First Look: Honey Pit Smokehouse in Kirkwood
The Honey Pit menu is centered on meats smoked in Myron Mixon water smokers that utilize steam as well as wood smoke. Standards like pulled pork, brisket and ribs are available, along with specialty sandwiches and burgers and a bevy of sides, including Provel mac n cheese and fried pickles. The Honey Pit menu is…
Budget Crunch: 6 delicious deals for $10 or less to try now
Got $10 and a friend? Then reporter Kevin Korinek has six delicious deals to try now. 1. This Friday, slide into The Post Sports Bar, where they sling signature cheesesteak sandwiches for $6, leaving plenty left over for an ice-cold beer. The cheesesteaks come with onion and green peppers piled high on thin-sliced, rib-eye steak and smothered…
Top 10 Scoops of 2017
From big ownership changes at Cleveland-Heath to St. Louis’ first cidery, here’s the dining news you were most excited about in 2017. Don’t miss out! Follow Sauce Magazine on Facebook and Twitter to get The Scoop on the latest St. Louis-area restaurant news. 1. Cleveland-Heath owners sell restaurant, will relocate to Utah 2. Brick River Cider, St. Louis’ first cidery, to open downtown 3.…
Longtime staples Stratton’s Café, Laurie’s Place close doors
Stratton’s Café at 8103 Big Bend Blvd. in Webster Groves, is closing its doors this week. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017, the owners announced the last day of service will be Friday, Dec. 29, 2017. “We’ve been here 15 years, and it’s been a great run,” said owner Ben Stratton. “We’ve…
Recipe: New Year’s Black-Eyed Peas and Greens
Good bread. Butter. An apple. Cheese. Things don’t always need to be overwrought, covered in gold leaf or served in a complicated manner. After weeks of holiday celebrating, it’s nice to focus on simplicity. This is a basic dish made with inexpensive ingredients that traditionally represent what we want in the new year. Black-eyed peas…
First Look: Seoul Taco in Chesterfield
West County residents no longer need to trek to University City or hunt for a Seoul Taco truck. The St. Louis-based chain opens Friday, Dec. 29 at 46 Four Seasons Shopping Center in Chesterfield. As The Scoop reported in August, owner David Choi announced he planned to open his fifth brick-and-mortar location (the second in…
Recipe: Smoked Trout Dip with Grilled Crostini
Satisfyingly crunchy slices of grilled baguette smothered in a savory rich onion-caper dip elevate this smoked trout appetizer to a new level. It’s a hearty, irresistible starter, ideal for winter get dinner parties and holiday bashes. This one never ceases to evoke smiles and pats on the back from party people who love it as…
Top 10 First Looks of 2017
From a St. Charles brewery and arcade to the long-awaited noodle house in Creve Coeur, here are the top 10 places you couldn’t wait to check out in 2017. Don’t miss out! Follow Sauce Magazine on Facebook and Twitter to get the First Look at the latest St. Louis-area restaurants. 1. First Look: Two Plumbers Brewery & Arcade in St. Charles 2.…
4 last-minute bottles to buy for your beer nerd
If you spent the past three weeks pa-rum-pum-pum-pum-ing and not shopping like most, than you’re probably in need of some last-minute gifts for the host with the most or your Secret Santa. ‘Tis the season for vibrant, bright flavors and bubbles (all the bubbles!), but not just in the form of sparkling wine. Many beers…
Rockwell Beer Co. partners with Niche Food Group for future food service
It’s taken some time, but Rockwell Beer Co. has announced its final plan for its new location at 1320 S. Vandeventer Ave., on the eastern edge of The Grove. Owner-brewer Andy Hille said the facility, which will include a 15-barrel brewery, tasting room and retail space, should open for business sometime in the second quarter…
Remy’s, Elijah P’s and MK’s Asian Persuasion all announce closures
