October’s harvest of festivals and dinners have been popping up throughout the St. Louis metro area. Many are paired to support great causes, making fall the season to savor the joys of the table, while helping countless nonprofits. It’s a great way to kick off the pending holidays. Here are a few suggestions for hungry foodies and gourmands to consider adding to their autumn calendars.
October is National Pasta Month. That said, there is no better place to celebrate than LoRusso’s Cucina, where its 2023 Pasta Bowl winner, Puttanesca (rigatoni with marinara sauce flavored with anchovies, garlic and capers) is on the menu. Pasta Bowl – the creation of the late chef Rich LoRusso – is held around the Super Bowl, when a winning recipe from entries is voted on during the annual event. The winner is placed on the menu.
For the ensuing year, each time the dish is ordered, $2 is donated to Operation Food Search. Since its inception in 1998, LoRusso’s Pasta Bowl has raised almost $100,000 to help Operation Food Search feed the hungry.
SqWires is embracing all things pink in support of the Susan G. Kormen breast cancer research. The restaurant is donating a portion of the proceeds from its “pink” specials. Order up Pink Beet Risotto or a Blushing Martini made with Pinckney Bend gin, elderflower liqueur, grapefruit juice, lemonade and grenadine.
SqWires also recently celebrated its 22nd anniversary by donating $2.22 from every full price appetizer, entree, salad, sandwich, draft beer, cocktail and glass of wine sold on Oct. 17 to Rung for Women, a nonprofit that offers a career accelerator program to guide and inspire women to climb the economic opportunity ladder.
TV Dinners & Childhood Favorites is the theme of this year’s Rainbow for Kids gala on Nov. 10 at Orlando Gardens in Maryland Heights.
Dinner paired with plenty of throwback sweets promises to give fans a blast from the past, along with a meet-and-greet with former child stars Jerry Mathers (Beaver from “Leave it to Beaver”), Butch Patrick (Eddie Munster, “The Munsters”), Keith Thibodeaux (Little Ricky, “I Love Lucy”) and Jon Provost (Timmy, “Lassie”).
VIP tickets will include a copy of “TV Dinners: 40 Classic TV Kid Stars Dish Up Favorite Recipes with a Side of Memories” by St. Louis native Laurie Jacobson, signed by the evening’s stars. Rainbows for Kids supports families of children with cancer and other serious health concerns by providing fun things to enjoy during tough times. Tickets range from $125 to $175.
It’s not too late to have one last beer and toast Octoberfest. St. Louis Stuttgart Sister Cities is offering an evening of gemütlichkeit (good times) on Oct. 27 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Autohaus BMW during its Octoberfest celebration. Beyond the beer and brats, German musicians and folk dance giroups, as well as Circus Harmony, will provide entertainment. The night’s fundraiser supports educational, cultural and business exchanges sponsored by St. Louis Stuttgart Sister Cities. Tickets are $50.
Live! by Loews-St. Louis continues to support local breast cancer patients through its donations to Gateway to Hope. Proceeds from Loews’ Think Pink happy hour from 2 to 6 p.m. and its organic brunch menu offered every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. benefit the St. Louis-based nonprofit. The weekend brunch features selections as red velvet whole wheat pancakes with poached pears, bourbon candied hazelnuts and crème anglaise and Creekstone Farms steak and eggs benedict.
