Meatless Monday: Fozzie’s Black Bean Burger
Black bean burgers get a bad rap for being too dry, but Fozzie’s Sandwich Emporium gets it right. A house-made bean patty is topped with roasted red peppers, caramelized onions and lettuce, and the bun is slathered with a sharp garlic mayo. (We add provolone cheese to our burger because cheese makes everything better.)…
The Scoop: Neopolitan pizzeria to open in downtown Maplewood
A Pizza Story is coming to the busy strip on Manchester Road in downtown Maplewood, and doors may open by early December. A Pizza Story is a venture by Sherif Nasser, Muhammad Alhawagri and Nael Saad. According to Nasser, he and Alhawagri had bounced around the idea of opening a pizzeria for years. While…
The Scoop: Chef Chris Lee becomes two-time champ at Taste of St. Louis
{From left, Kore Wilbert and Chris Lee} While thousands of visitors to Budweiser Taste of St. Louis walked away happy this weekend after sampling dishes from the 45 restaurants on Restaurant Row, another man walked away all smiles – but not because of a full belly. Chef Chris Lee of River City Casino was declared…
A harvest morning at Mount Pleasant Estates
This week, I joined the team at Mount Pleasant Estates in Augusta for its seasonal grape harvest. Any preconceived romantic notions I had of how this process actually works were proved false before we even began. Like most agricultural endeavors, the harvest began early in the morning. Before sunrise. Covered in darkness. Armed with…
Drink This Weekend Edition: Side Project’s big debut
This Saturday at Perennial Artisan Ales, Cory King releases his first three beers from his new brewing company, Side Project Brewing. Through Side Project, King, who also works as head brewer at Perennial, is making small-batch ales, all aged in wine or spirits barrels. King untaps his beer at noon, but the fun begins much…
The Scoop: Wilfrin Fernandez-Cruz moving to Winslow’s Home
As of next month, Wilfrin Fernandez-Cruz will be the new executive chef at Winslow’s Home located at 7213 Delmar Blvd. In a press release, Winslow’s Home owner Ann Sheehan Lipton wrote, “His leadership couldn’t come at a better time, as our new kitchen and private dining expansion are close to completion.” After moving to St.…
Arthur Schwartz’s Chocolate Babka
2 loaves
Russ and Daughters’ Lox Chowder
4 to 6 servings
Pie Pops
8 to 12
This week, Catherine Klene is obsessed with…
{At a recent Brewmaster Beer Dinner at PW Pizza, I was skeptical when the Blue Moon brewmaster introduced Tongue Thai-ed Ale to pair with our Spicy Lemongrass Marinated Chicken Pizza. Talk about a jolt. This somewhat hoppy brew punches the palate with lemongrass and basil. Alone, it was too intense for my taste; sipped…
Thursday Giveaway: The clock is ticking!
To celebrate our annual Guide to Drinking, we’re giving away a drinking-related item every Thursday in September. Today, the CapaBunga Ultimate Wine Preservation Kit is up for grabs. This nifty device removes oxygen in an open bottle of wine using the same gases winemakers use. Pop one of the rubber caps on top to…
The Scoop: Boosters Cafe closes
Breakfast-focused Boosters Cafe has shuttered. A sign posted on the storefront at 567 Melville Ave., a side street off Delmar Boulevard in The Loop, notes the closing. Boosters opened in 2007. Calls to the establishment for comment were unanswered.
