Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Sandwich Cookies
As a child, I loved those Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies, and I have always wondered what it would be like to make them from scratch. This recipe offers the same smooth, buttery crunch, but instead of a classic chocolate filling, I paired them with a pumpkin spice ganache in honor of the upcoming fall. After…
Potato Soup
6 cups
Just Five: Potato Soup
Soup: it’s universal, comforting, tasty, satisfying and above all, it’s easy as … well, soup. Everyone should have a simple recipe like this one in his or her arsenal. After all, a basic soup is little more than boiling water, chopping up a few veggies and letting it simmer away until it’s time to…
The Scoop: Parker’s Table amps up specialty food focus with new staff
Customers at Parker’s Table have long enjoyed the artisan food offerings that owner Jon Parker carries at his Richmond Heights boutique wine shop, from dried bulk pastas to fine cheese and specialty European condiments. Now, a recent addition to the staff is set to bring patrons even more options when shopping at 7118 Oakland…
Meatless Monday: Black Bean and Veggie “Sushi”
It’s officially fall, but it sure doesn’t feel like it yet. We just can’t bring ourselves to start roasting squash when it’s 80 degrees, but our options feel limited when our favorite summer produce starts disappearing from the farmers market. Lucky for us, this recipe is perfect any time of year, and it’s a…
5 hard ciders to try right now
While the craft beer boom continues to brew, it’s hard to ignore the presence of its up-and-coming cousin, craft cider. Sometimes barrel-aged, generally artisanal, and often naturally gluten-free, these fermented apple beverages are being produced not only by cider-focused establishments such as Crispin, California Cider Co., and Colorado Cider Co., but also by many craft…
The Kilgore Cocktail Method
Planter’s House co-owner and crack barkeep Ted Kilgore spills his drink-mixing secrets. In my 16 years as a bartender, I have accumulated hundreds of books on cocktails, spirits and bartending in pursuit of making the best cocktail possible. While I’d found lots of differing opinions, none seemed to offer a definitive answer. Then one day,…
By the Book: Mark Bittman’s Chicken and Dumplings with Lots of Peas
You don’t argue with Mark Bittman. The longtime New York Times food columnist literally wrote the book on how to cook everything (along with more than a dozen other titles) and how he’s back with his latest culinary textbook, How to Cook Everything Fast. Here’s Bittman’s claim: you can make just about anything –…
Oregon’s Bounty
1 serving
Drink This Weekend Edition: Oregon’s Bounty
As summer berries turn to fall apples and pears, I like to adjust simple, classic cocktails to introduce fall’s best flavors. This Oregon’s Bounty is a take on a classic Tom Collins. I’ve adapted the recipe to use Ransom Old Tom gin; it’s malty base and crisp herbal notes create a richer mouth feel than…
The Scoop: New food truck Le Camion Bistro aims to take diners’ palates around the world
Truckies, get ready – another restaurant on wheels is set to drive onto the St. Louis scene. Le Camion Bistro, literally “The Bistro Truck” in French, will debut Tuesday, Sept. 30 at Washington University and will highlight a wide range of international cuisine, as reported by Feast Magazine. Originally a certified public accountant, Brundage…
The Scoop: Racanelli’s New York Pizzeria to open fifth location in The Loop
{Racanelli’s owner John Racanelli} A slice of the Big Apple is coming to the Delmar Loop thanks to John Racanelli, owner of Racanelli’s New York Pizzeria, who will open his fifth storefront at 6314 Delmar Blvd., in November. Racanelli learned the art of pizza-making growing up in an Italian neighborhood in the Bronx. “I…
This red blend is perfectly emblematic of France’s southern Rhone region
Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Volant was created in 1984 by the winery’s founder, Randall Grahm. He was one of the earliest California winemakers to embrace the wines of France’s southern Rhone region. His Le Cigare Volant (The Flying Cigar) is a blend of syrah, grenache, cinsault, mourvèdre and carignane. Apropos of his renegade style,…
