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Newsy Notes from STL

The Dark Room is closing—temporarily!—as it moves to its new location. Final service at the current location on Grand will be Sunday (1/29).

The new location inside Grandel Theatre debuts on Wednesday, February 22 with a few changes. More details later.

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Valentine’s Day is on Tuesday, February 14. Cantina Laredo in Clayton is offering a Valentine’s Especialidad on February 11-14. Cost is 35/person for this 3-course meal (soup/salad, entrée, dessert).

Entrée choices include:

Camarones con Pasilla Mango Molé — Sautéed shrimp with spicy mango molé sauce.

Pollo Asada Tropical — A grilled chicken breast topped with Monterey Jack cheese and mango-avocado pico, served over two Monterey Jack cheese enchiladas with tomatillo sauce.

Filet Negro Peppercorn — Seven ounce Certified Angus Beef filet mignon topped with black peppercorn dijon sauce.

Cantina Laredo is located at 771o Forsyth. For reservations call 314-725-2447.

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The Ritz-Carlton St. Louis Grill restaurant has a 4-course (plus chocolate covered strawberries!) Valentine’s menu, available February 10, 11 and 14. Cost is 99/person.

Entrée choices at the Ritz Grill are Rack of Lamb with Grilled Asparagus, and a duo of Grilled Beef Tenderloin and Lemon/Fennel-Glazed Halibut.

Call the Ritz at (314-719-1433) for dining requests, or (800) 241-3333 for overnight packages.

BTW, the Ritz is also serving up a Valentine’s Chocolate Martini throughout February in its Lobby Lounge.

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The Biergarten at the A-B brewery is having a Food and Beer Pairing Dinner on Friday, February 10 at 6:30 p.m. Cost is 75/person. Click HERE for ticket info.

 

 

 

 

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Freeze-Que At The Roadhouse

Most barbecue competitions occur in spring, summer and fall. How about one in the middle of winter?

Bill Kunz and company are hosting the 7th annual Freeze-Que this weekend at Highway 61 Roadhouse in Webster Groves. Hours are noon-5:00 p.m. on Saturday (1/28) and noon-4:00 p.m. on Sunday (1/29).

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The Freeze-Que offers a good opportunity for you to spend some time outdoors in the winter cold, enjoying delicious ribs from nearly 50 competitive teams! Full bar service will be available. And there will be live music both afternoons on the Roadhouse lot.

If you get too cold, you can always take refuge inside the Roadhouse. Weekend highs will struggle to hit 40 degrees, according to forecasts. Not frigid, but cool enough to appreciate winter. (The photo below is from a springtime event at the Roadhouse.)

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Proceeds from the Freeze-Que benefit the Carney’s Kids Foundation which provides funds to several worthy children’s organizations.

Highway 61 Roadhouse is located at 34 South Old Orchard Avenue in Webster Groves (63119).

 

 

 

 

 

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Clementine Hooks Up with Piccione!

Piccione Pastry’s in the Delmar Loop has partnered with Clementine’s Creamery to offer Clementine’s gelato and sorbet. Are you ready for Piccione’s cannoli stuffed with Clementine’s gelato? Delizioso!

Piccione owner Richard Nix Jr. says, “An Italian pastry shop isn’t complete without authentic gelato and sorbet, and Tamara Keefe and the Clementine’s team create the perfect flavors.” That’s Clementine’s owner Tamara Keefe in the pic with Ricky Nix III.

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Piccione Pastry shop opened in spring 2013 at Skinker and Delmar, just west of the Pageant and features late night hours. Open until 9:00 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and until 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Clementine’s Naughty and Nice Creamery is located at 1637 S. 18th Street in the Lafayette Square neighborhood and also features late evening hours. Clementine’s is open until 10:00 p.m. Sunday thru Thursday and until 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

More info on their websites! Click HERE for Piccione Pastries. And HERE for Clementines.

And go HERE for an amazing pic of Piccione’s cannoli.

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Landmark Hits Milestone

Pat’s in Dogtown has been there… forever. Well, longer than you can remember.

Actually, 75 years. The joint opened in 1942.

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Famous for being the starting point (or very near it) of the annual Dogtown St. Patrick’s Day parade, Pat’s, at Tamm and Oakland was founded by a real Irishman. Pat Connolly, native son of County Galway, called his establishment the Pat Connolly Tavern.

