First Look: Louie on DeMun Avenue
St. Louis restaurant veteran Matt McGuire is almost ready to open doors at Louie as soon as Tuesday, Dec. 5. As The Scoop reported in November 2016, the former King Louie’s owner announced he was taking over part of 706 Demun Ave., in Clayton, the space that used to house Jimmy’s on the Park. The…
Recipe: Holiday Shrub
This shrub’s garnet hue and seasonal aromatics make it a gorgeous hostess gift or party cocktail. To serve, mix one part shrub into four parts prosecco, or use the same amounts mixed into ginger ale or sparkling cider for a mocktail. For a festive nightcap, mix the shrub with two ounces bourbon as you sit…
Shake Shack will open Dec. 11 in the Central West End
The wait is almost over. Almost two years after The Scoop first reported Shake Shack was coming to St. Louis, the popular burger chain will debut at 32 N. Euclid Ave,. in the Central West End on Monday, Dec. 11. St. Louis native Danny Meyer founded Shake Shack in New York City and has opened locations all over…
Plantain Girl will open Alpha-Teria inside new Alpha Brewing space
One current local brewery trend has nothing to do with beer. Breweries tap a local restaurateur to provide quality eats for taproom customers while brewers concentrate on what they do best – beer. The latest of these collaborations is between Alpha Brewing Co. and Plantain Girl owner Mandy Estrella, who built a following for her Caribbean…
Wellbeing Brewing Co. launches St. Louis’ first nonalcoholic brewery
St. Louis has long been a center for innovation in beer, and now there’s another to add to the extensive list: nonalcoholic craft beer. Wellbeing Brewing Co., a new brewery that specializes in NA beers, aims to have its wares on area shelves by Jan. 2, as reported by the Post-Dispatch. Husband-and-wife team Jeff Stevens and…
PM BBQ will close for good this weekend
PM BBQ has announced it will shut doors at 161 Long Road No. 103 in Chesterfield this week, but co-owner and pitmaster Paul Lammers said the popular restaurant will return in some form. The last day of service will be Saturday, Dec. 2. Lammers said he and co-owner Mark Ruck, who have been in the space…
4 big Black Friday beer events in St. Louis
After the kitchen is clean and leftover turkey soup is simmering on the stove, seek relief from bargain shopping and imbibe at some of the beer-related events that break up the otherwise consumerist hell we call Black Friday. In the beer world, Black Friday designates the highly anticipated release of Goose Island Bourbon County Stout.…
Boardwalk Waffles & Ice Cream will open a second location in West County
After a successful Maplewood opening in February, Boardwalk Waffles & Ice Cream is set to open a second location, this time near Valley Park. As reported by St. Louis Magazine, owner Eric Moore said he will open the second Boardwalk Waffles & Ice Cream at 2901 Dougherty Ferry Road in February 2018 in the former home of frozen…
Sauce Gift Guide: $50 to $100
These are the gifts for loved ones with unparalleled taste. If they appreciate the glaze on a plate while out to dinner or notice the beauty in patinated hardware, they’ll adore these five presents almost as much as they do you. 1. De Buyer Swing Plus MandolinKnow a type A cook? Chances are you do.…
Sauce Gift Guide: $25 or less
When your coffers are dwindling but you’re still obligated, here are five creative and clever gifts for food and drink lovers that won’t pain your bank account or show up as next year’s re-gift. 1. Missouri State Cookie Cutter & Kitchens of the Great MidwestFood-based fiction is a special mix rarely executed well. Give both…
Sauce Gift Guide: When money’s no object…
Significant other always out-gift you? Never sure Mom knows just how much you appreciate all she does to keep you sane? We gotchu. When it’s time to spare no expense, order one of these gifts goals to put your money where your oh-so-grateful mouth is. 1. FarmbotWhat’s better than giving someone a garden? Giving one…
Sauce Gift Guide: $25 to $50
Foodies are the best people to buy for. With so many great products out there, it’s easy to find something they don’t already have in their kitchens. These five gifts scream thoughtfulness without scary price tags. 1. Boska Girolle Cheese CurlerFor 800 years – from the time Swiss monks invented Tête de Moine to the…
12 recipes to step up your Thanksgiving leftover game
Sometimes after your big Thanksgiving dinner, there’s still a basket of bread and a turkey leg left. Your fridge is still full, but you can only make so many sandwiches. Fear not! Here are a few recipes to use up those holiday leftovers – from the bird to that extra bag of cranberries to a can of…
