4 beers to crush at UCBC’s Lager Summit
Lagers aren’t just a necessary lighter option in a brewery’s portfolio. They’re thoughtful, technically sound, crushable beers brewers are proud to show off, and craft beer fans are more than happy to drink. Celebrate the lager’s best qualities this Sunday, March 31, at Urban Chestnut Brewing Co.’s Lager Summit at its Grove location (tickets are still…
First Look: Café Coeur in Creve Coeur
Café Coeur, the St. Louis area’s first Japanese-Italian fusion restaurant, will open Sunday, April 7, at 10477 Old Olive Street Road in Creve Coeur. “The original concept was a simple pizza shop with sushi,” said co-owner Moshe Plotnik. “When [executive] chef Matt [Dawson] joined us, his expertise and knowledge in Japanese cuisine inspired him to…
Urban Chestnut will release nonalcoholic Hop Water in early summer
Urban Chestnut Brewing Co. will soon release a nonalcoholic, hop-infused sparkling water, slated to be in grocery stores this summer. Hop Water is Urban Chestnut’s first nonalcoholic product, a response to a growing demand for bar-ready, nonalcoholic beverages. Hop Water was originally created for Loufest 2018, but when the festival was canceled, Urban Chestnut decided…
4 tasty STL restaurant deals for $10 or less
1. Lulu’s Local Eats has brought back a customer favorite just in time for warmer weather: the Chipotle Black Bean Burrito for $9. A large whole-wheat tortilla is stacked with roasted sweet potatoes, smoked white bean hummus, brown rice, shredded kale and fresh avocado, all topped with a house-made chipotle sauce that brings the whole…
Vicia’s Michael Gallina is a finalist for Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: Midwest
Three cheers for Vicia chef and co-owner Michael Gallina – the James Beard Foundation announced today, March 27, that he is a finalist for the Best Chef: Midwest. Gallina, who co-owns Vicia with his wife, Tara Gallina, said he was overwhelmed by the honor. “Incredible. Blown away. I think this was always a dream of…
West End Grill & Pub will reopen in mid-April
After a brief closure, West End Grill & Pub at 354 N. Boyle Ave., will reopen on Friday, April 12. The restaurant originally shuttered in January in advance of an expected sale. However, according to co-owner William Roth, that deal fell through. “So we started shutting things down,” Roth said. “Then a group of neighbors…
Landmark Diner’s Delight serves some of STL’s best soul food
This month marks the 50th anniversary of Diner’s Delight, a hallowed soul food joint tucked away at 1504 S. Compton Ave., just south of Midtown. Camouflaged by a totally ordinary exterior, the kitchen quietly turns out some of the best soul food in the city. Since opening in 1969, the Houston family has served customer…
The Pasta House co-founder J. Kim Tucci passes away at 78
A St. Louis culinary icon has passed away. J. Kim Tucci, co-founder of The Pasta House Co., died on Monday, March 25. He was 78. Tucci co-founded The Pasta House Co. in 1974 with Joe Fresta and John Ferrera. The Italian-American eatery proved wildly successful; today there are more 15 locations in Illinois and Missouri.…
Milque Toast Bar owner Colleen Clawson opens ‘temporary’ restaurant, Baba Xavi
Colleen Clawson of Milque Toast Bar has launched a new “temporary” restaurant project. Baba Xavi, a modern Indian bistro concept located at 3701 Jefferson Ave., debuted on Friday, March 22. “It’s an homage to my son, Xavier, and his cultural heritage,” Clawson said. Most of the dishes have made appearances at Clawson’s Cheap & Cheerful…
5 podcasts the La Patisserie Chouquette team devours in the kitchen
The people in the kitchen at La Patisserie Chouquette are masters of macarons – and a band of armchair detectives. Owner and pastry chef Simone Faure said they frequently play a true-crime podcast while making canelés, croissants and tea cookies. Faure has even drawn up a whiteboard to try and decipher who killed Hae Min…
Main & Mill Brewing in Festus is one of the best-kept secrets in St. Louis beer
Denny Foster’s career has been a story of threes. It was three years and a day that he worked at a finance job he hated before he left to see if he could turn his homebrewing hobby into a career. He spent the next three years at Crown Valley Brewing & Distilling Co., climbing the ranks…
