First Look: The Midwestern Meat & Drink in Downtown St. Louis
The Midwestern Meat & Drink, the much-anticipated restaurant and bar from the team behind The Wheelhouse and Start Bar, opens officially at 900 Spruce St., tomorrow, March 1, just in time for Mardi Gras revelers who want to indulge in more than celebratory shots. The meat in the name comes from executive chef and managing…
Hurricane Cocktail Recipe
The Hurricane is arguably the go-to cocktail for Mardi Gras revelers. The version most of us are familiar with is usually a conglomeration of low-end booze and a red powdered mystery mix, but it’s possible to elevate this French Quarter favorite with a quality rum and some fresh ingredients. Pro tip: Batch this cocktail in…
Hurricane Cocktail
1 serving
First Look: Kemoll’s Chop House at Westport Plaza
The rebranded Kemoll’s Chop House opened Feb. 19 at 323 Westport Plaza, the former home of Dierdorf & Hart’s with a revamped menu and focus. The original Kemoll’s, an Italian staple in downtown St. Louis for nearly 100 years, served authentic Sicilian recipes from 1927 until February 2018, when owner Mark Cusumano shuttered the location…
6 St. Louis chefs, Planter’s House earn James Beard semifinalist nods
The James Beard Foundation has once again nominated several St. Louis-area chefs and industry professionals for its prestigious awards recognizing excellence in the culinary industry. This year, six chefs and one bar received semifinalists nominations. Nick Bognar was nominated for Rising Star Chef of the Year for his work as executive chef at Nippon Tei.…
Oaked is now open in Soulard
Soulard has a new dining destination. Oaked opened quietly for business at 1031 Lynch St., on Friday, Feb. 15, in the former home of Fleur de Lilies. The eatery is co-owner Christopher Schwarz’s first restaurant venture. He partnered with executive chef Stephan Ledbetter, former corporate executive chef for Gamlin Restaurant Group, to put together a…
Try these 4 delicious deals at DD Mau, Juniper, Layla and Riley’s Pub
1. DD Mau Vietnamese Eatery in Maryland Heights is celebrating its one-year anniversary with an expanded menu and select BOGO items through the end of the month. Specialty items like sweet potato fritters, a Vietnamese pork chop and a corn pudding dessert grace the menu; visit Thursday for a BOGO deal on vermicelli bowls. 2.…
Extra Brut closes to make way for Bemiston Cocktail Club
Clayton is losing a Champagne bar but gaining a cocktail lounge. As reported by St. Louis Magazine, Extra Brut, the bubbles-centric watering hole at 16 S. Bemiston Ave. from the team behind Louie’s Wine Dive, closed on Friday, Feb. 15. Louie’s Wine Dive marketing director Jeremy Hogan said the space will reopen as Bemiston Cocktail…
Three Monkeys in Tower Grove South is under new ownership
A Tower Grove South staple is officially under new ownership. Zach and Mary Rice will launch a revamped menu and bar program at Three Monkeys on March 15. Zach was a server at Three Monkeys when it originally opened in 2007 and was general manager from 2012 to 2015. Mary most recently worked as Dressel’s…
Goody Goody Diner is a St. Louis landmark
Goody Goody Diner owner Ryan Safi thinks his restaurant’s longstanding prosperity can be explained by two things: great food and a friendly, attentive staff. For the duration of its 70-year tenure (primarily under longtime owners Richard and Laura Connelly), the Goody Goody Diner has served up hearty, satisfying dishes like the slinger and its beloved chicken and waffles(a…
New Fox Park restaurant Little Fox will open in early summer
Craig and Mowgli Rivard plan to open their first new restaurant, Little Fox, at 2800 Shenandoah Ave., in early summer, as reported by St. Louis Magazine. The couple moved to the Fox Park neighborhood from Brooklyn in November 2017. Little Fox will take over the space that used to house The Purple Martin, just blocks…
Why you should eat Trattoria Marcella’s Meatballs and Polenta now
The off-menu Meatballs and Polenta at Trattoria Marcella are a poorly kept secret. A blend of chuck and pork flecked with fresh herbs, the meatballs are soused in a San Marzano tomato sauce and spooned over decadent polenta made with plenty of cream, Parmigiano-Reggiano and a little butter for good measure. It’s the kind of comfort food that tastes…
