Barbecue Braised Beef Pot Roast
6 to 8 servings
Brownie Cookies with Early Grey Glaze
1 to 2 dozen
Chocolate Chai Cupcakes
1 dozen
Frosted Peppermint Cookie Bars
16 cookies
Pork Meatballs
1 dozen
Chicken with Porcini and Cherries
4 servings
Guerrilla Street Food to open second STL location in new Trops
Guerrilla Street Food has found a second home – inside the new Tropical Liqueurs. As Sauce reported in June, Tropical Liqueurs is moving from its current location in Soulard to at 4104 Manchester Ave., in The Grove. Its last day in Soulard is this Sunday, Dec. 4. At the time, Billy Thompson, a co-owner of the…
Best New Restaurants: No. 2 – Vista Ramen
A glimpse through the large windows at Vista Ramen reveals a slim restaurant filled with smartly dressed young people sipping sake and slurping ramen, bathed in the green glow of that iconic neon sign. This is where the cool kids eat. The centerpiece is the open kitchen where co-owner and chef Chris Bork transmutes Vista’s…
Review: The Garden on Grand
Editor’s Note: The Garden on Grand has now closed. “It reminds me of The Secret Garden,” the woman across the table said, referencing the early 20th-century children’s novel as we picked our way through a plate of pickled vegetables and crunched on crostini. Looking around The Garden on Grand, the room did indeed feel secret and…
Fantastic Bowls and Where to Find Them
In a world where most originals are mass-produced, it’s nice to have the real deal. These four local ceramicists are creating understated, chic tableware. Upgrade your home collection with unique plates, bowls and serving dishes no one else will have. 1. Susan ZimmermanSusan Zimmerman creates imperfectly gorgeous plates with a hand-building technique and glowing pearl…
Best New Restaurants: No. 8 – Sheesh Restaurant
Sheesh Restaurant is more than just another spot to grab great kebabs. Each time we settle around a low copper table etched with intricate scrollwork, we’re transported a long way from South Grand Avenue. The menu of traditional Turkish dishes is all delivered under heavy burnished domes: from large plates to tiny cups of strong…
Pair this pinot with Cornish hens
The 2013 Russian River Valley pinot noir from Mount Vernon, Illinois native Ron Rubin has a love connection with poultry, which is happy with both white and red wines. The cool ocean fog of Sonoma’s Russian River Valley makes incredible pinot noir. I paired it with Cornish hens at a recent Sauce Magazine cooking class…
Best New Restaurants: No. 9 – Egg
Egg, the former weekend brunch pop-up at Spare No Rib, hatched into its own restaurant this October, and we couldn’t be happier. Certain combinations may sound odd, but don’t let that stop you from ordering chakchouka alongside a cheesy carne asada wrap or a chorizo breakfast taco with the cornbread and gravy. The eclectic, Tex-Mex-leaning…
Best New Restaurants: No. 5 – Nixta
Surrounded by hip Latin music and tropical plants at Nixta’s recent soft opening, we kept spontaneously exhaling and saying, “This feels like vacation.” Along with the bright, beachy colors and dim, candlelit atmosphere of Ben Poremba’s newest restaurant, the menu is strewn with flowers and fruit: ceviche served with a fragrant, viscid sphere of rose…
Best New Restaurants: No. 3 – Olive & Oak
Since Olive & Oak opened to great acclaim in January, eager customers have had to book reservations well in advance. Determined walk-ins order cocktails and prowl the bar, waiting to pounce on a vacant seat. Webster Groves residents who used to drive 20 minutes for a night out now have a dining destination in their…
Best New Restaurants: No. 6 – Porano Pasta
Porano Pasta is the fast-casual restaurant we have been waiting for. It took Gerard Craft, the chef mind behind Niche Food Group, to combine affordability and speed with such quality ingredients and consistently well-executed food. Walk in and notice the restaurant’s towering ceilings and wall-sized illustrations of Italian and St. Louis landmarks. Sunshine pours in…
Review: Yo! Salsa in Wentzville
Yo! Salsa is an oasis, bringing modern Latin flavors to an otherwise bland landscape of chain restaurants in Wentzville. What started as a food truck and catering business is now a brick and mortar with a staff that’s fresh, helpful and ready for the task. Shrimp and poblano gritsI’m not usually a fan of grits,…