Farmtruk will take over food service at Brick River Cider
Farmtruk fare will now be available in a brick-and-mortar spot. Chef-owner Samantha Mitchell will take over food service at Brick River Cider Co. at 2000 Washington Ave., starting Tuesday, April 2. “We’re super excited,” Mitchell said. “The kitchen is huge and awesome.” In addition to a complete menu change, which will include Farmtruk favorites along…
Cocina Latina restaurant is now open in the Central West End
St. Louis has a new Latin American restaurant. Cocina Latina opened doors on March 5 at 508 N. Euclid Ave., in the Central West End. Owner Maritza Rios, who also owns El Paisano in Lindenwood Park, decided to open a Latin American restaurant in the CWE after seeing a lack of Latin American fare in…
Quattro Trattoria + Pizzeria will open inside The Westin St. Louis in early April
The Westin St. Louis will replace Clark Street Grill with a new Italian restaurant in a renovated space. Quattro Trattoria + Pizza will take over 811 Spruce St. in downtown St. Louis, just in time for the Cardinals home opener on April 4. The renovated space will feature an expanded bar with a view of…
Polite Society’s Brian Schmitz discusses newest endeavor, The Bellwether
The team from Polite Society is embarking on another Lafayette Square project. Co-owner Brian Schmitz said he and co-owner Jonathan Schoen are taking over the former Element space at 1419 Carroll St., which closed last October, and refashioning it as The Bellwether. In an email response to request for comment, Schmitz said the multi-level location…
Learn to make your own beer at these 5 St. Louis homebrew clubs
St. Louis’ incredible beer community is home to numerous professionals who got their start as passionate STL homebrew club members. The best new brewery in Missouri according to RateBeer – Wellspent Brewing Co. in Midtown – was co-founded by STL Hops member Kyle Kohlmorgen. With a focus on education and peer evaluation in a fun,…
2nd Shift’s Casual Experimentation No. 4 is the definition of a balanced beer
2nd Shift Brewing has created an exquisite blend with Casual Experimentation No. 4. At 5.5 percent ABV, this dry-hopped American pale wheat ale is the definition of balance with a sweetly malted body showcasing two of craft beer’s most popular hops: Cascade and Centennial. Accompanied by fragrant notes of pine and dried fruits, it finishes…
SweetArt’s Reine Bayoc makes a phenomenal faux fish sandwich
SweetArt co-owner and chef Reine Bayoc is a sorcerer when it comes to plant-based food. With items like her addictive vegan fudge brownies and her mind-blowing church basement plate (which is only available on Friday nights), she’s mesmerized South City’s vegan crowd – and, indeed, many of its non-vegans – for the past decade. So…
Chicken and Andouille Gumbo
8 to 10 servings
SweetArt’s Hearts of Palm Sandwich
4 to 6 servings
Coconut Pie
8 servings
Red Beans and Rice
8 to 10 servings
Shrimp and Creamy Grits
6 to 8 servings
Hearts of Palm Sandwich
4 to 6 servings
O’Fallon Brewery co-founder Fran Caradonna joins Schlafly as new CFO, CAO
Schlafly has hired O’Fallon Brewery and The Signature Beer Co. co-founder Fran Caradonna, who officially joined its executive team as chief financial officer and chief administrative officer on Monday, March 18. Caradonna will manage all Schlafly’s financials and accounting, and she’ll also oversee its daily administrative operations. Caradonna co-founded O’Fallon Brewery in 2000 with her…
La Patisserie Chouquette’s Simone Faure shares 3 meals that changed her life
Simone Faure, owner and pastry chef at La Patisserie Chouquette, knows good food when she sees it. Her cakes and pastries at the shop are beautifully detailed and delicious – it’s no wonder many sell out daily. Don’t let her upscale aesthetic fool you, though. This New Orleans native doesn’t discriminate, whether it’s low-country cooking…
STL Hops homebrewers share passion, knowledge and great beer in St. Louis
It’s a cold, windy night in South City as I enter Perennial Artisan Ales’ tasting room to attend a monthly meeting of the local homebrew club STL Hops. The familiar space begins to transform into something completely new as brewers enter one by one, walking past me with their various growlers, unlabeled carafes and washed-out…
Plantain Girl’s Alphateria closes inside Alpha Brewing Co.