Firestone Walker now offers East Coast IPA Mind Haze
California-based Firestone Walker has added a super trendy, hazy East Coast IPA to their repertoire – with a West Coast twist. Mind Haze, a 6.2 percent tropical fruit-forward juice bomb, gives ode to the original hazy beer: German-style wheat. Medium bodied with a characteristic creamy mouthfeel, it exudes notes of banana, citrus and ripe peach. Six-pack: $9.…
Truly Floral Spirits launches in St. Louis with gin
The St. Louis area has another new small-batch spirits company. Kelley Barr and Ian VanDam founded Truly Floral Spirits this year and launched their first product, Truly Floral Blue gin, in January. The mother-and-son team are no strangers to entrepreneurship. Barr also owns two Webster Groves businesses: The Frisco Barroom, a restaurant and bar, and…
Crispy Garlic ‘Croutons’
2 heaping tablespoons
Roasted Garlic Spread
1/3 cup
Herbed Garlic Soup
6 servings
Simple Salad with Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette
2 servings
Good Fortune closes in Botanical Heights
Chinese-American eatery Good Fortune has officially turned out the lights. The restaurant, located at 1614 Tower Grove Ave. in Botanical Heights, served its last order of Rangoons on Thursday, Feb. 14. Good Fortune made its debut last year on Friday, April 13. As Sauce reported in December 2018, the restaurant reconcepted last month, simplifying the…
5 recipes for people who can’t get enough garlic
I avoid scampi and shawarma like a vampire, lest an acrid whiff of lightly cooked garlic seep from my mouth or pores. But roasted garlic is a root of an entirely different flavor. Low and slow cooking tames this tenacious tuber, mellowing its sharp taste into a rich, round flavor. These recipes will leave you…
Florissant food bus Mann Meats will open brick-and-mortar barbecue eatery
Bob Mannecke is taking his North St. Louis County food truck Mann Meats to a new brick-and-mortar home at 300 St. Ferdinand St. in Florissant. The restaurant will host a soft opening tomorrow, Feb. 16. He and his wife, Holly Mannecke, launched Mann Meats out of a converted school bus just over a year ago.…
First Look: Layla in Webster Groves
Layla has officially brought its brand of gourmet burgers and shawarma to the county. The restaurant’s second location opened on Monday, Feb. 11 at 20 Allen Ave., No. 130 in Webster Groves, the former location of Milagro Modern Mexican. Most menu items at the new location are favorites from the restaurant’s flagship eatery in The…
What I Do: Matthew Piva of Upshot Coffee
Matthew Piva has always been equal parts artist and gearhead. It’s what originally drew him to a Kaldi’s job fair before he was swept into coffee’s third wave at Sump. He worked with owner and roaster Scott Carey for more than six years and helped open Sump’s Nashville location. Then he took the helm of…
First Look: Morning Glory Diner on Cherokee Street
Cherokee Street will add a good old-fashioned diner to its diverse array of eating and drinking establishments when Morning Glory Diner opens its doors tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 14, at 2609 Cherokee St. As Sauce reported in November 2018, Ari Jo Ellis (a 2016 Sauce One to Watch) announced she would close The Cut inside The…
Review: Jerk Soul in Hyde Park
Jerk Soul is a bastion of insanely good Caribbean comfort food prepared from time-tested family recipes. Located in a renovated brownstone in the north side Hyde Park neighborhood, this modest mom-and-pop operation consists of little more than a takeout window, a chalkboard menu and a few cushions laid out on window benches where people can…
16 STL-area breweries make Resilience IPA to support Camp Fire victims
On Nov. 8, 2018, a fire started in the hills of Butte County, California. Within hours, the Camp Fire, named for its origin at Camp Creek Road, raged out of control. Power lines went down; cell towers were destroyed. The fire burned for three weeks, killing at least 86 people, injuring numerous firefighters and destroying…
