Make these tostones con aguacate from Mayo Ketchup
Tostones con Aguacate (Twice-Fried Green Plantains with Avocado)Courtesy of Mayo Ketchup’s Mandy Estrella 24 servings For the pickled red onion:1 large or 2 small red onions, thinly sliced2 cups white vinegar2 cups water¹?³ cup sugar1 Tbsp. salt2 garlic cloves1 tsp. whole allspice For the tostones:2 green plantains2 cups vegetable or canola oilSea salt, for sprinkling3…
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Evy Swoboda of Brasserie by Niche is Ford Hotel Supply’s Chef of the Month
Chef of the Month is sponsored by Ford Hotel Supply. Position: Executive Chef Married? Almost 5 years to my lovely husband, Matthew a.k.a. Mr. Swoboda to his classroom of 7th graders Kids? Two under two. Levi (20 months) and Eliza (8 months) Where are you originally from? Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Raised in St.Louis, Missouri.…
10 reasons we love Union Loafers Café and Bread Bakery
Union Loafers Café and Bread Bakery is the Swiss army knife of bakeries, the rare kind of spot that does many things, and does them all perfectly. Loafers (as it’s called by its most devoted followers) opened in 2015 as a bakery and café, but quickly became much more than that, adding pizza, an impressive…
What I Do: Sameem Afghan Restaurant? co-owner Fahime Mohammad
When Sameem Afghan Restaurant co-owner Fahime Mohammad arrived in St. Louis in 1991, he didn’t expect to stay 30 years. With his home country, Afghanistan, enduring internal conflict and Soviet occupation, he and his brother Qayum fled across Afghanistan’s mountainous border with Pakistan to avoid compulsory military service. From Pakistan, they decided to join their…
Companion Baking is closing its Maryland Heights cafe on Friday, July 1
With demand for its breads growing across the country in restaurants, grocery stores and other wholesale locations, Companion Baking has announced it is closing its cafe at 2331 Schuetz Road in Maryland Heights. The cafe’s last day of business will be Friday, July 1, after which the space will be repurposed to expand Companion’s manufacturing capacity. The…
Rockwell Beer Garden and Tower Grove Farmers’ Market collab on a new farmers market in Francis Park
A new farmers market founded by Rockwell Beer Garden and Tower Grove Farmers’ Market co-founder Patrick Horine has opened at Rockwell Beer Garden in Francis Park. Rockwell Beer Garden Farmer’s Market in Francis Park officially opened at 5300 Donovan Ave. on June 2, joining the likes of Boulevard Market and Tower Grove Farmers’ Market as the most recent addition to the St.…
Eat this vegetarian combination platter at Meskerem Ethiopian Restaurant in south St. Louis
Order the vegetarian combination platter at Meskerem Ethiopian Restaurant to enjoy the restaurant’s many veggie delights, all meant to be scooped up with pieces of spongy, slightly sour injera flatbread. Among the seven dishes the platter samples, some of our favorites include the colorful tikil gomen, cabbage sautéed with carrots, garlic, ginger and curry; dark…
Oceano Bistro owner is opening Santa Fe Bistro in Creve Coeur in mid-July
Amer Abouwardah, owner of Oceano Bistro in Clayton, is opening a new restaurant, Santa Fe Bistro, at 12316 Olive Blvd. in Creve Coeur. The Southwestern-inspired concept is slated to open in the former home of EdgeWild Bistro & Tap in mid-July, as reported by St. Louis Magazine. The concept came to Abouwardah after looking around at the…
Make this canh chua from Mai Lee? in Brentwood
If you’d like a more substantial soup, Mai Lee owner Qui Tran said you can add tofu, shrimp or almost any other seafood to this recipe (added at the end, with the okra and bean sprouts). He also suggested serving this hotpot-style, starting with the broth and cooking ingredients as desired. Canh ChuaCourtesy of Mai…
The Pitch Athletic Club and Tavern will open near Centene Stadium in St. Louis in early 2023
A new soccer bar, The Pitch Athletic Club and Tavern, will open at St. Louis Union Station (1820 Market St.) in early 2023. The bar will be located in the former Senior Julio’s space at the northwest corner of Union Sation, just across Market Street from St. Louis City SC’s Centene Stadium. A January 2023 launch is the aim,…
Mission Taco Joint, Salt + Smoke and Ranoush damaged in Central West End fire
Three Central West End restaurants are this morning responding to the aftermath of a devastating fire that tore through businesses and residences at the corner of Euclid and McPherson avenues late Thursday night. Mission Taco Joint, Salt + Smoke and Ranoush all sustained damage from the blaze, which started in the early hours of Friday morning. Nobody was seriously injured,…
