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In the new year, Tip of the Tongue is in the mood to retreat to some favorite and familiar restaurants, such as Moxy (4584 Laclede Avenue; 314-361-4848), which celebrated its seventh anniversary on New Year's Eve.
In the tiny kitchen there, executive chef/owner Eric Brenner and his staff prepare some of the most delightfully cozy and consistently tasty dishes in town. And they've expanded the menu a bit to add some lighter fare -- healthy eating is important to Brenner -- and a few other new items.
The "Fig & Pig" ($10), one of the current starters, seems perfect for the season -- though probably not the lowest-cal dish. (Hey, everything in moderation, right?)
"It's a smoked, crispy pork belly, and we do a fig and maple glaze on it," Brenner says. "To offset it a little bit, we put prosciutto on the plate, which is more lean."
Brenner says that about 90 percent of Moxy's menu is gluten-free and assures us that he and his staff are willing and able to accommodate all kinds of dietary needs. Going forward, Moxy's menu will likely feature more lobster and more Italian and Southern influences, he hints. In any event, the chef's goal is simple:
"I like to find those dishes that are just solid, that people love and that they'll remember," he says. "You know, we're seven years old now, and people still talk about our grouper, and they still talk about the tomato bisque."
And for good reason: There is nothing cozier than that bisque and its accompanying mini grilled cheese sandwiches. We're warming up just thinking about them! (And that grouper? It's boss, too.)
Finally, take note: M Lounge upstairs is open on Friday and Saturday nights now and will feature acoustic music soon.
Can you say "after-dinner drinks"? |
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Old favorites, like our beloved Moxy, are always delightful, but we also thrill for new places to eat. While Crêpes in the City is no more, its replacement, Lola, heats things up this weekend with its grand-opening celebration.
The eatery, located at 500 North 14th Street (314-621-7277), has done the "soft opening" thing all week, but Saturday, January 9, marks the actual big day.
Serving up brunch on the weekends and French-inspired evening-time dishes -- sandwiches, soups, salads, small plates and, yes, crêpes are all on the menu -- Lola could potentially feed you throughout the day. And the new space will entertain at night with its expansive cocktail list and live music.
Sounds fun to us! |
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This week Rendezvous Café & Wine Bar (217 South Main Street, O'Fallon; 636-281-2233) offers a couple of ways for you to smarten up.
First up is the fortified-wines installment of the Spirit Tasting Series, held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 12. During this night out, not only will you be sipping fortified wines and learning what they're all about, you will also be enjoying them with dessert! A sweet time, indeed.
And at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 13, sommelier Linda McGovern leads you through tastings of six Australian wines as part of the wine bar's Wine Education Series. The sips will be paired with apps, and tasting notes will be provided.
Each event costs $25 to attend, and reservations are required.
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With the start of the new year, Ian's back to reviewing, and this week he gives Post Sports Bar & Grill (7372 Manchester Road, Maplewood; 314-645-1109) a shot at feeding him during game time. Was the "Blazin' Chicken Dip" everything he dreamed it would be? Were the TVs plentiful? And what about the burgers? Are they good enough to make you happy, even if your team isn't? Get the score by clicking here.
And on Gut Check, Dave Nelson reveals his wine-loving new year's resolutions in the latest installment of his column, "The Noble Writ." He vows to seek out wine made from unfamiliar grapes and drink more Missouri wine -- but his goals don't stop there. To get the details of what you can look forward to in 2010, click here. |
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Speaking of Missouri wines, Stone Hill Winery (1110 Stone Hill Highway, Hermann; 800-909-9463) just brought home another prize for its 2008 vignoles. This white wine -- which pairs nicely with cheesy pastas, sweet and spicy Asian dishes, and desserts, according to the winery's website -- already won the title of White Wine of the Year at the 2009 Indy International Wine Competition.
More recently it snagged a Jefferson Cup -- one of fifteen awarded this year -- in Kansas City at master sommelier Doug Frost's Jefferson Cup Invitational Wine Competition. Cheers to that!
If you'd like to bring a bunch of bottles of this big winner home, you can buy one case and get one free just by calling the winery. That should be enough to make those teeth stop chattering long enough to show a smile! |
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