Three local restaurants have given notice via social media that they will close shop by the end of the year. Remy’s Kitchen & Wine Bar at 222 S. Bemiston Ave. in Clayton is set to close on Sunday, Dec. 31. The restaurant opened in 1995. In a Facebook post, owner Tim Mallet said he was seeking…
Brew Hub will open taproom, shelves plans for Chesterfield partner brewery
Partner brewing company Brew Hub is set to open The Brew Hub Taproom in early in 2018 at 5656 Oakland Ave., the former home of St. Louis Ribhouse. The company, which was founded in St. Louis, currently has a taproom and a 100,000-barrel brewhouse in Lakeland, Florida. “There’s a lot of work still to do,…
First Look: Billie Jean in Clayton
Billie Jean, the latest concept from restaurateur Zoe Robinson, opens tomorrow, Dec. 21 at 7610 Wydown Blvd. in Clayton, just a block or so east from Robinson’s other eateries, I Fratellini and Bar Les Fréres. Named after Robinson’s parents, the new eatery brings together New York City style and Midwestern hospitality. The bill of fare…
First Look: L’Acadiane in Lafayette Square
Dave Bailey has been busy in Lafayette Square. Earlier this year, the restaurateur announced he would revamp his flagship Baileys’ Chocolate Bar, relocating it to the upper floor of its building at 1915 Park Ave. in Lafayette Square, and he planned a new concept, L’Acadiane, on the main floor. The new version of the Chocolate…
Sugarfire Smoke House team will take over The Boathouse
The Boathouse at Forest Park will soon be under new management. As reported by St. Louis Magazine, the team behind Sugarfire Smoke House, Hi-Pointe Drive-In and Cyrano’s will take over the restaurant sometime in early 2018. The Boathouse has most recently been run by Catering St. Louis. Sugarfire co-owner Mike Johnson said the new Boathouse…
Herbie’s unveils new chef, menus
Herbie’s has a new executive chef in the kitchen. Chef Jeramie Mitchell replaced chef John O’Brien in October. Herbie’s owner Aaron Teitelbaum announced the change this month, when Mitchell launched the restaurant’s new menus. Following Herbie’s move from the Central West End to Clayton last year, owner Aaron Teitelbaum said he wanted a chef who could handle…
Recipe: Marble Peppermint Cake Pops
Everyone makes cookies at Christmas. While cake pops will never replace this tradition, they are a welcome departure from normal frosted sugar cookies. Cake pops are less fussy than a properly layered cake, and it’s a great activity for kids, too. The soft cake inside is gooey, and a white chocolate coating adds a crunch…
Extend the weekend with two fried chicken dinners on Monday
Whether it’s a holiday market or a breakfast pop-up, there are plenty of tasty events taking place this weekend. If you’re still hungry, extend the weekend with two fried chicken feasts at Farmhaus and Grace Meat & Three. 1. Farmhaus Blue Plate Special Dinner Early fans of Farmhaus, get ready: the Lindenwood Park restaurant is…
Recipe: Bubble Thyme
I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: two of my favorite words are “Champagne float.” Few things are fancier than a Champagne cocktail. It makes a lady feel more ladylike and a gent feel more debonaire. A recent “middle-aged brain” moment left me with more honey than I needed, and after my third cup of honey-sweetened…
Restaurant veterans Chris Kelling, Adam Altnether will open Elmwood in Maplewood
Maplewood is poised to get another restaurant from two big names in the local culinary scene. Adam Altnether and Chris Kelling announced they’re partnering on a new eatery, Elmwood, set to debut at 2704 Sutton Ave., in the summer 2018. “It’s going to be a modern American bistro with some global influences,” said Altnether, who…
14 cookie recipes to bake – and bake and bake – this holiday season
