Drink This Weekend Edition: Bin No. 51 spreads its wings with spirits flights
You can find some great wines at Bin No. 51, but the shop, located at 200 S. Buchanan St., in Edwardsville, Ill., also has one of the best retail selections of whiskey in the area. Owner Brian Kuchta has decidedly thrown himself into the spirit of things with his newly launched liquor flights. The first…
Jump on the Juice Bar Bandwagon
The Urban Eats Cafe and Bar plus juice bar has been making quick work of fresh produce since 2011. At Nadoz Cafe at The Boulevard, a juice extractor was put to work late last year, while the juice bar at Nadoz’s location near SLU is mere weeks old. Among the offerings, Nadoz owner Steven Becker…
This week, Stacy Schultz is obsessed with
Despite what you might think, food editors actually eat pretty healthfully. It doesn’t take many 12-course tastings to teach you to pace yourself. Plus, we have access to fresh produce, great recipes and some of the best local vendors around. Yet sometimes, a girl’s gotta splurge … {I drink water like a camel, but every…
The Scoop: Going full circle with a cup of coffee, a pub and a good pie
Blueprint Coffee is coming to The Loop, as reported by the Riverfront Times’ Ian Froeb recently. And it’s the names behind the caffeinated project that are jolting local coffee nerds. Blueprint, to be located at 6225 Delmar Blvd. (between recently opened Chubbies and Thai Country Cafe), is a six-partner venture by Mike Marquard (pictured), Kevin…
Baked: Honey-Oat Bread
I love good sandwich bread; it’s something I spend the most time selecting in a grocery store. I try to find bread that is tasty but not too healthy – a carb that can taste great with something sweet but also work for a savory sandwich. Unfortunately, a surprisingly high number of breads have high…
The Scoop: St. Louis added to cities on Dishcrawl circuit of culinary tours
Food enthusiasts who enjoy dining in the company of like-minded eaters will be interested in learning that Dishcrawl has added St. Louis to the cities where it hosts culinary tours. At a Dishcrawl event, participants dine together at four places in one night, walking between restaurant. Dishcrawl organizes these gastronomic adventures in more than 140…
6 spoonfuls linked to health benefits
A spoonful of sugar might help the medicine go down, but the sweet stuff has nothing on these good-for-you sips. Local Honey: Though there’s no hard evidence that local honey relieves allergy symptoms, honey does boost energy and reduce swelling. It doesn’t hurt that it tastes great, too. Find local honey at area markets and restaurants including…
By the Book: Emily Schuman’s Homemade Pizza Dough
Love her or hate her, you have to give Emily Schuman credit. The woman behind the popular lifestyle blog Cupcakes and Cashmere has made a full-time gig out of writing 150-word posts about nail polish colors and peplum shirts. She also writes the occasional food-related post, though most of her recipes are linked to other…
The Scoop: Capitalist Pig owner goes Off Beet
Ron Buechele, chef-owner of barbecue joint Capitalist Pig and Mad Art Gallery in Soulard, has a lot cooking these days. In January, he announced that he was closing down the ‘cue until the weather got warmer but that he was also going to hold monthly themed dinners, beginning in February, in the historic jail cells that…
Meatless Monday: Pizza with Broccoli, Sun-dried Tomatoes and Ricotta
I thought today’s post would be a celebration of spring where we waved goodbye to root vegetables in anticipation for the delicate fruits and veggies of spring and early summer. And then this weekend happened. Now, here I am, offering up a spring-inspired pizza recipe while the trees outside groan under several inches of snow.…
Drink This Weekend Edition: Wine made underwater comes to light
Attention supporters of funky experiments and cool-looking bottles: An Italian wine just arrived in St. Louis that will pique your curiosity both for the uncanny process in which it was aged and the eye-catching results. Abissi Bisson is an Italian sparkling wine and the brainchild of Piero Lugano, a wine merchant from Chiavari in the…
24 questions with Andy Ayers
For almost five years now, Andy Ayers has been the guy behind the guy. His relentless quest to deliver produce from local farmers to area chefs has made his small operation, Eat Here St. Louis, indispensable. These days, the former owner of Riddle’s Penultimate Cafe and Wine Bar can tell stories about rutabagas, kohlrabi and…
This week, Ligaya Figueras is obsessed with
