SAUCEMAGAZINE.COM FREE, READERS’ CHOICE 2017 ST. LOUIS’ INDEPENDENT CULINARY AUTHORITY
katie collier, of katie's pizza & pasta osteria, is your chef of the year
readers' choice
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saucemagazine.com I SAUCE MAGAZINE I 3 Readers’ Choice 2017
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4 I SAUCE MAGAZINE I saucemagazine.com Readers’ Choice 2017
PHOTO
GREG RANNELLS
Mixed Green Salad
“It’s over grilled, awesome potato bread – that’s a sleeper hit. To call it a potato bread is a shame because its half mashed potatoes-half bread, so it’s dense and thick and gooey.”
Blue Crab Gratin
“It’s total comfort food. It’s just a cheesy crab dip – spicy and warm and sharable.”
favorite new restaurant
OLIVE & OAK
If you could actually snag a standing reservation at the wildly popular Olive & Oak in Webster Groves, you’d find a different menu each time. Executive chef Jesse Mendica tweaks vegetable preparations or swaps a protein in her playful twists on classics nearly every day. “Just trust us,” she said. “I won’t lead you into something you don’t want.” Here, Mendica shared her go-to salad, staff obsessions and the handful of constants on the flexible menu of your Favorite New Restaurant. – Catherine Klene
102 W. Lockwood Ave., Webster Groves, 314.736.1370, olivenadoakstl.com
The Dip
“It’s roasted leg of lamb with drunken goat cheese and lamb jus. Don’t miss it. We did a veggie dip and a ham dip and a pork dip, but nothing compares to this. I’m head over heels for it.”
Cuban Sweet Potatoes
“When you make people happy with vegetables, that’s a real feat. Steak is easy, a fatty burger is easy – vegetables take a little more effort and risk. When people dig on the vegetables, I’m so excited.”
O & O Burger
“We have to plead with [employees] to eat something other than a burger. We’re worried about you. You’re going to become a burger.”
PHOTO BY CARMEN TROESSER
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your favorite specialty food store
BOB'S SEAFOOD
Four decades after Bob Mepham got into the fish business, Bob’s Seafood is St. Louis’ preeminent seafood purveyor, and our reader’s Favorite Specialty Food Store. Here’s what it takes to make it to the top of the fish biz, by the numbers. – Matt Sorrell
156,000
1 TO 5 complimentary lemons sent home with your fish in the past 30 years
daily trips to the airport to pick up fresh fish
20,000 lobsters sold a year
10
fingers lost from scaling, boning and butchering fish minutes cook time suggested per inch of fillet thickness
0 types of seafood sold up to 100 fish is stored at
34 degrees
around
25,000 fish heads sold annually
4
oceans of seafood represented
300 up to 30,000 customers per year
tons of ice a year to keep fish chilled in the store and during the car ride home
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ILLUSTRATION BY VIDHYA NAGARAJAN
Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria, 9568 Manchester Road, Rock Hill, 314.942.6555, katiespizzaandpasta. com; Vero Pizza & Pasta, veropizzaandpasta.com
PHOTO
BY ASHLEY GIESEKING
st. louis’ chef of the year
KATIE COLLIER
The readers have spoken. Chef of the Year Katie Collier’s restaurant, Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria, is one of the hottest spots in town. She and her husband/business partner, Ted Collier, are poised to open a second location in Town & Country this summer and their meal kit company, Vero Pizza & Pasta, debuts this month. Here, Collier shared her unconventional childhood, love for Italian and plans for the future.
– Matt Sorrell
WHY FOCUS ON ITALIAN FOOD?
“When I was 18, my mom worked as a professor at Washington University in the fine arts department. They put her in charge of the study abroad program in Florence, Italy, so she moved there. I dropped out of high school when I was 14 years old. At 18, all of my friends were going to college and doing other
things. I was working at Zoe’s PanAsian Cafe, so I saved up all of my money for a plane ticket to Florence and I flew there to live with my mom. I went every spring. Obviously, food is the epicenter of Italian culture – I became super passionate about Italian culture and cuisine.”