The ovens are fired up and ready to bake holiday goodies for friends, family and old Saint Nick. Whether it’s a classic holiday shortbread or triple chocolate chip, here are 14 recipes to satisfy your cookie cravings this winter. For traditional holiday confections… 1. Recipe: Hanukkah Hamantaschen 2. Recipe: Springerle (Don’t have the molds? Check them out here.) 3. Recipe: Gingerbread…
Retreat Gastropub team will bring Yellowbelly to the CWE
The team behind Retreat Gastropub is set to open a new concept. Yellowbelly, a restaurant and bar focused on seafood, rum and classic cocktails, will open in the new Citizen Park Building at 4659 Lindell Blvd., in the Central West End in 2018. Owner Travis Howard said the name of the new place denotes the…
First Look: Shake Shack in the Central West End
The day has finally come. Shake Shack opened for business at its first St. Louis location today, Dec. 11, at 32 N. Euclid Ave. “I never would have predicted that Shake Shack would be the thing that would bring me home,” said founder Danny Meyer, whose Union Square Hospitality Group is best known for fine dining. Meyer…
First Look: The Clover and the Bee in Webster Groves
The Clover and the Bee, the new breakfast and lunch spot from the folks behind Olive & Oak, is now officially open for business at 100 W. Lockwood Ave. in Webster Groves. The restaurant, which takes its name from the Emily Dickinson poem, “To Make A Prairie,” boasts a bright, airy interior that seats about…
Recipe: Pear and Currant Compote
One of my favorite items to take to holiday gatherings is an interesting jam or compote to accompany a cheese board. Consider recipes of years past: spiced carrot jam, onion jam and, if you want to go way back with me, bacon jam. I love bringing the host something delicious in a pretty glass jar,…
Coffee shop and cocktail bar Trust opens Thursday
The people who brought St. Louis outdoor bar The Bronson House has a new project in store: Trust, a coffee shop and cocktail bar opening Thursday, Dec. 7. Artisan Well Bar Services, the team behind the bar program at The Bronson House, partnered with Covo, a coworking company based in San Francisco. Covo recently set…
The Garden on Grand closes shortly after the one-year mark
After just over a year in business, The Garden on Grand at 2245 S. Grand Ave., has shuttered, as reported by St. Louis Magazine. The announcement of the closure was made on the restaurant’s Facebook page: “Regretfully, after a little more than a year, The Garden on Grand will be closing its doors after a…
Coma Coffee will open another location in The Grove
Coma Coffee Roasters is getting ready to expand its brand. The company, which also has a location at 1034 S. Brentwood Blvd. in Richmond Heights, plans to open a second cafe at 4013 Papin St., on the eastern edge of The Grove. Owner Macy Holtzman said she’s in the process of approving architectural drawings and…
Best New Restaurants: No. 1 – Vicia
When something is as expected as naming Vicia the best new restaurant of 2017, you almost want to fight it. You want to know something big publications like Eater, Bon Appétit and Esquire don’t. (All have listed Vicia on national best new restaurant lists.) But you know what? Some things are expected for a reason.…
Review: Frazer’s in Benton Park
From decor to drinks to demographics, Frazer’s is as eclectic as an irreverent Benton Park bar should be, with swirling mosaics, kitchy lighting and serious but playful cocktails. It’s a place that generates regulars, and I can see why. Everyone is so inviting and relaxed that I was recognized on my second visit and chatted…
Best New Restaurants: No. 2 – Privado
Reservations only. Open just two seatings on Friday and Saturday. Sixteen diners, max. A 12- to 15-course tasting menu that changes nightly. But don’t get the wrong idea. Privado is high-concept dining performed to a Bruce Springsteen soundtrack by a Midwestern chef who is genuinely having fun – and guests are having a blast, too.…
