertine and now-closed Niche. Feick said she wants to focus on smaller restaurants and retail…
Fast-casual Ethiopian eatery Moya Grill closes
Moya Grill, located at 567 Mehlville Ave. in University City, has been shuttered. The casual Ethiopian eatery from the owners of Meskerem on South Grand closed over the holidays. According to co-owner Henok Gerbi, the location, which was open just over a year, didn’t do the volume of business needed to keep up with expenses.…
Ones to Watch 2017: Food and drink pros with promise
Zac AdcoxGeneral Manager, Blood & Sand // Age: 22Why Watch Him: He’s a barely legal oenophile. How to take overBe young. Be bored with your scenery. After high school, move from Phoenix to Baltimore to live with your dad and stepmom. At night, sit around the kitchen table drinking wine with them because you have…
Dandy Inn shutters after 40 years
Another longstanding Metro East establishment is shutting its doors. Dandy Inn Pub in Fairview Heights is scheduled to close on Sunday, Jan. 15, after 40 years in business. Owner Mark Daniels said the reason he’s closing the restaurant is simple. “I’m just tired.” That’s understandable, as Daniels has been in the business for quite a while.…
Half & Half to open second location in Webster Groves
Mike and Liz Randolph, co-owners of Randolph Restaurants (Randolfi’s, Público, Half & Half), have announced a second location of Half & Half in Webster Groves. The breakfast and lunch spot will open in late spring or early summer at 220 W. Lockwood Ave., in the current First Watch space. Liz Randolph said Webster Groves has many…
Atlas Restaurant to close
Atlas Restaurant, located at 5513 Pershing Ave. in the DeBaliviere Place neighborhood, will soon be closing. Owners Dianne and Bryan Carr, who bought the restaurant in 2010, say the last night of service will be Saturday, February 18. The Carrs, who currently own Avenue in Clayton and are the former owners of Pomme, said they’re…
Belleville’s Fischer’s Restaurant to close
Longtime Belleville, Illinois, institution Fischer’s Restaurant will be shutting its doors next month. In a Facebook message, owners announced that they’ll be closing the restaurant on February 15, after almost 80 years in business. According to general manager Corea Buck, there were a multitude of reasons behind the decision to close the family-owned business. “I…
Olive & Oak owners to open cafe in Webster Groves
Webster Groves is getting another restaurant from the owners of Olive & Oak, and it’s right next door. As reported by St. Louis Magazine, the restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner at 100 W. Lockwood Ave., in the former Webster Groves Bookstore space. The team chose to stay in the same neighborhood for their second concept…
First Look: Hi-Pointe Drive-In
Hi-Pointe Drive-In opens today, Jan. 5, at 1033 McCausland Ave. As The Scoop reported last July, the minds behind Sugarfire Smoke House tore down the former Del Taco building for the colorful, new 3,000-square-foot burger and sandwich joint. The menu will satisfy both traditionalists and trend-seekers: Classic griddled burgers and fries are offered alongside a taco…
Blues Fired Pizza food truck to open a brick and mortar
Another area food truck is putting down roots. The owners of Blues Fired Pizza (formerly Pyro Pizza) are in the process of opening a drive-up/walk-up brick and mortar location at 10800 Big Bend Blvd. in Kirkwood. Co-owner Tony Lee said the location, which has formerly housed coffee and custard stands, will serve as a commissary…
Magic Tomato Sauce
Winter cooking is all about comfort food. And by comfort, I mean snuggling in front of the fireplace instead of driving to the grocery store. The downside is that, around 5:30 p.m., I’m frantically curating a meal out of whatever lurks in the back of my pantry. For a while, dry cereal and crunchy Swiss…
King of Wines
The dessert wines of Tokaj (pronounced TOH’-kay) are so revered in their motherland that they’re called out in the Hungarian national anthem. They’ve been famous for so long that Tokaj has some of the oldest official appellation controls preventing copycat winemakers from using the name to attract consumers. And though others have the same nickname,…
Get your Vitamin C this year in beer
Get more Vitamin C in the form of beermosas. Add 1 to 2 ounces fresh-squeezed orange juice to a light-bodied, crisp Pilsner, IPA or wheat beer and voilà – your year is off to a healthy start. Or check out Perennial Artisan Ales’ new Cave Torch, a wheat IPA dry-hopped with Galaxy and Amarillo and…
Review: Louie’s Wine Dive in Clayton
Despite the name, the meticulously modern decor and well-curated menu belie any claim that Louie’s Wine Dive in Clayton isn’t fancy. You wouldn’t know it to look at the place, which is hardly cookie-cutter, but Louie’s is a franchise with eight locations. And it’s fancy, all right – charming, even, and has a lot more…
Ones to Watch 2017: Jen Epley of Vicia
Title: Assistant general manager, ViciaAge: 31Why watch her: She knows what you need before you do. Jen Epley has her eye on you. Where did you sit, what did you order and what was your favorite dish? If you don’t like cilantro, you won’t see it – now or the next time you dine with…
Review: Yolklore in Crestwood
Judging by the recent proliferation of breakfast menus, either people are finally listening to their mothers about the most important meal of the day, or we’re witnessing the latest trend since fried chicken and striped bistro napkins. Regardless, for me, breakfast encompasses the optimism of the morning. At Yolklore, a quaint fast-casual breakfast-brunch spot in…
Ones to Watch 2017: Troy Bedik of Civil Life Brewing Co.
