Kerry Soraci had a vision when she opened I Scream Cakes (2641 Cherokee Street; 314-932-5758) two years ago: of a fun, creative place where art and food could mix.

Crystal Rolfe

See also:
- RFT pick for "Best Ice Cream Parlor" (2011)
- RFT pick for "Best Ice Cream Parlor (Dog Division)" (2012)
- We All Scream for Ice Cream (2011)

Soraci wants to keep everything as organic as possible and offers gluten-free cakes and mostly organic ice cream, along with vegan options and treats for your canine friend. If you can't make it down to the shop on Cherokee, I Scream Cakes can be found at Whole Foods Market and at the Schlafly Farmers' Market.

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

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.

Since Sump Coffee (3700 South Jefferson Avenue; 917-412-5670) opened its doors to the public in December 2011, owner/coffee baron Scott Carey has been bringing a "Third Wave" coffee experience to south St. Louis.

Crystal Rolfe

Carey wants his clientele to enjoy coffee's simplest and subtlest pleasures, with no artificial intervention. that means high-quality beans, freshly roasted on the premises in small batches and brewed to reflect coffee's complex flavors.

See also:
- Sump Coffee Brings Third Wave Coffee to South City
- RFT Best of St. Louis choice for "Best Coffeehouse" in 2012

Midwest Pasta Company (2023 Cherokee Street; 314-772-7560) director of operations David Burmeister has been in the food business for more than twenty years, and he's no stranger to pasta.

Crystal Rolfe

Having opened Midwest almost two years ago on the site of a former dairy at Cherokee and Illinois streets, these days the noodle-making team supplies pasta to more than 80 local restaurants and independent grocers (examples of the latter include Local Harvest and Vincents), hawk their wares at area farmers' markets and provide private-label fresh pasta to Schnucks and Dierbergs.

It all adds up to nearly a ton of pasta per week -- all freshly prepared and south-city certified.

See also:
- Gut Check First Look: Midwest Pasta Company

Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year, was celebrated this past weekend at Wat Phrasriratanaram (890 Lindsay Lane, Florissant; 314-839-3115).

The only Buddist temple in the St. Louis area, Wat Phrasriratanaram is home to a half-dozen monks. For Songkran, local Thai restaurants and families prepare dishes to raise money for the temple. This event is free and open to the public. There is also music, meditation and traditional dancing.

Crystal Rolfe

Bob and Barb Mepham have been selling fresh fish in University City for more than three decades, first in the Market in the Loop, from the back of a pickup Bob drove down each week to Grand Isle, Louisiana. When the Market constructed a permanent, year-round building fronting Delmar Boulevard, Bob's Seafood was an anchor tenant. But a half-dozen years ago the Mephams left the Loop for the western fringe of U. City, lured by more space for their stock, now flown in from around the world, and their fleet of delivery trucks (ever wonder where local restaurants get their seafood?). For as long as Bob's Seafood (8660 Olive Boulevard, University City; 314-993-4844) has been in business, it has been the go-to place for fish and shellfish for the discerning St. Louisan. The fishmongering business has changed, but Bob and Barb and their skilled staff haven't -- which explains why Bob's is a perennial "Best of St. Louis" honoree.

And why Gut Check contributing photographer Crystal Rolfe was drawn to the famed seafood counter to train her lens on this week's food-porn bounty.

Crystal Rolfe

See also:
- RFT Best of St. Louis 2012 choice for "Best Fresh Seafood Counter"

The Companion Early Bird Outlet (4555 Gustine Avenue; 314-352-4770) is hidden away in an industrial stretch of south city. Once upon a time, this showroom attached to the bakery's HQ and its deep, deep discounts may have been one of St. Louis' best-kept secrets -- but no more. Nowadays crowds turn out for its weekends-only bread-fest, which commences promptly at 7 a.m. and lasts until noon, Friday through Sunday. Greenhorns be warned: Come later in the morning and you'll miss the good stuff. Come early and you may have to wait in line, but you'll leave with a full bag in your arms and a smile on your face.

Crystal Rolfe

Getting ready for Easter? Fortunately for St. Louisans, Kakao Chocolate is, too.

Yep, Brian Pelletier and his team are busy making chocolate bunnies and marshmallow snow birds at the chocolatier's two locations -- (7272 Manchester Road, Maplewood; 314-645-4446) and (2301 South Jefferson Avenue; 314-771-2310).

Crystal Rolfe

We dispatched RFT contributing photographer Crystal Rolfe to Kakao with a single objective: Using only a digital camera, cause us to crave. Not surprisingly, Crystal delivered the goods....

See also:
- Food Photo Essay: Gooey Butter Cakes & More from Ann & Allen Baking Company
- Food Photo Essay: 2013 Stout and Oyster Festival at the Schlafly Tap Room
- Food Photo Essay: The Block Restaurant Butcher and Bar

In 2010 Marilyn Schotte and her brother Dale, co-owners of Park Avenue Coffee in Lafayette Square, spun off a company to handle demand for one of its most popular offerings: its gooey butter cakes. Now the Ann & Allen Baking Company (6343 Manchester Avenue; 314-256-9400) is spreading St. Louis' gooey butter cake gospel far and wide. Ann & Allen offers its cakes in 70 flavors and can be found locally at, among other places, Straub's.

Crystal Rolfe

RFT contributing photographer Crystal Rolfe got a peek behind the scenes, where the gooey butter magic happens. Of course, she thought to bring along her camera....

See also:
- RFT "Chef's Choice" profile of Ann & Allen co-founder Marilyn Schotte
- Gooey Butter Cake Goes Nationwide
- Food Photo Essay: 2013 Stout and Oyster Festival at the Schlafly Tap Room
- Food Photo Essay: The Block Restaurant Butcher and Bar

On Friday and Saturday, March 8-9, the Schlafly Tap Room (2100 Locust Street; 314-241-2337) celebrated its annual Stout and Oyster Festival, flying in 30,000 live oysters from both coasts, along with a team of all-star shuckers.

The stout they already had on hand -- pints and pints (and pints) of it, in three varieties.

Crystal Rolfe

See also:
- RFT's pick for "Best Food Festival" (2009)
- The Six Best Craft Beer Makers in St. Louis
- Food Photo Essay: The Block Restaurant Butcher and Bar