Best New Restaurants: No. 12 – Shawarma King
Editor’s Note: Shawarma King has closed You don’t go to places like this for high-end service and ambiance, you go because the food is good. Like, really good. And affordable. Shawarma King’s plentiful lunch veggie platter, for instance, offers hummus, baba ghanoush, falafel, tabbouleh and pita for $8.99. Owner Mohammed Alsalem, who grew up in…
Best New Restaurants: No. 5 – Nudo House
Nudo House, the noodle shop from Mai Lee’s Qui Tran and Marie-Anne Velasco, was years in the making. When instant gratification is the norm – we want what we want, and we want it yesterday – it’s nice to be reminded that some things are worth the wait. Unlike the voluminous menus found at many…
Best New Restaurants: No. 7 – Polite Society
A meal at Polite Society makes you feel like you’re hanging out in some sitcom Brooklynites’ open-concept living room, not snagging a seat at a slick new restaurant. Owners Jonathan Schoen and Brian Schmitz spent more than a year renovating the former home of Ricardo’s in Lafayette Square into their dream business – a concept…
Best New Restaurants: No. 10 – Hi-Pointe Drive-In
First off, try not to get distracted. There’s the Taco Burger, and sometimes silly, indulgent specials (grilled cheese buns, doughnuts, who knows), but this is your day. Burger day. Hi-Pointe staff will probably treat you like a regular, which means they won’t sufficiently explain what’s happening, but don’t let the lack of direction put you…
Best New Restaurants: No. 4 – Balkan Treat Box
Food trucks are restaurants. But there’s no sleek space, no cutting-edge decor – the food is the only attraction to draw diners in. Since Balkan Treat Box hit the road late last year, owners Loryn Feliciano-Nalic and her husband, Edo Nalic, have cultivated a dedicated following. The truck focuses on the cuisine of the Balkan…
Best New Restaurants: No. 11 – St. Louis Soup Dumplings
The name tells you everything you need to know. No salads, no entrees, no bar – St. Louis Soup Dumplings doesn’t try to do much, but what it does, it does exceptionally well. Its xiao long bao, which are also served at sister restaurant Private Kitchen, are some of the best you’ll find in St.…
Best New Restaurants 2017
No. 1: Vicia When something is as expected as naming Vicia the best new restaurant of 2017, you almost want to fight it. You want to know something big publications like Eater, Bon Appétit and Esquire don’t. (All have listed Vicia on national best new restaurant lists.) But you know what? Some things are expected…
11 reasons to go to Westport Social right now
Westport Social is a versatile bar. You want to drink craft cocktails? No problem. How about getting crazy competitive while playing bocce ball? Sure thing. Even if you just want to sit in the corner with a glass of wine and a healthy-ish salad, you can do that, too. If you’re not convinced, here are…
Best New Restaurants: Top 3 Dishes of 2017
1. Berkshire Pig at ViciaThe best restaurant of the year also served the best pork dish. Cooked to butter-softness and finished on the grill for a hint of smoke, the small serving rivaled any chop. On my visit before Vicia switched to family-style mains, the pork was served with a rich assortment of shelling beans…
Best New Restaurants: No. 6 – Cate Zone Chinese Cafe
It takes a lot for a Chinese restaurant to make a splash on Olive Boulevard, but Cate Zone Chinese Cafe’s (8146 Olive Blvd., University City) regional cuisine has attracted lengthy wait times since it opened on the highly competitive corridor last November. Cate Zone’s interior is casual and understated, adorned with black-and-white photos of NYC…
Best New Restaurants: No. 8 – The U.R.B.