As reported by the Riverfront Times, owner Mandy Estrella, aka Plantain Girl, has shuttered Alphateria, her food concept, located inside Alpha Brewing Co.’s tasting room at 4310 Fyler Ave., which opened last March. The last day of service was Sunday, March 17. “We were very successful during our year at Alpha,” Estrella said. “The brewery…
Guerrilla Street Food will open sixth location in Webster Groves
Spring has sprung in a big way for the Guerrilla Street Food team with three projects coming to fruition in the next couple months. The popular Filipino food purveyors have announced location No. 6 will open later this spring at 43 Old Orchard Ave., in Webster Groves next to Big Sky Café. “We definitely want to…
Honey brings more than sweetness to St. Louis beer
While it may conjure up saccharine associations, honey can bring much more than sweetness to the table when used in brewing beer. It’s one of the earliest ingredients ever used to make fermented beverages, and it continues to be a go-to for modern brewers. Honey is often used during fermentation to accentuate texture and color,…
First Look: Il Palato in Clayton
Just over a year after opening his last project, the reimagined Del Pietro’s in Richmond Heights, restaurateur Michael Del Pietro has added another restaurant to his stable. Il Palato opened very quietly on Friday, March 8 at 222 S. Bemiston Ave., in Clayton. “I really wanted to get back into Clayton,” said Del Pietro, who has…
Take a field trip to these 11 Illinois breweries from Alton to Murphysboro
From Belleville to Waterloo, the Illinois brewery scene is booming, and it’s time to explore past the river. Most breweries are 20 to 40 minutes apart, and some are right around the block. Select a few to visit together, or plan a well-organized weekend with a designated driver. Just make sure to refuel with water…
5 St. Louis-made beers to drink on St. Patrick’s Day
Guinness is not the only beer you should drink on March 17. With many locally brewed options, St. Louis has plenty of traditional Irish beer styles to drink while you paint the town green on St. Patrick’s Day. For locally brewed options, Twisted Roots Brewing Co.’s Irish Flu is the way to go. Irish stouts…
Sponsored
Chefs’ Night Out returns April 1, showcasing talented chefs from St. Louis area
Help a great cause and try creations from more than 20 of St. Louis’ best private club and restaurant chefs at the 23rd annual Chefs’ Night Out slated for 6 to 9 p.m. Monday, April 1, at Sunset Country Club at 9555 S. Geyer Road in Sunset Hills. Great Circle, a nonprofit behavioral heath services organization,…
Basil Spice, My Thai owner Somying Fox will open Fox Fire in The Loop
Somying Fox of Basil Spice and My Thai will open her new concept, Fox Fire, in the old Público space at 6679 Delmar Blvd., in April. The Asian fusion restaurant will seat about 60. Fox said she’s thought about opening a restaurant in The Loop at least 10 years, but said the neighborhood is saturated…
Why you should eat Pizza Knotchos at Pie Guy Pizza now
If you’re sick of cute, fusion-y food, the Pizza Knotchos at Pie Guy Pizza in The Grove might just make you believe in love again. This beautiful marriage of pizza and nachos begins with a substantial pile of garlic knots topped with a mess of mozzarella-pecorino cheese sauce, marinara, pepperoni chunks and a dollop of…
C. Oliver Coffee & Flower Bar will open in former Orbit Pinball space
Downtown Maplewood will get a new coffee shop and florist just in time for summer. C. Oliver Coffee & Flower Bar is slated to open in early June at 7401 Hazel Ave., formerly Orbit Pinball Lounge. The project is the brainchild of longtime friends and Maplewood residents Olivia Medina and Alyssa Schuler. Medina used to…
El Burro Loco owners will open La Bamba in downtown St. Louis
The team behind El Burro Loco in the Central West End will soon open another Mexican eatery, this time in downtown St. Louis. La Bamba will be located at 1101 Lucas Ave., and is expected to open in late March or early April. Cousins Jaime Hernandez and Fernando Mendieta are partners in the business and…
Review: Brick River Cider in downtown St. Louis
The first cidery in a craft beer town, Brick River Cider is attempting to educate St. Louisans on this very American beverage. We’re in good hands with founder Russ John – apples are in his blood. In the 1860s, his family settled in Nebraska, where they’ve been growing apples ever since. Brick River Cider is…
Pastaria executive chef Ashley Shelton will head to Annie Gunn’s
Pastaria executive chef Ashley Shelton will make the move to Annie Gunn’s on April 2. She’ll assume the role of chef de cuisine under Annie Gunn’s executive chef Lou Rook III, as reported by the Post-Dispatch. Shelton has been Pastaria’s executive chef for the last four years, as well as Sardella executive chef from April…