The Scoop: St. Patrick Center to open new breakfast and lunch spot, McMurphy’s Café
{Breakfast and lunch options available at McMurphy’s Café} Enjoy good eats and a side of goodwill when McMurphy’s Café at St. Patrick Center opens tomorrow, Sept. 25, at 11 a.m. downtown at 800 N. Tucker Blvd. McMurphy’s Café serves as an employment-training program for clients of St. Patrick Center, a nonprofit that offers housing assistance,…
Wheatless Wednesday: Caramelized Fennel, Leek and Cauliflower Salad
During the shift from summer to fall, we start to incorporate foods with more density, complexity and nutrition into our diets as we prepare our bodies for winter. This complex vegetable-based salad was created with a friend as we prepared for a birthday celebration. The result was warm, comforting and made me feel grounded…
The Scoop: Homebrew shop Design 2 Brew opens in O’Fallon, Missouri
St. Charles County homebrewers have a new resource in O’Fallon, Missouri with the recent opening of Design 2 Brew at 9995 Winghaven Blvd., whether they’re searching for hops, equipment or even honey for mead-making. Stephanie Drilling, who co-owns the shop with her husband Donnell Christian, opened the education-based homebrew shop Aug. 29. Design to…
The Scoop: Leonardo’s Kitchen and Wine Bar to open on The Hill
For more than 20 years, Rich and Terri LoRusso have owned and operated LoRusso’s Cucina in the Clifton Heights neighborhood. Now they are headed back to their roots as they prepare to open Leonardo’s Kitchen and Wine Bar, a neighborhood eatery, in an old gas station turned pizzeria at 2130 Macklind Ave., on The…
Meatless Monday: Veggie burgers, three ways
Too often, at-home veggie burgers mean microwaving frozen patties packed with brown rice and whole host of not-so-natural ingredients. But in fact, it’s simple to make veggie burgers at home, and if you have a can of beans, an egg or even leftover pasta, we’ve got three simple veggie burgers that can be on…
The Scoop: St. Louis Country Club sous chef Bobby Trampier wins Taste of St. Louis Chef Battle Royale
{From left, Bobby Trampier, Vito Racanelli and Allyson Mace} Editor’s Note: This post originally reported that Trampier competed against Eric Brenner in the final round. It has been updated. All hail a new champion; Bobby Trampier, sous chef at St. Louis Country Club, emerged the victor at Taste of St. Louis’ Chef Battle Royale last…
First Look: Grapeseed
In February, The Scoop reported that chef Ben Anderson would open a restaurant at 5400 Nottingham Ave., in the South Hampton neighborhood. After months of renovation, the wait is over. Grapeseed quietly opened Friday, Sept. 19. The menu is divided into snacks, small plates, sandwiches and entrees. The restaurant sources from numerous local purveyors, including…
Sara Deseran’s Butternut Squash, Kale and Crunchy Pepitas Taco
4 to 6 servings
By the Book: Sara Deseran’s Butternut Squash, Kale and Crunchy Pepitas Taco
Tacolicious is a collection of Mexican recipes with California flair taken from its namesake: Tacolicious, a Mexican restaurant in the San Francisco Bay area. There are actually four Tacolicious restaurants in California now, an impressive feat for something that started off as a farmers market stand run by Sara Deseran and her husband Joe…
The Scoop: Hydroponic gardening shop opens in Overland
Don and Heather Willman, co-owners of Advanced Garden Supply in Jefferson City, have opened their second shop Sept. 2 at 2126 Woodson Road in Overland. They’re aiming to provide customers with the essentials to grow their own healthy garden with a hydroponic twist. Hydro-what? The difference is in the soil – or lack thereof.…
Drink This Weekend Edition: Oktoberfest St. Louis at UCBC
One of the world’s biggest beer parties kicks off this weekend in Munich as the Germans begin their annual Oktoberfest celebration. Lucky for St. Louisans, there is one among us who knows a thing or two about throwing an authentic Munich-style party: Urban Chestnut brewmaster Florian Kuplent, who hails from Munich. Urban Chestnut and…
The Weekend Project: Bao Buns
Bao buns are a classic Asian street food, and they are commonly eaten in American dim sum restaurants. They are also an economical meal to make at home, easily spread over several days if cooking solo or an enjoyable group project to make with friends and family on a laidback weekend at home. …