WHAT DID YOUR FOLKS THINK ABOUT YOU DROPPING OUT?
“My parents are both eccentrics, and we were kind of raised wild, so no one noticed!”
WHERE DO YOU LIKE TO TRAVEL?
“We use travel to discover and explore. We go places and try to get with nature and chill out and calm the brain. Usually I come back with great ideas and inspirations from that silence. Ted is an amazing fisherman, so we go to places that are fishing destinations and we fly-fish for hours and hours and days and days. That’s where I came up with Vero Pasto – walking down a river. We also love to go to cities and eat. We go to California a lot and travel the coast and eat at great restaurants like Osteria Mozza, Juniper & Ivy, République and In-N-Out Burger.
WHAT’S YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE FOOD?
“Chinese food, and I’m into
Vietnamese food, too. I have to have it at least once a week.”
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANTS?
“We just went to Reeds American Table for the first time and loved it. We also love Olive & Oak. It’s close to the restaurant, so we can go by and get an early dinner. We go to Mai Lee often. Ted’s obsessed with barbecue, and we’re friends with Mike Emerson, so we like Pappy’s. We also like Sugarfire Smoke House.”
IF YOU WEREN’T A CHEF, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING?
“When I was growing up, my dad worked in North St. Louis, buying fireplace mantles and doors and terra cotta from abandoned buildings. We opened a ‘junk store’ together, next to the original Katie’s Pizza before it opened. No name or phone number, just a big open room filled with architectural antiques and furniture. We’d travel to auctions and find stuff. I was pretty good at that. Whatever it would be, it would have to be something creative.”
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO NEXT?
“We really love the brick-and-mortar concept we have. People often ask if we get bored doing the same thing, but if you really focus on Italian food, it can go
in so many great directions. … Our goal –it’s delusional and crazy – but we’d like to have Katie’s Pizza & Pastas and Veros all over the country.”
HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS?
“Definitely not monetarily. Growing up, my family wasn’t wealthy. There were many times when no one had a car and we all slept on the floor. I can live with very little. Now that I have enough, I’m totally satisfied in that realm. I definitely feel successful right now because I get to work with my family and my husband every day and we’re good at what we do. My definition of success is when you can innovate something and change it and make it better.”
Sound Bites returns this month when Chef of the Year Katie Collier and Favorite New Restaurant owner Mark Hinkle join art director Meera Nagarajan to discuss what it takes to win Readers' Choice. Tune in to St. louis Public Radio KWMU 90.7 to learn more.
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BEST NIGHT EVER!
You work hard. At the office. At home. At that freaking spin class. It’s about time you indulged at some of St. Louis’ most extravagant favorites. Are you ready to carb load like a marathoner? We’ve got just the place. Want the priciest bottle on the menu? Go ahead, you deserve it. Wish your meat was wrapped in more meat? Of course you do. Don’t apologize and don’t hold back. Today, calories don’t count and money ain’t a thing. That spin class will still be there tomorrow.
BY STACY SCHULTZ // PHOTOS BY JONATHAN GAYMAN
patio at baileys' chocolate bar
When you get the big promotion.
Nothing says “massive bump in income” like a big, juicy steak. Filet is the only cut worthy of this decadent achievement, and at Tucker’s Place, you’ve gotta get it wrapped in bacon. Because you can. We’re talking 16 ounces of charredon-the-outside, ruby-red-on-the-inside American dream. Better add the baked potato with the works, piled high with shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped chives and, yes, more bacon. Go ahead and finish the whole thing. You’re kind of a big deal now.
$30. Tucker’s Place, various locations, tuckersplacestl.com
When the babysitter can stay late.
You’re out! You did it! Now make it count. Put your evening in the incredibly capable hands of James Beard Award-winning chef Kevin Nashan and order the chef’s tasting menu at Sidney Street Cafe. Course after course will blow your mind with bold flavors, beautiful plating and ingredients you’ve never heard of. Whatever you do, save some of those house-made beignets to sop up the insanely good sauces accompanying almost every course. Fair warning: You may want to wear the stretchy pants.
