Readers' Choice 2013

READERS’ CHOICE

Featuring four chefs who really killed it this year and 67 other winners

Roasted carrots “Mint can make any veg exciting.”

Shaved kale

“Most popular salad on the menu. It’s insanity!”

favorite new restaurant: pastaria

When pastaria opened last September, the menu was far from the conceptual, fine-dining dishes at Gerard Craft’s flagship restaurant, Niche. Instead, rustic dishes like fire-roasted vegetables, house-made pastas with hearty sauces and pepperoni pizza reminded diners that great food doesn’t have to be fancy to be special. “Some chefs won’t put pepperoni on their menu, and I always laugh about that. Why not? It’s what people want. It’s really good!” Craft said. “ten bucks says within the next 20 years, there’ll be a chef in Naples who puts pepperoni on the menu.” Give the people what they want and then give them more of it. there’s no surprise why you voted pastaria your favorite new restaurant. here, Craft weighs in on some of pastaria’s greatest hits. – Meera Nagarajan

Bucatini All’Amatriciana “Making the perfect Bucatini took us forever. Once we nailed it BMOX [Pastaria executive chef Brian Moxey] made the killer Amatriciana.”

Chitarra

“I think this is a hidden gem on our menu. Always satisfying!”

“This is the best tiramisu in the world in our minds. The recipe is over 100 years old.”

Forsyth Blvd., Clayton, 314.862.6603, pastariastl.com

favorite food truck: seoul taco

Seoul taco takes to twitter each day to let its customers know how they can track down its Korean-fusion fare. So we figured it was only appropriate to turn the tables on your favorite food truck to see what happens when you finally get there. What we learned: Fire is a good sign. Bulgogi is even better. And no cold weather or maintenace issues are gonna keep you from getting some spicy pork. — Stacy Schultz

Cathendel

Oh good god. This @SeoulTaco burrito is astoundingly good. I may not be able to stand for a while. We’re coming here in May @JohnHendel

CarricoJ

@SeoulTaco just saw Korean Jesus after eating spicy pork quesadilla. #seoulpower

Spicy pork taco

amillionsharks

My mouth is on sweet, sweet fire thanks to the always delicious @ SeoulTaco - love you guys!!

rachelapaul

Praise God @SeoulTaco is coming to work today. #nom #nom #nom

Katelakin

Standing outside for an hour in 18 degree weather wasn’t my best decision ever but it was worth it for @SeoulTaco. So good.

lussenpop

I’ve eaten at @seoultaco every day this week. I do not see signs of this habit slowing.

Spicy pork quesadilla

SEOUl tACO seoultacostl.com, twitter. com/seoultaco, facebook. com/seoultaco

AndrewBean11

first food truck experience. BEST tacos I’ve ever had, hands down. @SeoulTaco pic.twitter.com/ TuECnuiY

IntrVarsityAdam

My bike brakes are out! How am I supposed to get to @SeoulTaco now?!

calebmicah

It’s official: my mouth is in love with @SeoulTaco ! #bulgogi #STL #Food

MiriamdanielleB

Tearing into the most amazing tacos ever created at @ SeoulTaco. pic.twitter.com/ fnHDdEGp

Photo

Spicy pork gogi bowl

most underrated restaurant: Five bistro

The ClAvERACH FARm SHOOTS at FIvE BISTRO is more than just a salad, it’s everything we love about summer. A green tangle of radish, pea and sunflower shoots is slickened with a slightly sweet, mustardy vinaigrette with just the right amount of zing. An ever-changing rotation of seasonal produce (lately it’s been beets) is nestled on the greens, then crowned with a poached farm egg with a glowing yolk the consistency of honey. There are a lot of things we love about this time of year, but food this fresh, vibrant and flavorful is our favorite. — Meera Nagarajan

your favorite places to eat

This is my favorite new restaurant.

pAStArIA

7734 Forsyth Blvd., Clayton, 314.862.6603, pastariastl.com

2nd: Sauce on the Side

3rd: Elaia & Olio honorable Mention: Basso

This is my hands-down favorite restaurant.