Recipe: Cranberry Beignets
Let’s face it: Everyone has cranberry sauce leftover after a Thanksgiving meal. You’d notice if it was missing from the table, but there’s only so much you can take of its sweet-tartness when the rest of your plate is piled high with comfort food. So what to do with the extra sauce? I’m here to…
First Look: Knead Bakehouse & Provisions on South Hampton
Knead Bakehouse & Provisions is officially open for business at 3467 Hampton Ave. Owners AJ and Kirsten Brown opened doors at their bread bakery and cafe on Nov. 18. As The Scoop reported in September, Knead bread got its start selling bread at farmers markets in St. Charles County before the Browns signed a lease…
Planter’s House owners will open Small Change in Benton Park
Big news for cocktail aficionados: Planter’s House owners Ted Kilgore, Jamie Kilgore and Ted Charak will open their second bar, Small Change, in mid-January at 2800 Indiana Ave., in Benton Park. More minimal than Planter’s House, Ted Kilgore said Small Change, named after a Tom Waits tune, will feature canned and draft beer, a small selection…
Sommelier Andrey Ivanov will leave Reeds American Table at the end of the year
A pillar of the St. Louis wine scene will soon leave for the West Coast. Andrey Ivanov, executive beverage director at Reeds American Table, will relocate to San Francisco at the end of the year to further his position as national sales manager for Bliss Wine Imports, which is based in Napa Valley, California. He’ll…
First Look: Frankly on Cherokee
Bill and Jamie Cawthon have put the finishing touches on the brick-and-mortar iteration of their popular food truck, Frankly Sausages. Frankly on Cherokee is set to open at 2744 Cherokee St., tomorrow, Nov. 17. The husband-and-wife team launched the truck in December 2015, specializing in artisan sausages and fries. As The Scoop reported in July,…
Recipe: Muhammara Dip
Dear Ben Poremba, You are a wealth of inspiration to me. I cannot dine at one of your restaurants (Nixta, Olio, Elaia, Parigi, La Patisserie Chouquette…) without learning something about flavors, service, presentation and ambience. Each time, I go home inspired to try and recreate a dish or two at home. The flavors at Olio…
Olive & Oak shares details on new concept, The Clover and The Bee
The latest project from the folks behind Olive & Oak now has an official name, The Clover and The Bee, and an almost official opening date. As reported by St. Louis Magazine, co-owner Mark Hinkle said the restaurant should debut at the end of this month. “As far as opening day, I hate to throw anything…
Humble Pie makes way for Dottie’s Flour Shop in Ladue
Pizza takeout spot Humble Pie, which opened in April, has officially closed its doors, but the space at won’t be empty for long. As reported by the Riverfront Times, Jessica Lucas, who owns both Humble Pie and Fozzie’s Sandwich Emporium with husband Mark Lucas, will open Dottie’s Flour Shop in the space with her business…
Holiday Hacks: Batch the booze and head to Austria
Avoid playing bartender all night and choose one great cocktail or punch to serve alongside beer and wine. No time to batch? Planter’s House offers bottled Manhattans, Negronis and more, mixed and ready to go. For the perfect bottle of wine, look to Austria, which is turning out some amazing medium-bodied, food-friendly reds perfect for the holidays.…
3 quick and easy holiday starters to keep your guests at bay
First impressions matter, but they don’t have to be painful. Pick just a couple show-stopping, low-effort appetizers and fill in the gaps with easy cocktail party fare like bruschetta and a charcuterie board so you can start big and still focus on killing it with the rest of the meal. These fast, simple snacks take…
Barrister’s closes doors for good in Clayton
Barrister’s in Clayton has closed its doors, effective today, Nov. 10. As reported by the Post-Dispatch, the announcement was made via the restaurant’s Facebook page. “We’ve truly enjoyed bringing our dreams to reality during this chapter of our lives That is why, with a heavy heart, we are announcing that we have decided to close…
Holiday Hacks: Outsource the dessert
Host smarter, not harder. Dessert is one of the easiest things to outsource for the holidays. Pick up favorites like pecan pie from Sugaree Baking Co., or opt for classics reimagined by the elaborate French pastry wizards at Nathaniel Reid Bakery (like the ones pictured here). If you’re on the fence of the great pie-cake…
Devil Dogs Wienery will open hot dog eatery inside The Silver Ballroom