$75. Sidney Street Cafe, 2000 Sidney St., St. Louis, 314.771.5777, sidneystreetcafestl.com
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When the temp dips below 90.
Sweat-free summer nights are basically the universe telling you to drop all responsibilities and just do you. Better listen. There’s no finer way to waste a few hours than on the patio at Sasha’s on Shaw. With its wobbly sidewalk tables and wine-all-day attitude, you’re just a pack of cigs and a bad beret away from ol’ Pah-rhee. Go full on Frenchie with the triple crėme crepe, an uberrich combo of melted brie, crisp green apples and mango chutney. Wash it down with a bottle of Billecart Salmon Brut Rosé, a perfect summer sipper straight from Champagne, France. Sure, it’ll set you back. But if you can’t spend it on bubbly pink wine, what’s the point of having it at all?
Crepe: $13.50. Wine: $70 per half bottle. Sasha’s on Shaw, 4069 Shaw Ave., St. Louis, 314.771.7274, sashaswinebar.com
When
nothing goes right.
When we’re in a mood, we crave noodles. Something about slurping endless strands of carby deliciousness can flip the switch from pulling our hair out to giving zero F’s. If you pray to the pasta gods, there’s only one cure for what’s ailing you: a big-ass bowl at Vista Ramen . Squeeze into this tiny Cherokee Street hotspot and sidle up at the bar for the flight of three Japanese whiskeys . And before you forget your middle name, order a bowl of the Vista Ramen , replete with a thick slab of unctuous pork, a tangle of hand-cut noodles and a perfect jammy egg just waiting to ooze into that steamy broth. Slice it, mix it up and slurp your problems away.
Vista Ramen: $13. Whiskey Flight: $25 to $27. Vista Ramen, 2609 Cherokee St., St. Louis, 314.797.8250, vistaramen.com
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When the husbands watch the kids.
Bring on the sushi boat. Sushi is the ultimate shareable food, and the Supreme Sashimi at Drunken Fish is the best way to fuel the flurry of any good girls’ night. Catch 18 pieces of sashimi featuring pretty much every creature under the sea: tuna, salmon, yellowtail, red snapper, octopus and shrimp. Dunk in that wasabi-laden soy sauce with abandon – no judgment here. Just don’t leave without the fried green tea ice cream. Can you say deepfried happiness?
Supreme Sashimi: $33. Fried green tea ice cream: $6.50. Drunken Fish, various locations, drunkenfish.com
When it’s not Friday yet.
We’re still gathering signatures for the four-day work week. Until then, you can find us getting a muchneeded break at Planter’s House . Ask for a spot in the Bullock Room upstairs, complete with red leather couches and wallpaper that will make you feel like you’re doing something suitably shady in a downtown speakeasy. Speaking of –order the Planter’s House Manhattan , and get it in a bottle. Why? Because it’s bigger and better than a
measly old glass. Plus, it will give you a chance to spend some quality time with the Planter’s House fries . Get them jalapeno-style and ask for the house-made ketchup and aioli. Dip, baby dip.
Bottled Manhattan: $30 to $60. Planter’s House fries: $7. Planter’s House, 1000 Mississippi Ave., St. Louis, 314.696.2603, plantershousestl.com
When that sweet tooth won’t quit.
We could live off coffee and ice cream at Baileys’ Chocolate Bar . The menu is jam-packed with sweet treats that make it impossible to choose just one … or five. So don’t. Order The Lovers’ Plate and choose every. damn. thing. Take a break from staring into each other’s Snapchat lenses to nibble mini brownie and blondie bites, the Chocolate Inebriation, some Bailey’s Irish Cream and chocolate cheesecake and a slice of German chocolate cake.
Did I mention it’s served with salted caramel ice cream, chocolate-dipped bacon brittle, raspberry sorbet, caramelized banana, strawberries, cocoa-dusted pepitas and candied citrus? Can’t stop. Won’t stop.