SIdNEy StrEEt CAFE

2000 Sidney St., St. Louis, 314.771.5777, sidneystreetcafe.com

2nd: Niche

3rd: Cleveland-Heath honorable Mention: Trattoria Marcella

This restaurant has been around forever and I still can’t get enough.

SIdNEy StrEEt CAFE

2000 Sidney St., St. Louis, 314.771.5777, sidneystreetcafe.com

2nd: Trattoria Marcella

3rd: Annie Gunn’s honorable Mention: Cunnetto House of Pasta

This chef really killed it this year.

GErArd CrAFt

Niche family of restaurants

2nd: Eric Heath

3rd: Justin Haifley honorable Mention: Kevin Willmann

I wish my house looked as good as this restaurant.

BlOOd & SANd

1500 St. Charles St., St. Louis, 314.241.7263. bloodandsandstl.com and NIChE (tie)

7734 Forsyth Blvd., Clayton, 314.773.7755, nichestlouis.com

2nd: Salt

3rd: Cielo Restaurant & Bar

honorable Mention: Bar Les

Frères and Basso (tie)

This brunch gives me a reason to roll out of bed.

hAlF & hAlF

8135 Maryland Ave., Clayton, 314.725.0719, halfandhalfstl.com

2nd: Rooster

3rd: Bristol Seafood Grill and Vin de Set (tie)

honorable Mention: Brasserie by Niche

If I won the lottery, I’d eat here once a week.

NIChE

7734 Forsyth Blvd., Clayton, 314.773.7755, nichestlouis.com

2nd: Sidney Street Cafe

3rd: Tony’s honorable Mention: Annie Gunn’s

At this restaurant, the eatin’ is good, and I can practically pay in change.

FASt EddIE’S BON AIr

1530 E. Fourth St., Alton, Ill., 618.462.5532, fasteddiesbonair.com

2nd: Hodak’s Restaurant & Bar and Mi Ranchito (tie)

3rd: Mai Lee honorable Mention: Seoul Taco

This is my favorite restaurant for impressing out-of-towners.

NIChE

7734 Forsyth Blvd., Clayton, 314.773.7755, nichestlouis.com

2nd: Cielo Restaurant & Bar

3rd: Sidney Street Cafe

honorable Mention: The

Fountain On Locust and Vin de Set (tie)

No one rolls their eyes at my dietary needs here.

FrIdA’S dElI

662 North and South Road, St. Louis, 314.727.6500, fridasdeli.com and

lOCAl hArVESt CAFE & CAtErING (tie)

815 Olive St., St. Louis, 314.241.3196 and 3137 Morgan Ford Road, St. Louis, 314.772.8815, localharvestcafe.com

2nd: Mango Peruvian Cuisine

3rd: PuraVegan Cafe honorable Mention: Sweet Art

The service here makes everyone feel like a VIP.

tONy’S 410 Market St., St. Louis, 314.231.7007, tonysstlouis.com

2nd: Cleveland-Heath

3rd: Niche

honorable Mention: Eleven Eleven Mississippi

I could hang out in this coffee shop all day.

thE MUd hOUSE 2101 Cherokee St., St. Louis, 314.776.6599, themudhousestl.com

2nd: Park Avenue Coffee

3rd: Foundation Grounds and Sacred Grounds Cafe (tie)

honorable Mention: Sump Coffee

Whether it’s pasta, pad thai or potpie you’re craving, here’s where you pull up a chair.

This place is farm-to-fork at its best.

FArMhAUS

3257 Ivanhoe Ave., St. Louis, 314.647.3800. farmhausrestaurant.com

2nd: Local Harvest Cafe and Catering

3rd: Cleveland-Heath

honorable Mention: Winslow’s Home

I’ll follow this food truck all over town.