{In The Dinner by Herman Koch, two brothers and their wives dine at a fancy, overpriced Dutch restaurant. But the plot is hardly that simple because things aren’t as they appear. This snarky comedy turns disturbing as what lies under the table is slowly served up, beginning with the aperitif of the house and finishing…
Just Five: Abridged Calabacitas
Southwest Diner is receiving no shortage of attention these days. Jonathan Jones and Anna Sidel’s little diner, located at 6803 Southwest Ave., is taking St. Louis by storm with their Southwestern-influenced breakfast and lunch items. I can be found there a few times a month for Jonathan’s Famous Fiery Scramble or a stack of the…
The Scoop: Old Liluma to become Gamlin Whiskey House, opening in June
Whatever happened to Derek and Lucas Gamlins’ plans to open a steakhouse in the old Liluma space in the Central West End? We were asking the same question, considering that the brothers, who also own Sub Zero Vodka Bar, had announced the venture back in November and pegged this month to open their contemporary American…
The Scoop: Chris Ladley named exec chef at Herbie’s
Chris Ladley has been hired as the executive chef at Herbie’s Vintage ’72. Yesterday was Ladley’s first official day at the restaurant, located at 405 N. Euclid Ave. Ladley joins the anchor restaurant in the Central West End having bid goodbye last weekend to Pastaria and The Dubliner, where he juggled jobs in both kitchens.…
UPDATED: Cochon Tour and Celebrity Chef Tour coming to St. Louis, Four Seasons to host both events
Food enthusiasts, mark your calendars! Cochon and the James Beard Celebrity Chef Tour are both coming to St. Louis this year. This marks the first time that the pork-tacular Cochon will hit the Gateway City, and the second time in two years that St. Louis has landed on the Celebrity Chef Tour circuit. Founded in…
Spring Training with Jack Petrovic
Hoping the dead leaves and rotten tomatoes festering in your garden all winter have magically transformed into fertilizer? Possibly. But that oft-forgotten bed of mess will need a little more TLC to yield the garden you’ve been dreaming about all winter long. And you’re just in time; March is the perfect month to get down…
By the Book: Deb Perelman’s Fig, Olive Oil and Sea Salt Challah
Don’t let my last name fool you; I’m a shiksa through and through. And if Yiddish had a term for a gentile who can’t bake, I’d be that too. Then why did I choose this recipe for challah? I like the challenge. And challah is delicious. And if you celebrate Passover, I figured this would…
Composting: Make your own
If you want a happy vegetable garden, you need happy soil. And there’s no better way to improve soil while saving money and helping the environment than by turning kitchen waste into nutrient-rich compost. Composting is the controlled process of decomposing organic material into fertilizer that conditions the soil. Making your own “black gold” is…
4 lettuce-free salads to make this spring
We appreciate romaine for all its roughage, but we’d rather opt for a salad because it’s exquisite, not because it’s a dieter’s requisite. These four lettuce-less salads – a feast for both eyes and appetite – are proof positive that a salad can be more than a mélange of rabbit food. 1. Apricot, coconut and mint…
This easy shakshuka recipe makes the perfect late-night snack
So you’ve danced the night away, and you’re hungry. Before you ruin a week’s worth of diet and exercise in a pepperoni-pizza binge, feast on shakshuka, a popular eggy Israeli dinner and the world’s most perfect drunk food. It’s fabulously fun to say, doesn’t require precise measuring and hits the spot when you’re craving some…
The Scoop: Olive Oils & More adding shop in Kirkwood
Just last week, The Scoop reported that Olive Oils & More had opened doors at its new location in downtown Edwardsville, Ill. Owner Mary Burke is barely standing still long enough to pour samples of premium extra-virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars, however, for she just signed the dotted line on the lease at 105…
The Scoop: Gerard Craft named 2013 James Beard Foundation Award finalist
The finalists for the 2013 James Beard Foundation Awards were announced via Twitter today. Gerard Craft (pictured), chef-owner of Niche, Brasserie, Taste and Pastaria, remains in the running in the Best Chef: Midwest category. Other chefs who made the cut for the title are: Justin Aprahamian (Sanford, Milwaukee, Wisc.), Colby Garrelts (Bluestem, Kansas City, Mo.),…
Meatless Monday: Farro with Mushrooms and Peas
Last week, I wrote about my Irish roots, so this week I thought I’d flip to the other half of my family: the Italian side. In an Italian family, one thing you learn to cook at a young age is risotto. And while I still love those fat little nuggets of Arborio rice, in the…