Baked: Pie Pops
It’s the start of fall. The leaves are just starting to change, and it’s chilly in the shade but warm in the sun – the perfect time to be outside. These adorable pie pops are great for a picnic. They’re portable, cute and have endless filling options. I made these with several different kinds,…
The Scoop: Blind Tiger at Sutton Place coming soon to Maplewood
Restaurateur Mike McLaughlin is a busy man at the moment. Besides just launching catering company Substance, the owner of The Crow’s Nest is opening another restaurant in downtown Maplewood, as first reported by The Maplewood-Brentwood Patch. McLaughlin’s newest concept will be a called Blind Tiger at Sutton Place. Situated in the former Jumpin’ Jupiter…
By the Book: Russ and Daughters’ Lox Chowder
Russ & Daughters: Reflections and Recipes from the House that Herring Built, written by Mark Russ Federman, grandson of Russ & Daughters founder Joel Russ, is more than just a book of recipes. If you’ve ever had a chance to visit Russ & Daughters, located in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, you’ll know what I…
4 Hands Brewing Company to expand brewery
4 Hands Brewing Co., located at 1220 S. Eighth St., announced today that it will expand its brewing operations beginning next month. According to a press release, the downtown brewery will add two 60-barrel tanks in October and another four in January 2014, enabling the nearly 2-year-old establishment to brew 13,000 barrels. The additional space…
Meatless Monday: Tofu al Pastor
Traditional al pastor bathes pork in a marinade with dried chiles and pineapple, then grills it on a vertical spit. Don’t worry – we won’t be putting tofu on a vertical grill. I decided to use the al pastor marinade with some cubed tofu and rice. Tofu al Pastor 6 Servings 8 dried ancho…
Travel Channel seeks pitmasters for new reality series
Are you an ultimate grill master? Is your barbecue rig the envy of the neighborhood? If so, then Travel Channel is looking for you. The network is currently seeking participants from St. Louis and other major cities for a new grilling competition series. The casting agency is looking for pitmasters with tricked-out rigs who…
Drink This Weekend Edition: The Civil Life Brewing Co.’s Northern English Brown
In the last two years, Dylan Mosley has made a name for himself around St. Louis with his penchant for classic, sessionable beers at The Civil Life Brewing Co. When I’m sitting at a barstool at other breweries, I often hear head brewers imploring out-of-towners to visit The Civil Life. They use words like…
The Scoop: Ivy Magruder to leave Vin de Set, will join Gamlin brothers
Ivy Magruder has resigned as executive chef and general manager of Vin de Set to take on the role of corporate executive chef at Lucas and Derek Gamlin’s three restaurants, Sub Zero Vodka Bar, soon-to-open Gamlin Whiskey House and soon-to-open Taha’a Twisted Tiki. Magruder is taking the place of Ian Craig, who The Scoop…
Just Five: Chocolate Walnut “Butter”
Recently, a sweet friend moved away. She and I shared a love of food, cooking, wine, books, music, and our husbands were equally fond of each other. This is a rare gift. Before they left, she passed on a plethora of pantry, refrigerator and freezer items she didn’t want to pack. It was better…
This week, Julie Cohen is obsessed with….
{Ever since I chose a biography on Al Capone for my eighth-grade book report (which, looking back, might have raised a few eyebrows), I’ve had a fascination with Big Al. While on a recent trip to San Antonio, Texas, I also developed a thing for his gun. Capone’s Revolver, served at The Esquire Tavern, features…
The Scoop: Sauce writer Kellie Hynes awarded Best Food Column in national competition
The Association of Food Journalists (AFJ) will formally name the winners of its 2013 awards later today, but the results of the prestigious annual food writing and editing competition have already been released. A first place victory goes to Sauce contributor Kellie Hynes in the category of Best Food Column. Hynes writes Vegetize It, a…
Thursday Giveaway: The clock is ticking!
To celebrate our annual Guide to Drinking, we’re giving away a drinking-related item every Thursday in September. Today is a twofer: a set of eight, literary-themed coasters from Out of Print and a Westmark Hermetus bottle opener and sealer are up for grabs. Both are perfect for a bookworm who prefers to curl up…
The Scoop: New website to offer local liquor delivery service
Some days require a stiff drink. That idea – and a strong need for a gin and tonic – inspired business partners Erin Keplinger and Brendan Marsden to start Clink!, a new online liquor store based in St. Louis. “It started after a bad weekend one time,” Keplinger recalled. “A girlfriend offered to send…
Wheatless Wednesdays: Veggie Coconut Wraps with Spicy Peach Dipping Sauce
Lately, I’ve been savoring everything coconut, from coconut water and milk to coconut oil and sugar. And now, I’m onto now coconut wraps. The revitalized health benefits of cocos nucifera (literally “nut-bearing monkey face”) have hit mainstream, so you no longer need to fear the once forbidden saturated fats in this creamy, delicious, hairy…
By the Book: Arthur Schwartz’s Chocolate Babka
Arthur Schwartz’s Jewish Home Cooking: Yiddish Recipes Revisited should be subtitled A Crash Course in the History of Jewish-American Gastronomy. The lengthy introduction goes into great detail about the steady migration of Eastern European Jews to New York City, bringing with them the kosher dishes of their homelands. As Jews assimilated into American culture, those…
Meatless Monday: Roxane’s Sun-dried Tomato Risotto
An expanse of salads, sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, pastas and sea-centric entrees make the new menu at Roxane a fun one to explore. But for a meatless Monday, I’m sticking to the restaurant’s sun-dried tomato risotto. For this creamy rice dish, hunky artichoke hearts, briny capers and caramelized red onions team up with sweet dried…
The Scoop: A la carte is back at Niche
{Niche’s barrel-aged ricotta with radishes, rhubarb, sorrel and crispy rye} A la carte offerings have returned to Niche. The restaurant changed to a prix fixe menu when it moved to its new space in Clayton last year. However, a la carte is back – with three different options for first, second and third courses…
Drink This Weekend Edition: Kirkwood Station Brewing Co.’s beer flight
Editor’s Note: Kirkwood Station Brewing Co. has closed Looking for weekend plans? Starting tonight, head to downtown Kirkwood for its 53rd annual Greentree Festival. Once you’ve had your fill of music, food and fun family activities and need somewhere indoors to relax, head over to Kirkwood Station Brewing Co. From the fruity, spicy Belgian-style saison,…
The Scoop: Gamlins lose Ian Craig, gain Lisa Fernandez-Cruz
{Dry-aged Rib-eye steak, on the menu at the soon-t0-open Gamlin Whiskey House} As Derek and Lucas Gamlin prepare to open Gamlin Whiskey House to the public Sept. 30, they find themselves down a chef. Ian Craig, who has worked at their vodka-centric bar and restaurant, Sub Zero, for the last seven years and helped…
Thursday Giveaway: The clock is ticking!
