St. Louis Food Blog

November is already more than halfway over, which means the area's seasonal farmers' markets have long since closed up shop until spring...with a couple of exceptions. One such exception is the Maplewood Farmers' Market, which holds its Winter Pantry once a month at Schlafly Bottleworks (7260 Southwest Avenue; website). The first Winter Pantry is this Saturday, November 21, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Bottleworks' Crown Room. Visit the market's page at the Schlafly website for a list of possible vendors.

Straub's announced today that it will close its new store in Ellisville on October 31, less than a year after the 40,000-square-foot location, which includes a cooking school, opened. Both the Post-Dispatch and the St. Louis Business Journal have the story, including the official Straub's statement, which blames the economy and increased competition in the area. Both articles note that some Straub's employees will be assigned, while around 50 from the Ellisville location will lose their jobs.

​Whole Foods Market CEO John Mackey penned a Wall Street Journal op-ed calling for the government to stay out of health care. In response, some supporters of President Obama's health-care plan called for a boycott of Whole Foods. Now, the St. Louis Tea Party Coalition is showing its support for Mackey's position by holding a "buycott" at the Town and Country Whole Foods tonight at 6 p.m. Such is the state of political discourse in America, 2009.

No truth to the rumor that Whole Foods will refund 10 cents for every discredited "death panel" argument that Tea Party activists reuse.

City Grocers reopened today as City Gourmet (920 Olive Street). The downtown grocery store closed last week for a quick but thorough re-do, jettisoning the groceries in favor of prepared food and fast-casual fare, including a new burrito bar and stir-fry station.

It will be interesting to see how City Gourmet fares with Culinaria - A Schnucks Market now open and, in its initial week, at least, a big hit. City Gourmet might no longer be a grocery store, but Culinaria features prepared food and fast-casual fare, too.

Culinaria - A Schnucks Market opened this morning at 315 North 9th Street. The store features a 21,000-square-foot main floor and a 6,000-square-foot mezzanine.

Ian Froeb

Culinaria - A Schnucks Market at Olive and North 9th Street

​More, including details on changes at nearby City Grocer, after the jump...

Walker Claridge, center, with St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley, far left, St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, near left, and fellow Missouri farmer, Rhonda Perry, right.

A rural Missouri farmer who provides produce to some of St. Louis' critically praised restaurants was a featured speaker at today's Farm Aid press conference at Soulard Farmers' Market.

Walker Claridge, a 34-year-old first-generation farmer from Hatton, Missouri, said his farms in Calloway County provide food to The Crossing, Liluma, Yia Yia's Euro Bistro, Acero and Saint Louis University's Fresh Gatherings Café, among other eatieries. Claridge can also be found on Wednesdays at the Maplewood Farmers' Market, selling his produce.

The city of O'Fallon, Missouri is inaugurating a "farmers' and artists' market" this Saturday.

Per a press release, "the public is invited to 'get up with the chickens' and O'Fallon's Mayor, Bill Hennessy, and attending a ribbon-cutting....at 7 a.m."

Here's the skinny for the rest of the season.

Time: 7 - 11 a.m.
Day: Saturdays from July 11 though October 31, rain or shine
Location: T.R. Hughes Ballpark, 900 TR Hughes Boulevard, O'Fallon, MO 63366

A list of vendors signed up so far is available here.

The North City Farmers' Market opens for the season this Saturday, June 6. The market runs every Saturday through October 24 from 9 a.m.-noon. It's located at 14th and St. Louis Streets, across from Crown Candy Kitchen. The market Web site includes a list of regular vendors. The first market of the season will feature music from the Dock Ellis Band and R&B artist LeAndra Haynes. There will also be free health screenings and, for kids, free Spanish and French lessons. For more info, call 314-495-0171.

The Clayton Farmers' Market opens for the season tomorrow, May 23. The market is held every Saturday through October 24 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. in the parking lot of the Straub's Market at 8282 Forsyth Boulevard. The official Web site includes a list of vendors. From the Web site:

The mission of the new Clayton Farmer's Market is to promote good foods from locally grown producers and regionally branded products that appeal to dedicated Market-goers, support local farmers, spotlight organic items as well as other unique or seasonal specialties, and to educate the public about the preparation of local seasonal food.

As such, all items for sale shall be Missouri/Illinois-made and food-themed products with emphasis on the home-grown, home-made or hand crafted.

