by

Food Network Christmas Specials!

Food Network and Cooking Channel have several Christmas themed shows you might like to know about. Here are some of the highlights with St. Louis showtimes listed for your viewing and/or DVRing pleasure.

XmasatBobbys

Christmas at Bobby’s with Bobby Flay and friends is set for Sunday, December 6, 11:00 a.m. on Food Network. Bobby prepares a prime rib roast. His guests bring dishes for a potluck gathering.

RosanaPonsino

On Sunday evening, December 6, 8:00 p.m., Rosanna Pansino (who has 326 videos posted on Youtube!) will host Ro’s Tasty Treats: Holiday on Cooking Channel. That’s her above with the reindeer pop.

On Monday, December 7, 7:00 p.m., Unwrapped 2.0: Festive Foods features host Alfonso Ribeiro checking out cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and candy canes. On Food Network.

Robert Irvine of Restaurant: Impossible brings Holiday: Impossible on Thursday, December 10, 8:00 p.m. on Food Network. In this program, the makeover is at a kid’s camp in the Grand Tetons.

InaGiada

A Barefoot Holiday with Ina Garten (shown above alongside Giada de Laurentis) will be seen Sunday, December 13 at noon. Ina cooks for her husband Jeffrey and friends. Settings include the Berkshires and East Hampton.

For more info on these shows, plus recipes and other food-related content, go to FoodNetwork.com or CookingChannelTV.com.

by

Schweddy Balls—They’re Everywhere!

It’s an SNL classic. The Delicious Dish radio show with special guest Pete Schweddy. Who just happened to bring along a special Christmas treat!

The bit, which originally aired in December 1998, has been replayed many times on TV and viewed over and over on Youtube. Ana Gasteyer, Molly Shannon and, especially, Alec Baldwin played it perfectly. Hats off also to the writers of the bit.

Since then, several folks have stepped forward to offer their own recipes for Scheddy Balls. So, lets check a few of them out!

schweddy-balls

HERE are Schweddy meatballs from Krissy Allori. They look delish. (Shown above.)

HERE are cheese Schweddy balls, with peppers mixed in to make you Schweddy!

Schweddy3

HERE you can find Schweddy Balls made from chocolate and Nutella. (Above.)

HERE are Schweddy balls that are a sweet treat from Katrina in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Paleo-Christmas-Schweddy-Balls-26

HERE is a recipe for Paleo Chocolate Truffle Schweddy Balls. (Above.)

HERE is the recipe for Schweddy Balls made from chocolate chips, crushed vanilla wafers and bourbon (or other potent potable).

You may recall that Ben & Jerry’s briefly had a Schweddy Balls Ice Cream flavor but that has been discontinued.

I can’t vouch for any of these recipes. But I think it would be great fun to invite your holiday party guests to enjoy a taste of your Schweddy Balls!

It’s like Pete says, “No one can resist my Schweddy Balls.”

by

Coffee: The World In Your Cup and St. Louis In Your Cup

If coffee is a big part of your life, you will want to visit Missouri History Museum and check out their new coffee exhibit.

Coffee entry

St. Louis’s early settlers were of French descent and the French were among Europe’s biggest coffee consumers. Back in the 250-years-ago day, folks had to roast, grind and brew their own beans, meaning the product in one’s cup could be inconsistent.

(Way more inconsistent than my too-strong or too-weak morning coffee made via our Cuisinart Grind and Brew drip coffee maker.)

Old pots

Shown above are some vintage coffee pots featured in the exhibit.

As a media person, I enjoyed the mid-20th century vintage TV spots for Old Judge Coffee. It was “irradiated for a flavor boost.”

Old Judge magician

Old judge can

Dana Brown and his Safari Coffee are featured.

Coffee Dana

There are video presentations featuring newer local coffee roasters like Stringbean Coffee (Pete Cohen is pictured below) and Blueprint Coffee.

Coffee pete

coffee blueprint

I like the personal part of the exhibit where visitors are encouraged to write down their own coffee memories on a coffee filter. Here are three of them I snapped at random:

Coffee memory 1

coffee memory 2

coffee memory 3

The St. Louis skyline mural, made entirely of coffee beans, is impressive. It really needs to be seen up close and personal so you can fully appreciate it.

Coffee mural

There’s much more to Coffee: The World In Your Cup and St. Louis In Your Cup than I am able to share here.

The coffee exhibit with the long name at Missouri History Museum continues through January 3, 2016. Admission to the exhibit is free.