Best New Restaurants: No. 1 – Sardella
You don’t close the restaurant that just won you a James Beard Award – unless you’re Gerard Craft. He closed Niche one year after winning Best Chef: Midwest. St. Louis expects new concepts from Craft, but it was another thing entirely to eliminate his first restaurant and the namesake of Niche Food Group to try…
Best New Restaurants: No. 10 – Melo’s Pizzeria
Five seats, five menu items and a fire crackling merrily in the oven: This is Melo’s. The small but mighty Italian-American pizza shop is run by the Valenza family – brothers Joey, Johnny and Vinny, and their dad Vince Sr., the owner of Blues City Deli, whom you could call their consigliere. When Vince finally…
Best New Restaurants: No. 4 – Kounter Kulture
A carryout-only restaurant this high on our list will only surprise those unfamiliar with Kitchen Kulture from co-owners Christine Meyer and chef Michael Miller. The fine dining veterans make the foreign local and the local foreign at their first brick-and-mortar with a tight, rotating menu of Asian-inspired dishes. “Using ingredients that people are familiar with…
Best New Restaurants: No. 7 – The Preston
Hotel bars aim for luxury and sophistication, but most miss the mark, landing in chintz and disappointment. The Preston at The Chase Park Plaza hits a rare bull’s-eye with stylish leather chairs, cool gray wainscoting and stiff drinks served in cut crystal glasses on a marble bar. The atmosphere is swanky, but still comfortable with…
Review: Scapegoat Tavern & Courtyard
Editor’s Note: Scapegoat Tavern & Courtyard has closed. Scapegoat is the Central West End’s latest and greatest haven for classic cocktail lovers. With an enviable location, a smart, understated look and a well-executed bar program, this joint has all the important things going for it. Little brother to Scape proper, Scapegoat is a laid-back standalone…
Thai noodles with gai lan
4 servings
Veggie Marsala
4 servings
Recipe: Curried Barbecue Spare Ribs
These are easily the best ribs I have ever made. Individual ribs are seared and cooked in a bath of colorful Asian barbecue sauce over indirect heat. As someone who has royally screwed up countless slabs of ribs using the old dry-rubbed, slow-smoked method, I loved that this method was entirely no-fuss – zero marinade…
Blend your own coffee stouts this winter
Perennial Artisan Ales produces some of the most highly sought after Imperial and coffee stouts in the country, but you’ll rarely find them in bottle shops. Eager beer nerds wait in long lines for prized bottles of Coffee Abraxas (a coffee variant of the equally popular Imperial stout) and Sump Coffee Stout every year. Perennial…
Eat This: Mangia Bene at Smokee Mo’s BBQ
The Mangia Bene at Smokee Mo’s BBQ requires stretchy pants and time for a post-meal nap. Thick, tender slices of smoked brisket are carved to order and smothered with Mo’s White Sauce, a creamy vinegar-horseradish aioli. The meat’s layered between two halves of buttery garlic bread shellacked with Provel cheese. Lettuce? Onion? Tomato? Such paltry accouterments…
Veggie Marsala
Oh, heavy whipping cream, you seemed like such a good idea. But instead of adding a silky finish to this vegetarian riff on chicken Marsala, you whitewashed the mushrooms and clouded the translucent yellow onions. It’s not enough to vegetize this dish; it needs to look as good as it tastes. Obviously the cream had…
Recipe: Thai Noodles with Gai Lan
Skip the Thai takeout and put this dish on the table in 15 minutes flat. In a medium bowl, pour boiling water over 14 ounces rice stick noodles and let sit 7 minutes. Drain and rinse the noodles then toss them with 2 tablespoons sesame oil. In a small bowl, combine ? cup soy sauce,…
Curried Barbecue Spare Ribs
6 servings
The Dark Room to move to Grandel Theater
A new space for nightlife is developing at 3601 Grandel Square as The Dark Room Wine Bar & Photo Gallery prepares to move from its current location at 615 N. Grand Blvd., to the Grandel Theater. The Kranzberg Arts Foundation is renovating the Grandel, and in February 2017, the lobby and commons area will be…
Recipe: Broccoli Soup
In my house, broccoli is king of the vegetables. We eat it steamed, roasted, stir-fried, raw or covered in cheese (duh). This simple broccoli soup includes tarragon, which created a house divided. Those 40 and older liked the slight hint of anise the scant amount of fresh tarragon added to the soup. However, the 20-and-younger contingent…
