Congratulations to the local St. Louis (and the St. Louis area) restaurants and food sources that have earned their "15 minutes of fame", and have been featured in national media: Food Network and Oprah's list of Favorite Things in her "O" magazine.
First up:
http://www.theblueowl.com/
Second up:
First up:
The Blue Owl Restaurant
The Blue Owl Restaurant and Bakery is located in the quiet, sleepy little river town, Kimswick, MO (located 45 minutes from my home). I ate at this restaurant after their second appearance on the Food Network. If you go to this restaurant, it would be in your best interest to either put your name on the waiting list to get in, or call for reservations. If you do not have reservations, you can shop while you wait. It will be about a 2 hr. wait to get a seat if you don't have previous reservations. They were featured on this channel for their famous Levee High Apple Pie:
Recently, this restaurant - and their pie - has been featured in Oprah's "O" Magazine, as one of her Favorite Things:
Since their appearance in the "O" Magazine, their website has crashed often due to the high volume of hits. I did get on this site this morning.
The Blue Owl's website:
http://www.theblueowl.com/Recently, this restaurant - and their pie - has been featured in Oprah's "O" Magazine, as one of her Favorite Things:
Second up:
Jilly's Cup Cake Bar
(4.2 miles from my home!)
These are just a few local food finds that have made their way into the national spotlight. There are many more notable food and drink spots in this area that I have not covered that will include (but are not limited to):
1) Crown Candy Kitchen:
Although the candy is featured, there is more to this spot than the candy. In fact, I have never bought candy from them...because I go to eat in the attached diner. If you go to this are, you must be aware of the area that you are in. They know they are in a bad area of town, but as the owners / operators have said, "We have been in this area since 1913. We were here before the area turned bad, and we are staying here." My advice: Go early. The line to get in will literally go out the door at lunch time. Park as close to the door as you can - and always get an old-fashioned Malt! Great diner food. Great nostalgia.
Their website:
http://crowncandykitchen.net/
2) Anheuser-Busch (self-explanatory!)
3) Schlafly Brewery (AKA. The St. Louis Brewery).
Located in the Maplewood area of St. Louis, this brewery has it's own bar and restaurant, and you can get a clear view of the process behind the process of beer making.
Schlafly Brewery's website:
http://www.schlafly.com/
As I have previously stated: These are just a few of the food and drink spots in the St. Louis area that have had national coverage.
We could cover the Central West End, The Grand South Grand and the Delmar Loop (featuring the stars of the St. Louis walk of fame!) shopping and restaurant areas....
In summary:
I have said on more than one occasion that if we are going to kill ourselves from over-eating, don't be lame in the way that you go about it. After all, isn't killing yourself murder? In my belief system, murders go to a bad place (Hell?) after they pass from this Earth. If you kill yourself, whether it be from a self-inflicted gun shot wound, or overeating, the results are the same: you murdered yourself. I believe that if we do such a thing, we will arrive in that Inferno. Upon our arrival, we will be surrounded by "Hell Royalty", such as Saddam Hussein, Osama bin Laden, Fidel Castro, Adolph Hitler........ When they ask you, "What brought you here?", are you going to embarrass yourself by answering, "I ate a Twinkie?" or "I had a store-bought, pre-packaged cupcake?" or "I put too much mayonnaise on a plain ham sandwich?" Good God, I hope you don't have to answer in that manner! I want you to be proud of yourself! I want you to be able to answer, "I ate the Cadbury Egg cupbake from Jilly's!" or "I had the Mac & Cheese from Sweetie Pie's!" However you decide to answer, I would hope that you won't have to answer, "I ate a super-sized order from McDonald's!"
If you are going to do it - do it right, and do it with style! :)
Happy Eating!
- Michael
(4.2 miles from my home!)