Drink This Weekend Edition: Flying Saucer is beerknurd bliss
Flying Saucer Draught Emporium has landed in St. Louis. If you’re headed downtown this Saturday for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, you’ll be within radius of this recently opened watering hole, located at 900 Spruce St. Here are five reasons why beer-lovers are fast becoming regulars at this beer outpost: 1. Beer selection –…
Shake This: The Royale’s Subcontinental
We love drinking Guinness on St. Patrick’s Day just as much as you do, but sometimes a cocktail is also a must. To keep with the spirit of the shamrock-shaded holiday, we recommend The Royale Food & Spirits’ Subcontinental. Find the recipe here. Don’t feel like making it? Start your holiday early and find a…
UPDATE: House of India to open on Wednesday
UPDATE: After experiencing a small kitchen fire two weeks ago, House of India plans to reopen, starting this Wednesday, April 3, for its daily lunch buffet and dinner service. According to Fox 2 News, there was a fire last night at the long-standing restaurant House of India, located at 8501 Delmar Blvd., in University City. However,…
The Scoop: Melt to move to Cherokee Street
Melt is moving. The eccentric diner, which opened last summer at 7700 Ivory Ave., in the Carondelet neighborhood, is headed to Cherokee Street. As reported by Liz Miller of the Riverfront Times, Melt will make its new home at 2712 Cherokee St. The move posits Melt among a handful of restaurants and bars – including…
This week, Julie Cohen is obsessed with
{Although I’d be embarrassed to mention this product in conversation since I can’t actually pronounce its name, I love it all the same. Gochujang, a spicy, Korean-made paste, is like Sriracha’s wise older brother who only drinks scotch and wears smoking jackets. Sauce’s art director, Meera Nagarajan, recently put me on to it, and ever since,…
Awesome Eats: The Kitchen Sink’s Crab Cake Benie
At just nine dollars, the Crab Cake Benie is a steal. And because The Kitchen Sink serves breakfast all day, you can take advantage of this deal anytime. Two plump crab cakes take the place of an English muffin, each topped with flash-fried spinach and a perfectly poached egg, adorned with a slightly spicy Creole…
The Scoop: Wang Gang relocating in Edwardsville
Diners in search of Asian eats at Wang Gang will soon need to head to a different location. The restaurant, voted a Readers’ Choice favorite in 2011 and 2012, is relocating to 1035 Century Drive in Edwardsville, Ill., formerly home to Bully’s Smokehouse. Wang Gang, which is currently still operating at its current location at…
St. Patrick’s Day Corned Beef and Cabbage
It was my friends’ homemade corned beef that made my husband – a vegetarian for years – eat meat again. That brined brisket was so tender, so succulent, that he broke down and had a taste. Then he had a plate of it. Clearly, this was something I needed to be able to make myself.…
Baked: Banana Chocolate Tweed Cake
This is a very adaptable and simple banana cake. I prefer any banana cake recipe that uses oil instead of butter since, really, the moistness from the bananas should be enough. Also, not having to worry about butter being at the right temperature and beaten correctly makes this a one-bowl cake, which really is the…
The Scoop: Mary Ann’s Tea Room coming to CWE
A sign posted in the window at 4732 McPherson Ave., most recently home to West End Galleries, announces that Mary Ann’s Tea Room is coming soon. “The CWE has nothing like what I am planning for this tea room,” wrote owner Karen Halper in an email. “I am hoping it will be a breath of…
Get your first taste of Strange Donuts
In January, The Scoop reported that Strange Donuts was opening at 2709 Sutton Blvd., in Maplewood. Co-owners Corey Smale and Tyler Fenwick are moving ahead with their plans to offer “new and wild and creative” doughnuts (as well as oldies but goodies) to St. Louisans. Smale and Fenwick hope to open doors by May 1,…
The Scoop: Olive Oils & More now open at new location in Edwardsville
The olive oil and balsamic vinegar shop, Olive Oils & More, is now open at its new location in Edwardsville, Ill. The shop relocated from Route 157 in the University Pointe Shopping Center to 202 S. Buchanan St., in the Park Plaza Center (next door to wine and spirits shops, Bin No. 51). Owner Mary Burke, who…
By the Book: Aran Goyoaga’s Meyer Lemon, Almond & Yogurt Custard Pots
I think the cookbook Small Plates and Sweet Treats: My Family’s Journey to Gluten-Free Cooking is beautiful. It’s the first book from Aran Goyoaga, creator of the food and photography blog Cannelle et Vanille. The photos in this book are bright, happy and delicious; they put me in the mood to cook, which is always…