User "ZioDave," Wikimedia Commons

Another sign that spring is moving forward at warp factor ten: Thies Farm & Greenhouses has announced that its strawberries are ready to be picked. You can find strawberries at both Thies locations -- 4215 North Hanley Road and 3120 Creve Coeur Mill Road -- but you can pick your own only at the Creve Coeur Mill Road farm. Thies' Web site advises calling ahead to 314-428-9878 to check on availability.

Tomorrow is opening day for three area farmers' markets, including Tower Grove Farmers' Market, Riverfront Times' 2008 pick for Best Farmers' Market. The kickoff celebration runs from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and will feature live music, yoga, barbecue and, of course, vendors of food and artisan goods.

The Land of Goshen Community Market opens at 8 a.m. tomorrow in downtown Edwardsville, Illinois, and runs till noon. If you've never visited the Edwardsville market, it's a lot of fun and -- if you're in St. Louis -- a pleasant drive.

Finally, the DeSoto Farmers' Market begins tomorrow. The market is held from 8 a.m.-noon at St. Andrew's Methodist Church (1004 Rock Road).

It's May -- though you couldn't tell from today's weather -- which means farmers' market season is about to kick into high gear. Tomorrow is the opening day for the Ferguson Farmers' Market, which is located at 20 South Florissant Road. The market will run every Saturday into October from 8 a.m.-noon.

Speaking of farmers' markets, if you haven't attended one yet, the selection is starting to grow: I had my first local asparagus of the season, from Biver Farms, at the Maplewood Farmers' Market this week.

Thanks to our very own Noble Writ, Dave Nelson, for passing along this info: local CSA Fair Shares still has a few spots open for its new season. Joining a CSA is a great way to support local agriculture and feed your family healthy, delicious food at its seasonal peak. For more info or to submit a membership application, visit the Fair Shares Web site.

Another market to add to the calendar: The DeSoto Farmers' Market will open for the season on Saturday, May 9, at St. Andrew's Methodist Church (1004 Rock Road). The market will run from 8 a.m.-noon through October 31.

You can download the market rules and a vendor application at the official Web site. The market is sponsored by Trailnet and Get Healthy DeSoto. For more info, contact Debby Campbell. (Click link for e-mail.)

Spring is here, which means that the area's farmers' markets will soon be in full swing. Some, like the Maplewood Famers' Market, have already begun. Here's a look at the announced starting dates for several area farmers' markets. If I missed one e-mail me or mention it in the comments, and I'll add it to the list.

Already Open

Maplewood Farmers' Market: Wednesday, April 1

Kirkwood Farmers' Market: Saturday, April 4

Opening Soon

Ferguson Farmers' Market: Saturday, May 2

Tower Grove Farmers' Market: Saturday, May 9

Land of Goshen Community Market (Edwardsville, Illinois): Saturday, May 9

NEW DeSoto Farmers' Market: Saturday, May 9

Clayton Farmers' Market: Saturday, May 23

Ellisville Farmers' Market: Thursday, May 28

Highland (Illinois) Markt und Mehr: Thursday, June 4

North City Farmers' Market: Saturday, June 6

Spring is here, the weather is lovely -- just don't check that Opening Day forecast -- and, at last, the weekly farmers' markets are opening.

This afternoon the Maplewood Farmers' Market opens at Schlafly Bottleworks (7260 Southwest Avenue; Web site). The market runs from 4-7 p.m. In my experience, if you want any of the good stuff this early in the season, you should arrive closer to 4 than 7.

Gut Check plans to be there, twittering away.

Got word from Sarah Vickers, manager of the Market at Busch's Grove (9160 Clayton Road) that efforts are underway to proffer as many locally-produced wines and foods as possible at the upscale grocery.

Tomorrow, in fact, the market is hosting a local food fair from noon-4 p.m. Shoppers can meet local food purveyors and talk to the market's managers about what other items should be added to the roster.

(Could also be an opportunity for farmers and producers to make themselves known to the market....)

Vickers tells me Busch's Grove already sells Lone Oak Organics herbs, Ozark Forest Mushrooms, Stinger's Honey, Prairie Grass Farms lamb, Blues Hog BBQ sauces, Mangia pasta and more.

The new Highland Markt und Mehr farmers' market in Highland, Illinois, still has room for vendors, according to a new press release.

Vendors can make a commitment for the full season or on a weekly basis. Fees are nominal and vary according to vendor space requirements and season commitment. Covered space is available, as is space to sell directly out of vehicles. The market will feature vendor grown vegetables, fruits, flowers and homemade preserves and specialty items as well as the work of artisans.

For vendor application or more info, call the Highland Chamber of Commerce at 618-654-3721.

