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/