Grant's Cabin Restaurant

My friend Angie had her 51st BD dinner at Grant’s Cabin on Hoffmeister. The place is a rustic B&B and dining location right off of 55 at Union. It is actually catered by Orlando's which is just down the road. It is decorated with stuffed bears and deer heads and is an actual log cabin. The B&B rooms are right off the dining room. We had a family style early dinner at 4 PM. They first brought chicken and dumplings. That was followed with heaping trays of fried chicken. It was actually fried in a batter more typical of fish than chicken. But it was good with a big crunch and slightly sweet hint to it. There were bowls of mashed potatoes made from red potatoes. They served wonderful warm buns with honey butter on the side. Black Forest cake was dessert. It was a good, very filling meal that came to about $19 per person including gratuity.

Roadhouse 61 in Webster Groves

When you can't spare the time for a road trip to New Orleans, an evening at the Roadhouse can help ease the blues. You will find some great classic southern entrees. The traditional catfish plate is quite good as is the jack salmon. I have never been completely clear as to what fish constitues a jack salmon because it is nothing like a King or a Coho. The brisket is flavorful but tends to be a bit too crispy and overdone.
But you really go to the Roadhouse for the sides. The corn casserole is sweet, creamy, and very southern. It does remind me a little bit of the corn side that you find in some Mexican restaurants but this is an entire small casserole brought to you steaming hot. The sweet potato pie is dessert that you can eat with your main course. The best part is that it is not overly sweet but just right.
The outside dining is very nice but if you go in the winter as I did recently, dress warm as it tends to be a bit chilly. The service is excellent and there is a decent short wine list by the glass. I was on a wine fast last visit but I tasted by wife's cabernet and would say it was a bargain for the price. We recently went there with a big group to see off 4 of our friends heading for a Hawaiian vacation. Our servers went out of their way for us and helped make the evening very special.

Modesto Again

I reviewed Modesto a few years back and I still have to say that it is one of my favorite all time restaurants and defininitely the best for Tapas. Right now, they have a great happy hour deal if you sit in the bar. You can order off the dollar menu. Most small bites range between 25 cents for a cheese or sausage ball to a dollar for a few of the more elaborate ones, anchovy on bread as an example. Recently, we decided to order two of everything and the bill came to only $17 and yet they brought it on a huge tray and we were completely stuffed at the end of the meal. They have drink specials too and you just cannot beat the deal.

Brunch at Bevo Mill

We were able to make brunch affordable at the Bevo with a Groupon. But it is normally $21 per person. It is an amzing spread however and one that is worth the cost. On the breakfast side, there are the usuals, bacon, sausage, grits, and waffles. They will custom make an omelette from the display of ingredients. It seems a number of the employees are graduates from Ecole Culinaire. But since it is being done by a catering service called Food Works, that makes sense.
There is salmon and shrimp, roast beef and ham. The lunch side had some German classics, brats and sauerkraut for one. The dessert trey was excellent, cannolis, chocolate cake covered with chocolate chips, pecan pie, cheese cake and a fruit tree where you can pull strawberries, melon, and pineapple.
They also serve bottomless mimosas or you can make your own bottomless blood mary. There is a table set up with all the ingredients you could ever want.
The building is still full of the same beauty and elgance that it always held. They have some outside seating set up and for a Sunday in mid-May, the place was hopping with graduation and christening parties. Make reservations unless you go early and only have a party of 2-4.

St. Louis Locavore

End of March-Schlafly Farmer's Market
Watercress
Spinach
Soft lettuce
Ozark Forest mushrooms
Lamb sausage for breakfast
Pork chops from Cape Girardeau
Cheese from Bloomsdale

Grocery Stores
http://www.sappingtonfarmersmkt.com/
http://www.localharvestgrocery.com/
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/company/philosophy.html

Farmer's Markets
http://www.tgmarket.org/
http://www.localharvest.org/

Local Farmers
http://www.americangrassfedbeef.com/
http://www.americangourmet.net/
http://gallowaybeef.com/
http://www.goatsbeardfarm.com/
http://www.pickyourown.org/MO.htm
http://newrootsurbanfarm.org/CS.html

Where to find what is in season
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcsite.nsf/pages/bhc_recipes?OpenDocument

In season
March-late-watercress
April-asparagus, baby greens, early broccoli, peas, onions, cilantro, oregano

100 mile diet
http://100milediet.org/
http://100mile.foodtv.ca/

Locavore websites
http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/344/locavore.html
http://www.locavoremovie.com/
http://www.locavoreway.com/
http://www.locavorenetwork.com/content/missouri-locavore-overview 

Sustainable St. Louis
http://sustainstl.org/

Restaurants/Chefs

Sauce Magazine is THE site for restaurants
If we ever move to another city, we would have to start such a magazine
http://www.saucemagazine.com/

Another great site, maybe I should write for them
http://www.examiner.com/st_louis

Another restaurant site
http://stleats.com/

Riverfront Times
http://restaurants.riverfronttimes.com/

Dinner Broker
http://www.dinnerbroker.com/restaurants/missouri/st__louis/

St. Louis site
http://www.discoverourtown.com/MO/St.%20Louis/Dining-579.html

Make dinner reservations here
http://www.opentable.com/home.aspx

For Those Who Live to Eat
http://www.chowhound.com/

Reviews for St. Louis
http://www.yelp.com/saint-louis-mo

Urban St. Louis
http://www.urbanspoon.com/c/28/St-Louis-restaurants.html

General View of St. Louis
http://www.sallybernstein.com/food/dining_directory/north_america/st_louis.htm

Link to my Travel Blog
http://traveladventuresbysharon.blogspot.com/


Restaurants Everywhere
http://www.epicurious.com/gourmet/features/top_50_2006
http://www.toprestaurants.com/missouri.htm
http://mobiltravelguide.howstuffworks.com/restaurants-channel.htm
http://chef2chef.net/rank/rest.shtml
http://www.gayot.com/restaurants/restaurantissue/2006/top40/main.html
http://www.gayot.com/restaurants/restaurantissue/2006/top40/main.html

Chefs
http://www.anthonybourdain.com/
http://www.rachaelray.com/
http://www.andreaimmer.com/
http://www.starchefs.com/Tamales/bio.html
http://chefscollaborative.org/
http://www.cookingschools101.com/celebrity-chefs/
http://www.foodnetwork.com/

The Foodie List

This is a list circulating the web. It is an intriguing inspiration for all of us foodies:

http://www.verygoodtaste.co.uk/uncategorised/the-omnivores-hundred/

Below are the highlights of what I have already eaten:

1. Venison-I have had roast and ground venison as well as the classic deer sausage. All this was courtesy of my deer hunting acquaintances.

2. Nettle Tea-not bad for an herbal tea
http://www.teabenefits.com/herbal-tea-benefits/nettle-tea-benefits.html

3. Huervos Ranchero’s-yes but need to try it again for a better review.

4. Steak Tartare-I had steak tenderloin tartare at Vin De Set. It was a spread that had an excellent flavor and disguised the fact that the beef was raw. It was anything but chewy.

5. Crocodile-not yet

6. Black pudding

7. Cheese Fondue-We had authentic Swiss fondue at a BB in Hermann, MO. It was prepared by the innkeeper, a woman who was born in Switzerland and spent a lifetime as a flight attendant for TWA Airlines. I also have had fondue at the Melting Pot and made it on our own home fondue set.

8. Carp-I am not sure where I would want to try this fish. Around here, Mississippi River carp are not really safe to eat.

9. Borscht- A beet soup served hot or cold, usually with sour cream. I think I can find this, maybe at a Bosnian restaurant or Zhivago's?

10. Baba ghanoush-Arabic dish of eggplant mixed with various seasonings-Aya Sofia has a good version.  

11. Calamari-I have had calamari sushi and calamari pasta. I think it sneaks into some seafood gumbos as well.

12. Pho - a Vietnamese beef and noodle soup, often served with lime, bean sprouts, basil and peppers. It is served at Pho Grand of course.

13. PB&J sandwich-I am an expert on this. I like creamy peanut butter and a great jam like blackberry. I used to be big on jellies but now I prefer jam.

14. Aloo gobi

15. Hot dog from a street cart-My favorite is at a baseball game. The second I walk into the stadium and smell a kosher dog, I have to have one.

16. Epoisses-a perennial favorite of fans of strong-smelling cheese. This classic cow's milk cheese originates from Burgundy and has been made in the small town of Epoisses since the late 1700s. In order to develop the characteristic dark orange rind, Epoisses is washed with brine for several weeks then finished with wine or brandy. In the Artisanal Premium Cheese caves, we continue the Affinage process, washing our Epoisses several times with Burgundy brandy. This extra washing deepens the flavors of the cheese and guarantees a spoonable, silky paste. One piece weighs approximately 10 ounces.

17. Black truffle-we have black truffle oil at home and it is an amazing flavor kick to anything, such as a marinade.We also had shaving of truffles on a dish at Harvest restaurant.

18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes-Michigan cherry wine is outstanding and does not eve have to be sweet but instead tart. Adam Puchta does a blackberry wine.

19. Steamed pork buns

20. Pistachio ice cream

21. Heirloom tomatoes

22. Fresh wild berries-Years ago, I was on many blackberry picking outings. Amazing flavor but prickly, sticky work.

23. Foie gras

24. Rice and beans-I have had this too many times to count, particularly red beans and rice that are so famous in the South.

25. Brawn, or head cheese

26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper

27. Dulce de leche- is a milk-based sauce. Found as both a syrup and a caramel candy, it is prepared by slowly heating sweetened milk to create a product that is vaguely similar in taste to caramel. It is also the basis for the elaboration of many sweets and desserts which form part of the classics of the Argentinian, Colombian, Paraguayan, Chilean, Peruvian and Uruguayan cuisine.

28. Oysters-My most memorial oysters include a sampling at seafood place in the south and before the Padres baseball game in San Diego. I can eat raw oysters but all in all, I prefer them smoked.
29. Baklava-Original Greek restaurant baklava is the best. I made it one time though and it wasn’t too, too hard and well woth it.

30. Bagna cauda

31. Wasabi peas-out of the bag.

32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl-My best clam chowder was in Grand Haven Michigan but never in a sourdough bowl.

33. Salted lassi

34. Sauerkraut-with a brat. I have even had this in Germany.

35. Root beer float-not as much lately as I avoid dairy but I need to try again with soy ice cream and Fitz’s root beer.

36. Cognac with a fat cigar-I have had plenty of cognac. Maybe I need to add in the cigar?

37. Clotted cream tea

38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O

39. Gumbo-in New Orleans

40. Oxtail-tried this at Acero in Maplewood and it was awesome

41. Curried goat-at the Indian restaurant on Olive, Ruchee

42. Whole insects

43. Phaal

44. Goat’s milk-I love it, yogurt too.

45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more

46. Fugu

47. Chicken tikka masala

48. Eel - smoked eel is my favorite item at most sushi restaurants

49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut-not a big fan, I would choose World’s Fair donuts anytime.

50. Sea urchin

51. Prickly pear

52. Umeboshi

53. Abalone

54. Paneer

55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal-I lived on this for much of my twenties but no more!

56. Spaetzle-In Germany

57. Dirty gin martini-plenty of times, with vodka it is nice as well

58. Beer above 8% ABV

59. Poutine

60. Carob chips

61. S’mores-grew up at Camp, even made them at home recently to photograph our Christmas card

62. Sweetbreads-I loved this at Zinnia’s

63. Kaolin

64. Currywurst-In Germany

65. Durian

66. Frogs’ legs-in Florida and in Cape Girardeau for the first time at the Orleans Restaurant downtown.

67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake-New Orleans, Cafe du Monde and plenty of childhood funnel cakes.

