By Candice Coleman
In early spring, look for STL Toasted to open at City Foundry STL – an eatery devoted entirely to the most St. Louis of foods: the toasted ravioli.
The owners of STL Toasted tell Gazelle they hope to open at the Food Hall at City Foundry in late March/early April, but supply-chain issues will likely end up dictating when that date will be.
The concept comes from St. Louis native Matthew Fuller, who thought up the idea of serving artisan toasted ravioli with creative fillings back in 2014. The idea didn’t come into fruition until a life-altering car accident in 2020 that left him unable to work for a year. That’s when Fuller and his wife, Brittany Abernathy, revisited the idea and thus, STL Toasted was born.
STL Toasted will feature savory fillings such as Buffalo Chicken, alongside dessert toasted raviolis items like Lemon Blackberry Gooey Buttercake.
To whet your appetite until opening day is announced, STL Toasted is hosting a pop-up later this month with The Drawing Board (4123 Chippewa St.) in South St. Louis. The one-day pop-up will feature toasted raviolis and The Drawing Board’s Smash Burgers. Each admission is good for a choice of Smash Burger or Grilled Cheese, plus two savory and two dessert toasted raviolis from STL Toasted.
Advance tickets are $18 per person and available on Eventbrite. Tickets at the door are $20 per person.
Now open at the Food Hall at City Foundry is Intergalactic, the smash burgers-and-fries concept from Jonathan Schoen and Brian Schmitz, the team behind Polite Society and Bellwether. Schoen and Schmitz also own two existing kitchens in the food hall, Good Day and SubDivision Sandwich Co.
Intergalactic’s six-item burger menu includes the Super Nova with pepper jack cheese, pickled jalapeños and spicy ranch dressing; the Andromeda, topped with goat cheese, peppadew peppers, arugula and balsamic glaze; and the Event Horizon featuring cheddar cheese, spicy chili and diced white and green onions, among others. The kitchen also offers a selection of loaded waffle fries.
If cooking Greek is well, Greek to you, The Greek Kitchen in Kirkwood has you covered!
We hear chef Lisa Nicholas has developed quite the cult following for her off-the-menu Saturday night specials at The Greek Kitchen, and she’s now offering her services as a personal chef to cook in your home. In addition to the restaurant’s regular menu items, the following is available for small groups or large parties: lamb roast, lamb shanks, sea bass, specialty kebobs (lamb, fish, beef tenderloin), fisherman’s stew, and vegetarian and gluten-free options.
For more information, email The Greek Kitchen or call (314) 462-9112.
The winter chill won’t keep us from celebrating one of our favorite holidays: Ice Cream for Breakfast Day!
Serendipity Homemade Ice Cream’s Beckie Jacobs has announced two pop-ups for the occasion: The Parkmoor Drive-In in Webster Groves and Sliced Pint on Washington Avenue will host Ice Cream for Breakfast Day on Saturday, Feb. 5, from 8 to 11 a.m. Wear your PJs for a free mug of coffee, tea or hot cocoa; and, of course, there’ll be plenty of ice cream for purchase.
Jacobs plans other pop-up events, which will be posted on Serendipity’s website. Serendipity’s new flagship location in The Grove (4400 Manchester Road) is slated to open sometime this spring.
Have you seen what’s landed in Swansea, Illinois? The new Space Shuttle Café, a converted World War II DC-3 airplane, now serves as a full-size commercial kitchen on wheels!
Soulcial Kitchen owner John Michel, a retired Air Force general, considers the Space Shuttle Café the crown jewel in his growing fleet of food trucks. The only DC-3/food truck configuration licensed for street use, the Space Shuttle Café will soon be available for catering and private events.
“Talk about a storied past. After World War II, the plane saw service as a commercial airliner on the East Coast and was reputed to have been hijacked to Havana, Cuba, and later liberated from the Castro regime and returned to the U.S. in the 1960s,” Michel said. “While there’s no denying its beauty and versatility – it can be a taco truck on a Tuesday and grill next-level championship barbeque on a Wednesday – the Space Shuttle Café, like Soulcial Kitchen as a whole, has a much bigger mission in mind.”
Soulcial Kitchen is Illinois’ only multi-brand, virtual kitchen platform, with its own fleet of branded food trucks, a food truck garden, a dog park and a sit-down restaurant and bar. In addition to food and service, Soulcial Kitchen aims to reduce food insecurity in the Metro East through its “Currency of Caring” initiative. To find out more, visit Soulcial Kitchen’s website.
Eckert’s Farm has announced it is now accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments via EBT cards at its Belleville location.
SNAP benefits can be used to buy Country Store items such as farm-fresh vegetables and fruits, meat, fish, dairy products, bread and fresh produce. SNAP benefits may also be used to purchase seeds to grow fruits and vegetables at home.
Missouri and Illinois residents can take advantage at 951 S. Green Mt. Road in Belleville. For more information, visit Eckert’s website.
Already thinking about Valentine’s Day? Here’s a sneak peek at some deliciously decadent offerings:
How about a “guaranteed” French kiss this Valentine’s Day? Café la Vie at Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton has a Valentine’s Day dinner that will take you on a tour of the most romantic regions in France, from Brittany to Alsace. The “Honeymoon in France” five-course prix-fixe menu starts at $72 per person, and includes an amuse bouche of Laura Chanel Chevre Cornet, a choice of an aperitif (Maine Lobster Crepe or Foie Gras Torchon), Blood Orange Sorbet for the intermezzo, Sea Scallops or a Filet of Beef for the entrée, and Chocolate & Raspberry Gâteau or Creme Brulee for dessert. Reservations are recommended and can be made through Open Table.
If it’s amore you’re seeking, Edera Italian Eatery in the Central West End is offering a Valentine’s Day menu (in addition to its standard menu) that includes Oysters Rockefeller, Braised Beef Cheeks with rye linguine, fresh herbs and grana, and Rack of Lamb made with preserved winter citrus, parsnip puree and romesco sauce. And for dessert, Chocolate Torte, with cocoa nib, hazelnut and cured orange. Visit Edera’s website for reservations.
Want to paint the town red with your Valentine this year?
Angad Arts Hotel beckons you with its Powerful Red rooms, where you’ll be immersed in different shades of red, from the curtains to the artwork to even the furniture. Guests may also opt to add a bottle of Champagne or a chocolate amenity with their accommodations. Reservations are available on the hotel’s website.
St. Louis-based 1220 Artisan Spirits – from the owners of 4 Hands Brewing Co. – is teaming up with Rudy’s Flower Truck for a Lover’s Libation Gift Pack.
The offering includes a 750-ml bottle of 1220 Morpho Gin, two 1220 Gin & Tonic glasses, two bottles of 1220 Tonic, and a Morpho-inspired five-stem Rudy’s bouquet for $65. The bouquet of flowers reflect the color-changing Morpho Gin, which, when mixed with tonic, changes from purple to pink. Online orders must be placed by Monday, Feb. 7.
And finally, Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Chesterfield has a new general manager: Colin Shive is now overseeing the restaurant at 16493 Wild Horse Creek Road. Shive, who has been with Ruth’s Chris for almost five years, began as a sous chef at its downtown location and has served as executive chef and general manager for the company before his new appointment.