SEOUl tACO facebook.com/seoultaco, twitter.com/seoultaco

2nd: Guerrilla Street Food

3rd: LuLu’s Local Eatery honorable Mention: Cha Cha Chow

My pup begs to come here. BOAthOUSE FOrESt pArK 6101 Government Drive, St. Louis, 314.367.2224, boathouseforestpark.com

2nd: Square One Brewery & Distillery

3rd: Russell’s on Macklind honorable Mention: Molly’s in Soulard

This is the most underrated restaurant in town.

FIVE BIStrO 5100 Daggett Ave., St. Louis, 314.773.5553, fivebistro.com

2nd: Oriental Spoon

3rd: Dressel’s Public House

honorable Mention: Atlas and Veritas Gateway to Food and Wine (tie)

This is the best flippin’ burger in town.

O’CONNEll’S pUB

4652 Shaw Ave., St. Louis, 314.773.6600, saucecafe. com/oconnells/

2nd: Baileys’ Range

3rd: Five Star Burgers

honorable Mention: Blueberry Hill

This is the place to go when late-night food cravings strike.

UNClE BIll’S pANCAKE & dINNEr hOUSE

3427 S. Kingshighway Blvd., St. Louis, 314.832.1973 and 14196 Manchester Road, Ballwin, 636.394.1416

2nd: City Diner

3rd: Courtesy Diner

honorable Mention: Eclipse

The buffet spread at this place puts cruise fare to shame.

thE rItZ-CArltON

100 Carondelet Plaza, Clayton, 314.863.6300, ritzcarlton.com

2nd: The Great Food Exposition at River City Casino

3rd: Bristol Seafood Grill

honorable Mention: The Kitchen Buffet and Bistro at Lumière Place Casino & Hotels

Favorite barbecue

pAppy’S SMOKEhOUSE

3106 Olive St., St. Louis, 314.535.4340, pappyssmokehouse.com

2nd: Bogart’s Smokehouse

3rd: Sugarfire Smoke

House

honorable Mention: Hendricks BBQ

Favorite Cajun/Creole

BrOAdWAy OyStEr BAr 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314.621.8811, broadwayoysterbar.com

2nd: Riverbend Restaurant & Bar

3rd: Boogaloo honorable Mention: Highway 61 Roadhouse and Kitchen and Mollys in Soulard (tie)

Favorite Chinese WANG GANG ASIAN EAtS

4 Club Centre Drive, Edwardsville, Ill., 618.655.0888, wanggangasian.com

2nd: Lu Lu Seafood and Dim Sum

3rd: Yen Ching honorable Mention: Wei Hong Bakery and Restaurant

Favorite deli/sandwiches BlUES CIty dElI 2438 McNair Ave., St. Louis, 314.773.8225, bluescitydeli.com

2nd: Pickles Deli

3rd: Fozzie’s Sandwich Emporium and Mom’s Deli (tie)

honorable Mention: Amighetti’s

Favorite Eastern European/ Bosnian GrBIC rEStAUrANt & BANqUEt CENtEr 4071 Keokuk St., St. Louis, 314.772.3100, grbicrestaurant.com

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2nd: Bosna Gold Restaurant 3rd: Aya Sofia honorable Mention: Berix Restaurant

Favorite English/Irish/ Scottish thE SCOttISh ArMS

8 S. Sarah St., St. Louis, 314.535.0551, thescottisharms.com

2nd: McGurk’s Irish Pub and Garden

3rd: Llywelyn’s Pub

honorable Mention: Dressel’s Public House

Favorite French BrASSErIE By NIChE

4580 Laclede Ave., St. Louis, 314.454.0600, brasseriebyniche.com

2nd: Café Provencal 3rd: Vin de Set

honorable Mention: La Bonne Bouchée

Favorite frozen desserts

tEd drEWES FrOZEN CUStArd

6726 Chippewa St., St. Louis, 314.481.2652 and 4224 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, 314.352.7376, teddrewes.com