68. Haggis

69. Fried plantain-this can regularly be found at the Whole Foods Market hot bar

70. Chitterlings, or andouillette

71. Gazpacho-home made is the best

72. Caviar and blini-I have tried caviar-little jars found at the grocery store. But this is the real deal-
http://www.caviarexpress.com/Caviar-Blinis

73. Louche absinthe-I have had Lucid and I am just starting to experiment with absinthe.

74. Gjetost, or brunost

75. Roadkill-NEVER

76. Baijiu

77. Hostess Fruit Pie

78. Snail

79. Lapsang souchong

80. Bellini

81. Tom yum

82. Eggs Benedict-many times but where was the best?

83. Pocky

84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant

85. Kobe beef-We are having our first experience with Kobe burgers from Straub's grocery store, less than $5 per burger. I understand that it is also available at the Burger Bar at Luminiere.

86. Hare-also known as rabbit or hasenpfeffer. Years ago, I had this at Bevo Mill. Then we ended up trying it at Eleven Eleven and bringing home a sample for our rabbit dog, Mika.

87. Goulash

88. Flowers-on salad plates

89. Horse

90. Criollo chocolate

91. Spam

92. Soft shell crab-I got really sick from this in Madison Wisconsin so never again.

93. Rose harissa

94. Catfish-good old southern sytle catfish is a staple of life.

95. Mole poblano

96. Bagel and lox-I had this in Palm Springs on our last day there as we left the Dinah Shore weekend in April.

97. Lobster Thermidor

98. Polenta-we have made several dishes using the kind that comes in the little tube, but the most amazing was the polenta from Five which included oyster mushrooms, quark cheese, and white truffle oil.

99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee

100. Snake


Here is the link to a vegetarian take on this list:

http://vegetarian.about.com/b/2008/08/28/for-foodies-the-vegetarian-hundred.htm

1. Young coconut-I tried my first real coconut when it was opened for me in Bonaire. Since then, I have longed for more but when we bought the hairy fruit a few years back, opening it was quite the ordeal. It required a phone call to the store, a cleaver, and a lot of dangerous hacking. But oh, that fresh coconut milk and silky texture, almost made the danger worthwhile. I see this link shows you the steps for a young coconut and it looks a little less challenging. Stay tune for results.
Someone totally needs to build a contraption that opens coconuts safely.


2. Dolmas (stuffed grape leaves)-this is something I have had at a variety of Greek restaurants, Spiros especially.

3. Truffle oil - This is amazing and something we have learned to use to turn the ordinary into something extraordinary.

4. Pomelo - citrus fruit native to South East Asia

5. Kalamata olives - the large black olives with a meaty taste are now a snack staple, there are olive bars at most grocery stores for a little variety

6. Saffron - is the one of the most expensive spices

7. Inari sushi - a packet of fried bean curd, filled with rice

8. Huckleberries - range in color according to species from bright red, through dark purple, and into the blues. In taste the berries range from tart to sweet, with a flavor similar to that of a blueberry, especially in blue- and purple-colored variety

9. Cashew nut butter - almond and cashew butter are a decadent treat and both make exceptional PB&J sandwiches and can bulk up any breakfast item as well

10. Vegetarian black pudding

11. Vegetarian turducken

12. Indian barfi

13. Mangosteen

14. Poutine (you can find a vegan version in Brooklyn)

15. Gnocchi - we just made these with potato, sweet potato and whole grain flour, a Clean Living magazine recipe

16. Roasted chestnuts - I had a small bag of these at a holiday event in Lafayette Square and they reminded me of boiled peanuts, not my favorites

17. Baba ganoush-very good appetizer at Aya Sofia

18. Wheatgrass juice - I really miss the juice bar at Wild Oats, this was just one of juice varieties there.

19. Soy cheese pizza - Ami's Vege cheese pizza is very good.

20. Banana roti

21. Laotian coffee

22. Chocolate chip cookie dough peanut butter milkshakes (in Chicago!)

23. Yucca or taro root

24. Fresh grilled corn on the cob - lots of locally grown good quality corn this last summer

25. Sangria - Modesto does a nice job

26. Macaroni and cheese - so many places, the better the cheese, the better the mac

27. Persimmons

30. Steamed edamame with sea salt -Nobu

31.Saltwater taffy

32.Vegetarian Hot and Sour soup with lotus and woodears

33.Black sapote

34.Vegetarian Chinese steamed buns
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Chinese-Steamed-Buns/Detail.aspx

35.Navajo tacos

36.McDonald’s Veggie Burger

37.Sake - always good with sushi

38.Gulab jamun

39. Fried pickles - there was a place out in St. Clair and I have enjoyed them at the place on S. Lindbergh as well

40.Chai tea

41.Thai papaya salad (som tum)


42.Pecan pralines

43.Fried green tomatoes

44.Goat cheese

45.Vegetarian s'mores (over a campfire of course!)

46.Stevia

47.Macadamia nuts

48.Nutella

49.Veggie corn dogs

50.Garlic ice cream

51.Jackfruit


52.Vegetarian shu mai

53.Mango

54.Tandoori masala

55.Fennel

56.Fried plantains

57.Horchata

58.Sweet potato fries

59.Sunchokes/Jerusalem artichokes

60.Caramel popcorn

61.French camembert

62.Tofurky

63.BK Veggie Burger

64.Vegetarian gyoza/potstickers

65.Sun dried tomatoes

66.Gartini (garlic martini)

67.Vegan cheesecake

68.Avocado maki

69.Durian

70.Nutritional yeast

71.Real butterscotch

72.Starfruit

73.Lemongrass

74.Chartreuse

75.Zapp’s or Tim’s brand potato chips (trust me on this one!)

76.Fortune cookies


77.Cotton candy

78.Salted lime margaritas

79.Vegetarian rice crispy squares

80.Vegetarian prawns or shrimp

81.Balsamic fig reduction sauce

82.Brussels sprouts

83.Passionfruit

84.Marmite (far superior to Vegemite, in my opinion!)

85.Wasabi

86.Vegetarian fluff

87.Honey dijon mustard

88.Bubble tea/boba

89.Blueberry beer

90.Deglet noor dates

91.Chocolate covered espresso beans

92.Chinese or Taiwanese stinky tofu “choh doh-foo”

93.Vegetarian Tom Kha (Thai Coconut Soup)

94.Vegetarian reuben

95.Coconut oil

96.Peanut brittle

97.Creme brulee

98.Vegetarian jerky

99.Crystallized ginger

And last but not least, someday.....

100.Carl’s Jr, Wendy’s and Jack-in-the-box Veggie Burger

Of course, I have to do my own list so here goes. This is just a start for now:
Sharon's List

1. Taste top quality balsamic vinegar.

2. Just try it, really: Creamy Peter Pan or Jif peanut butter spooned into a bowl, pour Log Cabin maple syrup on top. Do not mix, eat just like that with the textures in tact. For some variety, try Karo syrup instead or any other kind of nut butter including more healthful varieties.

3. Something made with a real vanilla bean. We have a sauce that goes with steak and lobster for Christmas Eve each year.

4. Dom Perignon champagne.

5. Minnesota Wild Rice from an Indian reservation, cooked with dried cranberries.

6. Lamb chops and mint jelly.

7. Ham and beans from a crock pot with cornbread and jalapeno jelly on the side

8. Pork n beans with high quality hot dogs cut into bite size pieces,  brown sugar, and BBQ sauce with a touch of honey or syrup.

9. Chili with meat and beans, topped with fritos, cheese, and sour cream.

10. Tacos with hard shells, lettuce, shredded cheese, black olives, sour cream, salsa, avocados, tomatoes.

11. Cornish hens

12. Homemade bread-no machine-my favorite hazelnut bread.

13. Ostrich

14. Buffalo

15. fresh conch

16. yogurt-cream top "Brown Cow", sheep's milk, goat's milk, and good quality Greek yogurt

17. Chupra, also known as drago fish from the Aegean Sea.

2010 Restaurants

Maya Cafe in Maplewood-Brisket enchilada and margarita's made with squeezed lime juice.
Macaroni Grill for lunch-chicken cannelloni and beef rigatoni X
Ari's on Hampton-stuffed eggplant and wine from Romania, ouzo. Lamb kebabs and calamari. Moussaka and saganaki. The wine is called Terra Romana and is a cabernet. X
Biggie's for lunch-basic burger.
Kobe Steak House in West Port
Grafton Winery-crab cakes and a glass of their Cabernet.
Riddle's Wine Bar-Major Grey chicken and tutto mare, 03 Claverach Norton. Claverach is from Eureka.
LaSala on Milentz and Kingshighway  X
Cunetto's for lunch-canneloni
Pho Grand-crepe
C.J. Muggs for lunch-burger and chicken salad sandwich
Nadoz for lunch-crepe
Felix's for lunch-speciality pizzas and dinner-ribs and chicken
Lily's Mexican restaurant
Applebee's for lunch X
Imo's  X
Subway X
Il Vicino for lunch X
Red Lobster X
LuLu's Chinese Dim Sum for lunch
Pondersosa for lunch
Mike Shannon's with a Groupon
Sasha's Wine Bar by the Botanical Garden
The Farmhaus on Ivanhoe X
Aya Sofia X
Brazie's X
Stratton's for lunch X
Eclipse in University City X
Olive Garden X
Onesto's for Dining Out-small plates and anniversary dinner, Rachel BD, and more X
Modesto X
Brunch at the Bevo Mill
DQ lunch
Mimi's for lunch
P.F. Chang's for dinner
Cafe Carnivale for lunch X
Spaghettiria Mama Mia
Novak's Bar and Grill
Pueblo Solis
Boogaloo
Tokyo Sushi
St. Louis Bread Company X
Liluma-CWE
Tony Roma's at the Mills
Hwy 61 Roadhouse
Robust for lunch
Emperor's Palace for lunch
Milagro-modern Mexican X
Del Pietro's
Kaldi's on Demun X
Landry's at Union Station
Bonzai for lunch-sushi place in St. Peter's X
Lion's Choice for lunch
Fozzie's Sandwich Emporium
Tivoli Pizzeria
Favazza's
Espino's in Chesterfield
Bandana's for lunch
Companion Bread for lunch
Pietro's 50th anniversary celebration
Moe's Southwest Grill
Lunch from Tommy's on Hampton
River City Casino Lewy's Nines
Mad Dog and Cat Restaurant
Guido's Tapas on the Hill
Nachomama's for lunch
The King and I
El Azteca-Mexican Buffet in O'Fallon
The Shaved Duck
Momo's Greek in U City
Pappy's for lunch
Sleek at the Luminaire
Ruby Tuesday for lunch
Qdoba for lunch

2010 has started out with a couple of great "foodie" experiences. First on New Year's Day, we went to a great East meets South party at the home of our friend Carol Robinson. Aside from the amazing array of southern cooking, including macaroni and cheese made by her "mama", she had a real sushi chef at the party. Her friend Scotty, who is the chef/owner of Blue Sea Sushi in St. Peters set up shop in the kitchen and demonstrated how to make sushi. Then whatever he made was circulated through the party. It was awesome.

The next experience involved my homemade bread. I made hazelnut bread which is a rural French recipe and the process took most of the day. Carol came home to the aroma of the final step and we proceeded to put a dinner around this centerpiece. We had pasta, store bought but high quality, and a salad. We enjoyed two varieties of dipping oils, hazelnut and orange. We made salad dressing with an amazing flavor of balsalmic vinegar from the new little store in Maplewood.