To celebrate our annual Guide to Drinking, we’re giving away a drinking-related item every Thursday in September. Today, the Vinni Bag is up for grabs. Say you purchase a souvenir bottle of wine during your trip to Napa. You could wrap it in newspaper, wedge it between your T-shirts and pray the airline will…
This week, Ligaya Figueras is obsessed with…
Our annual Guide to Drinking was published as part of the September issue of Sauce. Since I’m thinking liquids all month long, here are three more favorites glasses I can’t get enough of. {What do you do when you can’t decide between beer and wine? You get close to both by opening a…
Baked: Banana Muffins
I love a good banana muffin, and I have several recipes to prove it. I often have at least two bananas stored in my freezer, unpeeled and wrapped in plastic for future desserts. But as yummy as my banana muffin recipes are, I’m always searching for ways to make tweaks and adaptations, depending on…
Two St. Louisans earn ACS Certified Cheese Professional designation
The American Cheese Society recently welcomed two local cheese professionals to its elite group of ACS Certified Cheese Professionals from the U.S. and Cananda. Vicki Decker Smith of Fox River Dairy and Melanie Coffey of Whole Foods in Town & Country were among the 132 industry professionals to pass this year’s rigourous exam. The…
By the Book: Noah and Rae Bernamoff’s Blintzes
Every recipe in this book has an introduction or short anecdote from one half of the husband-wife team Noah and Rae Bernamoff that started Mile End in Brooklyn, a Jewish deli. Any description of blintzes, knishes or hamantaschen is really nice because it helps gentiles like me understand what the dish is in the first…
Cinematographer Graham Meriwether talks ‘American Meat,’ screening Thursday at MoBOT
“American Meat” is a documentary by Graham Meriwether that looks at contemporary chicken, hog and cattle production in the U.S. The film debuted in 2011 and premiered in St. Louis in October 2012. This Thursday, Sept. 12, Meriwether returns to St. Louis for a screening of the film at Missouri Botanical Garden. Meriwether was…
The Scoop: Post-Agrarian, John Perkins to stick to southern food
If you’re wondering what will become of John Perkins after his latest temporary restaurant, Agrarian ends after dinner service Oct. 5, you’re not alone. The space won’t be the hyper-local concept Perkins described late last year when he outlined his plans for four short-lived restaurant concepts at 360 N. Boyle Ave., in the Central…
Meatless Monday: Sorghum Pearls and Edamame
Sorghum is a durable, drought-resistant grain used for food, feed and fuel around the world. It’s use as a food source in the United States is increasing since it is gluten-free. The grain is heart-healthy, high in protein and ranges in color from dark brown to red and purple to white. I ran across…
The Crossing asks diners to Instagram for charity
The Crossing is encouraging diners to whip out their smartphones and snap away now through October. The restaurant, located at 7823 Forsyth Blvd., in Clayton, is participating in the James Beard Foundation’s Taste America Local Dish Challenge, which highlights local producers and promotes culinary education. The Crossing will donate $1 from each Rain Crow…
The Scoop: Moroccan restaurant Baida debuts tomorrow
{Orange cake with warm dates and sesame glaze at Baida} The Scoop reported in early July that a Moroccan restaurant was coming to South Grand. Since then, husband and wife owners Abder and Assia Meskine have been busy readying the space and developing the menu for their ethnic eatery, Baida. Those looking to get…
The Scoop: Park Avenue Coffee roasting beans and opening a third location
Big things are happening at 5105 Columbia Ave., located at the edge of The Hill and Southwest Garden neighborhoods. Park Avenue Coffee is currently renovating the space to house a coffee shop, a bakery and its first roaster. Owner Dale Schotte said after purchasing beans from Chauvin Coffee Co. for the last seven years, the…
Drink This Weekend Edition: St. Louis Craft Spirits & Cocktail Week kicks off tomorrow
