My review of Katie's Pizzeria Café is now available online. Click here to read. Also in this week's issue: Malcolm risks leprosy to try armadillo, Kristie files a Drink of the Week from South Carolina and -- and! -- very exciting news about the restaurant scene at Ballpark Village.
Photo: Jennifer Silverberg
The Peace Insititute Printing building at 4436 Olive Street will soon house The Wine Press, a wine and (if I understand correctly) higher-end beer bar. Normally, I'd try to cobble together details on the new spot, but owner Frank Robbins has been blogging about the project since last year. Not only is his blog incredibly informative to anyone who has wondered how much work goes into opening a new business, but Robbins is also an entertaining writer.
After the jump, an excerpt.
BBC - Photo: Jennifer Silverberg
My review of BBC Banh Mi, Boba Tea & Crêperie is now available online. Click here to read.
Also in this week's issue: Kristie enjoys a Bud at her old haunt, Booches in Columbia, Mo., while Malcolm ponders whether nuclear winter is a prerequisite for enjoying jellied whitefish.
Photo: Ian Froeb
Now open at 1405 Washington Avenue (the former Kyo space) is Solace Café & Wine Bar. On its Web site, at least, Solace features a small menu of appetizers and "seasonal cuisine." Upstairs from Solace is Sugar, a lounge.
Has the restaurant and "ultra lounge" Dolce' closed? It seems so -- at least, temporarily. It wasn't open for its normal lunch hours Tuesday and Wednesday nor for its dinner hours this evening. Its phone number was disconnected as of this afternoon.
More as I learn it.
Don't remember Dolce'? You can read my review right here.
My review of Burger Bar and Sub Zero New American Burger Restaurant is now available online. Click here to read.
Burger Bar - Photo: Michelle Hudgins
Also in this week's issue, Malcolm ponders fraudulent black-eyed peas and neck bones, while Krisitie seeks Sol -- and solace.
News you can use in the Gut Check column.
A look at what's happening at some of our favorite St. Louis food blogs.
My review not enough for you? Mike shares on Tigín's beer menu at STL Hops.
The Cheesemonger's Wife has the skinny on some very expensive pork.
The Cupcake Project promises cupcakes that are better than sex.
At STL Bites, Bill wonders what the worst thing you've ever eaten is -- and then opens the forum to your answers.
The Pollacks visit the new Thai restaurant Land of Smile.
At Sounding My Barbaric Gulp, Kelly overcomes her hatred of beef stroganoff.
French bread is Mandy's challenge at Fresh from the Oven.
Karen wants your help organizing her spice cabinet at FamilyStyle Food.
Iron Stef improvises on Nigella's recipe for chicken cacciatore.
Nupur dishes up burji, an Indian egg dish, at One Hot Stove.
Alanna has carrot dip on the menu at A Veggie Venture.
Bruno's Dream is baking biscotti.
That's all for this week. Next week: Mexican food like Mom used to make. If my mom were Mexican. Which she's not.
Have a great weekend. Enjoy the weather. Eat something good.
The sports bar and grill Skybox -- featuring more than 75 high-def TVs! -- is now open at 800 North Third Street in Lacede's Landing. I'd offer more info, but I can't get the Web site to work on my office computer, which apparently has been making strange sounds when I'm not here. ("Angry sounds," says a colleague.)
Anyway, Skybox is a venture from Nelly, Marshall Faulk, Larry Hughes and Darius Miles.
Here, courtesy of Annie (even though I sent her the original link), is a picture of Nelly and a cake shaped like a woman's rear clad in Apple Bottoms jeans:
My review of Three Monkeys is now available online. Click here to read.
Three Monkeys - Photo: Jennifer Silverberg
Also in this week's issue: Malcolm ponders a history of concern about pork, while Kristie laments poor, poor absinthe. And if you've missed any of the dining news I've posted here in the last week, the Gut Check column has a wrap-up.
The weekend never seems long enough, but it's still plenty of time to try new restaurants or rediscover old favorites. Here are three recommendations of places I've visited in recent weeks.
Yoshi's (1637 Clarkson Road, Chesterfield) Here's a reason to venture out far into the county now that Highway 40 has closed. Or, if you already live out there, a place to eat well close to home. The nigiri sushi is fantastic, both the fish itself and the rice. Though mackerel is a bit too fishy for some, the flavor transported me to childhood summers on the Atlantic.
Biggie's (3332 Watson Road) If you needed to define "neighborhood joint" to a foreigner, this place would do well. Sandwiches, burger, pizza, pastas: Satisfying comfort fare is this place's watchword. I dig the veal parm sandwich and -- yes, I admit it -- the toasted ravioli. A good place to have a beer and a snack and watch this weekend's games.
Sol Lounge (4241 Lindell Boulevard) The large basement area of the relocated Grind coffee house has a chill vibe and some good, reasonably priced brews on tap, including a couple selections from British brewer Fuller's and, my current indulgence, Young's Double Chocolate Stout.
That's it for this week. Next week, if you're lucky, the following will be explained: "So fuck you. Fuck you and your overprivileged, deliberately uninformed existence."
Also! Indian food and Timbaland, together at last.
Have a great weekend. Eat something good.
A look at what's happening at some of our favorite St. Louis food blogs.
Meet Kelly, the newest addition to our happy food-blog family. Go say hello.
Elsewhere this week: The Pollacks visit Jim Fiala's original St. Louis restaurant, The Crossing.
Iron Stef offers a recipe for chicken fingers with a peanut dipping sauce.
At STL Bites, Bill speaks up for an Edwardsville restaurant.
Mike has advice for the beer menu at Growlers Pub at STL Hops.
At One Hot Stove, Nupur has a recipe for garlic-onion soup.
Karen presents rosemary potato gnocchi at FamilyStyle Food.
Or try Alanna's recipe for 15-bean soup at A Veggie Venture.
Do you know a St. Louis food blog we should read? Do you write one yourself? Drop us a line.
My review of Araka is now available online. Click here to read.
Araka - Photo: Jennifer Silverberg
Also in this week's issue: Malcolm tests the boundaries of political correctness and chicken-wing ettiquette with the Harlem Car Bomb, while Kristie urges William D. Alandale Brewery Company to be a little more personable.
We interrupt Gut Check's holiday hiatus -- as well as a wicked hangover -- to inform you that this week's issue is now available online. In lieu of an actual review, I'm counting down my ten favorite dishes of 2007. Click here to read.
Sound familiar, loyal Gut Check readers? That's right -- I repurposed content!
Also in this week's issue: Kristie reflects on her three favorite Drinks of the Week of 2007.
We now return to merry-making and chasing cats out of the Christmas tree. See you in a week.
My review of Gioia's Deli and Shapiro's Market is now available online. Click here to read.
Gioia's Deli - Photo: Jennifer Silverberg
Also in this week's issue, Malcolm tries to keep down a chocolate-flavored Santa, while Kristie builds her own Drink of the Week.
My review of Jilly's Cupcake Bar and the Cupcakery is now online. Click here to read.
Also in this week's issue: Malcolm wonders what could have spoiled his All American "Fun" Burger Mallow Giant Size Burger, while Kristie, "Liquid Cocaine" unavailable, opts for Samuel Adams Octoberfest.
