Blogs

Jeanette Kozlowski returns to review the new season of Hell's Kitchen, starring her favorite bad-boy chef, Gordon Ramsay.

8:04 p.m. As much as I enjoy Gordon Ramsay and Hell's Kitchen, I'm not very pleased with it usurping House's post-American Idol slot. And, by the way, if you missed American Idol, you missed Paula losing her mind.

8:05 p.m. Like most people who almost burn off their hand, Vanessa is rightfully frightened her injury will affect her performance. "I can't be over heat; I can't get my hands wet," she says. "It sucks! I feel like a jackass."

8:06 p.m. Ramsay isn't shy about showing off his $200 white truffle pizza. He gives each team 45 minutes and allows each chef to make his or her own with more than 130 ingredients from which to choose. The team will then select the best pie. Jen's eyes grow wide: "This is the challenge I've been waiting for -- where I can utilize this crazy mind of mine."

A dramatic mid-show development after the jump...

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My review of Revival is now available online. Click here to read. Also in this week's issue: Malcolm ponders canned fried sardines, while Kristie samples Landshark Lager.

-Ian Froeb

Photo: Jennifer Silverberg

As I mentioned when I teased last week's review of Katie's Pizzeria Café, St. Louis is experiencing a glut of new, non-St. Louis-style pizza joints: Katie's, Pi, Bridge & Tunnel Pizza and Onesto.

My colleague Nick Lucchesi has put together a very cool slideshow with behind-the-scenes looks at all four restaurants. Check it out right here.

-Ian Froeb

Photo: Nick Lucchesi

India slaps a heavy duty on basmati rice exports to combat rising food costs. (AP)

Saving endangered species, plants as well as animals, by eating them. (New York Times)

A group of scientists urge a halt to biofuels in order to combat hunger. (AP)

The latest on New York City's efforts to force chain restaurants to post calorie counts with their menus. (AFP)

-Ian Froeb

Fu Manchu, the new pan-Asian restaurant from local chef-restaurateur Mike Johnson, looks like it's almost ready to go. It's taking over the former Grateful Inn space at 7336 Manchester Road. More details on the restaurant as I learn them (or when the restaurant sets up a Web site!). As you might remember, Johnson opened the Tex-Mex joint El Scorcho just down the block last year.

-Ian Froeb

Revival is an audacious name for any new restaurant, let alone one that's replacing an institution as beloved and influential as King Louie's. The word's connotations are mostly positive, of course. (Don't worry: I don't plan any CPR jokes.) But whether it conjures thoughts of a Cardinals' late-season rally from the middle of the pack to win the pennant or a charismatic preacher saving souls in a crowded tent outside a dusty town, the name raises a curious question: What, exactly, is being revived?

This week I review Revival, the new restaurant in the old King Louie's space. Check back here tomorrow to see what I think.

-Ian Froeb

Gut Check has made its feelings on competitive eating very clear. But don't let anyone ever accuse us of not giving both sides of the story. (And he does have a point about curling.) Via Deadspin:

-Ian Froeb

The outcome of the U.N. summit on the food crisis: A task force and a call for countries to end bans on exporting food -- those bans are only worsening the situation. (AFP)

Congress is finally wrapping up work on the five-year farm bill, but the White House isn't happy with the new version. (Reuters)

Big news in the candy biz: Mars is buying Wrigley's for $23 billion. (New York Times)

Is this the end for one of our favorite stories? Whole Foods claims the FTC won't punish the company for CEO John Mackey's online postings as Rahodeb. (AP)

The Post-Dispatch profiles Gerard Craft of Niche.

Super special thanks to my colleague Sarah Norwood for the nifty (and unexpected!) new logo for the Morning Brew.

-Ian Froeb

Believe it or not, Thursday is the first of May. That means farmers' market season is about to get underway. After the jump, the kickoff dates for some of the area's most popular markets. If I miss one, let me know in the comments section and I'll update the post.

Photo: www.artic.edu

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U.N. development agencies meet in Switzerland to discuss the global food crisis. (BBC News)

Is there a backlash against organic products? (CNN Money)

Today's Post-Dispatch has a story on a Missouri farmer trying to expand the market for goat meat.

Are screw-top wine bottles finally making in-roads into France? (AP)

-Ian Froeb

Now here's a reason to leave the house on Sunday: Left Banks Books is presenting one of the few remaining Food Network personalities worth a damn, Alton Brown, at 4 p.m. at the Ethical Society of St. Louis (9001 Clayton Road). Brown is promoting his new book, Feasting on Asphalt: The River Run. More details here.

That's all for this week. Next Week: Can you revive the magic of King Louie's?

Have a great weekend. Eat something good.

-Ian Froeb

Photo: www.altonbrown.com

A look at what’s happening at our favorite St. Louis food blogs…

Meet Kimberly: Her Adventures in Eating Locally blog chronicles her participation in a CSA (community supported agriculture) program.

The Pollacks file a review on Bartolino's Osteria.

At STL Hops, Mike reports on the release party for the new O'Fallon Pappy Van Winkle Smoked Porter.

Is there more after the jump? You betcha.

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U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon calls for action to combat the global food crisis. (AP)

The crisis has led a few European leaders to rethink their support for biofuels. (USA Today)

A federal appeals court blocks enforcement of New York City's new law forcing chain restaurants to post calorie counts. (AP)

-Ian Froeb

If you're still making dinner plans for this evening, remember that today is the annual Dining Out for Life event. Numerous area restaurants are donating at least 25% of proceeds to fight HIV/AIDS. A list of participating restaurants is right here.

-Ian Froeb

Since news broke that Busch's Grove will close next month, rumors have abounded -- here as well as on the Urban St. Louis message board and the Eat at Joe's forum on the Post-Dispatch site -- that Tony's owner Vince Bommarito will take over the property. Post-Dispatch business reporter Joe Whittington confirmed this morning that Bommarito is "looking at" a deal of some sort. I called Bommarito this afternoon, and he told me that what he said in the Post-Dispatch report is all there is to report right now. More as I learn it.

-Ian Froeb