Best New Restaurants 2016
To be the best, everything matters – atmosphere, service and food. Here, the places that dazzled us from the moment they opened: St. Louis’ 10 best new restaurants of 2016. No. 1 Sardella You don’t close the restaurant that just won you a James Beard Award – unless you’re Gerard Craft. He closed Niche one year…
What I Do: Doug Marshall, The Tamale Man
When Marisa Marshall decided to take up organic farming, her husband Doug Marshall figured the best way to get a foot in the door at local farmers markets was by offering prepared food. Now, most Marshall Family Farms produce is sold in tamale form, and you probably know him as The Tamale Man – dishing…
Death in the Afternoon closes
Citygarden is minus a lunch spot (at least for now) as Death in the Afternoon served its last bowl of ramen on Wednesday, Nov. 23. As reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, owners TJ Vytlacil and Adam Frager decided not to renew Death in the Afternoon’s lease in order to continue to grow their point…
Broccoli Soup
3 to 4 servings
Matt McGuire to open Louie in former Jimmy’s on the Park space
Niche Food Group alum and owner of the former King Louie’s Matt McGuire will open Louie (without the King) in part of the former Jimmy’s on the Park space, as reported by St. Louis Magazine. Jimmy’s closed after more than two decades in the DeMun neighborhood. McGuire was drawn to the approximately 2,800-square-foot space because…
First Look: Lemon Gem Kitchen Goods in The Grove
Just in time for holiday shopping, Lemon Gem Kitchen Goods has opened doors at 4180 Manchester Ave., in The Grove. The space that formerly housed Rise (fear not – the coffee shop moved to a larger location next door) has been transformed into a small retail shop showcasing home goods and accessories. This isn’t owner…
3 Big Black Friday Beers
All the Turkey Day leftovers are stored in the fridge, a big pot of turkey stock is simmering on the stove, and you’re contemplating joining in the Black Friday insanity. Or you’re like me: anti-turkey and thus, anti-turkey stock, and more likely to avoid any mall or retail establishment without a strong drink present. I…
Recipe: Schmaltz with Apples & Rosemary
James Beard Award-winning chef John Besh’s Cooking from the Heart is chock-full of recipes inspired by his native Louisiana, with whole chapters dedicated to types of seafood and wild game. Despite those more unfamiliar territories, the book was approachable and dishes were straightforward. I decided to try something from the wild game section. Since Kenrick’s…
Rock & Brews now open in Chesterfield
Rock & Brews, the restaurant franchise founded by KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, opened an 8,000-square-foot restaurant at 17258 Chesterfield Airport Road in Chesterfield a few weeks ago. Franchise owner Kirk Williams said he is excited to bring the first area Rock & Brews to St. Louis. “People will love our food, and…
Holiday Gift Guide: 5 gifts for your boozehound
These can’t-miss presents will wow even the most cosmopolitan drinker. From classes that inform and entertain to home bar must-haves sure to impress, here are gifts for the boozehounds on your list. 1. Skull Barspoon More than just a pretty face, this tiki-inspired stainless spoon is well-balanced in the hand and comfortable to work with…
Guide to the Holidays 2016: Holiday Carryout
Even when hosting a big rich holiday dinner, time is a luxury few can afford. Since there’s no shame in buying what the pros can do better, here are a few ideas to keep the hectic out of your holiday. 1. Fresh, bright and coppery oysters are a huge treat that wow guests with little…
First Look: Intoxicology in The Grove
A new cocktail supply and spirits shop is now open in The Grove. Intoxicology opened doors Friday, Nov. 18 at 4321 Manchester Ave. As The Scoop reported in August, co-owners Andy Foerstel and Melissa Pfeiffer aim to supply small batch spirits, bitters and barware to cocktail enthusiasts. In addition to liquor and an extensive collection of bitters,…
Holiday Gift Guide: 5 gifts for your food snob