First Look: Balkan Treat Box in Webster Groves
The wood-fired oven is roaring at Balkan Treat Box in Webster Groves. Co-owners Loryn and Edo Nalic will open the brick-and-mortar location of their popular food truck Wednesday, Feb. 13, at 8103 Big Bend Blvd., the former home of Stratton’s Cafe. Balkan Treat Box launched in late 2016, showcasing the cuisine of the Balkan Peninsula.…
Chef Nick Blue takes over at Boundary, Basso at The Cheshire
A veteran St. Louis chef has quietly stepped into his next culinary role. Nick Blue, who served as executive chef at Sardella and most recently sous chef at Sugarfire Smoke House, has taken the mantle of executive chef at Boundary and Basso at The Cheshire, effective Saturday, Jan. 6. Blue said one of the main…
5 small-batch St. Louis chocolatiers we love
It’s easy to find good chocolate, but good local chocolate? And good, local, handmade chocolate? That’s another ballgame. With small-batch chocolates, you get brighter flavors, fewer processed ingredients and purer textures. One bite of something like Rick Jordan Honey Foam or a Kakao milk chocolate bar with toasted Missouri pecans, and the difference is clear. …
5 St. Louis stouts to warm you up this winter
Now that the hustle and bustle of the holidays are over and winter weather has settled in, we could all use a little happiness in the impending cold, dreary months. Whether sitting under a blanket next to a fireplace or out on a chilly night with friends, these five STL-area stouts are the perfect way…
12 reasons to go to Peppe’s Apt. 2 in Kirkwood
The only thing wrong with Peppe’s Apt. 2 is that it’s closed on Sundays and Mondays. The rarely changing Italian-American menu isn’t trendy or creative, but it is excellent every single time (and we return often). 1. The halibut with truffled breadcrumbs and lemon-white wine sauce is delicate and delicious. 2. The cannoli – four…
First Look: Bait in the Central West End
The Central West End will get a new seafood eatery when Bait opens next week. After a reservations-only Valentine’s Day dinner, the restaurant will officially open to the public on Friday, Feb. 15. As Sauce reported last week, owner Kalen Hodgest bought the building at 4239 Lindell Blvd. (formerly the home of The Grind…
Cha Cha Chow will close brick-and-mortar to focus on food truck, catering
Cha Cha Chow will close doors at its nearly 3-year-old storefront after service Feb. 16. Owner Sam Burke announced the news yesterday, Feb. 6, in a Facebook post. Food truck service and catering will begin March 1. Although Burke said Cha Cha Chow has maintained a strong catering presence and interest in the food truck, sales…
Das Bevo closes restaurant to focus on events business
Das Bevo has shuttered its restaurant and will focus on the event side of its business. The last day of service was brunch on Sunday, Feb. 3. The revamped space at 4749 Gravois Ave., formerly Bevo Mill, reopened to the public as a restaurant and event space on Mother’s Day in 2017. “The restaurant has…
Review: Barg Continental Restaurant in St. Louis
On a recent Saturday night when venturing out sans reservation should have been foolhardy, Kabul-born Ameen Akbarzada was a one-man show playing to a near-empty house at Barg Continental Restaurant in St. Louis Hills. The night had all the components of a negative review: a large, harshly lit dining room almost devoid of diners, several…
Breakaway Café reopens with same menu, new ownership
Bel-Nor neighborhood pillar Breakaway Café reopened this week at 8418 Natural Bridge Road under new ownership. Matt Quinlisk, a regular Breakaway patron and former Sugarfire Smoke House general manager, started working on a plan to take over as soon as he heard about the restaurant’s closing in December. He closed the deal in mid-January. “The…
Petrichor Brewing will open in March in O’Fallon, Missouri
The Winghaven neighborhood in O’Fallon, Missouri, will soon have a new craft brewpub. Petrichor Brewing plans to open its doors at 7434 Village Center Drive on March 1. Brothers Michael and Jonathan Crowell have been homebrewing since the early 2010s and are partnering with friend Efrain Barreto, who has opened craft beer bars in Costa…