Local hot dog cart Devil Dogs Wienery has found a permanent home inside The Silver Ballroom at 4701 Morgan Ford Road. Co-owners Bill and Jamie Wiser will serve their signature hot dogs over the bar, as well as through an exterior window at The Silver Ballroom, beginning in December or January. The Wisers launched Devil Dogs Wienery in…
7 recipes to help you host the holidays with the most
Rocking the kitchen choreography is only one part of great hospitality. Having something for everyone can be effortless with recipes like decadent kosher short ribs, vegetarian wild mushroom lasagna and vegan creamed spinach (the secret is silken tofu – no one needs to know). Bonus: all can be made up to two days ahead. But…
4 recipes to step up your holiday side game
Whether you want to take your meal to the next level or need to win the it’s-not-a-competition potluck, sides like spiced carrots, roast broccoli and slow-cooker mashed potatoes have you covered. 1. Recipe: Slow-Cooker Mashed Potatoes 2. Recipe: Vegan Creamed Spinach 3. Roast Broccoli with Kalamata Olives 4. Spiced Carrots with Carrot Top Gremolata Photo by Carmen Troesser Marianne…
Budget Crunch: 7 delicious deals to devour now
Got $10 and a friend? Then contributor Kevin Korinek has seven tasty deals to try now. 1. La Patisserie Chouquette goes all out when it come to Turkey Day with its signature Turducken croissants. These warm, buttery pastries are filled with mouthwatering, crispy duck skin, chicken and turkey, surrounded by cornbread stuffing, cranberry sauce and fried onions.…
Peel Wood Fired Pizza inks a lease on first Missouri location
Peel Wood Fired Pizza will head across the river next year. The popular Illinois eatery, which has locations in O’Fallon and Edwardsville, will debut its first Missouri restaurant in Clayton, according to co-owner Brandon Case. The newest Peel will take up residence in the main floor of 212 S. Meramec Ave., currently under construction in…
5 mind-blowing brining recipes to make now
Brining is the secret technique behind many of your favorite restaurant meat dishes. A simple way to both season and prevent meat from drying out, the standard brine equation is a cup of kosher salt and a half-cup of sugar in a gallon of water. You can introduce a wide range of adjunct to that…
Vista Ramen chef-owner shares plans for Mothership at Earthbound
Vista Ramen chef-owner Chris Bork will land the Mothership at Earthbound Beer this winter. As The Scoop reported in August, Earthbound Beer announced Bork would helm the kitchen at its new location at 2724 Cherokee St., which opened in September, but the concept was still in the works. Now, Bork has announced the initial menu…
Executive chef Michael Friedman has left Retreat Gastropub
Chef Michael Friedman has left his post as executive chef at Retreat Gastropub in the Central West End. His last day of service was Wednesday, Nov. 1. Friedman, who helped open Retreat in 2015, said he doesn’t have any definite plans yet, but he’s weighing his options. “I want to challenge myself and do a…
Edible cookie dough spot Dough Co. to open in West County Center
If your idea of the best cookie is one that never saw the oven, you’re in luck. Dough Co. will open for business on Nov. 15 at West County Mall, serving up edible cookie dough by the scoop and pint, as well as other cookie dough-themed treats. Owner Martha Sneider said the inspiration for the…
First Look: Squatter’s Café in Grand Center
Grand Center is adding another spot to its roster of breakfast and lunch spots. Squatter’s Café, the daytime eatery from chef Rob Connoley, is set to open Monday, Nov. 6, at 3524 Washington Ave., the former location of KDHX’s Magnolia Café. While the space itself has changed very little since the Magnolia days, the menu…
Longtime St. Louis food journalist Joe Bonwich dies at age 58
A mighty voice in the St. Louis food community has been silenced. Respected area restaurant critic and food journalist Joe Bonwich died Tuesday, Oct. 31, at age 58 of neurological complications while vacationing in Florida, according to his daughter, Susie Bonwich. She said her parents were in Florida celebrating their upcoming 30th anniversary when her…
Review: The Cabin at Judy Creek in Glen Carbon
If someone says they’re taking you to The Cabin in the middle of the night, you might fear you’re headed for some B horror movie murder shack. But if they mean The Cabin at Judy Creek, you’re in for a good, not-scary-at-all time. The Glen Carbon, Illinois bar has the quaintness of a hole-in-the-wall with…
First Look: Salt & Smoke in St. Louis Hills