According to David Kamp and Marion Rosenfeld in their snarky Food Snob’s Dictionary, a food snob is someone “who has taken the amateur epicure’s admirable zeal for eating and cooking well to hollandaise-curdling extremes.” Here are a few holiday gift ideas to distinguish your food snob, experienced or aspiring, from the amateurs. 1. Acorns &…
Holiday Gift Guide: 5 gifts to stock a starter kitchen
Everyone has a list of kitchen must-haves, but gifts for new cooks require a little more finesse. They should be practical, yet inspirational; something to not only set them up for success, but also get them excited about cooking for the first time or in a new place. Give these long-lasting tools, amped-up basics and…
Holiday Gift Guide: 5 gifts for the person you HAVE to shop for
It’s not easy to shop for people who have everything or about whom you know nothing, but that doesn’t take them off your gift list. From sweets to splurges to simply pretty things, these are elegant and thoughtful choices that will please just about anyone. 1. Flowers to the PeopleA kitchen bouquet is doubly appreciated…
Recipe: Leftover Turkey Cuban
Leftover Thanksgiving turkey can seem endless – until you press it into this modified Cuban sandwich. Slice a telera or other soft sandwich roll in half lengthwise. On one half, spread 1 tablespoon each yellow mustard and cranberry sauce. Top with 1 slice baby Swiss cheese, 5 to 7 bread-and-butter pickles and 2 ounces each…
Noble Rot Wines at 33 Wine Bar
Nicknaming a fungus “noble” doesn’t really make it sound better, but some winemakers celebrate when Botrytis cinerea, or noble rot, appears on their grapes. 33 Wine Bar owner James Smallwood said wines made with noble rot are immediately recognizable thanks to their thick, sweet profiles. “They’re dessert wines – and it imparts a sort of honeyed…
Di Olivas to open third location in CWE
Owner Robert Palleja has set plans in motion to open a third location of his olive oil and tasting vinegar specialty shop, Di Olivas. Located at 115 N. Euclid Ave., in the Central West End, the shop is slated to open sometime between mid-December and early January. This will be the Palleja’s first move into…
Salted Caramel Tart
8 to 10 servings
Lobster Boil
8 to 10 servings
Tart Dough
1 10-inch tart
First Look: 2nd Shift Brewing on The Hill
After months of anticipation, co-owners Steve and Libby Crider are putting the final touches on 2nd Shift Brewing’s new home at 1601 Sublette Ave., on The Hill. Doors are set to open Dec. 3, pending final licensing approval. As Sauce reported in May, the Criders have spent the past three years looking for a new home for…
Recipe: Meatball Parm Hero and Pomodoro
Like most food writers in their 20s and 30s, I aspired to have Anthony Bourdain’s career once. Jetting around the world, partaking in phenomenal food and drink while someone else footed the bill? That was the life. Alas, Sauce Magazine doesn’t have the same travel budget as CNN, but I’ve continued to live vicariously through…
Recipe: Roasted Sriracha Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkins abound this time of year, but they’re not just for carving and tablescapes. While the flesh can be used for many things, roasting the leftover seeds are a popular healthy snack. I tried this version on a whim, and they turned out to be rather tasty. It comes together very quickly and makes plenty to…
Guide to the Holidays 2016: Season’s Drinkings
Ready the corkscrew, polish the stemware and bring out the wine. Whether you’re looking to drop some coin or want a bottle that only tastes expensive, we’ve got you covered. Impress for less2014 Naveran Brut Cava Cavas like this dry, fresh sparkler may be Spain’s best kept bubbly secret.$15. The Vino Gallery, 4701 McPherson Ave., St. Louis,…
Guide to the Holidays 2016: Cheese for Dessert
Nothing says class like an after-dinner cheese course. “Cheese can be a decadent treat that satisfies your need for something creamy and sweet to finish out a meal,” said Larder & Cupboard general manager Cindy Higgerson. “It’s a nice way to end an elegant dinner.” A good cheese board should have a couple sweet accompaniments…
Parlor to open in The Grove
A new arcade bar is coming to The Grove as five co-owners prepare to open Parlor in next spring or summer at 4170 Manchester Road. As reported by Feast, the hangout will feature pool tables a rotating selection of classic and modern pinball and cabinet games, as well as a drink menu of local craft…