You need to drink this Zombie cocktail at Mission Taco Joint
With three types of rum – light, dark and overproof – plus Falernum (and a two-per-person limit), the Zombie at Mission Taco Joint might make you think it will bowl you over with booziness, but it’s actually quite light and refreshing, with plenty of citrus juice and a splash of grenadine that lends just enough…
After a rebrand, Jerk Unlimited continues the legacy of Jerk Soul – with plans to expand to the Delmar Loop
We reported on June 10 that Caribbean restaurant Jerk Soul had closed at 3108 Cherokee St., with founder Telie Woods having relocated to Ghana. We’ve since learned that while the name Jerk Soul has indeed been retired, the restaurant is still in operation under a new name, Jerk Unlimited. Trevoy Woods, Telie Woods’ cousin and chef-owner at…
Your top 4 favorite wineries in Missouri
Noboleis VineyardsFirst placeAugusta’s Noboleis Vineyards has been one of the gold standards for Missouri wine for almost 20 years. Their wine list features around 20 wines; Chambourcin, Traminette, Vignoles and Norton grapes yield wines like Moscato, dry rosé, Vidal blanc and more. Visitors can enjoy wines by the glass or as flights in Noboleis’ tasting…
Brasserie by Niche in the Central West End is stronger than ever after 12 years in business
Elegant with an Old World air, Brasserie has long played the grande dame of the Niche Food Group restaurant family. It’s hard to picture her ever having been an infant restaurant – perhaps, at least in part, because she was born into the space long occupied by Chez Leon, itself an outpost of French gastronomic…
A tour of 2022 Readers’ Choice Award-winning Latin American restaurants in St. Louis
You should absolutely use the Sauce Readers’ Choice awards as an excuse to plan extensive dining excursions. Start with the winners of the 2022 Favorite Latin American category and experience flavors from Puerto Rico, Brazil, Nicaragua, Ecuador and more. Here is where to go and what to eat on your next food tour of St.…
Ivy cafe selling tartines, coffee and more slated to open in Clayton in July
After several years of development, Ivy is finally going to open its doors in the beginning of July. The café at 14A N. Meramec Ave. in Clayton will take the place of the shuttered Miso on Meramec, as reported by St. Louis Magazine. The concept for the restaurant came about in 2019, when co-founders Julie Keane…
The queens of St. Louis soul food
Tour St. Louis’ soul food scene with these Readers’ Choice Favorite Soul Food winners. Sweetie Pie’s Upper Crust (This establishment has closed since this article was published.)First placeJust a few hundred yards from Grand Center Arts District, Sweetie Pie’s Upper Crust earned a national audience via a reality TV show following the fortunes of the…
Star Bakery & Cafe will open on South Grand in St. Louis this summer
Star Bakery & Cafe will open at 5547 S. Grand Blvd. in late June or early July. The bakery will primarily serve baked goods such as cake, pastries, cookies and also include a breakfast and lunch menu. Owner Nikki Ahmadi anticipates hosting a grand opening event and will provide further details on the bakery’s social media.…
Rise Coffee House will close permanently in the Grove on June 24
Rise Coffee House has announced it will close after nine years in the Grove on Manchester Avenue. The popular cafe’s last day of service will be June 24. Jessie Mueller opened Rise in September 2013, originally at 4180 Manchester Ave., before later moving to 4176 Manchester. Mueller stepped away from the business for several years, before…
First Look: Eckert’s Farms in Belleville launches Cider Shed and Mr. E’s Cider Donut & Custard Shop
Eckert’s Farm has added two new attractions at its Belleville location (951 S. Green Mount Road) following a multi-million dollar renovation. The farm introduced Eckert’s Cider Shed and Mr. E’s Cider Donut & Custard Shop to the public on Friday, June 10. Located inside a repurposed building between Eckert’s Country Store and Country Restaurant, the 3,500-square-foot…
Choose your own adventure at Pieces Board Game Bar & Café? in Soulard
At Pieces Board Game Bar & Café, you can emerge from your basement game room and still feel like you’re in your safe space. With over 800 different games, 23 signature cocktails, expansive dinner and brunch menus, plus weekly events, it can be overwhelming to figure out the best strategy for your ideal night out.…
South Grand Dine Around returns to St. Louis on Thursday, June 16, after 2-year hiatus