2nd: Serendipity

Homemade Ice Cream

3rd: Annie’s Frozen Custard

honorable Mention: Fritz’s Frozen Custard

Favorite German SChNEIthOrSt’S

1600 S. Lindbergh Blvd., Ladue, 314.993.4100, schneithorst.com

2nd: Feasting Fox

3rd: Dreamland Palace

German Restaurant

honorable Mention: St. Louis Gast Haus

Favorite Greek

OlyMpIA KEBOB hOUSE & tAVErNA

1543 McCausland Ave., Richmond Heights, 314.781.1299

2nd: Momos

3rd: Apollonia Greek Restaurant and Michael’s Bar & Grill (tie)

honorable Mention: Spiro’s Restaurant

Favorite Indian hOUSE OF INdIA

8501 Delmar Blvd., U. City, 314.567.6850, hoistl.com

2nd: Rasoi

3rd: India Palace

honorable Mention: Taj Indian Cuisine

Favorite Italian pAStArIA

7734 Forsyth Blvd., Clayton, 314.862.6603, pastariastl.com

2nd: Trattoria Marcella

3rd: Cunetto House of Pasta

honorable Mention: Vincenzo’s Italian Ristorante

Favorite Japanese/sushi WASABI SUShI BAr

Various locations, wasabistl.com

2nd: Tani Sushi Bistro

3rd: Nobu’s Japanese Restaurant

Honorable Mention: Drunken Fish

Favorite Korean OrIENtAl SpOON

229 Harvard Drive, Edwardsville, Ill., 618.655.9633, orientalspoon.net

2nd: Seoul Taco

3rd: Seoul Garden Korean Restaurant

honorable Mention: U-City Grill

Favorite Mexican pUEBlO SOlIS

5127 Hampton Ave., St. Louis, 314.351.9000 2nd: Milagro Modern Mexican

3rd: La Vallesana and Mi Ranchito (tie)

honorable Mention: El Palenque Mexican Restaurant & Cantina

Favorite Middle Eastern rANOUSh

200 N. Kirkwood Road, Kirkwood, 314.984.8899 and 6501 Delmar Blvd., U. City, 314.726.6874, ranoush.com

2nd: Aya Sofia and Café Natasha (tie)

3rd: Saleem’s West honorable Mention: AlTarboush Deli and The Vine Mediterranean Café and Market (tie)

Favorite pizza pI pIZZErIA

Various locations restaurantpi,.com

2nd: Peel Wood Fired Pizza

3rd: The Good Pie and Katie’s Pizzeria (tie) honorable Mention: Mad Tomato Italian Kitchen

Favorite seafood

BrIStOl SEAFOOd GrIll 11801 Olive Blvd., Creve Coeur, 314.567.0272 and 2314 Technology Drive, O’Fallon, 636.625.6350, bristolseafoodgrill.com

2nd: Broadway Oyster Bar

3rd: Bob’s Seafood

honorable Mention: The Tavern Kitchen & Bar

Favorite soul food

SWEEtIE pIE’S At thE MANGrOVE

4270 Manchester Ave., St. Louis, 314.371.0304, sweetiepieskitchen.com

2nd: Mama Josephine’s 3rd: The Kitchen Sink honorable Mention: Diner’s Delight

Favorite South American/ pan-Latin MANGO pErUVIAN CUISINE

1101 Lucas Ave., St. Louis, 314.621.9993, mangoperu.com

2nd: Fritanga Nicaraguan Cuisine

3rd: Yemanja Brasil honorable Mention: Maya Cafe

Favorite Spanish MOdEStO

5257 Shaw Ave., St. Louis, 314.772.8272, modestotapas.com

2nd: BARcelona

3rd: Guido’s Pizzeria & Tapas and Mojo Tapas Restaurant and Bar (tie) honorable Mention: One 19 North Tapas and Wine Bar

Favorite steakhouse

CItIZEN KANE'S StEAK hOUSE

133 W. Clinton Place, Kirkwood, 314.965.9005, citizenkanes.com

2nd: Ruth’s Chris Steak House

3rd: Kreis’ Skteahouse & Bar and Tucker’s Place (tie) honorable Mention: Mike Shannon’s Steaks and Seafood