$22. Baileys’ Chocolate Bar, 1915 Park Ave., St. Louis, 314.241.8100, baileyschocolatebar.com
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I'LL HAVE WHAT THEY'RE HAVING
Ever wonder what servers order for themselves? Here’s the insider intel on what to get at your favorite bars and restaurants right now. – complied by Kevin Korinek
“The pompano special. It usually takes 25 minutes to prepare, so most people don’t order it, but it’s a light, bonein grilled fish just stuffed with herbs – it’s huge. It’s the first fish I ever ate that I got excited just eating the skin off it. It’s just so delicious, I can’t even describe it. We only make a handful of them a day, but it’s one of the more expensive things on the menu. When customers see this dish, their eyes pop out. Even when we just bring it out, people are stopping me to asking what it is.”
– Ryan Graham, Lona’s Lil Eats
“The top of my list is the Reuben sandwich. Corned beef sliced here with Swiss, Thousand Island dressing and sauerkraut piled on this thick-sliced rye bread from Fazio’s on The Hill. The Reuben is something I can’t do at home, and when I go out, I want a sandwich that’s dressed up and that comes with a little bit of pop and flavor. This thing is big on flavor.”
– Joe Eisenbraun, Crown Candy Kitchen
“WE’VE STARTED USING FUSIONS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF BEERS. IT’S TABOO TO MIX TOGETHER, BUT SOME ARE REALLY GOOD – LIKE OUR CHOCOLATE-COVERED RASPBERRY STOUT. WE MIX 4 HANDS CHOCOLATE MILK STOUT WITH A BIT OF ST. LOUIS FRAMBOISE, WHICH GIVES IT A NICE FRUITY KICK. IT’S A REALLY NICE, DESSERT-STYLE BEER. I LIKE TO FINISH OFF AN EVENING WITH ONE.”
– Tommy Manson, iTap
“My favorite item hands down is the Brie BLT –sourdough bread with melted brie, so you don’t need any sauce. The brie is so creamy, and it has a ton of bacon and becomes this hybrid between a BLT and a grilled cheese. It comes with our house-made creamy potato salad. This thing is my jam.”
– Manny Hinkson, Sasha’s on Shaw
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YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO EAT
favorite new restaurant*
OLIVE & OAK
102 W. Lockwood Ave., Webster Groves, 314.736.1370, oliveandoakstl.com
2nd: Vista Ramen
3rd: The Muddled Pig Gastropub
Honorable mentions: Foundry Public House, Kounter Kulture and Grafton Oyster Bar
*opened in 2016
favorite restaurant SUGARFIRE SMOKE HOUSE
meet owner mike johnson on p. 39 of the main issue
Various locations, sugarfiresmokehouse.com
2nd: ClevelandHeath
3rd: Mission Taco Joint
Honorable mentions: Beast Craft BBQ, Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria and Sidney Street Cafe
chef of the year
KATIE COLLIER, KATIE’S
PIZZA & PASTA OSTERIA
9568 Manchester Road, Rock Hill, 314.942.6555, katiespizzaandpasta.com
2nd: Mike Johnson, Sugarfire
buttermilk
cornmeal pancakes at southwest diner, your favorite diner
Smoke House
3rd: Ed Heath, ClevelandHeath
Honorable mentions: David Sandusky, Beast Craft BBQ; Gerard Craft, Sardella; and Kevin Nashan, Sidney Street Cafe
favorite barbecue SUGARFIRE SMOKE HOUSE
Various locations, sugarfiresmokehouse.com
2nd: Pappy’s Smokehouse
3rd: Beast Craft BBQ
Honorable mentions: Salt & Smoke, Bogart’s Smokehouse and The Shaved Duck
favorite brunch ROOSTER
1104 Locust St., St. Louis, 314.241.8118; 3150 S. Grand Ave., St. Louis, 314.772.3447; roosterstl.com
2nd: Half & Half
3rd: Brasserie by Niche Honorable mentions: ClevelandHeath, Cafe Osage and Prasino
favorite burger BAILEYS’ RANGE
920 Olive St., St. Louis, 314.241.8121, baileysrange.com
2nd: Hi-Pointe Drive-In
3rd: O’Connell’s Pub
Honorable mentions: 5 Star Burgers, Stacked STL and Carl’s Drive-In
favorite cajun/creole BROADWAY OYSTER BAR
736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314.621.8811, broadwayoysterbar.com
2nd: Boogaloo
3rd: Gulf Shores Restaurant & Grill
Honorable mentions:
Evangeline’s Bistro & Music
House, The Kitchen Sink and Hwy 61 Roadhouse & Kitchen
favorite chicken wings SYBERG’S AN EATING & DRINKING CO.
