10 Thanksgiving starters and sides for a strong supporting cast
The following recipes are meant to serve as starters or sides, but keep an eye out for our upcoming features on desserts and leftovers, as well as our round-up of main course ideas. Deliver all the flavors of a freshly stuffed turkey without the hassle of the bird with stuffed acorn squash. Make a classic from…
Waayyy Too Much Sauce’s Chris Lowe talks turkey legs and diamond dust
Waayyy Too Much Sauce opened quietly at the end of October to little fanfare. “I wanted everything perfect before I did any more interviews,” said owner Chris Lowe, the mastermind behind some truly visually spectacular offerings like like 24-karat gold wings and “diamond-dusted” wings, fries and turkey legs. Unlike most restaurants of his kind, Lowe changes…
Drink this pumpkin spice latte at Sump – yes, really
Whether it’s a pumpkin beer, a pumpkin spice latte or any myriad seasonal “pumpkin”-flavored foods, a perfectly balanced spice mix is always the difference between a great success and a horrible disaster. With Sump’s official entry into the PSL game, the Sumpkin, they nail their blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cardamom and allspice, providing a…
Holiday foodie gifts at every price point
When you want to spend $25-50: 1. Sun Rise Junmai GinjoWhen we met Kenichiro Kojima, this sake’s producer, he opened our minds to the vast world of rice wine. This great introductory bottle with notes of green apple and melon has a soft finish that sake enthusiasts and novices alike will enjoy. $33. The Wine…
10 easy holiday recipes you can send in the mail
Holiday travel used to be as easy as jumping on a plane or packing up the family car. This year, a lot of us will be missing the family and friends we would be visiting if not for the pandemic. Staying home for the holidays is certainly a big change for many, but it’s also…
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Whiskey gifting made easy
Winter is coming, and knowing we have the perfect gifts to make our friends and family happy all through the New Year helps keep us warm and cozy. What can keep the people we love warm and cozy, though? Scotch whiskey, of course. The long history of distilling and perfect barrel aging makes for a…
La Cosecha Coffee Roasters will debut coffee truck in 2021
In an expansion to their coffee bar, the owners of La Cosecha Coffee Roasters have purchased a truck to serve a full espresso bar menu at public and private events coming in 2021. Due to the pandemic, the decision to open a coffee truck was a clear next step for co-owners Jamie Jeschke, Gio Sparks…
St. Charles County orders restaurants, bars and nightclubs to close at 11 p.m.
Yesterday, Tuesday, Nov. 24, the St. Charles county government announced new safety guidelines and restrictions to help control the spread of Covid-19. In a news release, St. Charles County executive Steve Ehlmann and St. Charles County Department of Public Health director Demetrius Cianci-Chapman jointly ordered area restaurants, bars and nightclubs to close at 11 p.m.,…
KomBlu Kombucha will open storefront in south St. Louis next year
Sometime next year, Andria Garcia will bring a new concept to South City as she opens KomBlu Kombucha at 2501 S. Jefferson Ave. Garcia has been brewing kombucha in Fenton under the name since 2014 and has distributed across St. Louis, but this will be her first brick-and-mortar. A specific timeline has not been determined,…
10 celebratory Champagne alternatives
There’s no such thing as a celebration without bubbles, but those bubbles don’t all have to be the same. Beer drinkers deserve the chance to saber bottles too, and there’s no reason fine ciders can’t be enjoyed in a coup. This holiday, you’re more likely to find a weird pét-nat in our wine chiller than…
Plastic bag recycling campaign launches at Schnucks
OneSTL, a St. Louis area sustainability initiative, is trying to get grocery bags out of recycling bins where they do not belong by launching a new Return Plastic Bags and Wraps awareness campaign. They have specially marked bins – receptacles for any plastic bags or wraps – placed outside Schnucks stores. This initiative is launching…
Mauki’s Bakery & Country Store offers breakfast all day in Soulard
What started as a side gig selling produce from her front yard and led to a booth at the Soulard Farmers Market has turned into a full-force restaurant for local business owner Angie Swyers. Mauki’s Bakery & Country Store is now open at 1730 S. Eighth St., as reported by St. Louis Magazine. The new…
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5 St. Louis hotels perfect for a stay-cation