Homemade Amaretto
2 quarts
Fudgy Peanut Butter-Pretzel Brownies
1 8-by-8-inch pan
Baked: Fudgy Peanut Butter-Pretzel Brownies
I love a good brownie, and I love trying new recipes for them. They’re simple to whip up and satisfy a chocolate craving in less than an hour. I was initially drawn a David Lebovitz recipe because it doesn’t call for flour. That’s great news for the gluten-averse crowd, but for me, it meant…
Extra Sauce: Homemade Amaretto
In August, Dan and Anne Marie Lodholz, the husband and wife duo behind The Weekend Project, showed you how to use every last bit of your peaches and cherries, all the way down to the pits. Today, they’re sharing a recipe for one more boozy way to get the most from your end-of-summer stone…
Budget Crunch: 10 delicious dishes and sweet deals to try right now
Welcome to Budget Crunch, wherein intrepid reporter Byron Kerman offers 10 tips on delicious menu items and sweet deals happening now. Got $10? Grab a friend and sample, split and stuff yourselves with these steals. 1. There are about 25 chocolate-covered blackberries to a pound at Bissinger’s, and at $42 per pound, that’s a just…
Pimento Cheese Crackers
5 dozen
The Scoop: Former Cuban and Mexican cafe La Tropicana Market sees new life as El Tropical
When the Trabanco family closed doors to its La Tropicana Market last October, St. Louis waved a sad goodbye to the nearly 40-year-old market-cafe at 5001 Lindenwood Ave., that was an institution for Cuban and Mexican food. But La Tropicana is seeing new life with a different name and under new ownership. Now known…
Just Five: Pimento Cheese Crackers
Here are some things I know to be true: The folks at Southern Living magazine like their cheese and crackers, particularly when combined into things like cheese straws. Also true is that I can eat an entire box of cheese straws during the drive home from the grocery store. To feed my craving (and…
The Scoop: Blind Tiger in Maplewood to close this week
After almost a year in business, Maplewood’s Blind Tiger will close its doors for good on Thursday, Sept. 18 or Friday, Sept. 19. The closure was first reported by 40 South News. “It was just a perfect storm, and we had to close,” said owner Mike McLaughlin, citing strategic mistakes and bad luck including…
9 drinking trends we’re obsessed with right now
Editor’s note: Cielo and The Purple Martin have closed. 1. Cherry FlavorsCherry is the lush’s fruit of the moment, and choices abound. There’s Kasteel Rouge cherry beer, St. Louis Kriek lambic, Original Sin cherry cider, Berentzen wild cherry liqueur and Montelle Winery cherry brandy, winner of a best of class and a gold medal in the distilled…
Meatless Monday: Truffle Mushroom Mac-N-Cheese
We love a good cast-iron pan around here, but it can be used for so much more than getting a fantastic sear on steak or an ultra-crisp skin on fried chicken. In fact, tonight we’re using this kitchen cookware staple for a decadent Meatless Monday Mac-N-Cheese. Cremini mushrooms, Madiera wine, half-and-half and Parmesan enrobe…
10 Reasons to Drink with Femme Ferment
Close your eyes and picture your friendly local brewer. Odds are he’s a young male sporting a beard to rival Jason Motte’s. In fact, that same guy can be found populating craft beer bars, breweries and festivals around town, sipping pints with his like-minded fellows. Beers and bros go hand in hand, but a handful…
By the Book: Todd Porter and Diane Cu’s Herb-crusted Salmon
Bountiful: Recipes Inspired by Our Garden is the first book from Todd Porter and Diane Cu. They started out, as so many cookbook authors do these days, with a blog: White on Rice Couple, where they share their gardening successes (and failures), recipes and their travels. Overall, Bountiful’s recipes are simple, with not too…
5 of our favorite old school bourbons
There’s a revival of the American-born brown spirit called bourbon whiskey. The top shelves are flooded with the pricey stuff, from new-wave craft whiskey to bulk booze resold in fancy bottles. But when it comes to parsing price and quality, the equation isn’t always linear. Often overlooked are the ones toward the bottom shelf, the…
Basement beer party with Upper 90 Brewing Co.