Favorite thai

KING ANd I 3157 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, 314.771.1777,

thaispicy.com

2nd: Sen Thai Asian Bistro

3rd: Addie’s Thai House and Basil Spice Thai Cuisine (tie) honorable Mention: Pearl Café

Favorite Vietnamese MAI lEE

8396 Musick Memorial Drive, Brentwood, 314.645.2835, maileerestaurant.com

2nd: Pho Grand 3rd: LemonGrass honorable Mention: Banh Mi So

Favorite Eastern European/ Bosnian winner Grbic restaurant & Banquet Center’s Cevapi (bottom right) and Goulash Soup. photo by Carmen troesser

When you want a drink and not just any drink will do, you head to the places that never let you down. Here are your favorite spots for sipping a well-crafted cocktail, uber-fresh beer and the nectar of the gods. – Ligaya Figueras

the best beer is poured at this brewery:

the cocktails here are truly top shelf: TaSTE

Whether I’m drinking red or white, this wine bar always pours the perfect glass: RobuST WinE baR

See index on page 21 for address information.

ScHlaFly

cup of coffee t he ultimate s ump co FFee

When it comes to making the perfect cup of coffee, Sump Coffee’s Scott Carey has it down to a science. here, the coffee connoisseur teaches us how to make the ultimate cup of coffee at home. – Stacy Schultz

hArIO V60 drIp pOUr OVEr COFFEE SCAlE ANd tIMEr

If you’re going to brew, you have to have a scale. Look for a gram scale with an accuracy of 1∕10 of a gram and with a timer that counts up – not down. This model from Japanese company Hario has a built-in timer, another essential brewing tool. $58 to $70. amazon.com

02 pApEr FIltErS

Your filter should match your V60, so grab the 02 size. $9 to $15/100. amazon.com

hArIO V60 (VdC-02W)

The hole in the bottom of this ceramic device funnels coffee in a slow, steady stream for a smooth, balanced cup. The 02 model brews 11 ounces, perfect for 2 small cups or 1 large one. $21. amazon.com

hArIO V60 COFFEE drIp KEttlE BUONO (VKB-120hSV)

“You have to have a way of controlling the rate of the pour and where you’re pouring, so you need a goose-neck kettle.” $50 to 60. amazon.com

hArIO V60 COFFEE 700-Ml SErVEr CArAFE

The V60 will need something to stream into. If you want to pinch pennies somewhere, any heat-resistant vessel that fits the V60’s flat bottom will work – even a large, transparent mug will do. “It helps if you can see what’s in there, for those oops moments, so you don’t burn yourself or spill,” said Carey. $18 to $20. amazon.com

BUrr GrINdEr

Look for a Burr grinder – not a blade grinder – that produces a uniform particle size. It can be a hand version or an automatic one.

hOt, FIltErEd WAtEr

Run your water through a filter before using it. Then bring it to a boil and let it sit until the temperature falls to 200 to 206 degrees, about 2 minutes. Never brew with boiling water.

thE tEChNIqUE

For Sump’s light-roast coffees, use a ratio of about 1 gram of coffee to 15 grams of water. That’s 25 grams of coffee to 350 grams of water for the V60. The grind should be somewhere between a paper filter and a metal filter setting.

Unfold the filter in the V60 and set the V60 atop your serving vessel. Using the kettle, pour 11 ounces of hot water over the filter. This preheats the V60 and vessel and removes the paper taste from the filter. Dump the hot water from the vessel and place it on the scale. Place the V60 with the wet filter on top and zero out the scale.

Pour the ground coffee into the wet filter. The scale should read 25 grams. Zero out the scale again.

Start the timer. Very slowly, pour water into the coffee in a clockwise circle about the size of a quarter until the scale reads 50 grams. Within 10 to 15 seconds, the coffee will begin to bloom – swell up and dome over like a chocolate soufflé. Let it bloom for 30 to 45 seconds.