2009 was a tough year for restaurants. Between the economic downturn and the closure of highway 40, we witnessed the demise of several great places. The Pitted Olive closed their doors as did the Callbox Grill. Tumo’s closed as well, after 10 plus years, and that was very sad for us. Another vicitim was King Louie's, affected by a major construction project on Vandeventer, they to were unable to survive.
On the other hand, Onesto’s is going strong and has emerged as one of the hottest Italian restaurants around. The Macklind Ave strip still seems to be thriving. Since we were still lucky enough to be able to do so, we really tried to support so many of the great places we have grown to love and tried a few new ones along the way. Though we both had been to O’Connell’s in years past, it had been a while and a dinner gathering took us there to enjoy their famous burgers and rustic ambience. They also had a great Sterling cabernet on the menu for a very nice price.


I think that one of the most outstanding experiences of 2009 had to be Acero’s in Maplewood. We had been there a few years back but since then, they really have made it clear that it is The place to go for rustic Italian food. We had a special tasting menu dinner, sitting outside on their patio and it was quite memorable.
Modesto added a nice twist with small bite appetizers in the bar, some going for as little as 25 cents. The chef, Grace Dinsmoor is back from her extended time away and it continues to be one of the absolute best places around. Aye Sofia is also doing well, located at the wedge of Chippewa and Watson, they offer a beautiful outdoor patio and outstanding middle eastern cuisine. We finished off the year with a new discovery, a Mexican restaurant called LaSala which is just blocks from our house. They are affordable and make an amazing margarita. I think the secret is the addition of an maraschino cherry.

We are looking forward to experiencing some of the new places, including the Terrace View at the City Garden. Also intruiging are some of the grocery store cafes, such the Local Harvest Cafe and the one at Starr's on Big Bend. There is a new restaurant at the Missouri History Museum that sounds interesting as well. So here's to a great 2010 for restaurants and foodie experiences of all varieties.


Vegetarian Restaurants
Shangri-La
Duff's-Match chicken muffuletta
The Royale-Match chicken cheese tortilla
Square One Brewery-Match gyro
Big Sky Cafe
The Crossing

Review of Robust

Robust is one of our favorite lunch locations. We usually have a very late lunch or early dinner that leaves us feeling like we just took a vacation to Europe. There are a variety of cheese and meat plates that come with dried fruit and these garlicky bread sticks that are very special. But of course, it is a wine bar and the tastings are always excellent. Here are some of the great tastings we have enjoyed:

Cellar Arts tasting
D'Aragon Garnacha-deep cherry with hints of violet, followed by intense blackberry and tangerine.
Volante Merlot-supple layers of blackcherry and berry fruits, spicy vanilla oak.
Four Vines Zin-layers of berries and anise with hints of spice, blackberry, plum fruit, leading to a toasted oak.

Worldly Chardonnay tasting
2008 Domaine Talmard-Burgandy France-lemon oil, green nuts, hint of chalky salinity.
2007 Northfield Frog Rock Vineyard-Waipara Valley New Zealand-apple, nectarine with a hint of pineapple, toasted hazelnuts and spice with a creamy finish.
2007 Errazuriz Wild Ferment-Casablanca Valley Chile-citrus, pear and a nutty layer on the nose.

Appetizers
Clarissa from Sardinia Italy-goat cheese with natural rind, semi-firm moist with flavors of citrus and fruity notes.
Nieske's smoked duck-succulent rich duck, slow smoked over applewood ambers, producing a melt in your mouth tender sweet smoky flavor.
Amablue Minnesota cheese-rose cows milk blue cheese aged in natural cases, rich and full.

Review of Five

It was two weeks after the actual date before we were able to have dinner at Five and celebrate Carol's birthday. While the restaurant is located on the Hill, it is not particularly Italian but a celebration of the five senses with a focus on local sustainable foods.
We chose to go with the four course prix-fixe menu. We ordered a nice Cabernet Franc from the Chinon winery in France. It was very affordable. I started wtih beef carpaccio from Fruitland Farm. It was so tender and succulent, topped with local black radish, sottocenere al tartufo and black truffle oil. Olives and fleur de sel garnished the dish. Carol had the housemade gnocchi, that was made from braised Benne Farm pork head ragout and Baetje Farm goat cheese.
The next course included a carrot soup with toasted walnuts and creme fraiche and a salade topped with toasted housemade brioche, almonds, roasted red onion, stilton blue cheese, olves and balsalmic vinaigrette. And while each item was quite tasty, it was the gnochi that really nailed the meal's first courses.
As we heard that they had butchered a lamb earlier in the day and the meat was quite fresh, we both went with the lamb shank. The lamb was raised at the Praire Grass Farm. It was fall of the bone tender and came with a rich creamy polenta with Ozark Forest oyster mushrooms, quark cheese, oregano, butter and white truffle oil. It was too much to finish so we came home with enought meat for a second meal.
We finished off with a chocolate sampling and the decadent bread pudding. They brought us two complimentary glasses of champagne and we toasted to a wonderful birthday for Carol and a great new restauarant that supports our ideal of trying to eat more local foods.

St. Louis Food Memories

My first St. Louis food experience was a healthy one. The Central West End neighborhood in the heart of the city promoted a Greenwich Village ambience during the eighties and was the place to be if you happened to be gay. On one end of the historic brick main street, known as Euclid Boulevard was the Sunshine Inn. The Inn was founded by Robert Nissenbaum, a St. Louis organic foods pioneer who founded Morning Dew Organic Food Market in 1971. The Morning Dew Organic Food Market is often considered among the earliest modern natural/organic food stores in the United States. He opened the Sunshine Inn just three years later so by the time I arrived in the big city, it was an established anchor of the neighborhood. The Inn was one the earliest and longest-lasting natural foods restaurants, serving customers for nearly 25 years before it closed. At the Sunshine Inn, Nissenbaum began experimenting with creating nondairy foods, many of which would eventually form the basis of his Imagine Foods' product line. Aside from enjoying numerous vegetarian dishes, I first experiences the vegan sakes made with combinations of nuts and fruits. I also tried the carrot juice smoothie and sprouts for the first time. Looking back, I believe this experience formed the foundation of my later interest and comfort with organic, natural foods.


When we moved into the south Hampton neighborhood in 1999, we quickly realized that we were surrounded by great locally owned restaurants. The evolution toward becoming so dedicated to patronizing these types of places was a gradual one. The day that we made the decision to buy our house, we had lunch at Tumo’s which at the time was the only restaurant in walking distance from the house. Later on, we began to feel as though we were in the center of something really amazing. The higher we watch gas prices rise, the more we appreciate the neighborhood.

Just north of Tumo’s on Hampton is the Pitted Olive. Dave Holmes, a DuBourg HS graduate and his wife opened the place in 2006. Originally planning to sell fresh fish, they bowed to health codes and provide an extensive take-out menu of prepared foods made fresh each day. They also sell wine, beer, and tea. There is limited seating indoors to serve their restaurant patrons but the most appealing feature is the creative patio they built behind the store. There is a fascinaring view overlooking the Bishop DuBourg football field. The patio is covered with a big tent, complete with ceiling fans for the summer and portable radiator heat for the winter. The wine list is nice; the pizza appetizers are excellent as are all the small plates. The entrees are on the heavy side though so come hungry. Between Tumo’s and the Pitted Olive, on the east side of Hampton is Plato’s Café. A few blocks east on Loughboro, at Macklind is the Callbox Grill. Continue north on Macklind and you will find Murdoch Perk.

2009 Restaurants

Mi Ranchito
Clayton Coffee house **
Kaldi's **
Shang-Ri-La x2 **
California Pizza Kitchen x2
Emperor's Palace
Taco Bell
Kentucky Fried Chicken
Pei Wei
Savvis Center Food
Joe Bush's
Macklind Ave. Deli **
Urban Eats **
Plato's Cafe **
Applebees
McDonalds
LuLu's Chinese Dim Sum ***
Imo's Pizza
Steak-n-Shake x2
Subway
Wild Horse Grill in Chesterfield ***
Macaroni Grill x3 including a dinner ***
Missouri Bluffs ***
Chevy's
Denny's
54th Street Grill and Bar in Chesterfield
Helen Fitzgerald's
The Gyro Company
Galleria-Panda Express Chinese
and Japanese place-x2 each
Cheesecake Factory
The Kabob House
Crazy Bowl's and Wraps
Spaghetteria Mama Mia


Farattos ***
Canyon Café ***
Aye Sofia x2 ***
Appollonia **
Lo Russo’s **
Café Natasha's Kabob x2 ***
Tumo’s x4 Closed
Park West ***
Dressels ***
Franco ***
Lily's x3 ***
Booglaoo x2 ***
Onesto's x6 ***
Syberg's **
Pasta House x2 **
Dewey's Pizza in Kirkwood **
Mike Shannon's x2 ***
Mango ***
Mia Rosa ***
Mama Campisi on the Hill x2 ***
Modesto x2 ***
Bandana's **
Wasabi on Washington ***
Niche ***
Weber Grill *
Spaghetti Factory **
Highway 61 Roadhouse x2 ***
Amigo Joe's *
Acero ***
Pietro's **
Felix's ***
Sekisui Pacific Rim x2 ***
Coco Louco ***
Joey B's ** great pizza
Blue's City Deli **
Spiro's ***
P.F Changs x2 **
Pho Grand
Wild Flower
O'Connells
Yemani Brasil -"Caipirinha"
Oceano
La Sala
Shogun Japanese Steakhouse
Stone Hill Winery Restaurant

The Brazilian National Drink
Fresh crushed limes with sugar and Uma Crystal Cachaça; chilled with ice

Wine:
Vino Vitae 18th Street
Grafton Winery

Monarch

The elegance begins with valet parking since we arrived during a full blown thunderstorm and having the valet with an umbrella in hand was a nice touch. Once inside, the fine dining ambiance continued. The brown cloth draped ceiling is very classic and serves as a stark contrast to the previous incarnations of the building. The service is now impeccable and done with a sense of humor. We found the dining room exceptionally crowded for a rainy Thursday evening. Expecting high prices, the wine list was a pleasant surprise with many affordable vintages of quality.
Quickly, we received a complementary appetizer plate that included three small bites, each with intriguing flavors, though there was no description as to exactly what they were. The bread that arrived was warm and very unique as well. As the waiter went over the menu, variations were included in his description. For example, he offered me an orange marlin (described as a kind of a mix between blue marlin and orange roughy) done in the same way as another seafood entrée from the menu. My dining companion had the seafood ravioli which was rich and filling. For dessert, the cheesecake was adequate but the chocolate cream dessert was over the top, rich creamy, chocolate at its best. I will not overdo the blandishments but Monarch is definitely top of the line and a welcome addition to Maplewood.

