(Editor’s Note: Grammy-nominated multi-platinum hip-hop artist Busta Rhymes has been announced as the new headliner for the Seoul Taco Block Party. On June 17, event organizers informed Gazelle that due to circumstances beyond their control, Ghostface Killah, who was slated to perform, will not be available. Busta Rhymes is now scheduled to take the stage at 9 p.m. on Saturday, June 19, at the event to be held at 4099 Chouteau Ave. in The Grove)
By Candice Coleman
Father’s Day is this weekend, and we’ve got plenty of Dad-themed treats guaranteed to float your dad’s boat, but first – d’uh! – tacos!
The Korean-Mexican street food goodness that is Seoul Taco is celebrating its 10-year anniversary and chef/owner David Choi is throwing a Seoul Taco Block Party in The Grove featuring acclaimed hip-hop artist and Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah. The event takes place beginning at 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 19, at 4099 Chouteau Ave.
“It has been an unbelievable journey,” Choi said. “A decade ago, I started Seoul Taco as a food truck because I wanted to find an accessible way to introduce diners to my favorite parts of Korean cuisine. Ten years later, we still have our food truck, along with seven brick-and-mortar locations in two states. After making it through one of the most challenging years in the restaurant industry, I could not be prouder of our team. We owe Seoul Taco’s success to our loyal fans and invite them to celebrate with us.”
The event will include elements of food, art, and music – three tenets of the Seoul Taco brand. Highlights include a live graffiti battle by art collective Secret Walls, a culinary lineup of St. Louis favorites curated by Choi, and a live performance by the Wu-Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah
Entry to the Seoul Taco Block Party is free, with food and drink available for purchase from the following vendors:
- Balkan Treat Box
- Nudo House x Mai Lee
- Pappy’s Smokehouse
- Chao Baan
- Specialty cocktails from Takashima Record Bar and STL Barkeep
- 4Hands Brewing
The entertainment lineup features:
- 3 p.m. DJ VThom
- 4:15 p.m. Loop Rat
- 5:30 p.m. Secret Walls live graffiti battle
- 7:20 p.m. Mvstermind
- 8:15 p.m. Mai Lee
- 9 p.m. Ghostface Killah
Make this Father’s Day a relaxing afternoon for Dad at Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton’s open-air pool deck. On Sunday, June 20, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the hotel invites dads and their families with a barbecue spread fit for a king, and a chance to get a hand-rolled cigar to enjoy at home. The hotel partnered with Salt + Smoke to feature the restaurant’s brisket, pulled pork, pulled chicken, and a variety of its signature sides the whole family can enjoy. Food will be served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. In addition to the feast, dads can also get a cigar rolled for themselves starting at 1 p.m. Tickets for non-hotel guests are $35 (adults) and $15 (children); $20 (adults) and $10 (children) for hotel guests. Reservations are available through EventBrite.
No pool? No problem! Beat the heat with ice cream at Serendipity Homemade Ice Cream this weekend, where three new decadently delicious local collaborations are sure to fire up all kids big and small!
Treat Dad to Serendipity’s June Spirited Shake of the Month, the Four Hands Beer Float, a perfect marriage of vanilla ice cream and Four Hands’ Bohemian Breakfast brew, an oatmeal brown ale mixed with coffee.
For dads who crave a classic, Serendipity’s famous Fitz’s Root Beer Float will do the trick. And for something new and exciting: Serendipity will debut its new Old Vienna Red Hot Riplets ice cream on June 20. This hot taste sensation features ice cream heavily infused with chocolate-covered Red Hot Riplets!
Finally, Serendipity turns 18 on July 18, National Ice Cream Day! While Serendipity will be celebrating all month long in July, ice cream fans can expect hourly specials, giveaways galore, new flavors, live music and so much more, on its anniversary day, July 18. For more information, visit Serendipity online.
Nathaniel Reid Bakery, the acclaimed Kirkwood baker serving world-class pastries from James Beard Award semifinalist Nathaniel Reid, is offering a special menu for Father’s Day with items like 3-Piece Milk Chocolate Golf Balls ($15) filled with milk chocolate, hazelnuts and caramelized puffed rice; a 6-inch Chocolate Trio Cake ($38) made with dark, milk and white chocolate mousse and chocolate cake; and a 9-inch Summer Berry Pie ($28) topped with brown streusel. The specialty items will be available on the website or by phone, (314) 858-1019; orders need to be made by June 16.