Title: Brewer, Civil Life Brewing Co.Age: 29Why watch her: She does whatever she wants. Before she became a professional brewer, Troy Bedik concocted a homebrew recipe so good, Steve Crider of 2nd Shift Brewing mass produced it. Now, after recently landing the highly competitive and coveted position of brewer at Civil Life, she’s already developed…
Ones to Watch 2017: Jake Sciales of Farmhaus
Title: Head chef and baker, FarmhausAge: 29Why watch him: On the ice or in the kitchen, he’s a competitor. The greatest lesson Jake Sciales has learned in his four years baking bread is respect. “Bread doesn’t care how busy you are. It doesn’t care when you need it, how many reservations you have. It does…
Ones to Watch 2017: Elijah Barnes of Cleveland-Heath
Title: Bar manager and head bartender, Cleveland-HeathAge: 29Why watch him: He created a bar program that keeps pace with one of the area’s best kitchens. Eight years ago, Elijah Barnes was learning how to mix a Lobsterita. Now he’s in charge of one of the most thoughtful bar programs in the Metro East. Here’s how…
Hit List: 7 places you must try this January
1. Lemon Gem Kitchen Goods 4180 Manchester Ave., St. Louis, 314.696.2744, lemongem.com The Grove’s new kitchen shop has the hardware you need to whip up a fabulous meal and the Instagram-able tableware you want to present it on. Located in the former home of Rise Coffee, owner Beth Styles stocks basics like Cuisinart pots and…
Review: Egg in Benton Park
Egg nests in the former Spare No Rib space on Gravois Avenue and is run by some of the same exceedingly cordial staff. The breakfast and lunch menu lays out classics that will go over easy even with finicky eaters, but has enough fresh takes to keep things interesting. ChakchoukaIf you name a restaurant Egg,…
Ones to Watch 2017: Alex Pille of Annie Gunn’s
Title: Sous chef, Annie Gunn’sAge: 28Why watch him: His gardening exploits are likely to land on your plate. Annie Gunn’s sous chef Alex Pille grows the usual slate of Midwestern fruits and vegetables like tomatoes and peppers, but that’s where the similarities to your grandmother’s garden end. “I love to try new things,” Pille said.…
Ones to Watch 2017: Sam Witherspoon of Sardella
Title: Executive sous chef, Sardella Age: 27 Why watch him: He proves good guys can get ahead. Sam Witherspoon’s resume reads like a cutthroat careerist’s: the New York Culinary Institute of America to Danny Meyer’s Maialino to Donald Link’s Cochon, then Gerard Craft’s Niche and now Sardella. The lineup may evoke a sense of cold-bloodedness, a ruthless…
Ones to Watch 2017: Zac Adcox of Blood & Sand
Title: General Manager, Blood & Sand Age: 22 Why watch him: He’s a barely legal oenophile. How to take over Be young. Be bored with your scenery. After high school, move from Phoenix to Baltimore to live with your dad and stepmom. At night, sit around the kitchen table drinking wine with them because you…
Pour a glass of this pure Austrian red
I’m a big fan of Austria’s Zweigelt reds, and the beautiful acidity and fresh berry fruitiness of the 2013 Johannes Zillinger Velue Zweigelt will make you one, too. Made with natural yeast and no added sulfites, Zillinger’s wines are some of the purest on the market. $22. Available at Parker’s Table. Glenn Bardgett is a member of…
Why we love this bourbon straight or mixed
We love Four Roses single-barrel bourbon so much we literally bought a whole barrel. Each is unique because it’s bottled one barrel at a time, but the flavor profile is consistently packed with baking spices, ripe red fruits and rich caramel notes. Check each bottle’s label to find out which barrel it came from. Enjoy it on…
7 food and drink trends taking over St. Louis now
1. Smash and GrabSt. Louisans don’t have to wait until Shake Shack opens later this year to get their griddle burger fix of thin patties smashed on a flattop. Get a taste at Reeds American Table, where two patties are smothered with Swiss cheese and tallow aioli, or head to Olive & Oak in Webster…
Eat This: Grilled Chicken Sandwich at Square One Brewery
Chicken sandwiches are a dime a dozen, but the unassuming grilled chicken sandwich at Square One Brewery is a diamond in the rough. A juicy, tender charred cutlet is draped in smoked white cheddar and topped with scallions and crispy bacon, served on a sturdy yet yielding ciabatta bun. But the crown jewel is the pungent, creamy…
What I Do: Dana Huth and Ben Triola of Mauhaus Cat Cafe and Lounge
There’s a small island off the coast of southern Japan so overrun with cats that it makes internet cat videos look like a cheap ball of yarn. But before you start booking expensive airfare, try relaxing at Mauhaus Cat Cafe and Lounge, a new spot that caters to felines and the good people who endlessly…
Savory Granola
About 2 cups
Rubis Bulles Cocktail
2 servings