Handcrafted by Bissinger’s will close in the CWE
Handcrafted by Bissinger’s at 32 Maryland Ave., in the Central West End will close for good after regular business hours on Saturday, Feb. 16. In a statement, 23 City Blocks Hospitality Group, which owns the CWE eatery, said “dwindling foot traffic in the neighborhood makes continuation of the business untenable.” However, 23 City Blocks managing…
Celery Salad with Dates and Parmesan
4 to 6 servings
Brisket with 40 Cloves of Garlic
4 to 6 servings
Get romantic with a Dawn of Love cocktail
This month, we’re enjoying the Dawn of Love, a vintage cocktail from 1934. This rich, velvety drink offers complex flavors (light juniper, grapefruit, plum and almond), but simplicity in preparation. In an ice-filled mixing glass, combine 1½ ounces Dolin blanc vermouth and 1½ ounces Averell Damson gin liqueur. Stir 30 to 45 seconds then strain into…
First Look: Kimchi Guys on Laclede’s Landing
So Hospitality Group president and CEO Munsok So opened Kimchi Guys Friday, Feb. 1, on the first floor of the historic Cutlery Building at 612 N. 2nd St. on Laclede’s Landing in downtown St. Louis. So, who also owns Drunken Fish, bought the Cutlery Building in 2006 and renovated it to include Kimchi Guys, 612North…
Nippon Tei’s Nick Bognar is changing what St. Louis expects from sushi
Nick Bognar changed the St. Louis dining landscape last year when he came back to helm his mother Anne Bognar’s restaurant, Nippon Tei in Ballwin. His combination of classic Japanese techniques and flights of culinary fancy have changed what we dare to expect from sushi. Growing up at Nippon Tei, Bognar learned to appreciate tradition and…
Recipe: Celery Salad with Dates and Parmesan
Put this satisfying and simple salad on your weeknight table. It’s a great textural complement to heavier fare, comes together in minutes and holds up for leftovers – if there are any. Celery Salad with Dates and ParmesanAdapted from a Bon Appetit recipe4 to 6 servings 10 to 12 stalks celery, sliced on a diagonal…
SLU partners with STL Beer to offer certificate in Brewing Science and Operations
This fall, Saint Louis University will usher in the city’s first official online certificate in beer: an 18-credit hour certificate in Brewing Science and Operations. Troika Brodsky, the executive director of the St. Louis Brewers Heritage Foundation (formerly the St. Louis Brewers Guild), helped put the program together, corralling representatives from more than 15 local breweries…
10 party recipes starring those appliances you never use
We’ve all been there: you got hyped about a new appliance that you saw at a friend’s house or on “Chef’s Table” and became obsessed. You looked up recipes, researched prices and couldn’t live without it. So you bought it … and barely used it. For some, it was a Vitamix; for others, an expensive…
Seafood restaurant Bait will open in CWE this month
February will see the opening of Central West End’s newest seafood restaurant, Bait. Owner Kalen Hodgest will open the eatery at 4239 Lindell Ave., for a limited menu Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, and host an official opening the following evening, Feb. 15. This is Hodgest’s first restaurant. “Our main concept for the restaurant is centered…
Dave Bailey opens sparkling wine bar Pop, closes L’Acadiane
Restaurateur Dave Bailey is shaking things up in his restaurant empire. At a media event yesterday evening, Jan. 31, he announced that he had closed L’Acadiane, his Cajun and Creole spot in Lafayette Square, and immediately opened Pop, a new sparkling wine bar in the same location. L’Acadiane opened just over a year ago in the…
4 new St. Louis restaurants to try in February
1. Elmwood2704 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, elmwoodstl.com If there was any question, Maplewood is definitely one of the best restaurant neighborhoods in the area with the addition of Elmwood, a sleek new spot from Niche alumni Adam Altnether and Chris Kelling. The menu revolves around a charcoal-burning oven and grill from Spain, clearly the VIP in dishes…
