By Candice Coleman
Santa Claus is coming to town … and we found few local eats, treats and meets, guaranteed to land on the big guy’s “nice” list this year.
In the true spirit of giving back, Clementine’s Naughty & Nice Creamery has created a new festive flavor in partnership with late-night talk show host and St. Louis native Andy Cohen. Peppermint Andy is rich peppermint ice cream swirled with dark chocolate flakes, and throughout the holidays, 50% of proceeds from it will benefit Doorways. The St. Louis-based organization provides affordable, secure housing and other related services for people living with HIV/AIDS.
Pints and scoops are in all six Clementine’s shops, including the new Kirkwood location, and are available to ship nationwide on the website.
If you’re looking for a tree and treats, Eckert’s Farm hopes to be your one-stop shop. Not only can you cut your own tree – field-access passes cost $2.20 a person – the Belleville farm, which also includes a country store and restaurant, is bringing back family favorites such as Breakfast with Santa, Gingerbread House Workshops, Operation Cookie Drop, Photos with Santa and more. Find all the details on Eckert’s website.
If you truly want to paint the town red, spring for a few more greens for an interactive, progressive feast at Vicia, featuring eight courses of seasonal dishes, exquisite wines and festive cocktails.
Plan on allowing approximately three hours for the experience, which includes dinner in the main dining room, as well as time spent in the heated enclosed patio and outdoor garden area (weather-permitting).
And to bring in the New Year, the restaurant’s annual New Year’s Eve party promises to better than ever, with unlimited access to interactive food stations, with diners “traveling” to France, Italy, Spain and Burma with inspired dishes, drinks, party favors and more.
And that’s not all! Vicia’s annual New Year’s Eve party is back and better than ever with a fun and interactive dine around experience. The evening will include unlimited access to interactive food stations, highlighting cuisines from around the world, visiting a new country every hour. Travel to France, Italy, Spain, and Burma with delicious dishes, drinks, party favors and more. Reservations are available through Tock.
Don’t feel like spending that much time in the kitchen over the holidays? Some local eateries are more than happy to step up to the plate for you.
The new Botanica restaurant in Wildwood is offering a variety of Southern take-and-bake sides and desserts for the holidays from executive chef Ben Welch. Specialty sides and desserts serve four ($13) or eight ($25), and include Baked Mac-n-Cheese, Collard Greens with Smoked Ham Hocks, Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Preserved Lemon Aioli and Parmesan, and Peach Cobbler (12 servings for $50). Guests can pre-order online here through Dec. 18. Orders will be available for pick up on Dec. 23, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the restaurant.
Café la Vie at the Le Méridien St. Louis Clayton has a La Fete Holiday Lights & Cookies To-Go package for all you cookie monsters. For $70, experience the Winter Wonderland light display at Tilles Park, 1 dozen European holiday cookies and two thermos bottles of rich Italian hot chocolate. There is also an option to upgrade to a limo ride, with two thermos of hot spiced mulled wine, for an additional $300. The $70 package is available on Open Table as a take-out menu option and must be purchased 48-hours in advance. The limo and wine upgrade can be booked by calling the hotel directly at (314) 719-4304.
Russell’s, which has two locations in South City and Fenton, has a selection of sweets and starters for the holidays, such as a Charcuterie & Cheese Box ($56), Ready-to-Bake Cinnamon Rolls ($40 per half dozen), and the restaurant’s popular Christmas Eve Rolls. Of course, those from-scratch holiday cakes and sweet treats are always a good option, and choices include Signature Cake with Peppermint Buttercream, Chocolate Orange Cake and Flourless Chocolate Cake, as well as a selection of cheesecakes, cookies, brownies and more. Additionally, the Russell’s Mini Bites Sweet Tray ($36) will return this year, featuring a selection of 24 pieces of mini cakes, gooey butter, brownies and cookies.
Russell’s also continues to offer national shipping for its signature Gooey Butter, made with a shortbread cookie crust. Gooey Butters for shipping and/or holiday pickup orders can be made online.