Somewhere between New York and Neapolitan, the pizza at The U.R.B. (Urban Research Brewery) stuck with us like Instagram’s stupid heart arrow filter. Walking in, you might think pizza isn’t the point here. The place exists for Urban Chestnut Brewing Co. to test new brews on customers who agree to give feedback. Food happens three…
Best New Restaurants: No. 3 – Grace Meat & Three
At Grace Meat & Three, Rick and Elisa Lewis answer to no one but themselves. “Grace is about our freedom and our liberation, honestly,” Rick Lewis said. He is a familiar bearded face in the St. Louis restaurant scene. Diners have experienced Lewis’ take on comfort food since he left fine dining to take the…
Eat This: Tianjin-Style Bing at Bing Bing
Before Bing Bing opened off The Loop earlier this year, we had a jianbing-shaped hole in our hearts, and we didn’t even know it. Now we can’t imagine a time without the Tianjin-Style Bing. The Chinese crepe/burrito/magic-like street food starts with a super thin, tender eggy pancake wrapped around your choice of meat and sauce. …
Best New Restaurants: No. 9 – Pizza Head
Pizza Head’s menu is a study in quintessence, just like the selection of classic punk records on its jukebox. Opening yet another pizza joint in St. Louis – let alone a punk-themed place where vegan and vegetarian options are front and center (Midwesterners love the animal protein, don’tcha know) – could seem like tilting at…
What I Do: Reginald Quarles at Teatopia
Reginald Quarles is a contradictory man. A competitive athlete obsessed with jujitsu, he’s also a peaceful vegan who loves Paulo Coelho and Deepak Chopra. After the sudden death of his mother two years ago, Quarles quit an unfulfilling career in insurance to open his teeny tea shop, Teatopia, on Cherokee Street in January. Less than…
Slow-Cooker Beans
Makes 6 cups
Holiday Meatballs
4 servings
Avocado Hummus
4 to 6
Black Bean Burritos
8 servings
Mashed Bean Sammie
4 servings
Easy Pasta e Ceci
4 servings
White Bean and Andouille Soup
4 to 6 servings
Review: Das Bevo in Bevo Mill
After years of immobility, the iconic Bevo Mill windmill is spinning. The Dutch-style structure at the corner of Gravois Avenue and Morgan Ford Road has been painstakingly restored to its former magnificence when August A. Busch Sr. had its Quixote-esque windmill built as a stopping point midway between the brewery and his Grant’s Farm estate…
Recipe: Sicilian Holiday Meatballs
These happy little appetizer bites taste like Sicilian Christmas. Using your hands, mix together 1 pound ground pork, ¼ cup currants, ¼ cup toasted pine nuts, 1 beaten egg, 2 tablespoons orange zest, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper and ½ teaspoon ground cloves. Shape the mixture into 22 to 24…
Old World Beers to Try Now
Experimental American brews are at the forefront of the international beer scene these days. With so many creative new styles and riffs with unexpected flavors to try, it’s easy to forget iconic imports that have been around forever. During this season of tradition and indulgence, let’s not forget some of the classics that paved the…
5 go-to recipes for dried beans
Beans are bullied legumes. They’re cruelly synonymous with disappointment (hill of beans), silly hats (beanies) and disrespected accountants (bean counters). Even worse, their foibles are laid bare in an anthem to magical fruit. Yet, beans carry on, holding their little bean heads high because, friends, they are nutritional powerhouses. They’re packed with character-building fiber, proteins,…
First Look: Mothership at Earthbound Beer
Mothership has landed inside Earthbound Beer at 2724 Cherokee St. The new food program, run by Vista Ramen’s Josh Adams, starts serving Asian-inspired barbecue tonight, Friday, Dec. 1, inside the recently expanded brewery. “We didn’t want to take Vista and just move it down here,” said chef-owner Chris Bork. He and Adams worked to develop…
Review: Kohn’s Kosher Deli & Restaurant in Creve Coeur
The case at Kohn’s Kosher Deli & Restaurant beckons with mounds of savory knishes, noodle kugel and all manner of meat, fish and fowl. The sandwiches are piled high, stacks of black-and-white cookies charm, and the staff is friendly, efficient and a bit boisterous. Are we in New York City? No, no we are not.…
Give the gift of cabernet sauvignon this holiday
Everyone knows that wine beats fruitcakes, and the 2015 Textbook Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a delicious gifting red. Blended with 10-percent merlot, the big, balanced wine really is a textbook Napa cab. It’s also a rare bargain, considering it was grown in the prestigious Napa districts of Oak Knoll and Oakville during a small…
A tour of Herbie’s new space in Clayton
It’s been a year of change for fine dining eatery Herbie’s Vintage ’72. In May, owner Aaron Teitelbaum announced he would move the 8-year-old restaurant from its corner in the Central West End to the home of Cardwell’s in Clayton, which closed Oct. 1. Herbie’s dropped the Vintage ’72 from its name when it moved…
