After nearly 20 years of working in other people’s kitchens, chef Gregory Owens is finally getting a place of his own. The former chef of WingHaven Country Club and Missouri Athletic Club West and instructor at L’Ecole Culinaire is opening HotPot Smoothie Shop. Located at the intersection of Manchester and Geyer Roads in Kirkwood, the eatery will be an eclectic combo of Asian fare and American cafe.
The morning fare served at the small, counter-service cafe will include breakfast banh mi as well as fruit crêpes and sweet rolls. Lunchtime abounds with build-your-own hot pot bowls. Also available will be banh mi sandwiches, gluten-free wraps plus a smattering of sides. Besides coffee drinks, thirsty patrons will encounter a smoothie bar and a full line of fair trade organic tea.
Owens said that he’s focusing on Asian fare because it lends itself to healthful cooking. In fact, HotPot may turn out to be a hot spot for patrons desiring gluten-free, vegetarian and low carb selections. In addition, Owens plans to source sustainable, organic, and local foods and products. Among area purveyors, HotPot is using Mississippi Mud coffee, banh mi rolls from Clayton’s Bakery & Deli and farm-fresh produce delivered from Andy Ayers’ Eat Here St. Louis. Even serving ware will have a local touch with pottery crafted by artists at the Foundry in St. Charles.
Look for doors to open next week, with hours of operation from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays and until 2 p.m., on Saturdays.
This article appears in July 2012.