We made a second visit to Monarch for our fourth wedding anniversary. I made the reservation on Open Table and explicitly stated that we were married in Canada to avoid any skepticism. The service is absolutely first rate and at the same time there is this subtle sense of snobbery. I find it an interesting combination.
As before we started with the chef’s special treat of the day which was an interesting flavor combination of a tiny piece of cheesecake topped with finely chopped peppers that had a slight vinegar kick. I am not sure I really liked it. The bread arrived around the same time as the very nice red wine we ordered. It is labeled for them as Monarch and is from the Napa Valley. It was an awesome 2004 merlot with hints of chocolate and smooth tannins.
Carol was very tempted to order an appetizer spread and I believe if it had not been a Monday night with such a busy work week ahead of us both, we might have gone for the chef’s tasting menu. We settled on just one, the pan seared scallops which were heavenly. We then decided to order an entrée off the menu. I started with a salad of baby greens, fried apples, red Windsor cheese, pistachios, warm pancetta topped with red wine vinaigrette. As an entrée, I had the pistachio encrusted lamb chops with a bing cherry sauce and shiitake beurre blanc and yes, it was an evening all about pistachios. On the side were brie whipped potatoes and green beans. Carol ordered the grilled walleye that was topped with a dill yogurt cream, caramelized onions, toasted almonds and on the side wild rice and asparagus. For dessert, they treated us to a rich chocolate tort topped with one candle and thanked us for sharing our special day with them.

Mango's

St. Louis has a depth of new and established eateries that will keep any confirmed “foodie” happy through the year. Since my partner and I are celebrating 10 years together this year and food is such an integral part our day to day lives and relationship, we are on a quest to re-visit the best of the best.

On a cold January day, visiting Mango’s on Watson Road in Shrewsbury is sure to bring a touch of warmth. Mango’s is the only Peruvian restaurant in St. Louis. The colors are reflective of South American images and the menu is unique. The restaurant opened in 2004.

In addition to pisco, there is a simple but excellent wine list. Pisco is the classic Peruvian drink that is made from the liquor pisco, sugar, lemon juice, egg white and Amargo Angostura. The food menu is interesting as well. There are standard seafood specials and a Peruvian specialty that involves tilapia, onions, tomatoes, Peruvian black olives, sliced egg, fried toast served on a bed of rice and potatoes. I have had that twice and it is excellent. There are a number of tapas style starters, both cold and hot. I love the food, the ambience, and unique menu.

http://www.mangoperu.com/

Italian on Hampton

Brazies and Ginos Restaurant form two of our pre-vacation, post vacation anchors. At both restaurants, we enjoyed a very nice Hess wine. At Brazie's, it was a 2005 Cabernet, very oaky, with a rich berry finish. The Brazie's house salad is the best with a nice sweet tang that keeps you coming back for more. They, like Gino's also do a nice olive oil herb mix for the pre-dinner bread.
The talapia at Brazie's was nice, very tender, done with pine nuts and spinach but a little heavy on the olive oil. The veal spedini was also nicely done, artichoke and lemon flavors were a perfect balance. At Gino's, Carol had the best veal chop ever, it was nice and smokey with a textured grill flavor. I had the pasta with a Italian sausage, the typical anise flavored variety, and shrimp which made for an interesting merge of taste and texture. I am not a big fan of Gino's salad as the vinegar packs too strong of a punch.
Both restaurants are staples in the south Hampton neighborhood and we feel lucky to have them both so close to home.

DeMun Neighborhood

The best coffee is St. Louis comes from the locally owned Kaldi’s Coffee, in the DeMun neighborhood. I was at Murdoch Perk when I realized that any coffee shop serving Kaldi’s is going to be on my top ten list. I can even make a fairly decent cup at home when I use Kaldi’s. And so, I thought I should sample some food there as well. On a recent gorgeous Friday afternoon, I made a lunch run and grabbed a very nice eggplant panini. The eggplant was not chewy but instead melted with each succulent bite. Kaldi’s also serves quiche, soup, and lots of delectable desserts. There is the expected offering of coffee drinks and lots of interesting and expensive smoothies. I opted for a standard ninety cent coffee and with three varieties to choose from, played it safe with a flavorful decaf. I was able to eat outside and enjoy lunch overlooking a park that is adjacent to the campus of Concordia Seminary; I was struck by the beauty of the DeMun neighborhood. The street is tree lined with a well maintained median. The houses and apartments feel cozy and historic.
There are two other excellent foodie spots in the area, Jimmy’s On the Park and Sasha’s Wine Bar. Jimmy’s offers the famous pasta crunchers and a classy atmosphere. You will see a well-dressed older crowd for Sunday brunch. Sasha’s is the place to go for lunch when you want to play hooky from the world. With a great wine list and lots of great appetizer selections as well as cheese plates, you can sit on their comfortable patio, look at the park and people watch.

Pueblo Solis

All Mexican food is not created equal so when you find a place that is owned and operated by true Mexican immigrants, there is always hope it will be good. Pueblo Solis is my favorite place in St. Louis and I still like it after returning from a recent vacation to San Diego where the quality is beyond outstanding. The menu offers several classic Mexican seafood dishes utilizing tilapia and salmon as well as mole sauce. The standard offerings of combo platters feature tostadas, tacos, sopes, flauta, enchiladas, and tamales.
Instead of the somewhat soggy offerings of many low end Mexican restaurants, Pueblo Solis offers flautas with a crisp and crunch that almost reminded me of San Diego. The refried beans and rice are typical but good.
Before ordering the main course though, it is worth trying the guacamole, though it will hit you for a $6.95 charge. The free chips and salsa may be a better deal since the salsa is home made. You will get three different types, two red and a green. Depending on the hotness of the jalapenos, you may get a surprise of find all three to be relatively mild. The margarita’s are usually good but if you are there on the regular bartender’s night off, they can be weak and lacking the usual punch. An upgrade to the Grand Marnier margarita will rarely disappoint.

South Hampton Neighborhood Restaurants

Murdoch Perk has filled a much needed niche in the South Hampton/Kingshighway neighborhood as a very popular hangout. The place is busy as soon as they open which is 7 AM, Tuesday through Friday and 8 AM on the weekends. It is a great stop for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and you can always have breakfast for dinner and lunch for breakfast. The seating inside is cozy and the walls are covered with a rotating display of local artist. Step out the side door and onto the beautiful patio to enjoy eating outdoors and even share a meal with your dog. They regularly feature a quiche special made with bacon, and tomato or cheese and spinach. The quiche is always fluffy and the crust is flaky and filling. It comes with your choice of potatoes or fresh fruit. The fruit medley consists of grapes, cantaloupe, honey dew and a few strawberries. The potatoes are not fried, so they are very healthy but not crisp enough to suit my taste. Another breakfast regular is the banana walnut waffle, which is everything a waffle should be.
The menu also contains a nice selection of wraps and crepes, all which fill the serving plate and leave you feeling healthy. Murdock Perk is completely smoke free and in addition to great food, you can enjoy a great selection of smoothies and coffee drinks. My favorite is the berry smoothie but there is an excellent peach variety as well as many others.

The Pitted Olive pulls in diners from all over St. Louis and since it is just blocks from my house; I have been there many times. I probably wouldn’t drive in from West County myself but as a neighborhood resource, I can’t complain. Originally planning to sell fresh fish, they bowed to health codes and provide an extensive take-out menu, prepared fresh each day. They also sell wine, beer, and tea. There is limited seating indoors to serve their restaurant patrons but the most appealing feature is the creative patio they built behind the store, overlooking the Bishop DuBourg football field. The patio is covered with a big tent, complete with ceiling fans for the summer and portable radiator heat for the winter. I have experienced the patio on a snowy day in February and a summer rainstorm. Always, it is a cozy and unique experience. The owners make the place as well. Mike is actually a DuBourg graduate and always dreamed of his own place right in his childhood stomping grounds. His wife is not from St. Louis but has the most delicious British accent. The wine list is nice; the pizza appetizers are excellent as are all the small plates. The entrees are on the heavy side to suit me. I have ordered the ribs which have just a little too much sauce and the duck was a bit over done. But others may love it. All in all, the patio makes a visit worthwhile.

Tumos’ is not on the Hill but instead in the South Hampton neighborhood, nestled in the corner of St. Louis Hills. There is nothing fancy about Tumos but it is good basic Italian and not terribly expensive. The affordable carafes of wine are decent, the classic iceberg lettuce side salads, covered with layers of provel cheese are always appealing. The bread always tempts me to over do it on the carbs, though again, it is just sliced Italian bread. It is a place to enjoy the most basic of south St. Louis Italian, toasted ravioli, cannelloni, pasta con broccoli, and spaghetti with meatballs. Save your need for more exotic dishes for another time. The indoor seating area is quaint with elevated booths running down one side and a sports bar theme on the opposite side. The best time for Tumos' is summer when you can enjoy the front patio seating and watch the world go by on Hampton Ave.

Callbox Grill

I eat less and less meat, not that I am trying to become a vegetarian but I have learned to really love the color and flavor of what is healthier. But when a new neighborhood restaurant opened, I had to check it out, even it had all the signs of a meat-eaters paradise. The Callbox Grill décor is French country and the menu is concise, only offering what they do well. There is a small bar area with a saloon ambience. The bar's golden wood has been beautifully done and at least one neighborhood regular can be spotted with a beer and a view of the very modern flat screen TV. If the Cardinals are playing, the game is on and restaurant chatter makes it clear that everyone is watching.

The restaurant is on the corner of Loughboro and Macklind. The simple straightforward menu will hook anyone but an avowed vegetarian. I have briefly tasted the pulled pork and ribs while sharing several meals with my partner but I cannot stop ordering the beef brisket. After three times, I am addicted to the tender savory taste. Each cut spent just the perfect time in the smoker and while all cuts are not created equal, the meat was never tough. The sides are amazing. If you like mayonnaise based potato salad, they serve one of the best. The baked beans are tangy and complement the meat. They serve a Goose Island Pale Ale that works well with the menu. Ordering wine can be a little tricky because an open bottle may have set too long. But point it out and they will graciously open a new bottle and provide a fresh glass. All in all, I feel it is a great addition to the tradition of small friendly corner neighborhood hang outs.

Guido’s

This place has become my favorite affordable tapas restaurant. The service and quality are not quite to the level of Modesto or Mosaic but the price is right. The restaurant is located on Shaw Ave in the Hill neighborhood and they do serve Italian cuisine. But they also have a unique list of Spanish tapas and very affordable Spanish temperonilla wines. The atmosphere is homey and hearing the Italian music in the background lends a nice touch.
They have a great plate of Spanish cheeses, such as Manchego. There are homemade Spanish meatballs with onions, garlic and a white wine sauce. I loved the baked brie and tomato basil compote that is zingy and flavorful. The Empananadillas pastries are just right, stuffed full with chicken or tuna. The variety is unique and affordable. This is the place to go when you can't make a decision.

Sushi

Over the last few years, my partner and I set out to sample a variety of St. Louis sushi in hopes of discovering new gems and reaffirming why we love our old favorites such as Sekisui on Grand. Other than Sekisui, my primary sushi experience has been SanSai Japanese Grill in Webster Groves. Because my chiropractor has an office nearby, it has become a convenient fast food way of eating sushi. I usually stop by and order the sushi and sashimi platters to go. With the platters comes a pretty decent variety of salads, one with slaw and almonds, another with mixed greens and mandarin oranges. The sushi is good, not always melt in your mouth good but adequate for the price. They serve a classic California roll and a vegetable tempura this is crispy enough to hold up for the ride home. You can also buy a small bottle of sake to take home and complete the experience.
In another review, I covered our experience with Sekisui Pacific Rim in Clayton. As a follow-up, we went there for Tuesday night; all you can eat sushi which is $25. We went with two friends who are experienced with sushi rolls but never had nigiri or sashimi. We ended up ordering a nice array, trying the tempura, spicy crab rolls, Philly rolls, and more.
But for me the classic sushi, particularly the salmon was the highlight of the evening as it absolutely melted in your mouth. The smoked eel was very good. We tried the conch which was a tad chewy but pretty good as well. We also enjoyed a sake flight which was a much better choice than wine from our last visit. You receive four substantial portions of sake which include a very nice dry one, a cloudy one with the flavor of anise, a sweet sake, and a plum dessert wine.
The original order of tempura is huge and they probably are trying to fill you up on something less expensive. But we persevered and kept on eating. Ordering sashimi is not an option and you are instructed to not order more than you can eat. All in all, for the price, it is an excellent way to sample a variety of sushi or possible just gorge yourself on salmon all night.
A recent visit to Wasabi on Washington revealed that there is no limit to the variety of sushi rolls that an inventive chef can create. We found a great variety that didn't even include rice but instead were wrapped in a thin rice paper. This place demands many follow-up visits to sample even more rolls.