The South Grand Dine Around will return for the first time since 2019 from 5 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, June 16. The event will feature samples from popular restaurants and bars in South Grand’s international neighborhood, including Taste of Persia, Terror Tacos, Padrinos Mexican Restaurant. Rachel Witt, executive director of the South Grand Community…
First Look: STL Toasted at City Foundry in St. Louis
With its diverse roster of restaurants offering cuisines from around the world, City Foundry STL (3730 Foundry Way) is fast becoming one of St. Louis’ hottest dining destinations. Now STL Toasted, which opened on June 1, is serving up a St. Louis staple – with a twist – at the food hall. After building up…
Make Lona’s Lil Eats’ mushroom dumplings at home
If you want your dumplings to taste just like Lona’s, you can purchase the restaurant’s unique red spice mix and dipping sauces in Fox Park. Or, Luo recommends experimenting with your own spice blends. Try combining four of your favorite spices starting with smoked paprika and a mild chili powder. Lona’s Mushroom DumplingsCourtesy of Lona’s…
Take Root Hospitality will open Bistro La Floraison in the former home of Bar Les Freres in July
Take Root Hospitality, the operators of Vicia, Winslow’s Table and Taqueria Morita, will open Bistro La Floraison in the former Bar Les Freres space with two ticketed events on July 9 to 10. The restaurant, located at 7637 Wydown Blvd., will open to the public for dinner service on July 13. A statement from Take…
6 new St. Louis-area restaurants to try this month
Menya RuiFrom the intimate 24-seat dining room to the Japanese noodle machine to the line spilling down the sidewalk, every detail of Menya Rui in Lindenwood Park evokes the tiny noodle shops of Tokyo. Then, of course, there’s the ramen – chewy, fresh noodles are available in three styles: ramen, tsukemen (chilled noodles dipped into…
King and I Thai Cuisine? is a St. Louis landmark
Few restaurants can claim to be the place where just about everyone in town first encountered a particular type of cuisine. But things were a little different in 1983, when Suchin and Sue Prapaisilp decided to open a Thai restaurant, St. Louis’s first, on the corner of Grand Boulevard and Humphrey Street in South City.…
Jerk Soul has closed on Cherokee Street in south St. Louis
Editor’s note: After this story published, we learned that Trevoy Woods, Telie Woods’ cousin and the family member Telie refers to in this article as operating Jerk Soul in his absence, continues to operate the restaurant at 3108 Cherokee St. under a new name, Jerk Unlimited. Jerk Unlimited is essentially serving the Jerk Soul menu,…
Make this top-selling cocktail from Planter’s House? in Lafayette Square
Make one of Planter’s House’s top-selling current cocktails at home. Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine Cocktail Courtesy of Planter’s House’s Ted Kilgore 1 cocktail 1½ oz. Milagro Silver Tequila 1¼ oz. Greenbar Fruitlab Hibiscus Liqueur1 oz. blood orange juice or purée ½ oz. lime juice Lime wheel, for garnish • Combine all ingredients in…
9 vendors to check out at Tower Grove Farmers’ Market this summer
Hundreds of St. Louisans flock to the Tower Grove Farmers’ Market most Saturday mornings to stock up on locally grown produce and sustainably raised meat, eggs and dairy purchased directly from the farmers. They also indulge in impromptu picnics, snacking on everything from pastries and breakfast burritos to international street food and a local brew…
Saucy Soirée will showcase some of STL’s best food and drinks at St. Louis Union Station on Sunday, June 12
The Saucy Soirée Grand Tasting Party returns to Union Station in downtown St. Louis on Sunday, June 12. The event will run from 3 to 7:30 p.m. and features unlimited tastes from some of St. Louis’ top restaurants, wine and beer samples galore, specialty cocktails and live music. The vendors will showcase some of their most popular dishes, such…
Tower Grove Creamery on South Grand in St. Louis will close permanently this weekend
Ice cream shop Tower Grove Creamery will close its doors Sunday, June 12, with Boardwalk Waffles & Ice Cream set to assume operations at the space at 3101 S. Grand Blvd. in time for an early July opening. Tower Grove Creamery has been a fixture at the corner of South Grand Boulevard and Arsenal Street since 2008, with David…
Broadway Oyster Bar in downtown St. Louis is an iconic nightlife destination
Take one step into the eclectic Broadway Oyster Bar and it’s as if you’ve been magically transported into New Orleans’ French Quarter. The building, originally constructed in the 1840s, has been added onto several times throughout the years, but its essence remains intact with original fireplaces, tin-tiled ceilings and well-worn brickwork. The walls and ceilings…