For brewers Mike Sinclair and Chris Gaglio, the decision to open Upper 90 Brewing Co., in the basement of a restaurant was part personal, part business. The longtime friends have been making beer since 2009, when they made a New Year’s resolution to take their newfound love for craft suds into their own hands. “It…
First Look: Butchery
Carnivores, prepare your grills and break out your roasting pans. Full-service butcher shop and food emporium Butchery has opened its doors. In June, Truffles announced it would add the meat market next door to the restaurant at 9202 Clayton Road in Ladue. Since quietly unlocking doors in late August, Butchery has seen a steady flow…
Drink This Weekend Edition: Bottled Southsider at The St. Louis Classic Cocktail Party
If you’ve seized on the craft cocktail moment, feel like partaking in the bevy of locally produced Missouri spirits or simply plan to spend this relatively chilly weekend with a few warming cocktails, you need to step inside the wrought-iron gates of Lafayette Park. That’s where 13 Missouri distillers are convening for The St.…
The Scoop: Two restaurants heralding breakfast open quietly this summer
{Belgian waffles with berry compote at County Seat Cafe} Jonesing for a shortstack at 1 p.m. on a Wednesday? Two new restaurants can both sate your craving, whether you’re in St. Louis or across the river in Edwardsville. County Seat Cafe adds its name to a growing roster of 2014 openings in Edwardsville, a list that…
How to mix the perfect Pisco Sour
The Pisco Sour was created around 1920 as an American ex-pat’s local take on a whiskey sour. It may appear plain, but once you experience the aromatic fruitiness and soft floral notes of Peruvian pisco – brandy made from grapes – coupled with a frothy egg white, tangy citrus and sweet simple syrup, you’ll see…
Wheatless Wednesdays: Mung Bean Pancakes with Coconut-Cilantro Sauce
Pancakes are generally synonymous with sweet, syrupy indulgent breakfast fare. They’re also synonymous with bloated bellies and near catatonic energy levels. For me, those moments of instant gratification never seem worth the following hours of a sluggish mind and body. Thankfully, there are ways to indulge in this breakfast treat without blood sugar crashes.…
The Scoop: Sushi House offers Japanese cuisine and karaoke in Chesterfield
You don’t have to sing for your supper at Sushi House in Chesterfield, but you can sing with your supper at the new Japanese restaurant and karaoke bar at 17265 Chesterfield Airport Road. Doors opened at the eatery Aug. 25. Chef Jin Bae joins his parents and restaurant owners Hyeong and Myong Bae, who…
Brew Hub to construct second partner brewery in Chesterfield
First we had big breweries. Then we had craft breweries. Now St. Louis prepares for its first brewery dedicated to partner brewing. Enter Brew Hub, which this week announced it will construct a new brewing facility in Chesterfield. This will be the second such facility for Brew Hub, which opened its first location last weekend,…
What I Do: Nora Brady of Blueprint Coffee
In four short years, Nora Brady, 24, has gone from working as a barista at Kaldi’s to co-owning Blueprint Coffee, one of the top cafes (and roasters) in town, and taking sixth place nationally at this year’s U.S. Barista Championship finals. Here, Brady gives us the full scoop on why she loves the daily grind…
The Scoop: Sia’s Italian Ice to expand kitchen, add retail space
Sia’s Italian Ice, a food truck known for its from-scratch frozen desserts since it first gassed up in April 2013, is expanding. Owner Barth Halohan said the operation will continue its food truck rounds but is upgrading its prep kitchen in Des Peres to a larger space and adding public seating and a retail…
Meatless Monday: Caprese Salad and Mushroom Ravioli at I Fratellini
On a gorgeous Meatless Monday like this, we head to I Fratellini in Clayton, where large windows let in the cool late-summer breeze. This time of year, you can’t go wrong with a ginormous caprese salad. A huge slice of grilled, garlicky ciabatta bread is the base for thick discs of bright local tomatoes.…