Various locations, sybergs.com
2nd: Byrd & Barrel
3rd: Three Kings Public House
Honorable mentions: Sugarfire
Smoke House, Peel Wood Fired Pizza and Culpepper’s Bar & Grill
favorite chinese LONA’S LIL EATS
2199 California Ave., St. Louis, 314.925.8938, lonaslileats.com
2nd: Wang Gang
3rd: China King
Honorable mentions: House of Wong, Lu Lu Seafood Restaurant and Joy Luck Buffet
favorite deli/sandwich shop BLUES CITY DELI
2438 McNair Ave., St. Louis, 314.773.8225, bluescitydeli.com
2nd: Gioia’s Deli
3rd: Mom’s Deli
Honorable mentions: Fozzie’s
Sandwich Emporium, Union Loafers Café and Bread Bakery and The Gramophone
favorite diner SOUTHWEST DINER
6803 Southwest Ave., St. Louis, 314.260.7244, southwestdinerstl.com
2nd: Uncle Bill’s Pancake and Dinner House
3rd: Benton Park Café
Honorable mentions: Courtesy Diner, Chris’ Pancake & Dining and South City Diner
favorite doughnut STRANGE DONUTS
2709 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, 314.932.5851; 107 E. Argonne St., Kirkwood, 314.394.2323; strangedonuts.com
2nd: World’s Fair Doughnuts
3rd: Vincent Van Doughnut
Honorable mentions: Donut
Drive-In, Old Town Donuts and The Donut Stop
favorite fine dining
SIDNEY STREET CAFE
2000 Sidney St., St. Louis, 314.771.5777, sidneystreetcafestl.com
2nd: Charlie Gitto’s
3rd: Farmhaus
Honorable mentions: Annie Gunn’s, Tony’s and Elaia
favorite food truck
SEOUL TACO
Seoultaco.com, Twitter: @seoultaco
2nd: Guerrilla Street Food
3rd: Mission Taco Joint
Honorable mentions: Farmtruk, Sarah’s Cake Stop and Vincent Van Doughnut Food Truck
favorite fried chicken SOUTHERN
3108 Olive St., St. Louis, 314.531.4668, stlsouthern.com
2nd: Hodak’s Restaurant & Bar
3rd: Byrd & Barrel
Honorable mentions: Gallagher’s, Sweetie Pie’s The Upper Crust and King Edwards Chicken & Fish
favorite frozen dessert TED DREWES FROZEN CUSTARD
6726 Chippewa St., St. Louis, 314.481.2652; 4224 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, 314.352.7376; teddrewes.com
2nd: Ices Plain & Fancy
3rd: Clementine’s Naughty and Nice Creamery
Honorable mentions: The Fountain on Locust, Fritz’s Frozen Custard and Serendipity Homemade Ice Cream
favorite indian HOUSE OF INDIA
8501 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314.567.6850, hoistl.com
2nd: Everest Cafe & Bar
3rd: India’s Rasoi
Honorable mentions: Himalayan Yeti, India Palace and Mr. Currys India Restaurant
BY IZAIAH JOHNSON
PHOTO
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YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO EAT
favorite italian PASTARIA
7734 Forsyth Blvd., Clayton, 314.862.6603, pastariastl.com
2nd: Cunetto House of Pasta
3rd: Zia’s Restaurant & Catering Co.
