Butter Crunch: A gorgeous head of fresh, crisp lettuce for $3 bucks. | Zach Garrison

The Tower Grove Farmers' Market (in Tower Grove Park at the intersection of Main Drive and Center Cross Drive, west of the wading pool; 314-771-4410) having been open for a few weeks now, we figure now is the time to head over for a Saturday-morning produce run.

In order to prep you, dear food lover, for what to expect when you're exploring on Saturday, Gut Check grabbed a few insulated grocery bags and sallied forth to the market last Saturday. Such foresight is our hallmark not at all typical of us, but hey, even a blind squirrel nabs a nut now and then.

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It was a damp and chilly opening day for the eighth season of the Tower Grove Farmers' Market (Main Drive & Center Cross Drive, west of the wading pool; 314-771-4410 ), but that didn't stop St. Louisans from showing up to enjoy food, music and the variety of crafts from local artisans.

Crystal Rolfe

Chilly weather and overcast skies didn't scare away the multitudes who flocked to the Tower Grove Farmers' Market for opening day.

Since its opening opening day in 2006, the Tower Grove market has burgeoned in size and range, attracting thousands of visitors each week and featuring vendors who offer fruits and vegetables galore, not to mention specialty items such as hand-spun angora yarn and organically cultivated mushrooms.

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Good news for locavores: Our options for locally grown produce are about to expand significantly. Tomorrow, Saturday, May 4, the Tower Grove Farmers' Market (at the intersection of Main Drive and Center Cross Drive, west of the wading pool; 314-771-4410) launches its eighth season -- has it really been that long?! -- in style, bringing together more than 90 vendors offering everything from local produce to organic spices. Beginning at 8 a.m. and continuing till 2 p.m., the festivities transpire smack-dab in the middle of Tower Grove Park.

Opening day brings a passel of activities to augment the regular market.

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via Facebook

Rumors of this or that grocery store opening a Delmar Loop location have run rampant for years. The chatter has only intensified since Washington University announced its plans to build a massive retail-residential development in the Loop.

Construction on the Wash. U. project is now under way, and one local blog believes it has identified which grocery store will occupy a large swath of the retail space.

Alex Ihnen of nextSTL claims that Global Foods Market (421 North Kirkwood Road, Kirkwood; 314-835-1112) will open a location in Wash. U.'s Delmar Loop development. Ihnen couches his report as "nextSTL has learned" without naming a specific source.

Gut Check is always hungry for more restaurant news. Feed us your tips.

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Courtesy of Vin de Set

Land-locked pescatarians and seafood lovers rejoice -- Vin de Set's (2017 Chouteau Avenue) Fresh Fish Market returns for a second year with saltwater treasures straight off the boat from the coast. Every Thursday from now through the fall, head to the rooftop European-style open-air market to choose your own dinner adventure.

See also:
-Food Photo Essay: Finned, Scaled, Shelled at Bob's Seafood

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Yesterday, under ominous storm clouds, the Schlafly Farmers' Market (formerly known as the Maplewood Famers' Market) opened for business in direct defiance of the blustering winds.

Zach Garrison

Held each Wednesday until the end of October from 4 to 7 p.m. in the parking lot of Schlafly Bottleworks (7260 Southwest Avenue, Maplewood), this gathering of local producers presents an eclectic array, ranging from Hanley Fold Farm's goat-milk soap to the sugary staples of Cherokee Street's El Chico Bakery.

Though the list of vendors is subject to change throughout the year, for the most part a reliable cohort sets up each week. But while the vendors might remain familiar, the market will evolve as the seasons change.

The best example might be Three Rivers Community Farm, located in Elsah, Illinois, which currently offers winter greens -- spinach, arugula and bok choy, for example -- but with warmer weather will come a full cornucopia of spring crops, including squash and cherry tomatoes.

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image via

Martin Casas and his daughter in a St. Louis park.

St. Louis has oodles of markets, but there's nothing quite like Grand Market, slated to open in Strauss Park (Washington and North Grand boulevards) this summer.

According to market coordinator Martin Casas, the market will be part arts venue, part specialty store and part produce vendor. It will take advantage of the diverse community that surrounds the Grand Center district, the geographic center of St. Louis.

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The voicemail sent a chill straight down Gut Check's spine and back up again:

"Hi, this is Alison ________. I'm calling from Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern. There was a piece that was published about Andrew Zimmern coming to the Soulard Market. The network has just asked me to give you guys a call. They're a little bit uncomfortable having all of this information published."

The briefest of pauses.

"For security purposes."

See also:
- Bizarre Foods' Andrew Zimmern to Visit Soulard Farmers Market in March
- Soulard Farmers Market Announces Bizarre Foods Filming Date

Sweet mother of God, what had we done?

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image via

Mark your calendars! Andrew Zimmern of Bizarre Foods America is coming to Soulard Farmers Market (730 Carroll Street; 314-622-4180) on Saturday, March 16.

We first reported that Bizarre Foods America was filming at the market back in February, but after finalizing plans with Travel Channel bigwigs, Soulard Farmers Market was able to announce the date yesterday.

See Also:
- Bizarre Foods' Andrew Zimmern to Visit Soulard Farmers Market in March

Gut Check is always hungry for more restaurant news. Feed us your tips.

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We learned last fall that the St. Louis area was almost certain to receive a third location of Whole Foods Market -- and the first within the city limits. Specifically, we learned that Mills Properties reportedly had a letter of intent from Whole Foods to open in the ground floor of a new building at the currently vacant corner of North Euclid and West Pine Avenues in the Central West End.

See Also:
- Report: Whole Foods Market to Open in Central West End

Gut Check is always hungry for more restaurant news. Feed us your tips.

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