FOOD & BEVERAGE | SERVICE/STAFF
Vicia
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By Lauren Smith | Photo courtesy of Vicia
Quick to receive high marks, Vicia was recognized as one of Eater’s top 12 restaurants in the nation (among numerous other awards) and has brought a unique dining experience to St. Louis. Vicia – a genus of roughly 140 species of flowering plants belonging to the legume
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family and commonly called vetches – serve as a leguminous cover crop planted to replenish soil nutrients. Vicia the restaurant, in turn, comes from Michael and Tara Gallina – previously at Blue Hill at Stones Barns in Pocantico Hills, New York – and celebrates vegetable-forward cuisine with a wildly innovative twist. Each dish is creative and wholesome, taking simple, quality ingredients and letting their flavors shine by transforming their underused parts into modern American dishes. With a menu driven by ingredients locally sourced from the best farmers, fishermen and artisans in the Midwest, Vicia clearly demonstrates that the relationships the Gallinas have cultivated lie at the root of all they do. A genuine desire to connect with those who appreciate food is shown in the way staff members treat each customer. As soon as you walk into the luminous building, someone is there to ensure you have the full experience at Vicia – one to remember. Vicia, 4260 Forest Park Ave., St. Louis, 314-553-9239, viciarestaurant.com Runner-Up: Gamlin Whiskey House Runner-Up: The Capital Grille CATERING
FOOD & BEVERAGE | SWEET TREATS
La Pâtisserie Chouquette
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By Lauren Smith | Photo courtesy of La Pâtisserie Chouquette
This French bakery has every dessert you could dream of and more. Its glass case is always teeming with a rotation of tried-and-true classics and pastries you may have never seen before – giving you a highly reasonable excuse to come back time and time again. Located in a Tower Grove Avenue corner store with a cheery yellow-
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and-white exterior, the shop puts you in a good mood before you even step inside. As a guest of La Pâtisserie Chouquette, you may feel as culinarily pampered as Marie Antoinette – in her prime, anyway – as each platter of macarons and meringues forms a feast for the eyes. Chef Simone Faure creates the most beautiful treats, complete with vibrant colors, elaborate designs and bold flavors. In addition to her famed macarons and pastries, her establishment boasts custom-made cakes and a fanciful afternoon tea, complete with such menu items as Yorkshire pudding, blackberry lavender and lemon curd scones, and a classic chicken salad sandwich on a croissant. La Pâtisserie Chouquette, 1626 Tower Grove Ave., St. Louis, 314-932-7935, simonefaure.com Runner-Up: Bissinger’s Runner-Up: Nathaniel Reid Bakery
314.881.4301 | 1400 PARK PLACE SAINT LOUIS, MO 63104 | PALLADIUM-STL.COM
LadueNews.com | MARCH 2, 2018
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