By the Book: George Mendes’ Clams Steamed with Vinho Verde, Garlic and Cilantro
Chef George Mendes grew up on the East Coast, but this son of Portuguese immigrants has retained his Iberian roots – especially his culinary ties. In his cookbook My Portugal, released this month, Mendes shares stories and recipes from his family as well as from his celebrated New York City restaurant Aldea. I loved…
The Scoop: The Market at The Cheshire to close Sunday, Sept. 7
It’s the last weekend for breakfast sandwich fans to grab-and-go at The Market at The Cheshire; the restaurant’s last day for business is this Sunday, Sept. 7. The Market, which originally opened in March 2013, will be replaced by a Starbucks in mid- to late-November, said Steve O’Loughlin, president of Lodging Hospitality Mangement. When…
The Scoop: Yacovelli family to exit the restaurant business after 95 years
After nearly a century in business, doors are set to close at Florissant dining institution, Yacovelli’s Restaurant and Catering. Third-generation owners Jack and Jan Yacovelli announced today, Sept. 5, that they will retire at the end of this year and are shutting down the restaurant. “They’ve been doing this for almost six decades,” said…
Drink This Weekend Edition: Susucaru 6
Like avoiding white attire, the notion of abandoning rosé after Labor Day is antiquated, to put it politely. If you must be convinced, we present a very different rosé: Susucaru 6 is floral, herbal, fruit-forward, toothsome, full-bodied, and as dry as they come. Frank Cornilessen began making wine in Sicily in 2001, and he…
Fig Leaf-Infused Panna Cotta
4 servings
5 meals to pack for a perfect picnic
Today is a hot one, but guys, have you seen the forecast for this weekend? We plan to spend every minute outside in that gorgeous 75-degree weather – with a picnic of course. Here, we packed up 5 picnic baskets perfect for anyone from vegans to kiddos to that special someone. 1. Spark…
The Scoop: Bar and restaurant manager Cory Cuff to leave Cielo for Houston
{Orange shrub by Cory Cuff} Cocktail aficionados in the Lone Star State will soon have new talent shaking up its cocktail scene: Cielo bar and restaurant manager Cory Cuff has accepted a position as the operations manager at Four Seasons Hotel Houston. His last day at Cielo is Sept. 26. “It’s an amazing opportunity,” he…
Baked: 8 boozy desserts to accompany your Guide to Drinking
Our annual Guide to Drinking graces the flip side of our September issue, and we’re talking about everything from old-school bourbon to the cider renaissance to St. Louis’ ambitious super sommeliers. But our favorite spirits and brews don’t always have to be sipped from a glass; they also make fantastic additions to our favorite desserts.…
Just Five: Viva Verde Cocktail
Surely drinking green things is good for you. And tequila is chockablock full of antioxidants, right? OK, sadly that’s not true, but this refreshing green sipper is ideal for your mental health during these last few summer evenings of the year. Cool, crisp cucumber and zesty lime get goosed with a surprise jalapeno kick.…
The Scoop: That’s a wrap for Hamburger Mary’s
Popular Midtown eatery and performance venue Hamburger Mary’s, located at 3037 Olive St., closed up shop after service Aug. 30. Citing bank foreclosure on the building, the restaurant’s ownership broke the news on its Facebook page earlier that day. “We have enjoyed serving you for the past few years, and will definitely be looking…
The Scoop: Bryan Carr to close Pomme Restaurant and Pomme Café & Wine Bar, open Avenue in Roxane space
Editor’s Note: This Scoop has been updated to include comments from Roxane co-owner Natasha Creel. Chef-owner Bryan Carr is closing his two Clayton restaurants, Pomme Restaurant and Pomme Café & Wine Bar, with plans to merge the best elements of each in a new restaurant called Avenue. The new concept will be located just one…
3 Pilsner picks
A Pilsner is a very blond, effervescent, assertively hopped lager that originated in the Czech Republic city of Pilsen. Traditionally, a Pilsner is classified as either Czech or German in style. The former, sometimes known as a Bohemian Pilsner, promises a soft, round crispness, whereas the latter exemplifies a drier body. In conjunction with its…