And hark, the hungry angels are singing because we found a couple restaurant gift-card deals that are a win-win situation for you and your friends and family!
This holiday season, purchase a $100 gift card to Edera Italian Eatery and leave with a special gift: an 8-ounce bottle of Edera’s house-made Limoncello. The Limonello is served to-go in an ornate glass bottle that is perfect for gifting or as an addition to your own bar cart this festival season. To place a gift-card order, visit the website or stop by the restaurant in the Central West End.
At Mission Taco Joint, through Dec. 31, every $50 gift card purchase will receive a free $10 gift card. For every $100 gift card purchased, it’s a $25 gift card. The offer is available online here and in-store at all seven Mission Taco Joint locations.
Looking for the perfect holiday hostess gift and a way to support local?
Three St. Louis-based entrepreneurs have come together to create cocktail kits that take the guesswork crafting cocktails at home.
Kevin Lemp, founder and owner of 4 Hands Brewing Co. and 1220 Artisan Spirits; Andy Kim, founder and CEO of MIKA and Lovewell Group; and restaurateur and chef Ben Poremba of Bengelina Hospitality Group are the merry men behind Punch 5 Libations. Punch 5’s expertly curated and easy-to-use kits can be used to effortlessly make craft cocktails at home, infuse your own spirits and make your own bitters.
The formulas for each “punch” have been composed for excellent taste, quality, balance and sophistication, with select ingredients such as spices, dried fruits, vegetables, flowers, barks and botanicals. Each punch serves six to eight drinks and retails for $25. Starters kits, which include two cocktail jars, two Punch 5 cocktail glasses, a Punch 5 stirrer and strainer, are available for $90 each.
Punch 5 is available at select retailers and online.
For those of you who like to sip on something festive while taking in the view, nothing “sleighs” quite like the Up On The Rooftop pop-up experience at Three Sixty!
After stepping into the Three Sixty snow globe creation, 400 feet over the St. Louis skyline, enjoy special seasonal cocktails with the “pun”niest names, including Hot for Santa, Nice Elf, All The Jingle Ladies, Baby It’s Cold Out-Cider, Fizz The Season and more. In addition, there are plenty of fire pits and small bites to keep you warm and well-fed.
Three Sixty is located at the top of the St. Louis Hilton at the Ballpark on South Broadway in downtown St. Louis.
Another pop-up that’s popping is Dasher’s Dive Bar in Hazelwood, where you’ll be immersed in twinkling lights and holiday cheer with themed cocktail drinks like the Naughty Nog, Moscow Yule and Santa Sangria; as well as hearty appetizers like the Merry Meatballs & Cheese, Feliz Navidad Double Dip and Dasher Doodle Cookies. Christmas Family Feud, Santa photo opps, Christmas cornhole, Christmas karaoke and an artisan market are all included with your reservation. Take a drive through the parking lot’s dazzling Dasher’s Light Show to cap off the evening. Reservations are highly recommended.
And finally, if you want to jingle bell rock around the clock, Lazy Tiger channels ‘90s nostalgia this season with the return of Filthy Animal, a holiday pop-up bar inspired by your favorite childhood holiday movie, with creative cocktails from beverage director and co-owner Tim Wiggins and his team.
While reservations for the pop-up bar are selling out quickly, guests can enjoy the Filthy Animal experience at home with the Filthy Animal Holiday Cocktail Gift Boxes ($99), with $5 from every gift box donated to the St. Louis Family Gift Drive. The initiative was started by Wiggins’ mother to provide gifts and needed items for children with special needs in St. Louis city. The gift boxes include a Filthy Animal “Aftershave Face” coffee mug and four 12-ounce Filthy Animal cocktails wrapped in a custom Dr. Slime-printed gift box. Gift Wiggins’ creative cocktails like “Your Girlfriend, Woof!” and “Is This Toothbrush Certified By The ADA?” Gift boxes are available for purchase through Dec. 20 and available for pickup Dec. 22 and 23. Limited Filthy Animal reservations are still available via Resy through Dec. 31.