Slowly pour the next 300 grams in the same small, clockwise circle, avoiding the edges of the filter. The scale should read 350 grams within 1 minute and 20 seconds. Pour a little faster toward the end if necessary to use all 350 grams of water within that timeframe.

Let the coffee stream into the vessel. As soon as it starts to drip instead of stream, it’s done. This should take 2 to 2½ minutes. Remove the V60 from the vessel and let the coffee cool for 30 to 45 seconds before serving.

thE tWEAKS

When it comes to hand-brewing coffee, practice makes perfect. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you fine-tune your technique.

don’t take your eyes off the timer. The entire brewing process should take about 2 to 2½ minutes. If it takes around 1½ minutes, your grind is too coarse. Closer to 3 minutes, and it’s too fine. You also want to make sure the coffee is dripping at the right speed. If your coffee tastes too bitter, it’s been over-extracted; try to reduce your brew time. If the coffee tastes too thin, try to extend your brew time. But don’t go over 2½ minutes.

Adjust according to bean. Superfresh coffees will take 45 seconds to fully bloom; older beans will take closer to 30 seconds. For dense, high-elevation coffees

“You have to start with good coffee to make good coffee.”

Sump’s house-roasted, singleorigin beans are roasted to city level at the first crack. That’s coffee speak for super light in order to preserve the bean’s origin and terroir. “You have to sacrifice body, but you get a lot more fruit and brightness out of it, so I think that compromise is worth it.” Apparently, so do you.

this place makes the best cup of coffee in town SUMp COFFEE

3700 S. Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, 917.412.5670, sumpcoffee.com

At pin-Up Bowl, the alcove near the entrance is cozy enough to be romantic, yet large enough to accommodate you and your late-night entourage. From the cushioned banquette, you can pluck a drink off the bar, hear the crash of pins in the distance and stare out the window at the 2 a.m. crowd stumbling down delmar. you voted pin-Up the perfect place for a nightcap, and this is the perfect seat to sip it. Bartender, we’ll have another. – Meera Nagarajan

your favorite places to drink

This bartender deserves a gold-plated Boston shaker for his/her work behind the stick this year.

MAtt SEItEr At SANCtUArIA

4198 Manchester Ave., St. Louis, 314.535.9700, sanctuariastl.com

2nd: Ted Kilgore at Taste

3rd: Jayne Pellegrino at Blood & Sand

honorable Mention: Seth Wahlman at Eclipse

The cocktails here are truly top shelf.

tAStE

4584 Laclede Ave., St. Louis, 314.361.1200, tastebarstl.com

2nd: Sanctuaria

3rd: Blood & Sand

honorable Mention: Eclipse

The best beer is poured at this brewery.

SChlAFly

2nd: Urban Chestnut Brewing Co.

3rd: Ferguson Brewing Co.

honorable Mention: 4 Hands Brewing Co. and Perennial Artisan Ales (tie)

Whether I’m drinking red or white, this wine bar always pours the perfect glass.

rOBUSt WINE BAr

227 W. Lockwood Ave., Webster Groves, 314.963.0033 and 635

Washington Ave., St. Louis, 314.287.6300, robustwinebar.com

2nd: Sasha’s Wine Bars

3rd: Cork Wine Bar

The Schlafly Tap Room, 2100 Locust St., St. Louis and Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest Ave., Maplewood, 314.241.2337, schlafly.com

honorable Mention: Erato on Main (closed)

This place makes the best cup of coffee in town.

SUMp COFFEE

3700 S. Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, 917.412.5670, sumpcoffee.com

2nd: 222 Artisan Bakery and The Mud House (tie)

3rd: Corner Coffee House

honorable Mention: Foundation Grounds

When I need just one more, I head here for a nightcap.

pIN-Up BOWl

6191 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314.727.5555, pinupbowl.com

2nd: Fox & Hounds Tavern

3rd: Baileys’ Chocolate Bar

honorable Mention: Sasha’s on Shaw and Taste (tie)

No day trip is complete without a visit to this winery.