The Central West End Cocktail Party is this Saturday
Mark your calendars for this Saturday. The Central West End is hosting its Cocktail Party featuring food and drink from local businesses, live entertainment, competitions and so much more. After taking a hiatus for the past two years due to Covid, the event nods to history by commemorating the first documented cocktail party, which was…
Wandering Yeti is hosting a vegan frozen custard pop-up on June 9 at Steve’s Hot Dogs
Vegan frozen custard startup Wandering Yeti will throw its first public pop-up at Steve’s Hot Dogs on Thursday, June 9. Five flavors will be available for the event: the Gooey Buttah (contains coconut), cookies & creme, Icelandic mint chocolate chip (contains soy), strawberry, and chocolate-caramel-praline (contains nuts). The Gooey Buttah flavor is made using Royally…
First Look: Salve Osteria on South Grand in St. Louis
Salve Osteria celebrated its official opening at 3200 S. Grand Blvd. on June 2. Natasha Bahrami, Michael Fricker and chef Matt Wynn launched Salve Osteria’s “harvest-centric,” Mediterranean-influenced menu after a few busy days of soft opening. The restaurant is located in the space that was formerly Cafe Natasha, the Persian restaurant founded by Bahrami’s parents.…
Make this vegan cauliflower lahmacun from Balkan Treat Box
“This is a vegetarian/vegan version of a classic lahmacun with a healthy, meat-free twist that we serve at Balkan Treat Box.” – Loryn Nalic Cauliflower LahmacunCourtesy of Balkan Treat Box’s Loryn Nalic 8 servings ½ head cauliflower1 small onion, thinly sliced½ red bell pepper, chopped5 sprigs parsley, plus more for garnishLeaves from 5 sprigs mint,…
Natural wine bar ‘Ssippi will open on Cherokee Street in St. Louis this summer
St. Louis is about to get a natural wine bar, ‘Ssippi, which will open at 2926 Cherokee St. within the next month. After several years working in a natural wine bar in Los Angeles, St. Louis native Brogan Drissell returned home in early 2020, with plans to open his own bar dedicated to natural wines. Together…
First Look: Taqueria Morita at Vicia in the Central West End
Taqueria Morita, the seasonal pop-up project from Vicia culinary director Aaron Martinez, held its first service Thursday, May 26. Located in the newly constructed garden pavilion at Vicia at 4260 Forest Park Ave., Taqueria Morita features tacos and other seasonal dishes inspired by Martinez’s Mexican heritage. There is also a special drink menu for the…
Bob’s Seafood in University City is permanently closing
Bob’s Seafood, the long-standing seafood wholesaler and retailer at 8660 Olive Blvd. in University City, will close on Saturday, June 4, due to an eminent domain seizure by University City. “We fought tooth and nail to stay open,” said general manager Josiah Badenoch, “but the government gets what they want.” Originally founded by Bob Mepham…
11 food events to check out in St. Louis this month
International Horseradish FestivalJune 3 to 4 – 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Main Street, Collinsville, internationalhorseradishfestival.comCome for the bloody mary contest, stay for the local food and horseradish root toss. There are also local craft vendors; a new kids area in the city hall parking lot; a car show on Saturday; live entertainment; cornhole at…
2022 Sauce Readers’ Choice Winners
Every year, we invite our readers to vote on their favorite local places to eat, drink and shop. Here are the winners of this year’s Sauce Readers’ Choice poll. FAVORITE RESTAURANTHi-Pointe Drive-InMultiple locations, hipointedrivein.com2nd: Olive + Oak3rd: Grace Meat + Three (tie) Balkan Treat BoxHonorable Mentions: Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria, Indo CHEF OF THE YEAREvy Swoboda, Brasserie by…
Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria is opening inside Ballpark Village in early 2023
Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria is heading to Ballpark Village. The restaurant, owned by Katie and Ted Collier, will open its third location opposite Gate 4 of Busch Stadium in early 2023, in time for the Cardinals’ opening day festivities. The new restaurant will be Katie’s largest to date, stretching out at almost 10,000 square feet. The…
Beets & Bones in Clayton has closed
Beets & Bones, a nutrition-focused juice bar and café in Clayton, has closed the doors to its location at 8401 Maryland Ave. The closing was announced in a video posted to the Fuel Wellness Bar Instagram account, formerly the Beets & Bones account, by chef and co-owner Nick Zotos. “I decided to move on,” he…
Mai Lee’s Canh Chua
2 to 4 servings
Balkan Treat Box’s Cauliflower Lahmacun
8 servings
Lona’s Mushroom Dumplings
about 60 dumplings