With a whopping 23 breweries within 75 miles of downtown St. Louis, it’s safe to say we’re a bit of a beer city, but let’s not forget about our burgeoning craft spirit scene. If you need help jogging your memory, starting tomorrow, there’s a whole week of exciting events around town devoted to celebrating…
Griffin Delivery changes owners, name
Bicycle-based restaurant delivery service Griffin Delivery has new owners and a new moniker: The Bike Waiter. Shane Broussard and Heather Monroe took the reins of the 3-year-old company from founder Andy Heaslet Sept. 1, as reported by Kavita Kumar of the Post-Dispatch. Heaslet has known Broussard and Monroe for two years, after discovering they owned…
Hit List: Three new restaurants to try this month
Gamlin Whiskey House: 236 N. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, Facebook: Gamlin Whiskey House From the owners of Sub Zero Vodka Bar comes whiskey-and-steak place Gamlin Whiskey House, opening in late September. Brothers Derek and Lucas Gamlin have brushed the dust off the old-school steakhouse concept and have given it contemporary flavor, pairing beefy entrees with…
The Scoop: Five Star Burgers gets beefy with a second location in Kirkwood
Less than one year after opening Five Star Burgers, owner Steve Gontram is moving ahead with plans to open a second location. No. 2 will be in Kirkwood at 312 S. Kirkwood Road in the just-closed Culpepper’s space, as reported by St. Louis Magazine’s George Mahe. The target opening date is Dec. 15. Gontram…
Cashew Cream Frosting
Makes 2 cups
Simple Bread-and-Butter Pickles
3 to 4 pints
Todd Gray and Ellen Kassoff Gray’s Etrog Cake
Makes 1 4-by-8-inch loaf or 1 8-inch round cake
Farm-to-Platter Carrot Cake with Cashew Cream Frosting
Makes 1 11-inch round
This week, Meera Nagarajan is obsessed with…
{I first tried Levain Bakery cookies at its shop in New York City after seeing them featured on The Food Network. They are stunning. Thick and almost scone-like in texture, they still reside in cookie territory. If you’re not planning a trip to The Big Apple anytime soon, you can order them online here.} …
Just Five: Bread-and-Butter Pickles
My Nana made bread-and-butter pickles every summer. Their crunchy, super sweet, clove taste always takes me back to summers in Ohio, running out to the garden where my Grandaddy always hid a ceramic cucumber for one of us to find. We hauled in the bounty and watched Nana fill Mason jars and seal them…
Thursday Giveaway: The clock is ticking!
To celebrate our annual Guide to Drinking, we’re kicking off a month of Thursday giveaways. Today, Max McCalman’s Wine & Cheese Pairing Swatchbook is up for grabs. McCalman, maître fromager at Artisanal Premium Cheese, shares 50 specialty cheeses, each partnered with an ideal wine. Fan this guide out before your next party and impress…
The Scoop: Rams hope to score touchdown with new food items this season
As the St. Louis Rams get set to begin the regular season Sunday, fans have more than football to cheer about when they head to Edward Jones Dome: the food. The Rams organization hopes to please hungry crowds looking for creative selections without breaking the bank. Among new food choices, stadium-goers will find…
Wheatless Wednesday: Farm-to-Platter Carrot Cake with Cashew Cream Frosting
Locals can dream up bushels of reasons why unusually cool St. Louis summer temperatures delight. Cool-season crops available deep into summer months top the farmers market list for many area food lovers. Local, earthy, irregular-shaped carrots and a vegan cookbook purchased years ago resulted in this gluten-free, vegan carrot cake concocted hours after the…
The Scoop: Green Bean in the CWE to close
{Green Bean’s Olympian wrap} Green Bean is closing. The fast-casual salad and wrap shop at 232 N. Euclid Ave., in the Central West End announced yesterday that it would permanently close doors after lunch service this Friday, Sept. 6. Green Bean opened two years ago, hoping to attract customers seeking quick, healthy eating options.…
Pad Thai Popcorn
8 cups
Paloma
1
Spice-Roasted Chickpeas
2 cups
Salt and Pepper
1 cup
By the Book: Todd Gray and Ellen Kassoff Gray’s Etrog Cake