Missouri History Museum is located on the north side of Forest Park, just off Lindell Boulevard at DeBaliviere. Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except Tuesdays when open until 8:00 p.m. Click HERE for more info on the coffee exhibit.

by

Fresh Thyme Opens Wednesday!

Fresh Thyme markets will open their stores in West STL County and O’Fallon, Missouri Wednesday, November 4, at 7:00 a.m.

FRESH THYME FARMERS MARKETS LOGO

The stores will kick things off with ribbon cuttings at 6:45 a.m. When the doors open, the first 250 shoppers at each store will receive free reusable shopping bags filled with $50 worth of healthy and organic groceries.

The stores are located at 13957 Manchester and at 2235 Highway K. (Fresh Thyme opened in Fairview Heights earlier this year.) Online link: FreshThyme.com.

According to their release, Fresh Thyme Farmers Market has “an extensive produce department with organic and local fruits and vegetables, a natural meat department, healthy deli foods to go, bakery goods, 300 bulk food bins, dairy and frozen, and health supplement products.”

One presumes, based on the name, the stores will have an especially good selection of herbs.

by

SPECTRE Night at Basso

Basso at the Cheshire will host a special event on Friday, October 30, 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. in honor of the new James Bond film SPECTRE.

Spectre

Guests can win promotional items from the film as well as passes to an advance screening. One lucky Grand Prize winner will also receive a complimentary one night stay in the James Bond Suite at THE CHESHIRE!

Special Bond-themed cocktails will be available. Attendees are encouraged to dress in their best James Bond inspired “Tuxedo Attire.” Click HERE for more info.

SPECTRE, starring Daniel Craig as James Bond, opens November 6. Here’s a trailer:

Basso is located in The Cheshire at 7036 Clayton Avenue in St. Louis.

by

FREE MOVIE PASSES!!! For the movie Burnt starring Bradley Cooper

Here’s the trailer for the new movie Burnt starring Bradley Cooper as a chef whose career has imploded. Now, he’s attempting a comeback. Sienna Miller co-stars.

Here’s the plot set-up from the BurntMovie.com website:

After the bad boy of the Parisian dining scene had a spectacular meltdown that raised the eyebrows of the city’s culinary elite, he retreated to the American South where, according to some accounts, he spent time shucking oysters and getting back to his culinary roots.

Now in London, the two-star Michelin chef has his sights set on rebuilding his reputation with the debut of Adam Jones at the Langham and earning the third Michelin star that has eluded him for so long.

Burnt opens Friday, October 30. Also in the cast are Emma Thompson, Uma Thurman and Alicia Vikander.

If you’d like to attend a preview screening of Burnt on Tuesday, October 27, 7:00 p.m. at Ronnie’s, click HERE for free passes!

Remember—seating is limited so it’s always best to arrive early for screenings.

And now… also from the BurntMovie.com website… a couple of food pics from chef Marcus Wareing, the Michelin-starred London chef who was a consultant for the movie. First, the quail with carrots…

Screen Shot 2015-10-23 at 5.37.14 PMAnd the mascarpone mousse…

Screen Shot 2015-10-23 at 5.35.53 PMFor more pics, click on the movie website link, then click on “cuisine.”

by

James Bond Halloween Event at Fleming’s Steak House

On Halloween night at 6:30 p.m., Fleming’s is hosting a 007 themed dinner. Of course, there will be martinis! (Shaken not stirred.) Click HERE for the full lineup of food items and cocktails. Cost is 95/person.

007_10012015_b

Because this is a Halloween event, guests are encouraged to dress as your favorite James Bond movie character—a villain, a leading lady, a supporting player or the man himself. Among the many choices: Goldfinger, Jaws, Blofeld, Oddjob, Pussy Galore, Jinx Johnson, Miranda Frost, Anya Amasova, Miss Moneypenny, Honey Ryder or M (male or female) or Q.

If you have a cat suit, you could come as Blofeld’s Persian. Hey, it’s an idea. Prizes will be awarded for best costumes.

youonlylivetwice01

Fleming’s is located at 1855 South Lindbergh (63131). Phone 314-567-7610.

by

Big Imo’s Sign Going Up!

Imo’s is moving its original 10 feet tall neon sign to 17th and Delmar. It is expected to be installed, atop a 30 feet pole, by 4:00 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday, October 21).

image003-15

The sign will be located between Imo’s new headquarters and a new downtown Imo’s pizza parlor, expected to open in summer 2016. (The sign was previously located at the Hampton and Oakland avenue Imo’s.)

imo logo hori eps.cmykThe location is a block west of City Museum. Click HERE to read Lisa Brown’s Post-Dispatch story from August about Imo’s move of its headquarters and distribution center to downtown.