Guide to the Holidays 2016: Bottles of Good Cheer
Put aside your light, workaday brews and reach for something more festive to serve at this extravagant holiday meal. Saint Louis Hop Shop co-owner Justin Harris shared his five picks from double IPAs to rich chocolate stouts to put you in a merry mood. 1. Schlafly Tasmanian IPARedolent with Galaxy and Australian Topaz hops, this…
First Look: Nixta in Botanical Heights
Editor’s note: This post contains an image that may be NSFW. Restaurateur Ben Poremba has added another establishment to his fold in Botanical Heights. Nixta hosts a soft opening tonight, Nov. 11, at 1621 Tower Grove Ave., under the direction of executive chef Tello Carreon. As Sauce reported in October, Poremba’s Bengelina Hospitality has turned the…
First Look: Mauhaus Cat Cafe & Lounge in Maplewood
St. Louis cat lovers have a new favorite hangout. Mauhaus Cat Cafe & Lounge opens tomorrow, Nov. 12, at 3101 Sutton Blvd., in Maplewood. As Sauce reported last year, the 1,500-square-foot space will serve coffee, tea and pastries with international influences. Co-owners Dana Huth and Ben Triola worked with Maplewood architecture firm ADG to create a…
Fleur de Lilies closes in Soulard
After nearly a year-and-a-half in business, Fleur de Lilies has closed its doors for good in Soulard. Its last day in business was Saturday, Nov. 5, as reported by the Riverfront Times. The Creole-Asian fusion restaurant was the brainchild of owners Misha Sampson and Lina Kim. Sauce reviewed the restaurant in January. Sampson said while the…
Recipe: Lemon Cookies
I am a major Top Chef fan (Season 14 starts Dec. 1!). Season six, which featured brothers Bryan and Michael Voltaggio, was a favorite – so much so that on my first trip to Baltimore, I took a detour to Frederick, Maryland to eat at Volt, Bryan Voltaggio’s restaurant. It was a wonderful experience. One…
First Look: Cibare at River City Casino
Italy came to River City Casino last week when Cibare Italian Kitchen opened on Thursday, Nov. 3. Located in a 3,644-square-foot space inside the casino, Cibare offers 83 seats where patrons can enjoy a menu of fresh pastas, Neapolitan-style pizzas and Italian entrees. Though River City is most well known for its casino, “We’re a…
Recipe: Acorn Squash with Apples and Blue Cheese
With beautiful greens, oranges and yellows (and even some blue!), this dish belongs on a holiday table. The crystallized ginger shines through with chewy, peppery-sweet pops that make this dish spectacular. Adding blue cheese to this recipe was genius, but if you dislike it, try a good tangy goat cheese or a sharp cheddar. Acorn…
Acorn Squash with Apples and Blue Cheese
4 servings
8 places to celebrate your vote
Celebrate your presence at the polls and the end of this explosive campaign season today with treats across St. Louis. Perform your civic duty, slap on your “I Voted” sticker and head to these eight spots with Election Day specials. 1. Baileys’ RestaurantsAll Dave Bailey’s restaurants (Baileys’ Range, Rooster, Baileys’ Chocolate Bar, Bridge Tap House &…
Pi Pizzeria’s Chris Sommers to open new pizza concept, ’Zza
Pi Pizzeria co-owner Chris Sommers is branching out on his own to open ‘Zza, a counter-service pizza spot at 282 N. Skinker Blvd. As reported by St. Louis Magazine, the 1,600-square-foot space is slated to open early next year. Sommers said the menu will consist of personal-size pizzas, salads and a combo plate called a…
Gnocchi with Truffles
8 to 10 servings
Bone-in Rib Roast
8 to 10 servings
Rum & Jerry Punch
12 servings
Vegan Pumpkin Pie
1 9-inch pie
Leftover Turkey Cuban
1 sandwich
Creamed Greens with Foie Gras
8 to 10 servings
Fall Squash Mac and Cheese
8 to 10 servings
Compound Butter
1 pound
Save room for dessert
Chocolate lava cake. We’ve all had it; we’ve all loved it. And let’s be honest, we’ve all gone up a jeans size because of it. But gone home raving about it? Not since ’97. Dessert is the final act, the grand finale, the cherry on top (sorry). But what if it could be more than…
Vegan Pumpkin Pie
This Thanksgiving, I will not sit at the kids’ table for the 44th year in a row. I will stride past cousins gulping riesling from The Flintstones jam jars and take my rightful place among Pinterest-inspired decorations donning the main table. This year, I am earning my adult credentials by making a homemade pie. Seriously…