The Muddled Pig closes to make way for The Dubliner in Maplewood
The Muddled Pig Gastropub at 2733 Sutton Ave. in Maplewood has closed its doors about a month after its three-year anniversary. The last day of service was Saturday, March 9. Chef-co-owner Austin Hamblin said he and co-owner Michelle Allender decided to close the restaurant in order to pursue a new opportunity. Hamblin declined to reveal…
Salt & Smoke will open CWE location in former Tavern, Duff’s space
It’s shaping up to be a busy year for the Salt & Smoke team. As Sauce reported last year, the local barbecue eatery is opening a location at 501 S. Main St., in St. Charles in mid-April. Today, in a series of roundabout tweets with new neighbors Mission Taco Joint, the restaurant announced location No.…
2nd Shift Brewing adds Rebecca Schranz, Kevin Klein to brewing team
2nd Shift Brewing will add two new brewers to the staff in April: Earthbound Beer co-owner Rebecca Schranz and Charleville Brewing Co. brewer Kevin Klein. Schranz has played a central role in Earthbound’s brewing and front-of-house operations, but she will work exclusively as a brewer at 2nd Shift. “They have [barrels], so I’m excited to…
First Look: Form Skybar at Hotel St. Louis
The last piece of the culinary puzzle is now in place at Hotel St. Louis, the boutique hotel that recently debuted at 705 Olive St. downtown. Form Skybar, the hotel’s 16th floor rooftop bar, officially opened Monday, March 4, providing drinks, bites and a world-class view of the city. The food menu at Form is…
St. Louis’ brewers favorite spots to drink
We asked some of our favorite brewers where they drink when they aren’t on the clock. All of them spoke passionately about their most beloved watering holes, and most lamented how little time they have go to out. “I love Urban Chestnut’s Midtown location. They’re open two hours later than we are, so I can…
Top 3 breakfast sandwiches in St. Louis
The modern breakfast sandwich hasn’t strayed far from its humble beginnings as the egg and meat “bap” sandwich popular with hungry 19th-century London factory workers. Simple though it may be, this a.m. icon can slide into the sublime when given the proper attention, as it certainly does with this trio. 1. Nathaniel Reid BakeryYou might…
Recipe: Pav Bhaji with Homemade Dinner Rolls
Pav bhaji is a very simple Indian dish. Vegetables are mashed together with a particular mixture of Indian masalas, and the resulting curry is eaten with buttered and toasted pav (pronounced “pow”), a soft, white bread. It’s very satisfying and a great way to eat your veggies; you won’t even realize it’s meatless. The bhaji…
Pav Bhaji with Homemade Dinner Rolls
8 servings
Dinner Rolls
About 20 rolls
6 St. Louis breweries turning out lagers we love
Lawnmower beers. Crushers. Patio pounders. Lagers have a reputation for being cheap, sessionable and often for being far from the “craft-ness” of styles like IPAs, sours and Imperial stouts. Easy to drink but hard to make, it takes a lot of skill to brew a good lager. Luckily, in the shadow of the biggest producer…
Play Sauce Blackout Beer Bingo in March and win tickets to Lupulin Carnival
Bingo is one of our favorite beer trends, so we decided to make our own. Post a photo of yourself completing each square with #saucebeerbingo on Instagram by March 31 (make sure your post is public so we can see it!). The first person to black out the whole board gets two tickets to 4 Hands…
Perennial Artisan Ales to open second tasting room at Chandler Hill Vineyards
Perennial Artisan Ales will open a new tasting room at Chandler Hill Vineyards at 596 Defiance Road in Defiance on April 6. Perennial co-owner Emily Wymore said the winery approached Perennial to fill the space when they decided to offer a more unified beer menu after expanding their draft lines to hold 16 taps. Perennial…
Review: Mike’s Hot Dogs, Soups and Sandwiches in University City
Editor’s note: Mike’s Hot Dogs has closed. With a steady thump of blues and rock setting the vibe, visiting Mike’s Hot Dogs, Soups and Sandwiches in University City feels like stepping inside an old jukebox. The fire engine-red interior is decorated with vintage music prints and black-and-white photos, along with a handful of tables and…
The Doghaus Soulard is now open featuring food from Good Bowl by Plantain Girl
The Doghaus Soulard, at 1800 South 10th St. in the former location of Tropical Liqueurs, opened for business today, Tuesday, March 5, providing a welcoming space for dogs and their people to spend quality time together. “We’re all animal lovers, and we think it’s great for the neighborhood,” said co-owner Stephen Walters. “It helps the…
What I Do: Libby Crider of 2nd Shift Brewing Co.