If your travel plans went out the window when Covid hit, we know the feeling. If you’d still like to do something fun this fall without leaving the area, these hotels have some spectacular amenities and excellent on-site restaurants to help you make the most of 2020. Hotel Saint LouisIf you need an escape from…
Naked Vine bar in Chesterfield will close permanently in early December
Naked Vine, a bar and music venue located in Chesterfield, is set to close its doors permanently on Dec. 8. The closure was announced via a Facebook post last Thursday. “I write this note one day short of Naked Vine’s 14th anniversary,” owner Bryan Herr wrote in the post. “Covid has gotten the best of…
Destined Indulgence Cakery & Confectionary will open brick-and-mortar in early 2021
Destined Indulgence Cakery & Confectionary, a cottage law bakery specialized in themed cakes and other sweet treats, will open a brick-and-mortar at 11977 St. Charles Rock Road in Bridgeton in February. Owner Destiney Jones is currently running a Kickstarter campaign to secure funds to cover extra expenses incurred to ensure safety regarding Covid regulations. Jones started baking in 2017…
You need to eat these Shanghai-style soup dumplings
The xiao long bao (soup dumplings) at acclaimed Shanghai-style restaurant Private Kitchen were so exceptional they justified their own eponymous spin-off storefront at Soup Dumplings STL. The must-try choice is filled with pork and crab. Slurp like a pro by scooping one up in your soup spoon, poking a hole with your chopsticks to let…
Super Smokers will open second location in South County next year
Super Smokers, a popular barbecue joint in Eureka, will open a second location in the Affton Plaza at 9525 Gravois Road in the spring of 2021, potentially in March or April. The new restaurant will allow the opportunity to expand the menu with more Cajun flavors, as incorporating more of those dishes has been owner…
8 recipes to make your Thanksgiving dessert table perfect as pie
We’ve compiled some of our favorite holiday recipes to help see you through. Don’t miss our roundup of main courses and starters and sides, and keep an eye out for an upcoming feature with some ideas for what to do with all those leftovers. Pint Size Bakery & Coffee’s fig and ricotta hand pies are ideal…
Mayor Ella Jones’ 5 favorite Ferguson spots
Last year, Ella Jones made national headlines when she became the first Black woman to be elected mayor of Ferguson. Even history-makers have to eat, and when it comes to food, Jones is a woman of strong opinions. Born and raised in New Orleans as one of eight children, she enjoys cooking big pots of…
Owners of The Vine and Taste of Lebanon will open new spot in Edwardsville next year
The owners of The Vine Mediterranean Cafe and Taste of Lebanon have come together to create Cedar Mediterranean Grill in Edwardsville, Illinois. The restaurant is aiming to open in March or April 2021 at the Trace on the Parkway mixed-use development at 6150 Trace Pkwy Drive. These joint venture partners wanted to offer Mediterranean cuisine…
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12 St. Louis food and drink gifts perfect for friends and family
Barrel Aged BBQ Sauce from BeerSauce ShopBeerSauce Shop’s Barrel Aged BBQ Sauce is aged for three months in Whiskey Barrels. Gift cards are available in any denomination and come with a bonus gift card. BeerSauce’s Craft Beer Advent Calendar features 24 Craft Beers – a surprise a day! Dogwood Wine and SpiritsServing the St. Louis area…
First Look: Brett Hull’s Junction House in Wentzville
A former St. Louis Blues legend has opened an exciting new development out west. Overlooking I-70, Brett Hull’s Junction House celebrated its grand opening at 1311 Lodora Drive in Wentzville on Saturday, Nov. 14. The phrase “elevated sports bar” may get thrown around a bit loosely these days, but that’s exactly what the new restaurant…
Drink this Mighty Kind Cannabis Seltzer
Cannabis is having a serious resurgence in food and beverage thanks to legislation decriminalizing marijuana use for medicinal (passed in Missouri) as well as recreational (passed in Illinois) purposes. The Pineberry seltzer exudes notes of pineapple and strawberry, along with some earthy funk from the 10 milligrams of broad-spectrum CBD (cannabidiol), a non-psychoactive component of…
St. Louis County restaurants seek solutions to indoor dining shutdown
After Sam Page, St. Louis County executive, announced on Friday, Nov. 13, that indoor dining would be shut down in the county starting Tuesday, Nov. 17, a group of St. Louis County restaurants threatened legal action. A Facebook post from Bartolino’s Restaurant group said that they and other St. Louis County restaurants planned to sue and would stay…