The Highland Markt und Mehr, will be held at Lindendale Park and the Madison County fairgrounds on Thursdays from 4-8 p.m.from June 4 through October.

Little Brownie Bakers

Back in the day, there were few times of the year that made me more miserable than the Girl Scout cookie drive. Every afternoon and on weekends, I would put on my oh-so-stylish brown polyester jumper and sash and roam the streets of my neighborhood, knocking on doors and, if anyone answered, asking "Do you want to buy Girl Scout cookies?"

More accurate, I muttered this inquiry to my shoes. It didn't really help that everyone else in my Brownie troop lived in the same neighborhood. A household unmolested by little girls in brown polyester was a rare, rare thing. I found the seemingly-endless rejection painful.

Eventually, in order to help me make my quota and win some of the cooler prizes (like the stuffed penguin I particularly coveted one year), my father would take the cookie sign-up sheet to work. One glorious year, we had to staple an extra sheet to the one provided by the Girl Scouts.

My father was a salesman by profession, so I assumed his success with cookies came from his vast experience and superior sales patter. It wasn't until college when a writing-workshop classmate brought in a cookie sign-up sheet and politely asked us if we care to buy a box of cookies and we all pounced on it so ferociously that we nearly tore it to shreds that I learned the truth:

Adults + Girl Scout Cookies - neighborhood inhabited by Girl Scouts = fish in a barrel.

The city of Highland, Illinois, is planning a new farmers' market for the 2009 season. The market, called Highland Markt und Mehr, will be held at Lindendale Park and the Madison County fairgrounds on Thursdays from 4-8 p.m.from June 4 through October.

Farmers and artisan vendors interested in participating in the market can attend an informational meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, at the Holiday Inn Express in Highland. For more information, call the Highland Chamber of Commerce at 618-654-3721.

A couple of quick hits on a slow Thursday afternoon:

1) Post-Dispatch business columnist Joe Whittington reports that the Joe's Crab Shack in Chesterfield may become something called the Brick House Tavern & Tap.

2) A follow-up on Tuesday's post about the new Schnucks location downtown: Reader Kimberly posted a link to a St. Louis Business Journal article, which notes that the new store will be called Culinaria - A Schnucks Market.

The Post-Dispatch had an article today noting that Schnucks will begin construction of its much anticipated downtown location at 315 North Ninth Street. A few key notes from the story:

The planning process -- not the tough economy -- delayed construction of the downtown location, said Lori Willis, a spokeswoman for the Maryland Heights-based chain.

"It's a challenging store for us to build," she said. "The two-story format is a departure from any store we've built before."

Look for a summer opening.

Both Joe Bonwich and Sauce report that Clayton wine and food shop Parker's Table (8137 Maryland Avenue) is closing. Stop by for discounted wine and, on Saturday, a "farewell toast."

This Saturday St. John's Episcopal Church (3664 Arsenal Street) hosts the second St. Louis Community Farmers' Market of the season. The market runs from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The market's Web site includes a list of confirmed and likely vendors.

The St. Louis Community Farmers' Market meets on the first Saturday of each month through April.

- Ian Froeb

The transformation from iconic St. Louis restaurant to upscale grocery store is complete: The Market at Busch's Grove opened Saturday at 9160 Clayton Road. The market is open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Sat. and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Call 314-567-7770 for more info. Joe Bonwich, my counterpart at the Post-Dispatch, filed a report on the market's grand opening at his blog, Off the Menu.

- Ian Froeb

Got an e-mail from Mark and Jamie Sanfilippo, makers of Salume Beddu, saying they've got a maiden batch of Spanish chorizo ready for the first installment of the St. Louis Community Farmers' Market this weekend.

Yes, you can get your love for local farmers going again on Saturday mornings at the St. John Episcopal Church located at 3664 Arsenal Street, just west of South Grand Boulevard. This winter market replaces, in a sense, the spring/summer Tower Grove Farmers' Market, as it features many of the same vendors (and takes place in the same 'hood). Some of the farmers grow in hydroponic (greenhouse) conditions, meaning they have leafy greens and other veggies all winter long.

The market runs on the second Saturday of the month (December 13; January 10; February 14; March 14; April 11)  from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

- Kristen Hinman

It's finally here! On newsstands now (or tomorrow, depending on where you live) and online: The Riverfront Times Best of St. Louis 2008.

Links to the food and drink categories:

Restaurants
Food & Drink
Bars & Clubs

And be sure to check out the other categories -- several of them have food and drink winners.

Enjoy!

- Ian Froeb