A first time experience was the Drunken Fish in the Central West End. The primary pull here was the outdoor dining and recent city ordinance that allows you to bring your dog. The sushi was very good, the drink menu offered a nice selection of martinis and you just can’t beat the ambience. Another West End experience was Sub Zero. This place is all about the vodka, with the frozen bar and perfect temperature vodkas; it is an awesome experience on a hot summers day. We have made a couple visits to a third area place on Lindell and it ranks as average. Back to Clayton, we tried Miso and found it good but over priced. Tokyo Sushi on Lindbergh is a pleasant surprise in south county. I thought it was good after a first visit but upon returning, I enjoyed tuna that was so buttery it literally melted in my mouth. I will be back for more. Tachiabana on Olive was very good but not convenient for us city dwellers. We went on a gift certificate and were pleasantly surprised.

Sekisui Pacific Rim in Clayton

I love making five PM reservations at trendy places because no one else does. Saturday evening, we did just that and headed out to Clayton to enjoy some sushi and Pacific Rim inspired food. We had our choice of seating and picked one of the two tables between the huge water feature and a nice window view of Forsyth. I continue to see this particular water feature in sushi joints. There is a hug piece of textured glass and water runs down one or both sides into a trough below, a simple but elegant addition to each restaurant.
We took a look at the menu and saw the usual good stuff as well as a few interesting items such as conch salad.
My eyes always search for sashimi as I really feel that rice just gets in the way of good sushi. The rolls are fine as an appetizer or dessert but give me fish. Luckily, we found the perfect fit on the small paper menu, a 16 piece sashimi combo, chef’s choice. As an appetizer, we chose a nice mix of vegetable tempura and the dumplings in a sweet fruit sauce. Both were served with teriyaki sauce and were very tasty. The wine list was average and we mistakenly chose a pinot noir rather than sake. Most of the sakes were really pricey but nothing goes as well with sushi and the pinot was nothing special. The sashimi however, was very tender and flavorful. Even the octopus, which is often chewy, was nearly melt in your mouth good. For dessert, we opted for an order of Philly rolls and finally indulged ourselves in a little rice. All in all, this place has a great menu, great ambience, and we will be back.

Pho Grand and Lemongrass

My partner and I have sort of an odd tradition. We always eat Vietnamese food after we have our taxes done by a professional. If there is link, besides the location, it is the idea of eating such a tremendous meal for so little money. Pho Grand is the place that fills that bill. It is an immensely popular place and if you go there any time other than a cold night in February, there is usually a wait. She always gets the same thing, which I always must sample and that is a dish of scallops in a spicy coconut/curry sauce. It is not painfully spicy and fills you up with the warmth. I am more interested in trying a variety off their very extensive menu. This last visit, I had vegetables, noodles and a seafood mix. This dish was not spicy but I had several condiments available to add that extra zing. My favorite condiment is the fish hosein sauce. The seafood in this bowl was very tender, even the calamari was wonderful. There is so much more at Pho Grand to experience, the spring roll appetizers, the green tea dessert, and the seafood pancakes. I will update this review as I expand my experiences there.

Lemongrass used to be a very inexpensive hole in the wall Vietnamese restaurant on South Grand. Now it has moved to a much nicer location, just down the street. The food is as good as it always was and the prices didn’t skyrocket. It provides an interesting neighbor to Pho Grand, less than a block away. The primary difference is that there are a multitude of menu offerings that are enhanced with the flavor of lemongrass. Other than that, I find the two restaurants comparable and each has its devoted fans.

Sekisui

Sekisui was the location of my first sushi experience and as with love, there is nothing like the first time. I had been resistant to the concept of raw fish, especially after ordering a rare tuna once that I could barely stomach. But some friends talked me into trying sushi and they served as expert guides. I left that first dinner with what can be only termed a brain buzz. I felt more alert, more alive, more awake, even after a couple cups of sake. I never equaled that experience again but there was something very powerful there. What was even more amazing was that I loved it and had become an absolute sushi addict. Since then, I have tried sushi in some wonderful places like Berlin, Germany and some adequate places like sushi fast food in Webster Groves but nothing is any better than Seksui.
When I say sushi, I mean the real deal, not just he rolls. Though I do like a number of the rolls that they offer at Sekisui including the St. Louis roll with crab and eel, the Philly roll with crab and avocado, and their Cardinal roll which i ncludes smoked salmon and roe. But my favorite is the sushi sampler platter. I also learned how much I like to order sushimi, which is sushi without the rice. Really the rice is just there to help you fill up since sushi is so expensive. If I were fabulously rich, I would skip the rice entirely. The tuna is often the best you will find anywhere, as is the salmon. My favorite is the smoked eel which is sometimes so melt in your mouth good that you think you have just eaten chocolate.

As a side, the best thing is the variety of vegetable tempura. The tempura has just the right crispiness and sweet potato is the best. I have enjoyed nearly everything I have tried off the menu but at the end of the day, I am there for one thing, sushi. So what are you waiting for, falling in love with sushi is almost like falling in love.

Destination Dining

http://www.destinationdiningstl.com/default.asp

I had heard about the concept behind Destination Dining last year but I was skeptical. The restaurant was taking over a space in south county that had been home to a very excellent Italian restaurant and another French Mediterranean place that never got off the ground. I had been to both restaurants and knew what a great space Destination would have to occupy. But how could a chef feature a new regional cuisine each month and do each one justice? And not having a good answer, I put off this destination. Finally, I decided to check it out and found that in January they were featuring their best of 2005 in a World tour dining experience. Deciding that this would be the ultimate test of the concept, it was time to give it a try. The ambience was as good as ever and I loved the place settings with beautiful china that featured a world map pattern.
The menu offered several "passages", with the full passage including an appetizer, soup, salad, two main courses, and dessert. Since it was a world tour and a chance to taste a wide variety, this was the obvious choice. Even before the appetizer, the chef sent out an excellent fried cheese ball as a pre-appetizer. There was no wine list but ordering a Merlot brought us a good quality, reasonably priced bottle. Adding a wine list would be an improvement however. The soup, billed as Scandinavian, was a creamy rich mushroom that arrived in a small cup. Throughout the meal, portions were always just right. The salad was a pear lettuce salad that was excellent. The main dish offering of lamb from Morocco was out of this world, one of the best lamb cuts that I have ever tasted with a subtle spice that added to the flavor. The other main dish was chicken that was flavored just right and very tender. It was billed as Japanese. In the middle of the main course, three small tastings of sorbet arrived and provided a nice touch. The dessert was beautifully presented and the service was perfect, attentive, knowledgeable, and the waiter had perfect timing on when to bring the next course. All in all, it was an excellent experience and one that I want to repeat. The price is prohibitive however of making this an regular destination.

It was another year before I managed to return to Destination Dining. It turns out that they have changed their approach from monthly destinations to a much more varied rotation of ideas. January 2007 saw four different themes including Egypt, the South Pacific, the White House and my chosen destination, the Titanic. Yes, the menu reflected a slightly pared down 9 course version of the meal served to the Titanic passengers the night the ship sank. Somehow the menu survived and was available on the internet to any restauranteur looking for a unique dining concept. Not to long ago, I had been to the St. Louis Science Center for a Titanic exhibit that included getting a boarding pass upon entry. After viewing this amazing travelling collection, each of us found out in the end whether the passenger on our boarding pass lived or died. It was this experience that led me to choose this dining experience and it did not disappoint. The place was decorated but the best part was the owner dressed as the captain of the Titanic and his willingness to camp it up and play the part.
The meal began with a canape, followed by a consumme that was adequate. The poached salmon with mousseline sauce was very nicely done as was the chicken Lyonnaise that followed. The chicken was paired with an interesting minted green pea timbale that was actually very tasty though not as appetizing to see. At this point in the meal, we had a nice break with a punch sorbet. The remove roast course wa roast sirloin of beef and was a little overdone. The asparagus sald had a nice champange-saffron sauce. There were two desserts, a French vanilla creme eclair and a fruit and cheese plate. As with my first experience, the pacing of the food was nice but this time, I was uncomfortably full at the end, but hey with 9 courses, no wonder the Titanic sunk. All in all, it was another fabulous experience and if my pocketbook and waist line could handle it, I would be there for every destination this year.

A third visit highlighted Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine. This was only 4 courses with an optional dessert. I had the hearty vegetable soup followed by a new lettuce salad with sour cream dressing. The intermezzo was a fruit sorbet. All of this was good but not overly impressive. The main course that followed was the best pan-sauteed Northern Lakes perch. It was fluffy and flavorful and made a great second day leftover as well.
Dessert was equally awesome, a caramel apple crisp. The ambience and service did not equal the Titanic experience but all in all, it made for a pleasant, less expensive evening.

Millenium Top of the Riverfront

The Top of the Riverfront at the Millennium Hotel is St. Louis institution. The restaurant is twenty-eight stories above the city and includes views of the new stadium as well as the Arch and barges traveling the river. Generally, the restaurant takes about 90 minutes to make the 360 degrees circle but on a recent visit, we found it rotating quite a bit faster, completing a full turn in a little over an hour.
The last two visits, I have ordered the North Atlantic Pecan salmon pineapple which comes with a pineapple risotto and is topped with a pineapple beurre blanc. On a recent visit, I started off with the soup of the day, lobster bisque which was wonderfully flavorful, rich, and creamy. Another time, I had the iceberg salad wedge which was also a nice touch. The restaurant can be pricey; they were offering a lobster special for $75 on a recent visit and the steak and lobster special was $99. But there are reasonably priced entrees and a decent wine list that can be affordable as well. The food is very good and when you factor in the view, it is St. Louis destination that you do not want to miss.