7 cocktails for pickle lovers
Pickles are the superhero ingredient here to save you from cocktail malaise. Sure, we all know about dirty martinis, and anyone who’s cruised a bloody mary buffet has likely dressed up the brunch classic with pickled vegetables. But pickles lend themselves to many cocktails besides the standards. On a very basic level, pickling is a…
7 Thanksgiving recipes to ensure your main course keeps your guests full and happy
The following recipes are all meant to serve as the main course, but keep an eye out for our upcoming features on sides and desserts, and even some ideas for what to do with all those leftovers. If you’re planning to go the traditional turkey route, the hot and fast roast turkey can have a…
St. Louis County restaurants react to return of indoor shutdowns
Beginning Tuesday, Nov. 17, new operating restrictions in St. Louis County will shut down indoor dining at St. Louis restaurants and bars and limit outdoor dining from 50% to 25% capacity. Bars and restaurants have struggled throughout the pandemic, and this news comes as many were preparing for a difficult holiday season and winter. The restrictions will…
8 new St. Louis restaurants to try this month
Edera Italian EateryThis Central West End spot features one of the most beautiful new patios in the city. Mike Randolph, the mastermind behind the now-closed Randolfi’s and Good Pie, is at the helm as consulting chef. The arugula salad with plentiful pickled shallots, cherry tomatoes, bits of candied almond, and a savory goat cheese vinaigrette…
First Look: Pastaria Deli & Wine in Clayton
One of the biggest early surprises the pandemic brought was the closure of Sardella, the Clayton Italian eatery we declared the Best New Restaurant of 2016. Co-owner Gerard Craft and company found that with restricted indoor dining, there was no way to keep the restaurant running the way they wanted to, so they looked for…
St. Louis County will end indoor dining Tuesday while city reduces private gathering limits
Editor’s note: On Monday, Dec. 14, St. Louis County extended the order that banned indoor dining. Patio dining and takeout service are still allowed. The public health department will continue to monitor numbers of cases and hospitalizations in hopes of opening indoor dining safely. Today, Friday, Nov. 13, St. Louis county executive Sam Page announced in a…
Second location of Pharaoh’s Donuts now open in the Central West End
Pharaoh’s Donuts, a family-owned business that’s been feeding breakfast-time sweets to people in downtown St. Louis for the past seven years, has opened a second location at 8 Maryland Plaza in the Central West End. The new storefront offers all the favorites from the first location, including the regular glazed doughnuts alongside specialty doughnuts such…
Landmark: Lion’s Choice
From sauce combinations to sandwich size, most Lion’s Choice fans have had their go-to orders locked in for a long time. It was something that surprised CEO Michael Kupstas when he joined the company just over three years ago. “I came and worked a shift and realized that nobody looked at the menu board when…
Scratch Brewing Co. looks to the future with new Bulrush partnership, retail in Missouri and more
One might think that the ultra-remote Scratch Brewing Co., located in a farmhouse near the Shawnee National Forest in Ava, Illinois, would have been among the institutions least affected by the pandemic. But though they’ve remained open, they’ve been subject to the Illinois mitigation guidelines like anybody else in their region, meaning they’ve had to…
Holiday-themed pop-up bars Miracle and Sippin’ Santa return to St. Louis
Miracle and Sippin’ Santa, two Christmas-themed pop-up bars, are set to return again this holiday season. Miracle is in its fifth year, returning to Small Change at 2800 Indiana Ave. for the fourth year, and it will run from Nov. 12 to Dec. 30. Sippin’ Santa is returning for a second year, this time at Planter’s House at 1000…
City of St. Louis has extended outdoor seating permit program through end of 2021
Even if you have a restaurant with sidewalk space or a large parking lot, moving dining outside isn’t as simple as setting up some tables and a tent. Usually, restaurants need to apply for a permit through the city and be approved, a course that many local institutions have pursued throughout this year. Fortunately, the…
11 takeout meals to make Thanksgiving a little easier this year