ChANdlEr hIll VINEyArdS 596 Defiance Road, Defiance, 636.798.2675, chandlerhillvineyards.com

2nd: Montelle Winery

3rd: Mount Pleasant Winery honorable Mention: Chaumette Vineyards and Winery and Stone Hill Winery (tie)

I practically set up camp on this patio when the weather’s warm.

VIN dE SEt

2017 Chouteau Ave., St. Louis, 314.241.8989, vindeset.com

2nd: John D. McGurk’s Irish Pub and Garden and Sasha’s on Shaw (tie)

3rd: Cielo Restaurant & Bar honorable Mention: Molly’s in Soulard and Wild Flower Restaurant & Catering (tie)

Here’s where the glitterati gather. CAFE NApOlI 7754 Forsyth Blvd., Clayton, 314.863.5731, cafenapoli.com

2nd: Three Sixty

3rd: Cielo Restaurant & Bar honorable Mention: Lucas Park Grille

This is a sports fans’ home base.

lEStEr’S Various locations, lestersrestaurants.com

2nd: The Post Sports Bar & Grill

3rd: Mike Shannon’s Steaks and Seafood

honorable Mention: Friendly’s Sports Bar and Grill and St. Louis Sports Zone (tie)

This place does happy hour right.

MOdEStO

5257 Shaw Ave., St. Louis, 314.772.8272, modestotapas.com

2nd: Frazer’s Restaurant & Lounge

3rd: Café Mochi

honorable Mention: Herbie’s Vintage ‘72

The 501 cocktail by, Sanctuaria's Matt Seiter, bartender of the year

Global PanTRy

Quick! What’s the one ingredient you could never live without? Tough question, we know, and doubly tough for chefs, since they really don’t want to live without anything from their culinary arsenal. Read on to find out the single ingredient that chefs at some of your favorite restaurants said they’d be hard-pressed to do without. – Ligaya Figueras

BUttEr

“Butter. Because everything tastes better with butter.” – Frank Kane, owner-operator, Citizen Kane’s Steak House, 133 W. Clinton Place, Kirkwood, 314.965.9005, citizenkanes.com

AJI AMArIllO

“Aji amarillo is essential to Peruvian cooking. It brings not only a little heat but [also] a full burst of aromatics to whatever it touches. I use it in so many of our dishes: ceviche, aji de gallina, lomo saltado. There’s nothing like it here in the States that can compare in complexity and aroma. It truly is what gives everything that Peruvian flavor.” – Jorge Calvo, chef-owner, Mango Peruvian Cuisine, 1101 Lucas Ave., St. Louis, 314.621.9993, mangoperu.com

GArlIC

“It’s in most items that I cook. I always have the smell of the garlic on my food. I want this aroma to be around when I cook.” – Moon Louneviseth, executive chef, The King & I, 3157 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, 314.771.1777, thaispicy.com

CrAWFISh

“Being a Cajun and Creole restaurant, true to our roots in southern comfort food, crawfish stand for that. We stuff bread with crawfish, we make crawfish enchiladas, we do fresh, seasonal crawfish boils every year. It’s a great meat for adding to sauce, stuffing fish. There’re not a lot of restaurants that cook with crawfish. For me, crawfish is my go-to seafood.” – Brad Hagen, executive chef-general manager, Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314.621.8811, broadwayoysterbar.com

pOrK FAt

“I would probably say pork. Do I have to say what part of the pig? Probably pork fat just because it’s so diverse. It can be used so many different ways. You can render it down to sauce, cure it into lardo. The fat is what makes bacon, bacon.” – Carl Hazel, executive chef, The Scottish Arms, 8 S. Sarah St., St. Louis, 314.535.0551, thescottisharms.com

your favorite places to shop

Favorite farmers market

SOUlArd FArMErS MArKEt

730 Carroll St., St. louis, 314.622.4180, soulardmarket.com

2nd: Tower Grove Farmers Market

3rd: Ferguson Farmers Market

honorable Mention: Kirkwood Farmers Market

Favorite grocery store dIErBErGS

Various locations, dierbergs.com and Whole Foods Market (tie)

