Month: May 2015

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Pedal Pub Attacked In Minneapolis

In 2009, my family and I visited the Twin Cities and had fish and chips at Brit’s Pub on Nicollet Mall. That’s not far from where Mary Tyler Moore famously threw her hat into the air in the opening of her 70s TV show.

Sidewalk dining on the downtown Minneapolis mall is nice because the only vehicles allowed thru the mall are busses. And the Pedal Pub, a cool way for a group to go bar-hopping. The folks who rode past us that evening all appeared to be having a fun time. Here are a couple of photos I took.

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This past Saturday, there were attacks on Pedal Pubs in Minneapolis by folks with water balloons and water guns. And one group of Pedal Pubs riders was made up of off-duty cops who confronted the attackers. Here’s video:

Why would people want to mess with folks who are just out for a fun time on a Pedal Pub bike? An article posted yesterday by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune points out: When there’s a Facebook page called “I Hate the Pedal Pub,” with more than 4,000 “likes,” it can embolden people to act in ways they never might have before. Read the full article by clicking HERE.

A Pedal Pub partner was quoted in today’s Wall Street Journal saying: “This would’ve probably flown under the radar forever” if there hadn’t been police on the bikes. Read the WSJ article by clicking HERE.

Here in STL, we have the St. Louis Bar Cycle which runs pub crawl rides around the Soulard neighborhood. Click HERE for their website and HERE for their Facebook page.

One would think that there would be a market for more such vehicles around metro St. Louis in neighborhoods that have a concentration of eating/drinking establishments. The Loop? Maplewood? CWE? South Grand?

Sounds like big fun to me. Just keep an eye out for guys with Super Soakers and water balloons.

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Waino, These Are Bueno

Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright posted these words on his Twitter account (@UncleCharlie50) Sunday night:

Making the most of my DL time. Enjoying stl’s sneaky great restaurant scene! Tonight, @vindeset Wow! Last wk Stone Soup Cottage! Any Rec’s?

As a matter of fact, Adam, I do have a few suggestions! (FULL DISCLOSURE: Some of the places listed below are past or present PR/Social Media clients, but my comments here are from a diner’s perspective not that of a consultant. If that’s possible.)

I know that you get to visit America’s great restaurant cities like San Francisco, New York, Chicago, etc. every season. I’d guess that you have visited all sorts of places from the funky joints to the exclusive high-end restaurants.

You are known to be a fan of Pappy’s BBQ here in St. Louis. I’ve heard that you’ve been known to visit Bogart’s as well.

You mentioned Vin de Set and Stone Soup Cottage in your tweet. Both work hard to make the entire customer experience memorable, just as much as they focus on their food and drink.

Since you like those, I’d recommend Paul and Wendy Hamilton’s sister restaurant to Vin de Set, 1111 Mississippi which has a different feel and a different menu, but a similar pronounced emphasis on great service. The Crossing in Clayton also delivers wonderful service and great food. Because The Crossing is a smaller place—though not as small as Stone Soup—the kitchen and serving team are able to match your particular wants and needs.

Another fine dining experience I’d recommend is Cielo at the Four Seasons Hotel. As you likely know from your travels, some hotel restaurants are good and some are embarrassingly bad. Cielo is top-notch.

During the 90’s my wife and I dined many times at Cardwell’s At The Plaza at Plaza Frontenac. Not sure why we haven’t gone there in a long while, but our meals there were always enjoyable. (Plus we sat right next to Big Mac once in ’99 but we didn’t bother him.)

Haven’t been to Annie Gunn’s in the valley in a few years either, but dinners there were very good and chef Lou Rook, Jr. is a good guy.

Since you are a Georgia native, you’d likely enjoy the food at Highway 61 Roadhouse in Webster. They feature favorite foods from New Orleans, Memphis and St. Louis. I recommend the Smothered Catfish. And you must try their Mac’n’Cheese.

In the BBQ realm, for pulled pork, try Super Smokers in Eureka. Your BBQ buddies Mike Emerson and Skip Steele both worked with Super Smokers’ Terry Black back in the day. The pulled pork is always smoky and tender and comes un-sauced, as I prefer. A good assortment of sauces is available.

Like burgers? 5 Star Burgers in Clayton and Kirkwood is a new favorite. Seamus McDaniel’s in Dogtown never disappoints. And I’ve always enjoyed my burgers at P.J.’s Tavern in Kirkwood.

Enjoy the St. Louis dining scene during your time on the DL! And be sure to share your impressions of local restaurants on Twitter. We’ll be following. I hope your rehab goes smoothly and that you’ll be back on the mound for the Cardinals in great form in 2016.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin With Glayva Whiskey Glaze by Alastair Nisbet

Here is the latest video from STL’s Alastair Nisbet from The Scottish Arms and The Shaved Duck restaurants, just posted this week.

The series of Scottish cooking videos, produced by St. Louis’s Elasticity agency, will be posted monthly through the end of the year. They are featured online at Scotland.org/scottishrecipes.

For more info about Alastair Nisbet, including photos and audio clips, scroll down to the April 28 post.

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Mother’s Day—Take Your Mom Out To Eat!

Yes, Mother’s Day is a busy day for restaurants. But if you make a reservation and show up on time, you should be able to be seated and served promptly.

Tons of spots around St. Louis are offering Mother’s Day brunches. Here’s a list compiled from my inbox and my Twitter feed. It includes a few obvious spots (Four Seasons, e.g.) and some you may not have considered (Frazer’s, e.g.).

You should note: Some brunches are buffets. Others are not. Here are a few you might like to know about…

Flemings on Lindbergh has a 3-course brunch featuring appetizer, entrée and dessert for 39.95. (The Baked Brioche French Toast, pictured, is one of the entrée choices.)

Brioche French Toast

Plus all moms receive a 25-dollar gift card for a future visit. FlemingsSteakhouse.com.

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Tenacious Eats at 3117 Olive combines a 5-course meal (+ 5 special cocktails) with a movie! For Mother’s Day, the film is The Help. All moms receive a corsage and complimentary Mimosa on arrival. (And, yes, dessert will be chocolate pie!)

Doors open at 10:00 a.m. First course and first reel are at 11:00 a.m. Cost is 65.00 advance. (85.00 at the door.) TenaciousEats.com.

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Eleven Eleven Mississippi is offering a 3-course prix-fixe Mother’s Day lunch from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for 28.99 (+ tax and tip). 1111-m.com

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Cielo at the Four Seasons Hotel has a Mother’s Day Brunch with bottomless Bloody Marys and Mimosas. Cost is 90.00 (35. for kids 5-12). It features 70 items and action stations.

Four Seasons

 

For info: FourSeasons.com/StLouis 

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Robust Wine Bar at the MX Downtown (635 Washington) will feature an a la carte menu starting at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday. Click HERE to view the menu and get more info.

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Highway 61 Roadhouse in Webster Groves begins its Mother’s Day Brunch at 9:00 a.m. with last seating at 2:30 p.m. Cost is 16.99. Hwy61Roadhouse.com

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The Restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton has a Mother’s Day brunch buffet that runs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Cost is 89.00. (44.50 for ages 5-12.) RitzCarlton.com

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Frazer’s at 1811 Pestalozzi, just across I-55 from the brewery will serve Mother’s Day brunch 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. FrazersGoodEats.com

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Remember your mom (and all the other moms in your family) and remember to make reservations!