Email Author Ian Froeb

Awards

• 2011 - Association of Food Journalists Awards, published November 11, 2010

  "Near Beer"

• 2011 - Association of Food Journalists Awards, published November 4, 2010

  "Jeffrey Plaza Jewel"

More

2010 Stories by Ian Froeb

• Hankering for the comforts of pho? Come to Mama!

  published February 24, 2010

  Mama Pho Vietnamese Restaurant opened last November in a shuttered McDonald's at the corner of South Grand Boulevard and Chippewa... More >>

• Racanelli's Cucina Closed Indefinitely for Renovations

  published Feb 22, 2010

  Racanelli's Cucina (6655 Delmar Boulevard; 314-727-8880) has closed indefinitely for renovations, according to a sign posted on the front door of the Delmar Loop pizzeria. The restaurant -- itself a t... More >>

• Review Preview: Mama Pho Vietnamese Restaurant

  published Feb 22, 2010

  This week I visit Mama Pho Vietnamese Restaurant, which opened last November in the former McDonald's at 3737 South Grand Boulevard.rFollow me after the jump for a sneak preview of my review. Visit at... More >>

• The Fatted Calf Reopens in Clayton Today, Monday, 2.22

  published Feb 22, 2010

  Clayton institution The Fatted Calf (12 South Bemiston Avenue; 314-726-1141) reopened at 11 a.m. this morning. The restaurant closed in late October to repair damage from a grease fire.Gut Check contr... More >>

• Guess Where I'm Eating This Pizza [Updated with Answer!]

  published Feb 19, 2010

  I'd like to include some colorful detail to accompany this edition of Guess Where I'm Eating, but I was distracted by ESPNews, which managed to repeat the Tiger Woods mea culpa in its entirety three t... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  An Early Look at The Bridge Tap House & Wine Bar, Dave Bailey's New Venture

  published Feb 18, 2010

  Dave Bailey opened The Bridge Tap House & Wine Bar last Wednesday at 1004 Locust Street. This is Bailey's third venture, following Baileys' Chocolate Bar and Rooster.Of course, it's much too early... More >>

• Bon Vivant Wines in Columbia, Illinois, Closing This Weekend

  published Feb 18, 2010

  Gut Check contributor Dave Nelson passes along word that Bon Vivant Wines in Columbia, Illinois, is closing its doors after business this Saturday, February 20. Owner Andrew Traughber is taking a posi... More >>

• Breaking: Gerard Craft, Josh Galliano James Beard Foundation Award Semifinalists

  published Feb 18, 2010

  The James Beard Foundation just released the semifinalists (link PDF) for its annual awards honoring the nation's best restaurants, chefs and other food and drink professionals. St. Louis scored two s... More >>

• Everest Opens Lunch-Buffet Location Downtown Today

  published Feb 17, 2010

  Word on the street was that today would be the long-awaited opening of the downtown location of the Nepalese and Korean restaurant Everest Cafe & Bar. I swung by 711 Olive Street this afternoon to... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Review + Slideshow: The Vine Mediterranean Cafe & Market

  published Feb 17, 2010

  In the mood for the best meat shawarma in townr Or some really good falafelrMy review of The Vine Mediterranean Cafe & Market (3171 South Grand Boulevard; 314-776-0991) is now available online.In ... More >>

• A Reader's Vegan Delight at Maplewood's Boogaloo

  published Feb 16, 2010

  It's no secret that vegetarians and, especially, vegans lack many appetizing options at St. Louis restaurants. So when a reader left a lengthy comment this morning on a post about local vegetarian opt... More >>

• The Vine on South Grand climbs to the top of the Mediterranean food pyramid

  published February 17, 2010

  Is there a better place to be hungry in St. Louis than South Grand Boulevard? Only if you are terminally indecisive. In the six blocks between... More >>

• Review Preview: The Vine Mediterranean Cafe & Market

  published Feb 16, 2010

  This week, I visit The Vine Mediterranean Cafe & Market (3171 South Grand Boulevard; 314-776-0991). As its name implies, the Vine is half small market, half restaurant. You can smoke a hookah ther... More >>

• Guess Where I'm Eating These Pancakes [Updated with Answer!]

  published Feb 16, 2010

  I know St. Louis is a Mardi Gras town, but as someone who was raised as an Episcopalian, I will always consider today Fat Tuesday, a.k.a. Shrove Tuesday, a.k.a. Pancake Day. So: Where am I eating thes... More >>

• The Week in Gut Check, Regurgitated

  published Feb 12, 2010

  This week, we all gathered around the garbage can (actually, the kitchen sink) and said goodbye to the last foul creation from Throwback of the House. Robin saved the best worst for last: jellied boui... More >>

• Gawker Steals Haiku Idea from Lowly St. Louis Food Blogr

  published Feb 12, 2010

  Now, look: I don't ask for much in this world. A crab cake that's more crab than filler. A pizza cheese that doesn't have the consistency of allergy snot. And credit for writing news in the form of ha... More >>

• Gut Check's Week in Tweets

  published Feb 12, 2010

  Don't you knowr Gut Check has a Twitter account. You can follow us @gutcheckstl.Here's some of what you missed on the Twitter feed this week:Someone in Tucson left me 5 hang-up messages in the space o... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Review + Slideshow: Sammy Scott's

  published Feb 10, 2010

  Sometimes, you can't do much better than a good sandwich and a cup of tasty soup. This week, I review Sammy Scott's, a new fast-casual restaurant at 12766 Olive Boulevard in Creve Coeur.Curious -- but... More >>

• Guess Where I'm Eating This Barbecue Pulled Pork and Chicken [Updated with Answer!]

  published Feb 09, 2010

  OK. It's a trick question because I'm eating this at my desk here at Gut Check International Headquarters. But from where does this pulled pork and chicken barbecue hailr And where is the cornbread I ... More >>

• River City Casino Reveals Restaurant Plans

  published Feb 09, 2010

  River City Casino is slated to open Thursday, March 4, which means the p.r. blitz is in full swing. Yesterday, the casino revealed its lineup of restaurants.This is another property from Pinnacle Ente... More >>

• Blog Opinionated About Dining Gives Kudos to Sidney Street Cafe

  published Feb 08, 2010

  The website Opinionated About Dining has released its annual list of the nation's "Most Important Restaurants." While no St. Louis restaurant was among the 30 finalists on the nationwide list, we did ... More >>

• Sammy Scott's — a surefire sandwich-shop chain in the making?

  published February 10, 2010

  Like the H1N1 virus and the music of Lady Gaga, fast-casual dining is a fact of life. You can fret. You can gnash your teeth. Or you can accept... More >>

• Review Preview: Sammy Scott's

  published Feb 08, 2010

  This week I visit Sammy Scott's, a new, homegrown fast-casual restaurant in Creve Coeur (12766 Olive Boulevard; 314-439-5100).rFollow me after the jump for a sneak preview of my review. New fast-casua... More >>

• This Week in Gut Check, Regurgitated

  published Feb 05, 2010

  No point denying it: This week, Gut Check belonged to Pappy's Smokehouse. Robin Wheeler wrote a profile of co-owner Mike Emerson, and Emerson was kind enough to share some primo tips for barbecuing at... More >>

• Clayton Closures for Benito's Gelato, KD Poppa's and ZuZu

  published Feb 05, 2010

  Thanks to reader Laura, who commented on the January Restaurant Roll Call to inform me of several closures in Clayton -- all on the same block, in fact:Benito's Gelato has closed its location at 14 No... More >>