 |
| "Chocolate Thunder" A few years ago, I was introduced to Jilly's Cupcakes at the annual Best of Missouri Market at the Missouri Botanical Gardens. Jilly's started out in a small shop in a strip mall on Delmar Blvd in the St. Louis area. They have since expanded their shop - twice- and now occupies 3 shops in that strip mall. Jilly's was a contestant on Food Network's "Cupcake Wars", and they won that episode. (Was there really any question that they wouldn't win? :) ) More info on their Cupcake Wars appearance: http://www.jillyscupcakebar.com/cupcake-wars.php Jilly's website - take a look at their cupcakes! Bet you can't eat one - in just one sitting! These are "not yo mamma's cupcakes!" Not even close. http://www.jillyscupcakebar.com/ Jilly's - because of you, and my generally weak constitution, I now live on an exercise bike! Last on this list: (but the list could continue....) Sweetie Pie's on the Mangrove (8 miles from my home!) Ronnie Montgomery, the founder and chef at Sweetie Pie's started her career as an Ikette. For those of you have been born since then, an "Ikette" was a back-up singer for Ike and Tina Turner, who got their start in East. St. Louis, IL - just across the river from St. Louis. Ike and Tina worked in many clubs St. Louis' Gaslight Square district "back in the day". Ronnie has several photos on the walls of the restaurant of herself, along with the other Ikettes when they are a part of the Ike and Tina Turner Revue. The food at this restaurant is billed as 'Soul Food', but the only 'Soul' that I can find in this food is that that originates from the core of her own heart. This food is more 'Southern comfort food' than 'Soul Food'. I have read many review that were written about Sweetie Pie's, and many of them state, "Your mother only wishes she could cook like this!" The food is served 'cafeteria style', and feature several different meats, sides, and a couple desserts each day. I have been to this restaurant many, many times. Even though Ronnie is famous for her Mac & Cheese, I was put here on this Earth to tell you that I have never in my life tasted better Fried Catfish! It does not have a "muddy, river" taste, and will stay crispy several hours after you take it home. Their serving portions are HUGE, and it is almost expected for you to ask for a take-home container at the end of your meal. The service at the restaurant is almost uncomfortable and uncanny, in the fact that they are definitely on their job! It has been several decades since I have seen such good service in any restaurant. If you go to Sweetie Pie's on a weekend, while you eat, you will often be entertained by live jazz music, provided by a small band, and often played on the grand piano that is painted to match the decor of the restaurant. Recently, Sweeties has secured a spot on the OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network), and she has her own show - "Welcome To Sweetie Pie's!" The show airs on Saturdays at 8 PM Central. More info on "Welcome To Sweetie Pie's" on OWN Network: http://www.oprah.com/own-sweetie-pies/sweetie-pies-blog.html Robbie's appearance on Food Network's Diner's Drive-Ins and Dives with Guy Fieri: This clip is a longer interview, and goes into a bit more depth. This Ronnie Montgomery's appearance on Channel 9 (Public TV), making her Famous Mac & Cheese, and a couple other delights: |
These are just a few local food finds that have made their way into the national spotlight. There are many more notable food and drink spots in this area that I have not covered that will include (but are not limited to):
1) Crown Candy Kitchen:
Although the candy is featured, there is more to this spot than the candy. In fact, I have never bought candy from them...because I go to eat in the attached diner. If you go to this are, you must be aware of the area that you are in. They know they are in a bad area of town, but as the owners / operators have said, "We have been in this area since 1913. We were here before the area turned bad, and we are staying here." My advice: Go early. The line to get in will literally go out the door at lunch time. Park as close to the door as you can - and always get an old-fashioned Malt! Great diner food. Great nostalgia.
Their website:
http://crowncandykitchen.net/
2) Anheuser-Busch (self-explanatory!)
3) Schlafly Brewery (AKA. The St. Louis Brewery).
Located in the Maplewood area of St. Louis, this brewery has it's own bar and restaurant, and you can get a clear view of the process behind the process of beer making.
Schlafly Brewery's website:
http://www.schlafly.com/
As I have previously stated: These are just a few of the food and drink spots in the St. Louis area that have had national coverage.
We could cover the Central West End, The Grand South Grand and the Delmar Loop (featuring the stars of the St. Louis walk of fame!) shopping and restaurant areas....
In summary:
I have said on more than one occasion that if we are going to kill ourselves from over-eating, don't be lame in the way that you go about it. After all, isn't killing yourself murder? In my belief system, murders go to a bad place (Hell?) after they pass from this Earth. If you kill yourself, whether it be from a self-inflicted gun shot wound, or overeating, the results are the same: you murdered yourself. I believe that if we do such a thing, we will arrive in that Inferno. Upon our arrival, we will be surrounded by "Hell Royalty", such as Saddam Hussein, Osama bin Laden, Fidel Castro, Adolph Hitler........ When they ask you, "What brought you here?", are you going to embarrass yourself by answering, "I ate a Twinkie?" or "I had a store-bought, pre-packaged cupcake?" or "I put too much mayonnaise on a plain ham sandwich?" Good God, I hope you don't have to answer in that manner! I want you to be proud of yourself! I want you to be able to answer, "I ate the Cadbury Egg cupbake from Jilly's!" or "I had the Mac & Cheese from Sweetie Pie's!" However you decide to answer, I would hope that you won't have to answer, "I ate a super-sized order from McDonald's!"
If you are going to do it - do it right, and do it with style! :)
Happy Eating!
- Michael
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