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/