Turn any dish into a craveable classic with the secret seasoning from St. Louis’ own Lion’s Choice! The chain’s Famous Seasoning shakers feature its one-of-a-kind secret seasoning blend – perfect for amping up grilled burgers and steaks, veggies, popcorn and more at home. The shakers are priced from $4.99; or you can go all out for $30, and gift your Lion’s Choice-loving dad a Famous Seasoning shaker, along with a pair of fun roast-beef socks and a branded Shakoolie (shower koolie) for shower beers and beverages.
And for the dad who loves to be tongue-Thai’d, Chao Baan, the authentic Thai eatery in The Grove, as well as its sister restaurant, King and I, the area’s first Thai restaurant located on South Grand, were recently awarded the prestigious Thai SELECT award, a mark of certification from the Ministry of Commerce Royal Thai government to guarantee the authenticity of Thai restaurants in the United States. King and I is the only restaurant in Missouri to be awarded the Thai SELECT Signature award, the highest level of recognition; while Chao Baan received the Thai SELECT Classic, the second-highest level of recognition, for the first time.
King and I offers made-from-scratch Thai favorites such as Pad Thai, See Ew noodles, curries and Spicy Fried Rice. Chao Baan cooks up authentic dishes from the northeast and southern regions of Thailand, including crunchy Khao Tad Nam Sod, made of twice-fried rice mixed with curry paste, pork sausage, ginger and cilantro; and Beef Nom Tak, grilled steak with lime, chili and toasted rice powder.
Father’s Day isn’t the only reason to celebrate in June! Mission Taco Joint has launched a “Mango Kween” taco collaboration with Missouri drag queens Widow Von’Du and Mera Mangle in honor of Pride Month. The Mango Kween Taco ($4) is just as vibrant as the drag queens who helped create it, prepared with a homemade blue corn tortilla, griddled Chihuahua cheese, wood-grilled flank steak, roasted serrano tequila sauce, fresh mango salsa and crispy fried onions. All seven Mission Taco Joint locations will offer the taco, and a portion of proceeds will go to Vivent Health, a leading national HIV health care provider offering integrated prevention, care and treatment services to those impacted by HIV.
In addition, Mission Taco is offering a special Pride cocktail, Roxxxy’s Reveal ($10), created by lead bartender Randi Kranz. Roxxxy’s Reveal, a bright and boozy, slightly herbal daiquiri riff, pays tribute to the Roxxxy Andrews’s wig reveal on the “Ru Paul’s Drag Race” reality show. The multi-colored cocktail includes purple butterfly pea-infused blanco tequila, Green Chartreuse, simple syrup, lemon and edible glitter.
Schlafly Beer has announced plans for its first brewpub in Metro East. In partnership with the City of Highland, Illinois, Schlafly is working to revitalize a 71-year-old building at 907 Main St., with a grand opening planned for late fall.
The concept is for an 80-seat restaurant and three-season patio to accommodate an additional 100 diners. Schlafly lineup of beers, as well as pub fare, will be on the menu. There will also be specialty beer brewed just for the Highland location.
Schlafly currently operates three brewpubs in the St. Louis area, including Schlafly Tap Room in downtown St. Louis, Schlafly Bottleworks in Maplewood, and Schlafly Bankside on Main Street in St. Charles.
Family farm Eckert’s is now offering a new line of hard cider available for purchase at its Belleville Country Store location. The four-flavor line of spiked ciders was developed to highlight fruits grown at the farm, with flavors like Well Red (strawberry apple), Berried Alive (blackberry apple), Peach and Quiet (peach apple), and Roadcider (apple). Eckert’s will also open its own cidery, called Eckert’s CiderWorks, on-site at the Belleville farm in the next year. To be located next to the Country Store, the cidery will allow visitors to not only purchase individual cans, but also enjoy the four-flavor line on tap.
Lights! Camera! Food Trucks! Drive-In STL is back for the summer featuring live concerts and movies every weekend. Enjoy food from some of the area’s most popular food trucks, including UKraft, Cluck Oink Moo Sliders, Donut Rush, Red Dirt Revival and more! New this year: a huge hospitality tent for VIP ticket holders sponsored by Jim Beam! Check out the lineup on the Drive-In STL website.