I always thought it rather peculiar that my mom, despite raising her kids Catholic, made us a Jewish meal on Holy Thursday to commemorate Passover. Matzo ball soup, hard-boiled eggs dipped in salt water, horseradish… I guess she was honoring the last meal before the dawn of Catholicism; I don’t know. But I do…
Mezcal: The last untamed spirit
In a time when vodkas and whiskeys are being over-proofed, under-proofed and flavored every which way, a spirit that hasn’t changed for centuries is finally, quietly, entering the consciousness of the American drinker: mezcal. Mezcal is produced from the agave plant, or maguey as it’s known in Spanish. To make craft mezcal, a mezcalero roasts…
Meatless Monday: Ranoush’s Meza
It’s not often vegetarians and meat-lovers can dine in harmony at one restaurant; someone always gets the dinky section of the menu. But at Ranoush, traditional Syrian meatless dishes get as much love as kababs and grilled meats. Entrees are available, but diners can easily make a meal by sharing three of the dozen…
Making a mark on holiday tradition with homemade lox
In the Jewish religion, holidays mean food – a whole lot of food. Growing up, we’d clamor into the car to drive to Memphis and ring in the Jewish new year with my grandma and grandpa over a spread that lasted three glorious days. (Sure, there were services, but I just remember the sweet, pull-apart…
Review: Atomic Cowboy in St. Louis
Atomic Cowboy4140 Manchester Ave., St. Louis, 314.775.0775, atomiccowboystl.com It’s 9:15 p.m. on a Friday, and Atomic Cowboy’s juicer is on the fritz. It’s busted. Inoperable. Man down. The bartender shrugs. I sulk. Under normal circumstances, I could care less about the functionality of a kitchen appliance; however, tonight its out-of-order-ness means that I can’t get…
Recipe: Scape’s Toasted Nut & Honey Grits
Eaten a dish at an area restaurant that you’d do just about anything to make at home? Email us at pr@saucemagazine.com to tell us about it. Then let us do our best to deliver the recipe By Popular Demand. Scape stopped serving its delicious honey nut grits a while ago. The taste and texture of…
Review: The Libertine in Clayton
The Libertine7927 Forsyth Blvd., Clayton, 314.862.2999, libertinestl.com Deadline be damned, I wanted fried chicken. Specifically, I wanted Josh Galliano’s fried chicken: the deep-fried, crunchy, spicy bird that I – and seemingly half of St. Louis – devoured last year at his one-night pop-up event. This was well after Monarch (where most of us first fell…
Margarita
Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice. Hard shake and strain into an Old-Fashioned glass rimmed with salt and filled with ice. Garnish with a lime wheel or wedge. * Del Maguey Vida mezcal Randall’s Wines & Spirits, 14201 Manchester Road, Manchester, 636.527.1002, shoprandalls.com Lukas Liquor, 15921 Manchester Road, Ellisville, 636.227.4543,…
Scape’s Toasted Nut & Honey Grits
4 servings
Mule
1
Lox
8 to 10 servings
Cucumber Avocado Soup
4 to 6
Beyond the Pickle
Cucumbers are so prolific that if you decide to plant some and aren’t creative, you can easily end up with a basement filled with jar upon jar of pickles. But there’s so much more that can be done than just brining those babies. Shrimp and Cucumber Stir-fry Peel 1 cucumber, slice in half lengthwise and…
Richard Knapp’s Quixotic Dream
On a hot June morning, the summer sky was clear and still. Puffy clouds hung languidly on an azure background, like giant, listless parade balloons. Richard Knapp had left his shiny Mini Cooper in the driveway, favoring his dusty, dinged-up Subaru wagon to pick up his son, Oliver Knapp, and Gerald Crow. The first stop…
Where to Watch the Big Game
While rooting for your favorite team, the Gateway City has countless spots to wet (or drench) your cheering whistle – whether you favor cans of cheap Stag, local craft brews or specialty cocktails. To help pare down your options, we’ve compiled a guide that matches sporting events with our favorite game-day hangouts so your hoots…
Pasta and a Glass of Pinot
Cooking dinner is fun, but you know what’s really fun? Sipping wine while Internet shopping. Or Facebook stalking. Or watching your favorite TV show while the kids clean the house. And yet, even if they ate breakfast and lunch, even if you made them dinner yesterday, right around 6 o’clock, your people are going to…