Various locations, wholefoodsmarket.com

2nd: Trader Joe’s

3rd: Schnucks

honorable Mention: Straub’s

Favorite butcher shop

KENrICK’S MEAtS & CAtErING

4324 Weber Road, St. Louis, 314.631.2440, kenricks.com

2nd: Paul’s Market

3rd: Baumann’s Fine Meats

honorable Mention: Straub’s

Favorite place to buy cheese

thE WINE ANd ChEESE plACE

Various locations, wineandcheese place.com

2nd: The Wine Merchant

3rd: Trader Joe’s honorable Mention: Whole Foods Market

Favorite coffee roaster GOShEN COFFEE CO.

110 First Ave., Edwardsville, Ill., 618.659.0571, goshencoffee.com

2nd: Chauvin Coffee Co. and Shaw’s Coffee (tie)

3rd: Northwest Coffee Roasting Co.

honorable Mention: Sump Coffee

Favorite local bread COMpANION BAKING

8143 Maryland Ave., Clayton, 314.721.5454 and 9781 Clayton Road, Ladue, 314.218.2280, companionstl.com

2nd: Great Harvest Bread Co.

3rd: 222 Artisan Bakery

honorable Mention: Black Bear Bakery

Favorite cakes and pastries

MCArthUr’S BAKEry

Various locations, mcarthurs.com

2nd: Cose Dolci Bakery

3rd: La Bonne Bouchée and Pint Size

Bakery & Coffee (tie)

honorable Mention: Sugaree Baking Co.

Favorite place to buy chocolate and candies

KAKAO ChOCOlAtE

2301 S. Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, 314.771.2310 and 7272 Manchester Road, Maplewood, 314.645.4446, kakaochocolate.com

2nd: Bissinger’s Handcrafted Chocolatier

3rd: Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Co.

honorable Mention: Crown Candy Kitchen

Favorite doughnut shop

WOrld’S FAIr dONUtS

1904 S. Vandeventer Ave., St. Louis, 314.776.9975

2nd: Old Town Donuts

3rd: Donut Drive-In

honorable Mention: The Donut Palace

Favorite kitchenware store

SUr lA tABlE

295 Plaza Frontenac, Frontenac, 314.993.0566, surlatable.com

2nd: Chef’s Shoppe

3rd: Kitchen Conservatory

honorable Mention: Williams-Sonoma

Favorite specialty food shop

GlOBAl FOOdS MArKEt

421 N. Kirkwood Road, Kirkwood, 314.835.1112, globalfoodsmarket.com

2nd: Manzo Sausage Kitchen & Market

3rd: DiGregorio’s Market and Viviano’s (tie)

honorable Mention: Extra Virgin, an Olive Ovation

Favorite liquor store

rANdAll’S

Various locations, shoprandalls.com

2nd: The Wine and Cheese Place

3rd: Friar Tuck and Lukas Liquor (tie)

honorable Mention: The Wine Merchant

Favorite wine shop

thE WINE MErChANt

20 S. Hanley Road, Clayton, 314.863.6282, winemerchantltd.com

2nd: The Wine and Cheese Place

3rd: Parker’s Table

honorable Mention: Bin 51 Wine & Spirits

Favorite caterer

hOllyBErry CAtErING

284 East Ave., Webster Groves, 314.968.9239, hollyberrycatering.com

2nd: Butler’s Pantry

3rd: Patty Long Catering

honorable Mention: Catering St. Louis

Favorite artisan food producer

SAlUME BEddU

3467 Hampton Ave., St. Louis, 314.353.3100, salumebeddu.com

2nd: Kakao Chocolate

3rd: Companion Baking

honorable Mention: The Billy Goat Chip Co. and Manzo Sausage Kitchen & Market (tie)

Products from favorite wine shop winner, The Wine Merchant