If you didn't make it to Saturday's Cinco de Mayo celebration on Cherokee Street, Brent Holzapfel has a slideshow of the festivities.
Photo: Brent Holzapfel
Gut Check recommends three ways you won't go hungry this weekend.
1. Cinco de Mayo is Monday, but the big party takes place tomorrow on one of Gut Check's favorite streets, Cherokee: food, music, arts and crafts and maybe -- just maybe -- a drink or two. Visit the party's official Web site for all the details.
Even more Cinco de Mayo-related fun after the jump...
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.
Photo: www.altonbrown.com
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.
If it doesn't seem like a year has passed since I last touted Dining Out for Life -- well, it hasn't. Dining Out for Life has moved from November to April, and this year's event well take place at area restaurants this Thursday, April 24. Participating restaurants will donate at least 25% of your check to fight HIV/AIDS. Click here for the list of participating restaurants. You might want to call the restaurant to make sure it is participating and to make a reservation.
Californians must think we're such wimps to obsess over this morning's earthquake. Call me a wimp, then. My nerves are shot.
Sunday is the St. Louis Earth Day Festival in Forest Park. Details here.
Also on Sunday is Food Outreach's A Tasteful Affair at Chase Park Plaza. Details here.
That's it for this week. Next Week: The Great St. Louis Pizza Glut of '08 begins.
Have a great weekend. Eat something good.
Monday was the 75th anniversary of beer and wine's return from Prohibition. As you might already know, Schlafly is hosting a big party at the Bottleworks tomorrow. Details here and, as I mentioned in the Blog Digest, STL Hops has the list of beers here.
That's it for this week. Next week: My favorite new restaurant of the year so far. You'll only be surprised if you haven't eaten there.
Have a great weekend. Eat something good.
On this day, 75 years ago, beer and wine returned (officially) to America. In celebration, we're drinking a cold one right now.* (CNN)
More warnings that rising food costs could lead to social disruption. (Daily Telegraph)
In fact, riots over food costs have broken out in Haiti. (BBC News)
A machine that requires 156 steps to make a burger wins this year's Rube Goldberg award. (AP)
* - Not really, Mom.
www.greenwichmeantime.com
Several fun food events to check out this weekend:
The American Czech Educational Center is holdings its annual Czech Festival tomorrow. Alison Sieloff has the details right here.
If you feel like a drive, Hermann, Missouri, holds its annual Wurstfest this weekend. Click here for all the details.
Finally, Schlafly Bottleworks (7260 Southwest Avenue) is hosting its winter market of local produce from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. tomorrow.
That's it for this week. Next week, a confession: My name is Ian, and I don't know how to drink boba tea.
Have a great weekend. Eat something good.
Paul Newman is introducing a line of Newman's Own wines. They aren't available in stores yet, but you can try them at a wine dinner at Fleming's Steakhouse & Wine Bar (1855 South Lindbergh Boulevard) at 6:30 p.m. this Friday, February 29.
The five-course meal includes Newman's Own chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon, both from 2006. Wines from Francis Ford Coppola's vineyards are also featured. There will be a red carpet and Paul Newman movie trivia, and The Color of Money will be playing. The cost is $95 per person (tax and tip not included). Call 314-567-7610 for more information. The full menu is after the jump.
Stay home. Seriously. Cook your significant other a nice meal. Better yet, cook the meal together. And, no, that's not a euphemism -- though cooking together can be totally sexy.
Anyway, your meal doesn't have to be elaborate. It doesn't even have to be good. It's the thought that counts, of course, and you will think the embarrassment of an overcooked piece of meat or fallen soufflé still beats the hell out of a rushed, overpriced prix fixe meal at a crowded, noisy restaurant.
But if you must dine out Thursday evening, I feel compelled to inform you that, once again, White Castle is taking reservations for a candlelit dinner. Call 314-535-7430 ext.13 to make your reservation.
I totally should have posted this yesterday: The event has been underway since this morning. Sigh. Anyway...
The Specialty Coffee Association of America's Midwest Regional Barista Competition is taking place today and tomorrow from 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Third Degree Glass Factory. (5200 Delmar Boulevard) Kaldi's has much, much more information on its Web site right here.
As an ex-barista, I'll say this much: Pulling a very good, let alone perfect, shot of espresso is a lot harder than you might think. (I could never do it -- and then Starbucks took away the manual machines.) Much respect to those who can do it at this level.
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.
Well, this week was kind of a wash here at Gut Check. Only yesterday could I actually smell and taste again. So I don't really have a restaurant to recommend, let alone three. Though I'll put in a good word for two old favorites that helped me battle my cold: a bowl of pho from Pho Long and a bowl of hot-and-sour soup from In Soo.
A couple of events to check out this weekend. Tonight is the Mardi Gras Wine Taste at both the Lemp Grand Hall and Mad Art Gallery. Brooke Foster has more information right here.
Tomorrow Schlafly Bottleworks (7260 Southwest Avenue) hosts the Cabin Fever tasting event.
That's all for this week. Next week: Why we shouldn't need the term "gastropub" in the first place.
Have a great weekend. Eat something good.
Baker and author Peter Reinhart will be promoting his new book, Whole Grain Breads: New Techniques, Extraordinary Flavor, from 9-11 a.m. on Sunday, January 20, at the new Companion in the Central West End (4651 Maryland Avenue).
EDIT: Thanks to Dan D. for noticing that I omitted the date from the original post.