2013 Readers’ Choice Poll: Only one more month to vote!
Want your favorite dive bar to get the recognition it deserves? Love the interior design of that new restaurant in your neighborhood? Is there a brunch spot in town that you dream about all week? Then you need to take part in Sauce’s 11th Annual Readers’ Choice Poll and let your opinions be heard! Vote here before…
The Scoop: Frida’s Deli to expand
Less than one year after opening its doors, Frida’s Deli is already expanding. The vegetarian deli, located in U. City at 622 North and South Road, made the announcement today on its Facebook page, noting “We are super excited to announce that we have acquired the space next door. Look for expanded seating and Frida’s Farm…
Sauce is Hiring!
Are you an avid eater (or drinker) and an avid writer? Then we want to hear from you. Sauce is seeking several freelance writers who are looking to dive deep into the world of food and drink writing. Depending on experience, you could write recipes, short blog posts, even long-form pieces for the magazine. While…
Meatless Monday: Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie
Growing up, St. Patrick’s Day was just as big of an affair in my house as Christmas. My dad’s side of the family would drive to St. Louis from all over the Midwest, and we’d gather at my great-aunts’ house, which they would have decorated in all shades of shamrock. Several long tables would be…
The Scoop: Cassy Vires and Justin Haifley in running for Food & Wine’s People’s Best New Chef: Midwest
Two area chefs – Cassy Vires, chef-owner of Home Wine Kitchen, and Justin Haifley of The Tavern Kitchen & Bar – are in the running for Food & Wine magazine’s People’s Best New Chef: Midwest. The award, which the magazine launched in 2011, is based on a people’s vote (as opposed to one by the…
Drink This Weekend Edition: Raise a glass at The Vino Gallery b-day bash
It’s hard to believe that three years have passed since Rachael Buehrer and Alex Head opened doors to The Vino Gallery in the Central West End. Along with its display of local artwork, the store’s stock of small production wines has given residents and visitors alike many a reason to stop in during a jaunt along…
Sauce Celebrity Chef Series presents a morning with Richard Blais
Attention St. Louis foodophiles and Top Chef aficionados, crack open your March calendars because Bravo’s Top Chef: All-Stars winner Richard Blais is coming to The Lou. As part of our Sauce Celebrity Chef Series, Blais will join us on March 30 from 10 a.m. to noon at The Market at The Cheshire. While attendees munch…
This week, Meera Nagarajan is obsessed with
{I first cooked out of Yvette van Boven’s cookbook Home Made for our By the Book online column. Afterwards, I had to have the book for my own. Her recipes are creative yet easy. Currently, she’s in the process of releasing books for the seasons; Home Made Winter came out months ago, and at the office,…
The Scoop: In The Wheelhouse
Business partners Stephen Savage (pictured, far right), Lou Groff (middle right) and Jared Ater (middle left) are in their wheelhouse as they prepare to open an upscale sports bar The Wheelhouse, in Clayton. That’s because these owner-operators have opened other bars before – including the hotspot 10 Below in Columbia, Mo. The bar is located…
Keeping Up With Jason Tilford