Following ownership changes over the decades and a period when the bar was known as McDermott’s, Pat’s is back in the family. And the official name is once again the Pat Connolly Tavern.

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The current owner is Joe Jovanovich, grandson of Pat Connolly. (That’s Pat in the photo.) In partnership with his mom, Jovanovich has updated things. The decor. And the menu.

However, you have to honor a classic: As it was in the beginning, so it is today that fried chicken is a menu staple. Along with a large selection of bar/grill food favorites, the beverage menu goes well beyond Bud and Bud Light. Along with Irish beers, the PCT offers classic cocktails.

If you haven’t been by in, oh, a decade or two, maybe it’s time to revisit a St. Louis landmark as the Pat Connolly Tavern celebrates its 75th anniversary. Check out their website by clicking HERE.

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Give STL Coffee This Christmas

For a few decades now, folks on the coasts have frequently referred (in a snarky manner) to the middle of the U.S. as “flyover country.” Following the recent election, many of those coastal dwellers (media types and others) have decided to pay closer attention to those of us in the Midwest. They would do well to take note of our area’s coffee roasters.

St. Louis’s Flyover Coffee offers subscriptions to monthly mailings of freshly roasted beans from some of the area’s top coffee companies. Memberships start at $19/month.

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Participating roasters include Blueprint, Stringbean, Kuva, La Cosecha, Art House, Kaldi’s, Shortwave, Parengo, Riley’s, Northwest, Oddly Correct and Community Coffee.

Got friends and family in New York, Boston, L.A., San Francisco or, yes, even Seattle, who love great coffee? You can send ’em one, two or three bags per month of St. Louis’s best via Flyover Coffee. (Of course, you can send Flyover Coffee to other locales, including elsewhere here in flyover land.)

Click HERE to get the full scoop and send some St. Louis love in the form of fresh coffee this Christmas.

 

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Tomato Fest at Iron Barley

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Here’s some great family fun this Sunday!

Iron Barley’s 12 Annual Tomato Fest

WHEN: Sunday, August 14, Noon to 6:00 p.m.

WHERE: 5510 Virginia, St. Louis 63111

WHAT: A celebration of all things TOMATO! Bloody Marys. BLT sandwiches. Pizzas cooked on the smoker, topped with the season’s best tomatoes. Fresh tomatoes from local farmers. Tomato art.

LIVE MUSIC: From Pat Liston (of Mama’s Pride) and Sins of the Pioneers.

ALSO: A Bloody Mary making contest, open to all. Games and raffles. This is a free street party on Virginia Avenue in front of Iron Barley, just off I-55 in south St. Louis

PROCEEDS BENEFIT: Lift For Life Gym

Click HERE for more info.

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Wing Ding Thursday Night (8/11)

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This Thursday night, August 11, come to Queeny Park and eat chicken wings! In vast quantities! (And enjoy a beer or two as well.)

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Tickets are $25 in advance. (Order by Tuesday, August 9 to get the advance ticket deal.) Cost is $30 at the door. Click HERE to order advance tickets and get info on VIP, Youth and Kid tickets.

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The annual UCP Wing Ding starts at 6:00 p.m. and you should come hungry. Wings will be offered by several of the St. Louis area’s best wings purveyors.

This year’s list includes Southern, Sugarfire Smokehouse, St. Louis Wing Company, Hotshots, Highway 61 Roadhouse, Barrister’s, Three Kings Public House, Big Chief Restaurant, EdgeWild Bistro, Frailey’s, The Slider House, Walnut Grill, Wheelhouse and Balentine’s among others.

Wings!

I have served as a judge for the past four Wing Ding’s and can personally attest that this is a fun night for friends and family. Bring a bunch of people with you! You will enjoy traditional wing preparations as well as some rather creative ones. (Unfortunately, I will be unable to judge at this year’s event due to family commitments.)

If you have questions about the event, call 636) 779-2253 or click HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Wing Ding is sponsored by Schlafly, CARF International, 105.7 The Point, Coca-Cola, Ices Plain and Fancy and Nothing Bundt Cakes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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New Ballpark Food at Busch

Hot dogs, nachos, peanuts and Cracker Jack are the ballpark classics, of course. With a Bud or a Bud Light.

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But when we go to Busch Stadium nowadays, sometimes we want something different. Something above and beyond. Like these new items the Cardinals have added for the 2016 season.