The second location of Salt & Smoke debuted at 5625 Hampton Ave., on Sunday, Oct. 29, bringing the Delmar Loop restaurant’s famous barbecue to St. Louis Hills. As The Scoop reported in January, owner Tom Schmidt bought/leased the building, which has a long culinary history. At one time it was home to Del Pietro’s and, most…
Meals That Changed My Life: Gian Nicola Colucci of Cielo
Cielo executive chef Gian Nicola Colucci fell in love with food as a kid growing up in Turin, Italy. When he left Turin for the first time at 24 to work at Lidia Bastianich’s Felidia in New York, the city opened his eyes to foods and cultures he’d never experienced. Since then, he has worked…
Eat This: Pork Belly BLT at Capitalist Pig
We reject wimpy bacon strips and sad translucent tomatoes. We only accept the best – in this case, the Pork Belly BLT at Capitalist Pig. Two thick layers of house-smoked pork belly bacon get cozy with sweet tomato jam, fresh green leaf lettuce and a swipe of rich chipotle aioli. Precisely assembled inside a sturdy…
What I Do: Mandy Estrella of Plantain Girl
Mandy Estrella didn’t grow up with pernil and plantains – it wasn’t until she married a Dominican man after culinary school that she fell in love with the cuisines of Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic. That passion prompted Estrella to launch Plantain Girl, a Caribbean catering service that’s popped up at places like…
Review: Nudo House Creve Coeur
Like the silent omelet-making scene in “Big Night” or the kick-ass meal of “Babette’s Feast,” watching Juzo Itami’s food-themed comedy, “Tampopo,” makes me obsessively crave what’s being cooked. Fortunately, unlike when the film first came out in 1985, satisfying a lustful ramen desire is much easier now. Since the film’s rerelease last year, a slew…
Garlic Aioli
about ¾ cup aioli
Grilled Shrimp
6 to 8 servings
Winter Salad
8 servings
Spiced Carrots with Carrot Top Gremolata
6 to 8 servings
Roast Broccoli with Kalamata Olives
8 to 10 servings
Chicken Wings
6 to 8 servings
Fried Green Tomatoes
6 to 8 servings
Turkey Roulade
6 to 8 servings
Wild Mushroom Lasagna
8 servings
Hot and Fast Roast Turkey
10 to 12 servings
Pastrami
10 to 12 servings
Vegan Creamed Spinach
8 servings
Roasted Artichokes with Garlic Aioli
8 servings
Spiced Mixed Nuts
4 cups mixed nuts
Basic Risotto
6 cups risotto
Slow-Cooker Mashed Potatoes
10 to 12 servings
Braised Short Ribs with Horseradish
8 to 10 servings
Spicy Bacon Caramel Corn
about 12 cups caramel corn
Recipe: Chickpea-Sweet Potato Patties
The vegetarian versus omnivore battle went down in my home all summer. I’m pretty comfortable cooking vegetarian meals thanks to my own no-meat stint in college, and really, it’s easier than ever these days. However, I’ve recently uttered the sentence, “I think there’s some veggie burgers in the freezer” more than I should. While I’m…
Hit List: 4 new places to try this November
1. St. Louis Soup Dumplings8110 Olive Blvd., University City, 314.445.4605, Facebook: Soup Dumplings STL If you’ve tried the xiao long bao at Private Kitchen, you probably freaked out as much as we did when owners Lawrence Chen and Emily Yang opened a soup dumpling shop a couple doors down. And St. Louis Soup Dumplings does…
Coffee? Beer? Why not both?
Add a little caffeine to your cerveza this fall. Santa Fe Brewing Co. Imperial Java Stout is bold, rich and complex with intense roasty and chocolate notes driven by its malt bill and the organic coffee beans it’s brewed with. Medium-bodied at 8-percent ABV with just a touch of chew and dryness, this bombshell finishes with a…
Review: Frida’s
A wide gulf separates being fed and being nourished. Any old meal will get you fed. At Frida’s Deli, you will be nourished, beginning when you sit down to a tall glass of fresh, fruit-infused water. This restaurant is committed to its vegetarian, no-sugar, no-butter, low-salt philosophy with a focus on food as equal parts…
Get cozy at STL’s best fireside drinking spots
Nothing evokes autumn like indulging in your beverage of choice beside a roaring fire. Be it indoors by a cozy hearth or outside underneath the stars, celebrate that seasonal nip in the air with a quality libation and an open flame (not too close, mind you). 21st Street Brewers BarRough-hewn wooden picnic tables and benches…
The fight to eliminate food deserts in St. Louis
Antwan Pope has a vision. When the social services specialist surveys his Wells Goodfellow neighborhood, he sees fertile ground for a food revolution. The Wellston Station, a century-old, open-air pavilion where streetcars once stopped at the city limits, has what Pope calls a ready-made “farmers market atmosphere,” complete with a Chuck Berry mural. Nearby vacant…