The Lava Lounge

I recently had the pleasure of experiencing a fantastic new St. Louis night spot. In the heart of the Bosnian dominated stretch of Gravois, in south St. Louis, there is an unusual place called the Lava Lounge. At first glance, it is surprising that this place is not in the trendy loft district because it has that feel. It is a beautifully renovated space with an exquisitely done wood bar and an incredible drink selection. The bar stools are super cool as they are adjustable and red. The wall color is also an invigorating shade of red with gorgeous avante garde art on the walls. The DJ is top notch with a great dance selection. The dance floor is a small hardwood floor space that can be turned into a seating area as needed. I was there for a private party so we had a catered dinner that was very good and unique. All in all, it is a must see for the trendy crowd and a great chance to be a pioneer in this Southside neighborhood.
http://www.lavaloungecafe.com/

Tapas Trifecta

As a slow food enthusiast, I love tapas bars. I love them because I can order one or two small plates at a time and keep the pace slow. The portions are never overwhelming, leftovers don’t happen and it is always a treat to try so many varieties from what is often a very inviting menu. Recently, I found another St. Louis location that will join my other two favorites, Modesto and Mirasol to make a perfect threesome. That tapas bar would be Mosaic in downtown St. Louis. The only negative tapas experience in St. Louis so far has been the Clayton location of Barcelona, where the service was horrible and the food mediocre.
After ordering a moderately priced, very nice bottle of Spanish Tempronilla, it was time to focus on the food. We started with a soup flight that included a slightly sweet vanilla enhanced butternut squash soup, a carrot ginger soups as well as a black bean soup. All three were an interesting twist of flavor and a great way to start the meal. We followed the soup with carpaccio of beef topped with argula salad and toasted hazelnuts. Stupendous is the only way to describe the taste sensation. The tangy arugula was perfect with the beef and it did leave me wanting more, a definite order for next time. Next up was an herb gnocchi with asparagus tips covered in truffled asparagus sauce followed by the pulled Korean BBQ pork inside a baked Fuji apple with goat cheese, crème fraiche and five spice pistachios which was another outstanding merger of taste.
The service was completely top-notch and when I explained that this was a very delayed birthday dinner, our server promptly offered a free dessert and recommended a special pumpkin flan with a small dollop of ice cream topped with a caramel pumpkin seed brittle. This truly finished off a wonderful meal and I hope to return many times. Free parking right across the street is just one more bonus.

Modesto Review

Walking into Modesto brings Spanish color and light to any day with colors that are earth tones of orange and brown. On Monday nights, the places is filled with dancing, Spanish style and will truly leave you feeling as though you hopped the Atlantic for an evening in Spain.
I have been to Modesto many times and consider it to be one of the best dining spots in St. Louis. Though the menu offers some full course meals, the point of Modesto is in ordering the tapas. A tapas meal is great for a group of friends that want to share and enjoy the small plates. But it is equally appealing as a romantic dinner to share with the one you love.

The menu changes often with all the standard favorites, like Dátiles Relleno, which consists of bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with cabrales cheese. The sweetness of the dates and the pungent cheese will leave you wanting more, but then that is the idea of small plates. You want to try them all while at the same time discovering that one favorite that wish was the entire meal. Another on of my favorites is the Pinchos de Cordero which consist of Moroccan-style grilled lamb kebabs with mint-yogurt sauce and tomato-onion salsa. My partner chose one of her favorites, the steamed mussels in a tangy sauce made of hard cider, chorizo and peppers. On the new side, we tried a roasted quail stuffed with Majon cheese and bacon covered with red wine and fig sauce. Thought it was good, the flavor was a little weak in comparison to the Dátiles Relleno flavor which packs such a punch. But the quail were very tender and tasty as they were.
We enjoyed a great temporanillo wine, Vina Sandasol 2004, that complimented each of the plates. It was clean, balanced and silky and made for a wonderful dining experience. The chef
is Grace Dinsmoor

LoRusso's, Zoe's, and Felix's Restaurants-Favorites

These are three of my favorite restaurants. As a confirmed foodie, it can be difficult to become a regular anywhere. But each of these restaurnts have warranted repeat visits and for good reason.
First, LoRusso's Cucinis is billed as Italian on the Hill. It is not really on the Hill in my mind but close enough at Watson and Arsenal. It is however, very authentic Italian and holds its own uniqueness. The decor is warm, the staff is always attentitive and will remember you if you come often enough. The wine list is very approachable with some great chiantis. My favorite entre is the squash ravioli with dried cherries in a creamy white sauce. The flavors of sweetness and tartness marry together so well and it keeps me coming back.
Felix's, in the Dogtown neighborhood, is the place to go for a quick happy hour bite on Friday afternoons. They have great drink specials( the mango martini is outstanding) to go with your pizza. The four cheese and sun dried tomato pizza is very good, featuring a thin crust and lots of great cheese. The lobster, pesto and cream cheese is a must try and it will keep you coming back for more. The food is great, the price is perfect and the service is always friendly. On the last visit, we chatted with our young waiter who was headed toward a culinary career.
Finally, Zoe's has a lot to offer. It is on the pricey side compared to the other two. But it offers outside dining in the great people watching area of the Central West End. The first time there was in our pre-sushi days and it was the very rare tuna that convince my partner and I to try sushi which has become an obsession, but that is for another review. On my last visit, I had the grilled Asian Bar-B-Que salmon with a ginger vinaigrette over mixed greens and Chinese mustard. It was outstanding with a nice crisp white wine. I even saved room for dessert in the form of Tahitian vanilla ice cream with fresh mango puree and cashews. It was a refreshing, wonderful meal.

Three St. Louis Area Entertainment Experiences

Over the course of several weekends, I had the chance to experience a variety of dining/entertainment spots in the St. Louis area. The first was Jazz at the Bistro where we went to see a favorite jazz artist, Patricia Barber. She has an incrediby unique style and tours primarily in Europe. She and her band provided a first class show with drum solos that were out of this world. She was fun to watch as she played with "Schroder" like intensity, giving lots of credit and solo spots to her band. I spent every minute of the show, hoping it would go on and on. Because the second show was not sold out, we were at least able to stay and otherwise, I would have felt like it just wasn't enough. We began the evening with dinner at our assigned table that came with the ticket. The food was surprisingly good. I had the bistro chicken, it was chicken topped with a pecan cream sauce and finished with Brie cheese. The meat was moist, the topping unique and well done. The wine list was good and we had no trouble finding a suitable match to our dinner. Later, I made the evening complete by enjoying the concert while sipping a bit of Grand Marnier. The dining crowd was eclectic, with many same sex couples as a result of Barber's varied fan base that includes many lesbians.
Finale is a totally upscale restaurant in Clayton that also gives you the whole experience if you plan it right, a first class dinner followed by a show right next door. The entrees are a bit pricier but reflect a different dining style. The service was impeccable beginning with a chef's treat in the form of a tiny crab appetizer. The wine list was top notch and we chose a fabulous Oregon Cabernet. The next course included a fairly typicle Gorgonzola cheese, walnut salad that we were able to split. For an entree, I chose Duck Three Ways and it was fabulous as well as unique, serving the standard sliced duck breast, duck sausage, and duck wrapped in a cabbage roll that was along the lines of an egg roll. I passed on dessert, thinking I would have it during the concert. Once we were seated in the next room, it became apparent that table two, though sounding like a good thing, had its drawbacks. First, it was a small table for four and we were seated with strangers who had already picked the better of the four seats. They were a mother/daughter pair and both dressed right out of a Clayton style book, with the younger one dressed in evening wear.They were hardly friendly but I didn't take it personally. The real problem was that we were just too close to the stage and not in any position to order dessert. But the Frank Sinatra tribute was awesome anyway. The band was quite good and the singer defintely be spoke a middle aged Sinatra. He chose a nice variety of tunes and finished with "Chicago, Chicago" only to come back for an encore of "New York, New York". He was able to give lots of historic tidbits with the songs and it made for a most enjoyable evening.
The third event of this trifecta included a night at the races, horse racing at Fairmont Park, Illinois. We arrived and opted for valet parking as we were running late for a chance to see an appearance of the Budweiser Clydesdales. We then paid the $10 Party at the Park admission price that included an all-you-can-eat buffet and $1 long neck beers. We found our way upstaris to the smokiest room I had seen in years, it was like a typical Bingo room, with everyone marking on their racing sheets. We went through the buffet line and sat in the only open spot, right up by the Honky Tonk band that was playig. They were very good, though they looked a little rough around the edges, the music was perfect for the moment. The buffet had fried chicken, catfish, french fries, various potato salads and slaw. It was very good, particularly the catfish.After eating our first round and drinking our first round, we went off in search of betting windows. As we figured out how to place our bets, we discovered there was a non-smoking section downstairs. So we took refuge in cleaner air and found a table with a small TV that kept you aprised of the minutes before the next race and showed each of the 10 races. We placed $2 bets on each race and at the end of the evening, one of us won about 10 bucks and the other two had minimal losses. We wanted to go outside and actually watch the horses firsthand but the weather had turned and the wind was just too much. Inside, things got a little wild as the evening went on and longnecks flowed but it was probably much calmer than the upstairs smoking section. All in all, it was a great, very inexpensive way to spend an evening.

Red Moon Restaurant Review

I chose Red Moon as my birthday destination because of the intriguing reviews that I had read as well as its location in the loft district.
The downtown loft district has not yet arived but it is well on its way and the addition of eateries such as Red Moon can only enhance
the locale. A must have in this area is valet parking and though they went no further than the parking lot across the street, it was still worthwhile.
Upon entering, the name Red Moon is laid out in a decor that is bright and of course red. Each table was beautifully set and the Asian feel
gives the diner a preview of what to expect on the menu. The wine list was nice but a sake flight seemed to be more appropriate and it was a great experience. A tray feautring 5 different sake varietieswas presented. The waiter was knowledgeable and gave an overview of each. The labeling on the tray was a nice touch as well, in the eventyou were not paying attention during the presentation.
The appetizer menu was irrresistable and our table chose a variety that included the ahi tuna tartare with pickled cucumber and Wasabi and an order of the aromatic braised baby back ribs which were spicy and aromatic. Had it not been the hottest day of the summer, the royal hot and sour soup with shrimp and scallions would have been quite tempting as well.
My entree choice was the sweet and sour mango duck breast after being discouraged in regards to the Peking duck. The meat was tender and of good quality. It came with sugar snap peas, carrots, and onions. The onions could have been just a bit more tender to make a better match to the duck but all in all, it was very good. Two of my dining partners had the Grilled Teriyaki Rib Eye withSweet Potato Orange-Ginger Aioli. Considering the taste of our group varied from those in love with Asian cuisine to more traditional meat and potatoes dining, that Red Moon was able to satisfy everyone is impressive. The food presentation is top notch
and that helped the entire group to appreciate the overall experience.
The conclusion was nice array of dessert offerings with a birthday dessert on the house. I chose the fruit mixture, raspberries, mango, papaya, and blueberries in a Grand Marnier sauce. It seemed to finish off an excellent meal with a guiltless ending.

Red Moon on Valentines Day 2007

A second visit was in order after a fabulous dinner there on my birthday. This time, we chose to order from the special menu which provided four courses. We started with a bottle of very nice wine for a decent price. That the wine was not overly expensive was good since the dinner price wasn’t cheap. For the first course, I had the risotto cakes covered with a miso honey vinaigrette that were quite nice. My partner had the electrified scallop which was topped with a lemongrass bell pepper sambal and Thai chili aioli. This was very nice with a good level of spice on a very decen scallop. For the next course, I had the Ozark forest mushroom soup and she had the blue crab ginger bisque. The mushroom soup was ok, nothing special considering I love mushrooms. But the base overpowered the delicate shrooms and it just didn’t work. Her soup was fabulous with a nice ginger kick. So far, she was two for two and I was glad that she was sharing. For the main course, we decided to evenly split the pan seared Atlantic salmon and the sweet, sour duck. I had eaten the duck at my last visit and this was even better, very tender and flavorful. The salmon was nice but again, nothing spectacular. The dessert menu gave us a choice of only one so we had to split that and we went with the healthier, lighter choice, an orange scented cheesecake which went quite well with a snifter of Grand Marnier.
All in all, it was a nice evening but when it started with the valet parking attendent running late, I knew that the attention to detail might just be lacking. For the price, well let's say I miss our old stand by French restaurant on Grand and we will keep trying next year until we find the Perfect place for Valentine's Day because this wasn't it.

