chris sommers Pi Pizzeria, Gringo
What’s your earliest or best food memory? Fried chicken and pizza from Frank and Helen’s. What’s your favorite drink, and where in St. Louis are you ordering it? An Old Fashioned, either at Taste or at home, mixed by my wife, Anne. She cooks, she bartends – I’m very lucky! Who do you think is killing it in the kitchen right now? Matthew Daughaday at Taste is really impressing me recently. Chris Bork at Blood & Sand wows me every meal, too. Kevin Nashan at Sidney Street Cafe has never put out more delicious and beautiful plates as he has recently. What’s your go-to specialty market, grocer or farmers’ market – and what are you buying? Tower Grove Farmers’ Market. I’m excited about our tomato plants, which haven’t been destroyed by squirrels yet, as well as the radishes we picked up. We make a variation of Gerard Craft’s radish bruschetta regularly at home this time of year (since I can’t currently get it at Taste – damn you guys for taking that off).
gerard craft Craft Restaurants Ltd.
What’s your earliest or best food memory? I was at a marine biology camp and learned how to make kelp muffins by going down to the beach and collecting kelp berries. We also made fresh calamari. I was a really picky eater, but I remember thinking all of those things were really tasty. What’s your favorite drink, and where in St. Louis are you ordering it? The Civil Life Brewing Co.’s Bitter at Five Star Burgers. Where do you go for a midnight snack and/or nightcap? Recently, I have been going to Olio or The Libertine. What excites you about the current state of the St. Louis food scene? There’s a lot of energy behind it. We are an underdog, so it makes everyone try twice as hard to get noticed. What’s your go-to specialty market, grocer or farmers’ market – and what are you buying? Extra Virgin: An Olive Ovation. Marianne Prey is a wealth of knowledge. Every time I go in there, I learn something new about olive oil.
jim fiala The Crossing, Acero
What’s your favorite drink, and where in St. Louis are you ordering it? Sitting on the patio at Nico, drinking Civil Life Brewing Co.’s Bitter, as it reminds me of being in Britain. Where do you go for a midnight snack and/or nightcap? Gravlax at Bar Les Frères. What excites you about the current state of the St. Louis food scene? There are a ton of young chefs whose primary goal is to cook delicious food. Plate design is secondary, which means we all eat better. What’s your go-to specialty market, grocer or farmers’ market – and what are you buying? Olive Farmer’s Market. Condiments galore. PICTURED RIGHT: Gravlax, Bar Les Frères
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feastSTL.com
AUGUST 2013