Editor’s note: Barrister’s, Tortillaria Mexican Kitchen, and Milagro Modern Mexican have closed. Part of Jason Tilford’s job is bouncing between the four restaurants he co-owns with his brother, Adam – Barrister’s, Tortillaria Mexican Kitchen, Milagro Modern Mexican and the newly opened Mission Taco Joint – and the nine others he consults on with buddy Chris LaRocca.…
The Scoop: The food truck Bombay Food Junkies is coming to St. Louis
Husband and wife team Sid and Krupa Panchal are hoping to bring the cuisine of their native India to the streets of St. Louis with the launch of their food truck Bombay Food Junkies. The Panchals were born and raised in Bombay (Mumbai), and moved to the U.S., in the early 2000s. “Bombay is famous…
Just Five: Almost-Asian Flank Steak with Molasses Glaze
I search constantly for Asian-inspired recipes that will work with just five ingredients, yet they are practically impossible to find; the foundation of any decent Asian recipe calls for a minimum of five to seven ingredients. Sure, I could do a just five marinade, but that’s not really a full dish, is it? The serendipity…
Healthy Living Pinterest Contest: Join us on Pinterest and win a T-Fal wok with built-in steamer
— photo by Greg Rannells
Sneak Peek: Empire Deli & Pizza
Empire Deli & Pizza will officially open on Monday, March 11. The East Coast-style deli, located downtown at 1131 Washington Ave., is the newest project by chef Dave Rook, his brother Michael Rook and their business partner Ryan McMillan. Whether you’re looking for a new lunch place or needing to curb a late-night craving, Empire…
By the Book: Michael Ruhlman’s Mac and Cheese with Soubise
“Only by reducing cooking to its core techniques can we begin to understand the infinite nuances that contribute to making something good, and what elevates the good to the great. Cooking can be broken down into these few parts, and doing so is enormously useful no matter what level you cook at – whether you’re…
Make This: Truffle Mushroom Mac-N-Cheese
In decades past, uncoated cast iron stayed in the kitchen while its prettier, enameled cousin got to take the esteemed trip out to the dining room. But chef Justin Haifley likes the rustic look of the skillets on his tables at The Tavern Kitchen and Bar, where cozy, comfort food is given a contemporary bent.…
The Scoop: EdgeWild owners still seek second locale; Crushed Red expansion plans moving along
In December, The Scoop reported that a large portion of the former Busch’s Grove Market was expected to become home to a second location for EdgeWild Restaurant & Winery. EdgeWild owners Andy and Dee Dee Kohn, along with restaurateur and EdgeWild proprietor Chris LaRocca, had planned to open doors in the Ladue space in early…
Sneak Peek: Mike Shannon’s Grill
{Pat Shannon-VanMatre pictured with her sons Gary (left) and Justin (right) VanMatre.} It’s been nearly six months since The Scoop got wind of Mike Shannon’s Grill opening in Edwardsville, Ill. With construction of the sports-themed grill and lounge now complete and its opening only a couple of weeks away, we were getting hungry for a…
Meatless Monday: Mushroom, Leek, Potato and Spinach Frittata
I don’t know about you, but I’m a serious breakfast-lover. If you gave me eggs, fresh vegetables and a piece of toast three times a day, I’d be a happy girl. Problem is, I don’t so much love mornings. It’s a fairly rare day when I can get up early enough to cook such a…
What in the world are black radishes?