Mike Shannon's

On the way to a baseball game, a stop at Mike Shannon's is a must at least once. The baseball memorabilia is worth viewing for all Cardinal fan as well as fans visiting St. Louis for the first time. The service is very good which lends to an upscale hotel like atmosphere. Though it might have been the Red Sox fans that added that out of town feel to the dinner. During our visit, one of the table bussers dropped a tray just as we were being seated. Everyone swooped in to handle the situation and we received a complementary drink for our trouble. The steak is a must and will melt in your mouth. If you think even the 8 ounce filet is too much, split the steak and try some appetizers and side dishes. The creamed spinach had a nice creamy texture and even better flavor. The spinach salad was equally enticing as were the crab cakes with just a touch of Cajun spiciness.

Juniper

Juniper Grill, a bistro and wine bar, is a new addition to Soulard and provides a casually elegant atmosphere that is perfect for a relaxing dinner with friends. We arrived on a Saturday evening without reservations after our original destination turned out to be closed. We were graciously seated with the caveat that we needed to finish dinner within an hour and a half. As it turned out, we did run over a few minutes. As you enter through the bar, you will see a beautiful piece of art that hangs as the centerpiece of the main dining room.
The drink offerings provided a nice variety. The mojito was excellent as was the sangria and each was enjoyed by my dinner companions. Three wine flights were offered with the waiter suggesting two and I settled on the Missouri Ste. Genevieve offering which provided a nice variety. All three were served together and it was up to me to pair each with my meal. The salad selection was quite nice and everyone was happy with their selection, particularly the blue cheese salad which included fresh romaine and chicory lettuce as well as bacon, blue cheese, tomatoes and a creamy avocado dressing. The appetizer list provided additional temptations and the blackened flank steak was quite flavorful. Three of us ordered the snapper dish which provided a touch of spice on a most succulent fish. The risotto had a great flavor and texture. The duck was also a hit with the right degree of moistness and was done as requested. All in all, it was a nice experience. I might suggest a little more structure to the wine flights as pairing them with the meal ended up being trial and error. But the price was reasonable even though every item is priced individually and I will definitely return. Next time, I might put together a collection of small appetizer plates as the list included some unique offerings that are seldom offered.

Robert E. Lee Restaurant

The romance evoked by the Mississippi River gives the Robert. E. Lee restaurant an atmosphere leg-up. The riverboat is not too difficult to find, though certainly not walking distance from the shopping area in Kimmswick. The area is so much more scenic than what you see upriver as there is no industry in the immediate area. There is a helicopter landing pad and you will often see parasailing over the river.
There was a short wait upon boarding the boat as there were no employees at the front. We were given an option of sitting by the window with an inspiring river view. The wine list was small and only included Missouri wines, a nice selection though. However, after ordering an Augusta Cynthiana followed by Chambourcin, we learned that the only red they had in stock was a Crown Valley Norton. The service was quick and polite and our server was quick to apologize for not having the first two wines that we ordered. The bread arrived and provided a very aromatic touch but there was no butter. We had to ask for water but once we did, it came quickly and so did the subsequent refills. The salad was crisp and their Caesar dressing was worthy. Again, we had to ask for more bread and the second round was less aromatic than the first.
I had the tenderloin with cognac mushroom sauce and it was done very well. The meat was done to my requested temperature and was tender and of good quality. The sauce was delicate and the cognac flavor was very complementary. The waiter recommended the garlic mashed potatoes and they did not disappoint. The Crown Valley Norton was a good accompaniment.
Although you feel like you are in a Victorian era steamboat, the boat was actually built in the late 1960s by the James B. Eads Corp. using an old U.S. Army Corps of Engineers boat. She came to the St. Louis riverfront in February 1970 and opened as a restaurant two months later. She spent the early part of her career at the downtown St. Louis landing but was ultimately severely damaged during the flood of 1993 and remained closed for a while. In 1997 four local businessmen bought and renovated her. Most of her wooden structure has been replaced by steel and she got a new paddlewheel. A new owner later moved the boat to Kimmswick and opened her back up as a restaurant.

Wine

Wine Recommendations

Spanish Wines
Garnacha de Fuego 2006
"Bright red. Smoky cherry and dark berry aromas are complemented by candied licorice, dark chocolate and zesty minerality. At once silky and lively, with impressively complex cherry and dark berry flavors joined by an exotic floral pastille quality on the finish. This boasts remarkable focus and persistence for the price.
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar89 Points
It was in fact very much like a Zinfandel rather than the expected spice and jam that is common in a Grenache.
Grenache from Spain Opera Prima Tempranillo 08
La Mancha  at World Market for $4
Ramon Bilboa Crianza 05 from Rijoa for $10 at Randalls
Rene Barbier Medium Cataluna Red for $6 World Market
Martin Coday, Ergo Rioja Tempranillo 06
Las Rochas Garnacha 06 Randalls for $10
Este De Boedgas Alto Alamora for $9 Randalls
Bodegas Ondarre Reserva Rioja from WTSO $14 2004
Bodegas Juna Gil DO Jumilla Monastrell grape 07 Aye Sofia $28
Los800 Priorat from Vom Fass $23
Vina Degana Tempranillo 08
Campo Viego Rioja Crianza 08

Italian Wines
Vignetti delle dolomiti Pinot Grigio cellar selection WFM for $14
Ruffinio Chianti Classico
Ill Bastardo Sangiovese for $8
A-Mano Primitivio Puglia 07 Tipica $9 Schnucks
Robust-Italian Highlands Wine Flight
06 La Spinetta 07 Foradori 07 Sandrone Cielo

French Wines
Vin de Pays or the best is AC or AOC
Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages 07 for $10
Domain du Clos du Fief Julienas 06 for $19
Chateau Angel southern France white Bourboulene grenache 05 Randalls
Mommessin Beaujolias-very nice light fruity wine
http://www.mommessin.com/fr/index2.php
Chateau Les Roches de Ferrand 00 Bordeaux $17
Michel Lelu 08
Reserve de la Saurine Sud de France 2009 Vin de Pays du Gard 60% Grenache 40% Carignan

Romanian Wines
Recas Chardonnary DOC-CMD

South African Wines
http://www.wosa.co.za/
http://www.sebekawines.com/home.asp

Australia
http://goaustralia.about.com/cs/wines/a/auswineregions.htm 
Pillar Box Red from Randalls
Rosemount Shiraz 07 $7 at Schnucks
Lindemans Cabernet and Shiraz for $6
2 Up Shiraz from South Australia-Helen and Kevin O'Brien-Friar Tucks

Argentina
Susan Balboa "Signature" Cabernet Sauvignon 08 Mendoza Argentina(Christmas Even 2011)
5% Malbec, sourced from 31 year old ungrafted vies and 15 montsh is 80% new French oak before bottling without filtration---pencil lead, pain grille, spice box, violets, black currant, blackberry, layered, and spicy 91 pts. Wine Advocate $28
"Signature" Malbec 08 91 points Wine Advocate-black tea aromas, velvety raspberry, cassis, boysenberry, oka, cinnamon, allspcice, black cherry
Susan Balboa also does Crios-Malbec and Torrontes
Laura Catena-Vino Argentina book
Luca Chardonnay
Tillia Cabernet 08 at Coco Luoco for $22
Tillia Chardonnary from south county wine shop for $10
Yllum Cabernet-In honor of Huarpes histoire
Catena Zapata 09 Chardonnay
Tukma Malbec 2009  Tolombon Route 40 Calchaqui Valley northeastern Argentina 1700 meters 12 months in new oak barrels

The Argentine wine industry is the fifth largest producer of wine in the world.^[1] Argentine wine, as with some aspects of Argentine cuisine, has its roots in Spain. During the Spanish colonization of the Americas, vine cuttings were brought to Santiago del Estero in 1557, and the cultivation of the grape and wine production stretched first to neighboring regions, and then to other parts of the country.

There are many different varieties of grapes cultivated in Argentina, reflecting her many immigrant groups. The French brought Malbec, which makes most of Argentina's best known wines. The Italians brought vines that they called Bonarda, although Argentine Bonarda appears to be the Corbeau of Savoie, also known as Charbono in California, which may be related to Dolcetto. It has nothing in common with the light fruity wines made from Bonarda Piemontese in Piedmont.^[4] Torrontés is another typically Argentine grape and is mostly found in the provinces of La Rioja, San Juan, and Salta. It is a member of the Malvasia group that makes aromatic white wines. It has recently been grown in Spain. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay and other international varieties are becoming more widely planted, but some varieties are cultivated characteristically in certain areas.^[5]
In November 2010, the Argentine government declared wine as Argentina's national liquor.^[6]

Chile
Erraazuriz cabernert 08-vanilla and black currant
Aconcagua Valley
Best Pinot so far from http://www.winesofchile.org/the-wines/wine-regions/bio-bio-valley/

Uruguay
2009 Pueblo del  Sol Tannat-Wine Merchant

California
Sterling Cabernet $10
Toasted Head Cabernet $12
14 Hands Cabernet at the Macaroni Grill for $26
Cupcake Cabernet Central Coast 06 Schnucks for $10
Smooking Loon 07 Cabernet $8 everywhere
Robert Mondavi Private Select Cabernet
Ravenswood Zinfadel
Four Vines Zinfadel Old Vine Cuvee 07 $14
Ridge Three Valleys Sonoma County 07 $16
Volante Napa Valley Merlot 04-awesome wine
Steele Winery-syrah at Mike Shannons was amazing
http://www.steelewines.com/
I also love the Steele Zinfandel which Onesto had on the menu
David Bruce Petite Sirah 04 Paso Robles $16 from WTSO
Block No 45 Petite Sirah 08

Wente Vineyards-chardonnay
http://www.wentevineyards.com/
Toasted Head Chardonnay  $12
Oakville Ranch Napa Chardonnay $28 Robust
Mark West Chardonnay Central Coast 08 Schnucks for $10
2003 Flora Springs Chardonnay from Napa-
big and bold with ripe pineapples and red apples, oak notes
Menage a Trois Chardonnay 07
Frei Brothers Russian River Valley Reserve Chardonnay 07 $20
Benziger Sauvignon Blanc Lake-Sonoma Counties 08 $13

From our membership in the American Cellars Wine Club:
White Hawk Vineyard, Los Alamos Valley of Santa Barbara County-2000 chardonnay
Talinga Park Cabernet

Michigan
Tabor Hill Winery Cream Sherry
Washington State
Pine Post Merlot 06
Boom Boom Syrah 07
http://www.charlessmithwines.com/
Gordon Brothers 07 from Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc-Amazing white, crisp and mellow.
L'Ecole No 41 Perigee 2006 Estate Seven Hills Vineyhard Walla Walla Valley Cabernet S, Franc, and Merlot

North Carolina
Someone brought us a bottle back. The cord said Shelton Vineyards but the bottle says Twin Oaks in Dobson (same city that Shelton is in) and there is a picture of a lighthouse on the back and it says Outer Banks. The wine was very nice, very earthy and spicy at first until it opened up a bit. There was coffee and leather and maybe a bit of a fruit finish.

Good Box Wines
Pepperwood Grove Old Vine Zinfandel
Hardys Cabernet Box Wine-Australia
The Wine Cube-2008 Cabernet from CA
Seven-Bodegas Osborne from Spain

Gay Friendly Wineries
Bergevin Lane Vineyards-Walla Walla, Washington-lesbian owned
Hahndorf Hill Vineyards-Hahndorf, South Australia-gay owned
Hip Chicks Do Wine-Portland, Oregon-lesbian owned
Piper-Heidsieck  Reims, France
Gundlach Bundschu Winery - Vineburg, CA-lesbian winemaker
Passalacqua Winery-Healdsburg, CA-lesbian windemaker
Sebastiani Winery - Sonoma, CA-gay owned
Kim Crawford Wines-Te Awanga, New Zealand

Unusual Wines
Plum Wine-Fuki is a good value
http://www.finewinehouse.com/index.asp?PageAction=PRODSEARCH&txtSearch=plum

Eco-Friendly Wines
http://www.benziger.com/

Sherry
http://www.wineintro.com/types/sherry.html

Varietals

Shiraz/Syrah
is a dark-skinned grape grown throughout the world and used primarily to produce powerful red wines. Whether sold as Syrah or Shiraz, these wines enjoy great popularity.