Libby Crider met her future husband on her first day working at 33 Wine Bar. She didn’t just fall for 2nd Shift Brewing owner Steve Crider; she also became enraptured with the St. Louis beer scene. She took over the business side of the brewery as co-owner, and today the Crider family (which includes two…
Review: Frisco Barroom in Webster Groves
Frisco Barroom has been packing in patrons since it opened in Webster Groves eight months ago. It’s just the type of place my father, a former bar-and-grill owner, would have aspired to if upscale, new American gastropubs (or whatever we’re calling them now) were in vogue during his four decades of business. Dad said a…
Sponsored
Tullamore D.E.W. is a go-to Irish whiskey for St. Patrick’s Day
Irish whiskey is our top choice for St. Patrick’s Day, and we reach for the unrivaled smoothness and perfectly balanced complexity of Tullamore D.E.W. every time. March is national Irish-American Heritage Month, and with over 30 percent of the U.S. population tracing their heritage back to Ireland, there’s no better time to celebrate your roots…
3 beers to try at Rockwell Beer Co. in The Grove
Rockwell Beer Co., located on Vandeventer Avenue just off the main drag of The Grove, has some stellar new brews available around town. Here are some of my favorites. 1. Rockwell’s 4.6 percent witbier Passing Clouds is an absolutely spot-on take on the classic Belgian wheat beer. The orange, coriander and grains of paradise are…
Nippon Tei chef Nick Bognar will open Indo in Botanical Heights
Nippon Tei executive chef Nick Bognar will open Indo, his new restaurant at 1641 Tower Grove Ave., in Botanical Heights in May. Bognar said Indo will reflect his evolving vision as a chef, focusing on a growing fish program, Southeast Asian flavor profiles from his mother Anne Bognar’s native Thailand and Japanese technique. The cuisine…
6 new St. Louis restaurants to try in March
1. Balkan Treat Box8103 Big Bend Blvd., Webster Groves, 314.733.5700, balkantreatbox.com The fare from one of the most sought-after food trucks in St. Louis can now be found in a corner brick-and-mortar in Webster Groves. We cherished every bite of the pide, a boat-shaped flatbread topped with cheese, ajvar (a pepper-based sauce), creamy, dairy-based kajmak,…
Kirkwood Station Brewing Co., 50/Fifty Kitchen have closed doors
Kirkwood Station Brewing Co. closed doors for good at the end of service yesterday, Feb. 28, as reported by St. Louis Magazine. Shift manager David Smith confirmed the closure yesterday, and Kirkwood Station’s website is no longer active. Owners could not be reached for additional comment. The brewery and restaurant was known for its wide…
Bagel Champ will open inside Byrd & Barrel in March
Byrd & Barrel owner Bob Brazell will incorporate a new element into his chicken restaurant: Bagel Champ, a bagel sandwich concept that will operate in tandem with Byrd & Barrel starting March 23. Bagel Champ will operate Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. In addition to traditional bagel sandwich offerings like the…
7 Cajun recipes from chef Candice Poss’ Mississippi childhood
Born into a small-town Mississippi family, Candice Poss has Cajun cooking in her blood. “My mother and grandmother were both great cooks,” she said. “Everything we do in our family largely revolves around food.” Poss has been sharing those Southern traditions with St. Louis for seven years. Aficionados may remember her killer shrimp and grits…