Instead of stressing over cooking an extravagant Thanksgiving meal, take one thing off your plate and let these St. Louis-area restaurants do the work. Feasting on some delicious food with your closest circle of loved ones may be exactly what we all need in 2020. From local, pasture-raised turkeys to perfect side dishes and a…
What I Do: Rafia Zafar, author and foodways scholar
At some point in your childhood, you probably came to associate Black agricultural scientist George Washington Carver with peanuts, perhaps learning (incorrectly) that he was the “father of peanut butter.” But did you know Carver’s research extended beyond the laboratory? Carver connected the dots between farmers and domestic kitchens, making him an early advocate for…
First Look: Brennan’s new location in the Central West End
Late last year, Central West End staple Brennan’s announced it would close at 4695 Maryland Ave. in order to relocate; the St. Louis Chess Club had announced an expansion and would take over the space. Luckily, for fans of the bar and its location, owner Kevin Brennan decided to move around the corner to 316…
Q-and-A with St. Louis native and culinary author Claire Saffitz
You may know St. Louis native Claire Saffitz from her tenure at Bon Appétit and her YouTube show Gourmet Makes (filmed in the magazine’s test kitchen) in which she would reverse engineer popular snack foods. The show’s humor, Saffitz’s exhaustive trial and error and her pursuit of perfection garnered her over 300 million views. After…
First Look: Chiang Mai in Webster Groves
For over 10 years, Thai fusion restaurant Tei Too was a staple of the magical strip of Big Bend Boulevard in Webster Groves that also houses Weber’s Front Row, Balkan Treat Box, Webster Wok and The Frisco Barroom. Earlier this year, however, owner Ann Bognar (who also owns Nippon Tei) sold the space to her…
UKraft will open second location in downtown St. Louis in December
UKraft, a sandwich, wrap, salad and soup spot, is opening a second location with an expanded menu at 701 Market St. this December. The concept started out as a food truck in 2018 and opened a cafe in the Regions Center building in downtown Clayton in July 2019. Co-owners and brothers Matt and Mike Ratz…
Cafe Osage has closed in the Central West End
The owners of Cafe Osage announced on Facebook this past weekend that the restaurant would be closing its doors permanently. “We are sad to share that this weekend will be the last weekend of service at Cafe Osage,” the post said. “We have made the difficult decision to close after 12 years.” The restaurant opened…
QR codes see resurgence in St. Louis restaurants as pandemic rages on
When the coronavirus pandemic shut down restaurants in March, many knew there would be permanent changes made in the industry. Amid the more widespread adoption of online ordering, contactless payment and curbside pickup, there is another service that has become increasingly popular: QR (quick response) codes. ScanCode, a local fintech (financial technology) service company,…
First Look: Pappy’s Smokehouse in St. Peters
A longtime Midtown barbecue joint has expanded out west. A second location of Pappy’s Smokehouse officially opened to the public Oct. 28 at 5246 N. Service Road in St. Peters. After the pandemic hit St. Louis, the fast-casual Midtown Pappy’s, which opened in 2008, saw a drastic drop in revenue and has since been operating at…
Build the ultimate St. Louis-themed care package this holiday season
If your friends and family can’t visit this winter, send them a piece of home with some of these local items. 5 pounds of Mama Toscano’s breaded ravioliMost people in this country don’t know about toasted ravioli. It’s your job to teach them. $50.Mama Toscano’s Ravioli, 2201 Macklind Ave., St. Louis, 314.776.2926, mamatoscano.com Katie’s frozen…
It Sparks Joy Cocktail
1 cocktail
Spiced and Sweet Mixed Nuts
4 cups
Pickled Peach Smash
1 cocktail
Peppermint Coffee Syrup
about 2 cups
Mulled Wine Kit
INGREDIENTS ¼ cup palm sugar 3 Tbsp. dried orange peel 2 Tbsp. whole cloves 3 cinnamon sticks, broken in half 3 pieces star anise PREPARATION Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir. Spoon into a decorative jar.
My Wife’s Favorite Martini
1 cocktail
Vanilla Coffee Syrup
about 2 cups
In A Pickle Cocktail
1 cocktail
Brown Sugar-Cinnamon Coffee Syrup
about 2 cups
Bacon Jam
about 1½ cups
Hazelnut-Gruyere Crackers
about 80 crackers
Chocolate-Covered Luxardo Cherries?
32 cherries
Cranberry-Orange Biscotti
20 cookies
Pimm’s Sucker Punch
1 cocktail
Blue Cheese “Cookies”
about 20 crackers
Pickled Mango Mezcarita Cocktail
1 cocktail
Lanai Glider Cocktail
1 cocktail