Honorable mentions: Charlie Gitto’s, Trattoria Marcella and Anthonino’s Taverna
favorite korean
SEOUL TACO
6665 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314.863.1148, seoultaco.com
2nd: Oriental Spoon
3rd: Kimcheese
Honorable mentions: Seoul
Garden Korean Restaurant, U-City Grill and K-Bop Food Truck
favorite mexican
HACIENDA MEXICAN RESTAURANT
9748 Manchester Road, Rock Hill, 314.962.7100, haciendastl.com
2nd: Chava’s Mexican Restaurant
3rd: Mi Ranchito
Honorable mentions: Rosalita’s Cantina, Milagro Modern Mexican and Taqueria El Bronco
favorite mediterranean/ middle eastern AYA SOFIA
6671 Chippewa St., St. Louis, 314.645.9919, ayasofiacuisine.com
2nd: Cafe Natasha’s
3rd: Olio
Honorable mentions: Layla, The Vine Cafe and Ranoush Middle Eastern Cuisine
favorite patio
JOHN D. MCGURK’S IRISH PUB & GARDEN
1200 Russell Blvd., St. Louis, 314.776.8309, mcgurks.com
2nd: Vin de Set
3rd: Broadway Oyster Bar
Honorable mentions: Billy G’s Kirkwood, Molly’s in Soulard and Sasha’s on Shaw
favorite pizza PI PIZZERIA
Various locations, pi-pizza.com
2nd: Imo’s Pizza
3rd: Peel Wood Fired Pizza
Honorable mentions: Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria, Black Thorn Pub and Sauce on the Side
favorite pub
JOHN D. MCGURK’S IRISH PUB & GARDEN
1200 Russell Blvd., St. Louis, 314.776.8309, mcgurks.com
2nd: The Scottish Arms
3rd: Llywelyn’s Pub
Honorable mentions: Dressel’s Public House, O’Connell’s Pub and Seamus McDaniel’s
favorite ramen VISTA RAMEN
2609 Cherokee St., St. Louis, 314.797.8250, vistaramen.com
2nd: Robata
3rd: Oriental Spoon
Honorable mentions: Nami Ramen, Hiro Asian Kitchen and Midtown Sushi & Ramen
favorite romantic spot BAILEYS’ CHOCOLATE BAR
1915 Park Ave., St. Louis, 314.241.8100, baileyschocolatebar.com
2nd: Sidney Street Cafe
3rd: Eleven Eleven Mississippi
Honorable mentions: Charlie Gitto’s on The Hill, Bar Les Frères and Tony’s
favorite soul food/southern SOUTHERN
3108 Olive St., St. Louis, 314.531.4668, stlsouthern.com
2nd: Sweetie Pie’s The Upper Crust 3rd: Juniper
Honorable mentions: Mom’s Soul Food Kitchen & Catering, Diner’s Delight and Mother’s Fish
favorite steakhouse TUCKER’S PLACE
Various locations, tuckersplacestl.com
2nd: Annie Gunn’s 3rd: Citizen Kane’s Steak House
Honorable mentions: 1818 Chophouse, Gamlin Whiskey House and Sam’s Steakhouse
ramen from vista ramen, your favorite ramen
favorite sushi DRUNKEN FISH
Various locations, drunkenfish.com
2nd: Wasabi Sushi Bars
3rd: Café Mochi
Honorable mentions: Sushi Ai, Tani Sushi Bistro and Sub Zero Vodka Bar
favorite tacos MISSION TACO JOINT
Various locations, missiontacojoint.com
2nd: Seoul Taco 3rd: Taco Circus
Honorable mentions: Hacienda
Mexican Restaurant, Chava’s Mexican Restaurant and Público
favorite thai KING & I THAI RESTAURANT
3155 S. Grand Ave., St. Louis, 314.771.1777, kingandistl.com
2nd: Fork & Stix
3rd: Thai Kitchen
Honorable mentions: Basil Spice Thai Cuisine, Pad Thai Kitchen and Pearl Café
favorite vegetarian/vegan LULU’S LOCAL EATERY
3201 S. Grand Ave., St. Louis, 314.300.8215, luluslocaleatery.com
2nd: Lona’s Lil Eats
3rd: Small Batch Whiskey & Fare
Honorable mentions: Confluence Kombucha, Tree House Vegetarian Restaurant and Sacred Grounds Cafe
favorite vietnamese MAI LEE RESTAURANT
8396 Musick Memorial Drive, Brentwood, 314.645.2835, maileestl.com
2nd: Pho Grand Restaurant
3rd: Lemon Grass Restaurant
Honorable mentions: Banh Mi So No. 1, Little Saigon Café and Bamboo Bistro
Readers’ Choice 2017
PHOTO BY JONATHAN GAYMAN
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st. louis' bartenders of the year
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST AWKWARD MOMENT ON THE JOB?