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On being Tyler Florence
Tyler’s Ultimate, The Great Food Truck Race, Food Court Wars, Food 911, How to Boil Water, Planet Food, All American Festivals and My Country, My Kitchen. If you’ve tuned in to these shows on Food Network, you know a thing or two about Tyler Florence, who has hosted them at one time or another for…
Review: The Hive in Creve Coeur
It’s happy hour at The Hive, and I’m lounging on a sun-soaked patio with friends, halfway through an iced-down bucket of lagers. A $5 basket of toasted ravioli is on the way. Laughter and cold beer are in abundance on the deck. This is a typical scene for the no-frills, ramshackle dive bar in Creve…
Review: Que Sazon in St. Louis
St. Louis is so glutted with food trucks that it seems that each month there are several new ones to try. Among such trucks, Que Sazon (Spanish for “What a flavor!”) offers cuisine you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else: South American street food. ¿Qué es una arepa?The heart of the menu at Que Sazon…
Review: Jax Café in St. Louis
Editor’s Note: Jax Café has closed. I wouldn’t blame you for comparing Brian Hale – the ponytailed darling of the St. Louis culinary scene of nearly a decade ago – to Carl Casper from this summer’s hit indie film, Chef. Both are tempestuous, talented and tattooed. Both feel the passion and pressure of the culinary…
Vegan Saag Paneer
2 to 4 servings
Caramel Apple Right-Side-Up Cake
4 to 6 servings
Barley Porridge
4 servings
Vegan Paneer
12 ounces
Biscuits and Gravy
4 servings
Fig and Balsamic Preserves
2 to 2½ cups
Sloppy Joes
4 servings
Macerated Turkish Figs
4 servings
Balsamic Fig Jam with Honey and Black Pepper
6 8-ounce jars
Vegetable Bao Bun Filling
16 to 18 servings
Bao Buns
32 servings
Coffee Gastrique
1/2 cup
Seafood and Pork Bao Bun Filling
32 to 36 servings
Sausage and Vegetables with Quinoa
4 servings
The Secret Fig Society: How an ancient fruit took root in the Midwest
“Why do you want to know about figs?” a voice asked me over the phone. It was Monsignor Sal Polizzi of St. Roch Catholic Church in the Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood, and he wasn’t so sure I needed to know. His fig tree, a heavy-limbed beauty that has produced a mother lode of fruit each year,…
Super Somms
Editor’s note: Old Standard and Cielo have closed. You’re the beverage director at a new Italian bistro. The owner of the restaurant has come in to speak with you about wine pairings for an upcoming five-course tasting menu, but she only has 12 minutes to spare. She informs you that the menu will cost $150 a…
Eat This: Chicken Souvlaki Gyro at Go! Gyro! Go!
At Food Truck Friday, we always stop at Go! Gyro! Go! for the Chicken Souvlaki Gyro. The chicken is super tender from a daylong marinade, grilled to perfection and stuffed into a warm pita along with tomato, cucumbers, red onion, a tangy house-made tzatziki and salty Greek feta. We add pickled banana peppers for a crunchy,…
Best of barrel-aging in St. Louis right now
Editor’s note: Cielo has closed. As the American craft distilling movement comes of age, different types of used, or “spent,” barrels have landed in the hands of area chefs, bartenders, brewers and artisan food purveyors who use them to age their own liquid goods. We’ve seen these creative pros lay down everything from cocktails to…
5 easy recipes to make while camping
During our first year as a couple, Dan and I celebrated my birthday with a camping trip. He bought me a Coleman stove. We borrowed a friend’s tent. We took our French press for coffee, packed some eggs, bacon, bread, beef stew and pickleloaf. With the sunlight streaming through the dappled leaves and crisp fall…
Recipe: vegan saag paneer
I am more likely to be struck by lightning than to bring my grocery list into the store. Usually I leave the list on the kitchen counter, although every now and then the sheet of paper makes it to the car, where it hides in the canvas bags that I also forget to carry in.…