First cultivated in the eastern Mediterranean, black radishes aren’t mainstays in produce bins these days. This peppery radish, also known as a niger radish, is striking for its black skin that threatens to stain the fingers like charcoal (Don’t worry; it won’t.). Use it: Black radishes don’t pop with sharp, spicy flavor like other radish…
Mother’s Best Fried Fish is a year-round fish fry
While dozens of parishes host Friday fish fries during Lent, what happens when Easter arrives? Rather than quit your newfound fish addiction cold turkey, err fish, head to Mother’s Best Fried Fish, where battered catfish, tripe, jack salmon and shrimp are served hot all year long. And if you realize your thing-for-fish was really just…
Make this chicken pot pie in less than one hour
Chicken pot pie doesn’t have to be an all-day affair. The secret to a bowl of creamy comfort in less than an hour: frozen puff pastry and a rotisserie chicken from the market. Heat 2 cups chicken broth in a small pot. Stir in 1 bouillon cube until dissolved. Keep warm. In a large saucepan…
Review: The Rustic Goat in Downtown St. Louis
The old axiom “first we eat with our eyes” rings as true for an establishment’s atmosphere as it does for its actual food and drink. But looks can deceive. Such is the case on the quiet corner of Washington and Jefferson Avenues. Here, inside massive storefront windows sits The Rustic Goat, a gorgeous music lounge…
Review: Elaia and Olio in Botanical Heights
At Elaia and Olio, one expects the olive oil to be damn good. Elaia (el-ah’-yah), after all, takes its name from the Greek word for both the fruit of the olive tree and the liquid gold of those pressed olives, while Olio is Italian for “oil.” Sure enough, dabs of glassy, green, fruity oil dotted…
By Popular Demand: The Block’s Missouri trout recipe
Eaten a dish at an area restaurant that you’d do just about anything to make at home? Email us at pr@saucemagazine.com to tell us about it. Then let us do our best to deliver the recipe By Popular Demand. The Block, 146 W. Lockwood Ave., Webster Groves, 314.918.7900 and 33 N. Sarah St., St. Louis,…
Black Radish Canapes
6 to 8 Hors D’oeuvre
Pho Ga
4
Mexican Chicken Salad
4 servings as a main, 6 to 8 as a side dish
Half-Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies
6 Servings
Warm Mushroom Salad
4 servings
Rotisserie Chicken Hash
4 servings
Southern Fried Chicken
4 to 8
Rotisserie Chicken Pot Pie
4 servings
2 a.m. Shakshuka
4 servings
Join us in celebrating Read Across America
At Sauce, we love to eat (obviously), but we also love to read! This Saturday, local CBL Malls (Chesterfield Mall, Mid Rivers Mall, St. Clair Square, South County Center and West County Center) are helping to celebrate Read Across America with local celebrity storytellers. The staff at Sauce has been honored with an invitation! Tomorrow,…
Drink This Weekend Edition: Come one, come all to Lupulin Carnival
When you’re the parent of an elementary school-aged kid, nothing gets you through a painfully slow, boring baseball game like a concessions stand that serves beer. But, outdoor youth baseball hasn’t begun yet, so the place this weekend to spend time with your kid (and your beer) is Lupulin Carnival. The second annual Lupulin Carnival,…
Short List: Thai Green Curry
With the laundry list of ingredients and imprecise quantities that go into green curry, it’s easy to see how Thai cooking is often considered art, not science. But while curry might be a forgiving recipe, consider me the princess and the pea. To distill curries’ true virtues, I kept two controls for my venture: a…
3 ways to use rotisserie chicken
Some turn up their noses at supermarket rotisserie chickens, assuming they’re shortcuts for incompetent or lazy cooks. But with a little love, the savory, succulent meat these little birds yield can be a busy home cook’s best kept secret. So lower that nose, Judgy McJudgerson, and grab yourself one of those plastic nests filled with…
Decoding the Paleo diet with The Organic Cave Paleo Bakery
Editor’s note: The Organic Cave Paleo Bakery has closed. Right now your favorite Hollywood starlet and your favorite dry cleaner are singing the praises of the Paleo diet, a plan based on what cavemen hunted and gathered. And apparently those fur-gathering folk didn’t grocery shop at Target like the rest of us. Those who follow a…
Cooking with cast iron
like cooking. I love cookware. Sturdy oversized roasters. Shiny stainless pots. Polished copper sauciers. So when I ruined my everyday nonstick skillet with metal utensils, I was giddy at the prospect of replacing it. But with what? An enameled, cast-iron Le Creuset French oven (think Dutch oven from le France) is the prom queen of…