Winner ELIJAH BARNES
ClevelandHeath
“I had to cut off two guys who I’ve known for a long time as regulars [on different nights]. One I coaxed into drinking some coffee and eating something, but the other guy didn’t take it well at all. He stood up and got huffy. They decided they were never coming back. I felt bad, but at the end of the day you’re just trying to look out for them. They did eventually come back, though they didn’t mention what happened. Everyone’s on good terms.”
2nd TONY SAPUTO
Atomic Cowboy
“One of the regulars at a bar I worked at was a call girl, and she met all of her johns at the bar. She’d come and go several times a night. I think she knew that I knew. Making small talk was really hard. You couldn’t really ask her, ‘How’s tricks?’”
3rd
TERRY OLIVER
Frazer’s
“We had a group that came in for a few hours and had a good time. One woman went to the bathroom and came back out, and their server came up to me and said, ‘That woman isn’t wearing any pants.’ I told him she was probably just wearing flesh-colored tights or something. He came back and said, ‘Nope, she’s not wearing any pants.’ Sure enough, she was buck-naked from the waist down. I went to the one woman in the group I knew and told her about it. She pulled her friend aside, and her friend said, ‘Oh my God, who took my pants?’ Thankfully all of the other guests were gone.”
from left, elijah barnes, terry oliver and tony saputo at frazer’s
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the scorpion bowl at mission taco joint, your favorite happy hour
YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO DRINK
bartender of the year
ELIJAH BARNES, CLEVELANDHEATH
106 N. Main St., Edwardsville, 618.307.4830, clevelandheath.com
2nd: Tony Saputo, Atomic Cowboy
3rd: Terry Oliver, Frazer’s
Honorable mentions: Pamela Moore, The Muddled Pig Gastropub; Ted Kilgore, Planter’s House; Brandon Talbert, The Sliced Pint
favorite beer bar
INTERNATIONAL TAP HOUSE (ITAP)
Various locations, internationaltaphouse.com
2nd: Three Kings Public House
3rd: The Side Project Cellar
Honorable mentions: Global Brew Tap House, Cicero’s, SOHA Bar & Grill and Bridge Tap House & Wine Bar
favorite brewery 4 HANDS BREWING CO.
1220 S. Eighth St., St. Louis, 314.436.1559, 4handsbrewery.com
2nd: Urban Chestnut Brewing Co.
3rd: Schlafly Beer
Honorable mentions: Civil Life Brewing Co., Side Project Brewing and Perennial Artisan Ales
favorite cocktails PLANTER’S HOUSE
1000 Mississippi Ave., St. Louis, 314.696.2603, plantershousestl.com
2nd: Taste
3rd: ClevelandHeath
Honorable mentions: Frazer’s, Retreat Gastropub and The Libertine
favorite happy hour MISSION TACO JOINT
Various locations, missiontacojoint.com
2nd: Three Kings Public House
3rd: 5 Star Burgers
Honorable mentions: Basso, ClevelandHeath and The Muddled Pig Gastropub
favorite sports bar
SYBERG’S AN EATING & DRINKING CO.