Zinfandel
is a variety planted in over 10% of California vineyards. DNA fingerprinting revealed that it is genetically equivalent to the Croatian grape Crljenak Kaštelanski, and also the Primitivo variety traditionally grown in the "heel" of Italy, where it was introduced in the 18th century. The grape found its way to the United States in the mid-19th century, and became known by variations of the name "Zinfandel", a name of uncertain origin.
http://www.zinfandel.org/


Wine Sommelier
http://wine.lovetoknow.com/wiki/How_to_Become_a_Sommelier
http://www.ehow.com/how_2064575_become-sommelier.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sommelier
http://www.jobmonkey.com/winejobs/sommelier-classes.html
http://www.ehow.com/videos-on_351_sommelier.html

Viticulture
http://viticulture.hort.iastate.edu/

Wine knowledge
http://tv.winelibrary.com/
http://robustwines.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=8151A5E2-C09F-1E1C-6BD363531C1C4988
http://www.answers.com/topic/aroma-of-wine
http://www.decanter.com/learning/
http://www.wikihow.com/Taste-Wine
http://www.thewinedoctor.com/advisory/tastetastingwine.shtml
http://www.ehow.com/articles_3794-wine-tasting.html

More Wine Links
http://www.allamericanwineries.com/AAWMain/locate.htm
http://www.gay.com/travel/article.html?sernum=8966
http://www.blogwinecellar.com/
http://wineblog.blogspot.com/
http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/seven-best-wine-blogs
http://www.vinography.com/wine_blog_list.html
http://www.winewonks.com/
http://goodwineunder20.blogspot.com/

Serving Wine
http://www.almaden.com/winebasics/servingwine.htm

There are 5000 different varieties of grapes but only 9 classic wine grapes:
Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Semillon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Syrah.
http://www.bottlenotes.com/

Wine Stores-They have monthly wine dinners
http://www.vinovitae.com/
Special deals
http://www.starrs1.com/

Great new wine bar on Watson in SW St. Louis
http://www.3500winehaus.com/
The Gooey Brie is quite good. The smoked salmon, which is done by a local PD detective was good but too salty for my taste.
They have a great CA chardonnay that is buttery and oaky. The Syrah was quite nice and Carol really liked the Merlot.

Blue Sky Cafe in Webster Grover   Wine Flight
Red-Maddalena Cabernet 07 Paso Robles-bold, rich, fruit with complex layers $44
Mother's Ruin Cabernet 09 McLaren Vale Australia-ripe fruit, spice, velvety finish $48
Glen Carlou Grand Classic Meritage 08 Paarl South Africa Bordeaux blend, cassis, white pepper $44
White-Silver Palm Chardonnay 09 North Coast -white peach, banana, pear $40
Waterstone Chardonnay 08 Carneros CA - oak, butter and ripe apples

Wine recommendations
2005 Bordeaux Chateau Haut Mouleyre Sappington Market $8
Great wine we picked up at Dierbergs, 90 rating in Wine Spectator
2008 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet from the Indian Wells series in the Columbia Valley, Washington
2007 Ghost Pines Chardonnay was from a tasting at Randall's. It was $10.
2009 Brancott Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. Dierbergs
Charles and Charles cabernet
Spiral wine-Trader Joes
Peaceful bend forche renault
Evodia Garnacha
Kourtaki-a medium bodied off dry white from Attica Greece-distinct pine scent, very unique-$7
Primus-from Veramonte, a full bodied red-merlot, cabernet, carmenere from Casablanca Valley in Chile-cherry, tobacco, blackberry, cherry, chocolate-Bordeau inspired blend-$20
Trefethen-2006 Merlot from the Oak Knoll district of Napa-ripe cherry, berry pie and pepper spice, this is a real Merlot
2 Up Shiraz from South Australia-Helen and Kevin O'Brien-Friar Tucks
Great wine we picked up at Dierbergs, 90 rating in Wine Spectator
2008 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet from the Indian Wells series in the Columbia Valley, Washington
2007 Ghost Pines Chardonnay was from a tasting at Randall's. It was $10.
2009 Brancott Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand.  Dierbergs
2005 Bordeaux Chateau Haut Mouleyre  Sappington Market $8

Wine Memories
Alice White-2010 Alaskan cruise
Ravenswood-2010 Fairbanks Alaska
Toad Hollow-2010 anniversary at Onesto
Steele-2010 Del Pietro
Greg Norman-Citizen Kane-5-14-2010 Sharon's promotion dinner
Castell Del Remei-Aya Sofia-Dinner with Robert after ERG outing 2008
BV-Fogarty's in Key West-2-19-2010
Steele-Mike Shannon's 4-1-2010
Beringer 14-K  DC 6-7-2009
Brazin-our Christmas duck-2010
Adam Puchta-Christmas eve-2010
Il Bastardo-Onesto-3-6-2009 first day of warm weather
Mis En Bouteille French restaurant in Key West 2-26-2010
Ramon Bilbao Haro Rioja Alta  Trattoria Marcella 8-2009
Cline Cellars-Alaska 2010
Cellar No. 8-Key West 2010
Shelton Vineyards from North Carolin 11-13-2009
2002 Chalone Vineyard Pinot Blanc-Vino Vitae 2-2-2009
Crown Valley Pinot Noir 2-14-2009
Jelly's in Michigan-8-29-2009
Messo in Bottiglia Nelle Cantine in Barolo-Farrotto's after seeing Milk-1-10-2009
Chateau Grand Traverse Bilmar's 9-1-2009
Ramon Bilbao Lo Russo's 1-23-2009
Toasted Head Christmas Eve 2009
M. Cosentino Onesto's 5-29-2009
Altos Las Hormigas Farmhaus on Ivanhoe 11-7-2010
R a wine from Chile Tulsa, OK 5-26-2009
2007 Hope Estate Verdelho - Australian white from Onesto 4-29-11
Grasso Silvio La Morra   - Promotion to Lead Bartolinos' 12-12-03
Errazuriz Tokens 8-25-00
Chateau Legoniac Frazers 11-4-02
1993 Moncontour Valentine's Day Petite Paris 2000
Stonehaven Vineyhards  1st golf day 2003 at Sugar Creek 5-22-03
Hacienda Tokens 8-11-2000
95 Medoc Domaine Cordier  Civil Union Day  Dinner Grand Depot 6-9-2003
End of Las Vegas vacation at home 9-10-2000
Indian Springs Vineard Day we found out our house was built in 1926  Brazie's 10-15-01
Cedar Creek Winery in Wisconsin
Montinore Estates at Kirk's for Promo 3-24-04
Les Bourgeois 4-10-99
Blackstone Ca Pizza Kitchen West county Shopping for Civil Union Clothes 4-26-03
Noah Winery 7-26-05 Harvest for our original Anniversary
2000 Orange Beach
Paul Hobbs $80 wine in Grand Haven 2008
2 Brothers-Big Tatoo Red Mirasol 12-29-05 we were going to see Essence of Logic at the Pageant
LoRusso's 6-1-06
Balduci 6-6-02
Washington MO Brick Inn Sherry from Stone Hill 12-26-08
Zoe's 9-14-07 friends.zine
Valentine's Day 2002 Petite Paris Barton and Guestier la passionndu vin depuis 1725
Zanti's Trattoria 7-12-02 Boltiglo Cantino
Birthday at the Chase    Torres
Zhivagos 3-29-03  with Eileen and Marsha
Spice Wine  from Cedar Creek Winery in Wisconsin 12-24-01
Fortis Export champagne cork from 1978 Dom Perignon
Beringer 1-19-05
Greysac Chicago 7-28-06
Philip Staley (707) 431-1291  Harvest 5-16-03
Zhivago's 8-24-02
Brazie's 7-30-01 Indian Springs Vineyards
Casa Lapostolle  Duffs 5-5-05
Los Vascos  Chile Texas de Brazil in Memphis 5-3-06
Norton from Sams 10-27
Hess Artezin Zinfandel from 2009 at Matthew's Kitchen on Hampton-first visit
Sharon's BD 2005 Solabal Abalos Rioja
Blue Water Grill  vacation 6-5-03 Mark West
Hermannhof  Duck on Christmas Eve 2005 and 2006  XM Radio in 05
Christmas Eve 2000 Cynthiana
Mondavi Woodbridge Ft. Lauderdale Dec 07-Jan 08
Hess 12-26-07 at Lombardo's
Carol's BD 2011 Cauliflower Pasta and Cuatro Pasos from the Wine Cellar
1st night in New Hampshire 2003 Vini d'Italia
Bodegas Caro  Benton's in KC
Champagne cork 7-23-05
Indian Springs Sam's Steakhouse 10-27  Patty and Nancy dinner
Toad Hollow after fitness test 12-5-07
Dec 7th, 2007 Wente Landry's at Union Station
Koko 5-20-08 Altos Las Hormigas
Chateau of Grand Traverse 12-20-08 Mussells after putting together LCD TV
Chateau Bel Air Haut Medo 1998 1-31-04 Leonardo's Little Italy
Glen Carlou Koko 4-4-08
MC  Leonardo's Little Italy 1-4-02 Carol's January BD dinner
Tempranillo Mosaic Tapa 11-9-06 played golf at 1 PM
Cedar Creek Winery 12-30-01 Lamb dinner
Penfold 1st night Palm Springs 3-28-07 Dinah Shore
Wild Flower with Sally and Jocelyn 6-22-03
McLaren Vale South Australia Carol's BD dinner 11-15-2008 at Sam's
Hermannhof  Cabin on the Hill 5-4-05
The Heights 2-7-04 City Hall Pride Open House
Frei Brothers John and Tim's BD 12-07
Hess at the new Brazie's
Franciscan New Orleans K-Pauls on Chartres 4-17-08

Other saved corks
Windsor-a wine club
Cedar Creek Winery
Fat Bastard
Smoking Loon
Sterling
La Crema
Bolla
Simi Winery
St. George
Trefethen
Funky Llama
Blackstar Farms Winery
Bodegas Alto Almanxora
Bodesgas Juan Gil
Dynamite Vineyards
Bonterra
Doghouse
Chinon-2006
Toscolo
David Bruce Winery
Cycles Gladiator
Tabor Hill Winery
Oak Glenn Winery
Anzil Bodegas Vinedos
Foodies
Westphalia Vineyards
Robert Mondavi
La Bastarda
Fat Bastard
Chateau Chantal
Gnarlyhead
Sebeka
Pepperwood Grove
Leaping Lizard
Bodegas Palacio
Indian Wells
Wines of Cantena
Bridgeview
Castle Rock
Cantina Colli Amerini Amelia
Ribera Del Duero
Rabbit Ridge
Big Tattoo Red
Santa Margherita Fossalta
1998 Joseph Drouhin  Bourgogne
Bourgogne 1997 Tirage Au Domaine
Oberon
Traverse Bay Winery in Michigan
Clos Du Bois
Italia Folonari 091899 on the cork