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"

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2011 Stories by Ian Froeb

• South Grand Gyro Express Reopens

  published Feb 23, 2011

  South Grand Gyro Express (5622 South Grand Boulevard; 314-481-1033) has reopened after closing "until further notice" last June. Not only has the restaurant returned, so have the original owners, Kahl... More >>

• #22: The Blueberry Scone at La Dolce Via

  published Feb 23, 2011

  How do you know that you're in the hands of a master bakerr When the only sweetness that you can taste in your blueberry scone is the natural sugar of the fruit itself, and it is exactly enough.La Dol... More >>

• Pizzeria Tivoli: Review + Slideshow

  published Feb 23, 2011

  Good pizza in a cozy neighborhood joint. My review of Pizzeria Tivoli (5861 South Kingshighway Boulevard; 314-832-3222) is now available online, as is Jennifer Silverberg's slideshow of the restaurant... More >>

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  Sneak a Peek at the Menu of the 1904 Steak House

  published Feb 22, 2011

  River City Casino is gearing up to debut the 1904 Steak House in the space vacated last year by Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse. Gut Check is sending an operative to attend a media preview of the new menu tomo... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  David Bailey Plans Kitchen, New Restaurant Downtown

  published Feb 22, 2011

  An eagle-eyed reader emailed a few days ago to report that there appeared to be something stirring at the former City Grocers/City Gourmet spot at 920 Olive Street downtown -- and that a sign in the w... More >>

• Pickles Deli Opening Downtown Location

  published Feb 22, 2011

  Central West End eatery Pickles Deli (22 North Euclid Avenue; 314-361-3354) will open a second location at 701 Olive Street downtown. This was the longtime home of Teutenberg's, which closed last Nove... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Making Mom Proud: A Visit to Nora's

  published Feb 22, 2011

  When you name your restaurant after your mother, as the owner of the Dogtown sandwich shop Nora's (1136 Tamm Avenue; 314-645-2706) has done, you don't leave yourself much margin for error. Screw it up... More >>

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  Slice Is Nice: With its brick oven, Pizzeria Tivoli is a welcome addition to Princeton Heights

  published February 24, 2011

  It says something about the number and variety of pizzerias in St. Louis that Pizzeria Tivoli isn't the first place in town where I've... More >>

• Review Preview: Pizzeria Tivoli

  published Feb 21, 2011

  This week I try the wood-fired pizzas at Pizzeria Tivoli (5861 South Kingshighway Boulevard; 314-832-3222). It says something about the number and range of pizzerias in St. Louis that Pizzeria Tivoli ... More >>

• "The People's Best New Chef" Voting Update

  published Feb 21, 2011

  You have until Monday, March 1, to cast your vote in Food & Wine magazine's "The People's Best New Chef" competition -- and St. Louis' three competitors need your vote! As of 11 a.m. this morning,... More >>

• 1111 Mississippi, Vin de Set Owners to Open Pizza Joint

  published Feb 21, 2011

  Paul and Wendy Hamilton, the husband-and-wife owners of the ever-popular 1111 Mississippi and Vin de Set, will open a new pizza restaurant called PW Pizza, the couple announced late last week. (Sauce ... More >>

• Five Alive! Five New Concepts for Pujols 5 If Albert Leaves

  published Feb 18, 2011

  Of course, the big news in St. Louis this week was that the Cardinals and Albert Pujols couldn't come to terms on a new contract before El Hombre's spring training deadline. As you might have heard, t... More >>

• El Pollo Loco Closes Only St. Louis Location

  published Feb 18, 2011

  Following up on a post on the Post Dispatch's "Eat at Joe's" message board, Gut Check can confirm that the only St. Louis area location of the fast-food chain El Pollo Loco (4103 South Lemay Ferry Roa... More >>

• Bogart's Smokehouse Opens Today

  published Feb 18, 2011

  It might not be strong enough to overwhelm the beer brewing down on Pestalozzi, but there is a powerful whiff of woodsmoke emanating from Soulard today: Bogart's Smokehouse, the long-awaited sibling t... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Three St. Louis Chefs and a Sommelier Are James Beard Award Semifinalists [Updated]

  published Feb 17, 2011

  The James Beard Foundation this morning announced the semifinalists for its annual awards (link PDF). Gerard Craft of Niche, Kevin Nashan of Sidney Street Cafe and Kevin Willmann of Farmhaus are ... More >>

• Mangia Italiano to Reopen Next Week [Updated]

  published Feb 17, 2011

  Just spoke with James Bonsanti, one of the new owners of Mangia Italiano (3145 South Grand Boulevard; 314-664-8585). He confirms that the south city mainstay, which closed for renovations at the begin... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Back for the Burger at the Tavern Kitchen & Bar

  published Feb 17, 2011

  One of the trickier aspects of reviewing a restaurant is deciding, over the course of several visits, what to order. I want to get a sense of the chef's range, of course. I usually succumb to a couple... More >>

• How to Handle a Negative Yelp Review

  published Feb 17, 2011

  The rise of "amateur" review sites like Yelp and Urbanspoon has led to numerous tales of chefs and other business owners reacting to criticisms with outrage and even lawsuits.The well-mannered restaur... More >>

• Central Cafe and Bakery: Review + Slideshow

  published Feb 16, 2011

  Chicken, shawarma and freshly baked pita bread. My review of Central Cafe and Bakery (331 North Euclid Avenue; 314-875-0657) is now available online. You should also check out Jennifer Silverberg's sl... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  #23: Gang Kua Ped Yang at Addie's Thai House

  published Feb 16, 2011

  Gang kua ped yang is a red curry with roasted duck meat. You can't see the duck meat in this photograph. Trust me, though, it's there, five or six thick hunks of tender, flavorful meat, part of one of... More >>

• Video: Cookie Monster vs. the Keebler Elves

  published Feb 15, 2011

  Here, to take your mind off whatever drudge work is currently occupying your attention, is last night's edition of Robot Chicken from Adult Swim in which Cookie Monster visits the home of the Keebler ... More >>

• Food & Wine Nominates Three St. Louis Chefs as "The People's Best" [Updated 2x]

  published Feb 15, 2011

  Do you think St. Louis' best chefs deserve more national attentionr Well, the power to bring them that acclaim is now in your hands.Anthony Devoti of Five Bistro, Josh Galliano of Monarch and Kevin Wi... More >>

• Review Preview: Central Cafe and Bakery

  published Feb 15, 2011

  This week I visit Central Cafe & Bakery, a Lebanese restaurant that opened in the Central West End late last year:When the rotisserie chicken is ready, the temptation to forgo fork and knife and r... More >>

• Poll-oh Boy! A Visit to Amigo Joe's Chicken

  published Feb 15, 2011

  It was sometime last summer when I first noticed the sign along Hampton Avenue advertising Amigo Joe's "American Fried Chicken" restaurant. Now, you rarely see "American" added to the name of a fried ... More >>

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  Central Café offers a menu of Lebanese staples — but, oh, the chicken!

  published February 17, 2011

  What the menu of the new Lebanese restaurant Central Café and Bakery calls "rotisserie chicken" isn't the ubiquitous pirouetting... More >>