Various locations, sybergs.com
2nd: Amsterdam Tavern
3rd: The Post Sports Bar & Grill
Honorable mentions: Blueberry Hill, Billy G’s Kirkwood and Friendly’s Sports Bar and Grill
favorite wine bar SASHA’S WINE BARS
706 DeMun Ave., Clayton, 314.863.7274; 4069 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, 314.771.7274; sashaswinebar.com
2nd: Robust Wine Bar
3rd: 33 Wine Shop & Bar
Honorable mentions: Bridge Tap House & Wine Bar, Olio and One 19 North Tapas. Wine. Bar.
favorite local winery
CHAUMETTE VINEYARDS & WINERY
24345 State Route WW, Ste. Genevieve, 573.747.1000, chaumette.com
2nd: Montelle Winery (tie)
2nd: St. James Winery (tie)
3rd: Augusta Winery
Honorable mentions: Cedar Lake Cellars, Wild Sun Winery and Charleville Vineyard & Microbrewery
YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO SHOP
favorite bottle shop RANDALL’S WINES & SPIRITS
Various locations, shoprandalls.com
2nd: The Wine & Cheese Place
3rd: Saint Louis Hop Shop
Honorable mentions: Bin 51 Wine & Spirits, Intoxicology and Robust Wine Bar
favorite bread UNION LOAFERS
CAFÉ AND BREAD BAKERY
1629 Tower Grove Ave., St. Louis, 314.833.6111, unionloafers.com
2nd: Companion
3rd: 222 Artisan Bakery & Cafe
Honorable mentions: Amighetti’s Bakery & Cafe, Missouri Baking Co. and Vitale’s Bakery
favorite butcher shop BOLYARD’S MEAT & PROVISIONS
2810 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, 314.647.2567, bolyardsmeat.com
2nd: Kenrick’s Meat & Catering
3rd: G & W Bavarian Style Sausage
Honorable mentions: Mannino’s Market, LeGrand’s Market & Catering and Baumann’s Fine Meats
favorite cakes/pastries MCARTHUR’S BAKERY CAFE
Various locations, mcarthurs.com
2nd: Jilly’s Cupcake Bar & Cafe
3rd: Pint Size Bakery & Coffee
Honorable mentions: La Patisserie Chouquette, Nathaniel Reid
Bakery and Missouri Baking Co.
favorite chocolate shop CROWN CANDY KITCHEN
1401 St. Louis Ave., St. Louis, 314.621.9650, crowncandykitchen.net
2nd: Kakao Chocolate
3rd: Bissinger’s Handcrafted Chocolatier
Honorable mentions: Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Co., The Fountain on Locust and Merb’s Candies
favorite coffee shop
KALDI’S COFFEE ROASTING CO.
Various locations, kaldiscoffee.com
2nd: Sump Coffee
3rd: The Mud House Coffee & Kitchen
Honorable mentions: Park Avenue
Coffee, Rise Coffee, Coffee Cartel and Blueprint Coffee
favorite farmers market
SOULARD FARMERS MARKET
730 Carroll St., St. Louis, 314.622.4180, soulardmarket.com
2nd: Tower Grove Farmers’ Market
3rd: Kirkwood Farmers’ Market
Honorable mentions: Land of Goshen Community Market, Schlafly Farmers’ Market and Ferguson Farmers’ Market
favorite local grocery DIERBERGS
Various locations, dierbergs.com
2nd: Schnucks
3rd: Straub’s
Honorable mentions: DiGregorio’s Italian Market, Fields Foods and Jay International Food Co.
favorite specialty food store
BOB’S SEAFOOD
8660 Olive Blvd., University City, 314.993.4844, bobsseafoodstlouis.com
2nd: The Smokehouse Market
3rd: Larder & Cupboard
Honorable mentions: LeGrand’s Market & Catering, Seafood City
Supermarket and Olde Town Spice Shoppe
PHOTO BY IZAIAH JOHNSON
26 I SAUCE MAGAZINE I saucemagazine.com Readers’ Choice 2017
saucemagazine.com I SAUCE MAGAZINE I 27 Readers’ Choice 2017