Meatball Cone

The Meatball Cone is, well, a cone filled with meatballs. The cone itself is not exactly like an ice cream cone—it’s a bit more substantial—but it allows you to carry it around like an ice cream cone. The meatballs are topped with marinara sauce and shredded mozzarella.

The Meatball Cone goes for $15 and is available at stand near section 152 (behind home plate on the main concourse). It goes a long way toward filling you up.

Chicarrons

A new variation on nachos is the Chicharron. It features fried pork skins (we called ’em “cracklings” down south), topped with pulled pork or taco beef, nacho cheese and assorted toppings.

Score your chicharrons for $15 at mobile stands near sections 131 and 152. Also on the upper level near section 450.

Ribs at Busch

St. Louis has gone gaga for barbecue during the last decade and now the Cardinals are smoking ribs. A platter of ribs with coleslaw and potato salad goes for $20, at the stand near section 109 (right field bleachers).

Turkey Burger

Among the other new savory items at Busch this year are the Turkey Burger (shown above, $12) and a Vegan burger ($12) at stands near sections 135 and 458 and Italian hoagies (beef brisket or Italian sausage) for $14 at the stand near section 152.

Dinger's Donuts

A personal favorite for the sweet tooth are the Dinger’s Donuts. They’re fried up fresh and served up at a stand on the main concourse near section 145. You can top ’em with chocolate, vanilla or maple glaze. They go 14 for $6. Or a helmet full for $14.

Have a hot dog or a brat it you must—hey, it’s tradition—but I suggest you also treat yourself to a new and different ballpark indulgence! Or two. Or three.

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4 Food Pics

Wanted to share a few favorite pics from recent meals I enjoyed!

Shrimp Grits Stellas

Here are Shrimp and Grits from Stella’s Fish Cafe in Minneapolis. The dish contains small pieces of shrimp in the grits and a spicy jambalaya type sauce on top. Excellent.

TFOL Pesto Chicken

I had the Pesto Chicken Sandwich at The Fountain on Locust (3037 Locust in St. Louis) during a lunch visit with KSHE’s John Ulett and TFOL’s and OnSTL’s Ron Stevens. It went well with our conversation.

PW Pizza Southwest-Pulled

During a recent visit to PW PIzza (2017 Chouteau in St. Louis), my family members ordered standard pizzas. Mine, however, was half South of the Border and half Pulled Piggy. Enjoyed the heck out of both topping combos.

Fish Market Creole Snapper

Shown above is my Father’s Day meal of Snapper topped with Creole sauce at The Fish Market in Birmingham. (I’ve written about The Fish Market before in this space. Click HERE to read that 2013 post.)

My Instagram handle is @davidcraigstl. I share many food and beverage photos there, along with a variety of other subjects. I invite you to follow!

—–David Craig

 

 

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STL Cigar Box Guitar Festival

On Saturday, June 4, Highway 61 Roadhouse in Webster Groves hosts the 4th annual St. Louis Cigar Box Guitar Festival, starting at noon. It’s a FREE event!

Why would someone make a guitar out of a cigar box? In the 1800’s, people discovered that cigar boxes, which were widely available, provided needed resonance. In 2016, it’s a growing retro craft.

Heidi Glaus visited with Russ Wellington and Gary Herget recently on Show Me St. Louis on KSDK to learn about cigar box guitars.

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Click HERE to view the Show Me St. Louis video.

Roots/blues guitarist Justin Johnson is the featured performer at the CBG Fest. He displayed his talent on KTRS radio with McGraw Milhaven and Kelly Jackson.

Justin also chatted about cigar box guitars with Ron Steven and Joy Grdnic.

Justin will be hosting an interactive guitar workshop at the Roadhouse on the day of the festival starting at 10:00 a.m. There is a $10 donation requested for the workshop with all proceeds going to Six String Heroes, a group that provides guitars and guitar lessons for injured veterans. To learn more about Justin, you can visit his website by clicking HERE.

The 4th annual St. Louis Cigar Box Festival is sponsored by Lagunitas Brewing Company of Petaluma, California (just north of San Francisco).

 

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Click HERE to take a look at the Lagunitas beer lineup, many of which are available at the Roadhouse. Here’s a cool Lagunitas video:

Highway 61 Roadhouse is located at 34 South Old Orchard Avenue in Webster Groves, Missouri. 314-968-0061. Click HERE to visit the Roadhouse website.