Eat This: Strawberry Mousseline Cake at La Bonne Bouchée
A slice of Strawberry Mousseline Cake from La Bonne Bouchée is the sweet taste of sunshine we’re savoring as winter looms. Layers of classic yellow cake, fluffy vanilla mousse and sliced strawberries are iced in a silky smooth white buttercream, ringed with slivered toasted almonds and topped with a chocolate-dipped strawberry. It’s a rich treat…
Recipe: Tropezienne Tarts
My husband and I recently returned from our honeymoon in the south of France. Tropezienne tarts were one of many French delicacies we indulged in during our travels. These heavenly cream-filled brioche buns originated in St. Tropez, and many flavors exist like the original orange blossom cream. I made a filling that reminded me of…
Tropezienne Tarts
8 to 10 servings
3 new restaurants you must try this November
1. Egg: 2200 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314.202.8224 Egg has expanded from its weekend brunch popup beginnings, taking over Spare No Rib’s original space on Gravois Avenue for good. (Have no fear; Spare No Rib moved to a new home at 3701 S. Jefferson Ave.) Try the cornbread Benedict with a choice of smoked pork…
Hit List: November 2016
Egg Egg has expanded from its weekend brunch popup beginnings, taking over Spare No Rib’s original space on Gravois Avenue for good. (Have no fear; Spare No Rib moved to a new home at 3701 S. Jefferson Ave.) Try the cornbread Benedict with a choice of smoked pork belly or spinach and avocado stacked on…
Review: Kounter Kulture
You usually don’t hear calls of “Yes, chef” or “Coming up, chef” when waiting for dinner to-go, but inside Kounter Kulture, the new carryout eatery in South City’s Lindenwood Park neighborhood, it sounds like you’ve stepped into a fine-dining kitchen. I made this mental note while standing around the storefront operation, snacking on an amuse-bouche…
Taste the upgrade in these grapes
Move over, Barolo. Wines from neighbor Dogliani, Italy were recently granted the superior DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garanita) classification, too. Dogliani wines use only Dolcetto grapes, which have always taken a back seat to Barolo’s Nebbiolo, but produce some juicy, complex dry reds. See what the upgrade is all about with the 2014…
Eat This: Strawberry Mousseline Cake from La Bonne Bouchée
A slice of Strawberry Mousseline Cake from La Bonne Bouchée is the sweet taste of sunshine we’re savoring as winter looms. Layers of classic yellow cake, fluffy vanilla mousse and sliced strawberries are iced in a silky smooth white buttercream, ringed with slivered toasted almonds and topped with a chocolate-dipped strawberry. It’s a rich treat…
Review: Ryder’s Tavern
Friday nights at Ryder’s Tavern, everyone wants the burger. Thick, charred double stacks of beef oozing with American cheese sit on a delectable little premix spread of lettuce, mayo, onion and relish that you don’t ask for, but fall in love with anyway. Unceremoniously wrapped in paper, it may not be the prettiest dish you’ve…
Here comes the season for cider
The season of apple picking and bonfires calls for sipping on cider. Not the sugary sweet candy versions, but one of the thoughtful artisanal varieties currently leading a hard cider renaissance. While local favorites like Schlafly Hard Apple Cider and Urban Chestnut Bushelhead have been around for years, American craft cider is going the way…
First Look: Sardella in Clayton
Get ready, St. Louis. After five months of anticipation, Sardella will open doors for its first dinner service tomorrow, Nov. 2, pending final inspections today. Niche Food Group chef-owner Gerard Craft said Sardella will start with dinner tomorrow and then breakfast service, which will debut Thursday, Nov. 3. Sardella moves into the former home of…
Review: Pizzeoli in St. Louis
Pizzeoli Wood Fired Pizza Napoletana 1928 S. 12th St., St. Louis, 314.449.1111, pizzeoli.com Walking into Pizzeoli, you’re met with the warm aroma of dough cooking in the adorable wood-fire oven and the warm greetings of chef-owner Scott Sandler. Lunch usually isn’t busy, which means service is prompt, and your pie arrives fast – baked at more…
Moroccan-spiced Spaghetti Squash
2 servings
