Grand Marnier

Vino Nadoz's Alex Ettinger: Featured Bartender of the Week

We challenge you to introduce us to a nicer, more modest and gentlemanly bartender than this guy. When we told Alex Ettinger of Vino Nadoz (16 The Boulevard, Richmond Heights; 314-726-0400) that we wanted to interview him for this column, he was so honored. He began to worry if he was dressed nice ... More >>

The Ritz-Carlton's Monica Schepis Couldn't Stand Her "Big Girl" Job -- Bartending Is Her True Calling

Welcome to Girl Walks Into a Bar, a weekly Gut Check feature that spotlights local bars and bartenders. This week, Kaitlin Steinberg profiles Monica Schepis of the the Lobby Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton. Below is a Q&A with Schepis, followed by her own recipe for a Gooey Butter Cake Martini. The Lo ... More >>

Ten Best Food Events This Weekend: Nov. 30-Dec. 2

Friday (Nov. 30): Tenth Life Sips and Sweets @ Regional Arts Commission Sample sweets, wine and cocktails over live music, a silent auction, art and most importantly, kittens! Desserts come from Hartford Coffee Company, I Scream Cakes, Kakao, Pint Size Bakery and more. Tickets cost $25 and can be ... More >>

Livery Company Debuts its Inaugural Cocktail Menu

In July, Livery Company (3211 Cherokee Street) opened in the Cherokee Arts District, combining the charms of a dimly lit dive with a speakeasy-style vibe. The casual atmosphere accompanies a similarly paced development - the bar rolled out its first seasonal cocktail menu this fall.

First Look: Pie Oh My Rolls Out Whole and Bite-Sized Homestyle Pies in Maplewood

Baker Jane Callahan's humble pie business, Pie Oh My (2719 Sutton Boulevard, Maplewood; 314-704-4416), started off in a small rented commercial kitchen downtown, where she prepared her from-scratch pies by hand to sell at markets or deliver personally to customers' doors. She continues to offer the ... More >>

South of the (St. Peters) Border: Craving Tex-Mex in a sleek contemporary setting? ¡Vamos a Chesterfield!

Mexican Metamorphosis: If you thought Half & Half's name refers to breakfast and lunch, you don't know the half of it

Scarface in Custody for Hamilton Heights Dog Torture and Slaughter

A male suspect known on the streets as "Scarface" is in custody for the brutal torture deaths of five dogs in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood, according to Stray Rescue of St. Louis. The no-kill dog rescue group is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of those respon ... More >>

Stray Rescue: $10k Reward for Info on Scumbags Who Tortured, Mutilated & Killed Dogs

WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGE BELOW. (Update: Stray Rescue doubled the reward amount to $10,000 late Thursday morning). All the major news outlets (KMOV, KSDK, KTVI, KMOX and the Post-Dispatch) are covering this grisly situation:  On Tuesday, cops and members of Stray Rescue walked into an abandoned a ... More >>

Holiday Cocktail Countdown #3: Xmas in December at the Crow's Nest

Like any red-blooded American, Gut Check uses liquid medication to cope with holiday stress. Not only does a good winter cocktail make it possible to tolerate family members, say, inquiring about your procreation plans, it helps keep you warm, too. From now until Christmas, we're calling upon local ... More >>

Brunching at Rooster

Chrissy WilmesRooster's fried egg sandwich​Where: Rooster (1104 Locust Street; 314-241-8118) When: 7a.m.-3 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat.-Sun. We Tried: G.B.L.T. breakfast crêpe, $8.50; Fried egg sandwich, $5.95 The Verdict: Rooster serves seven varieties of scramblers (three eggs scra ... More >>

Can't Score a Bottle of BrewDog's Royal Wedding Boner Beer? Try a Crazy King George!

brewdog.com​All this royal wedding talk is enough to drive Gut Check to drink. Well, nearly anything is enough to drive Gut Check to drink. Usually all it takes is something along the lines of, "Hey, want a drink?" Sometimes a mere grunt'll do. At any rate, if beer's your thing, you won't be ... More >>

Fig-hattan, Ernesto's Wine Bar

​The best-selling biography The Hemingway Women looks at the swaggering, brutish man's man through the eyes of the fairer sex. His legend looms large: war correspondent, hunter, fisher, adventurer to exotic places, and author of a body of work that stands shoulder to shoulder with the best of ... More >>

Rosalita's Cantina takes a shot at spicing up the loft district

Hurricane Recipes? Try a Gulf Spill! Top 10 Natural Disaster Cocktails

Given that Saturday's Mardi Gras celebration is the proverbial bad-taste storm before the calm, it's only fitting that the big party's signature drink is sweet, lethal and named after an actual storm. That's right: the Hurricane. If you're in the mood for something different this weekend, Gut Check ... More >>

Sledding Conditions on Art Hill: KICKASS!!!

Photo by Nicholas PhillipsMark Aaron, Julie Wheat, and Ryan Freeman rockin' the snow day. ​The campfire is a-cracklin' on the top of Art Hill right now, and according to the three lone sledders during the morning rush hour, the snow is fine, powdery and dry. That means: Snowboards and boogie board ... More >>

Flamingo Bowl's Katie Gwaltney: Featured Bartender of the Week

Welcome to Girl Walks into a Bar, a weekly Gut Check feature that spotlights local bars and bartenders. This week Alissa Nelson profiles Flamingo Bowl bartender Katie Gwaltney. Below is a Q&A with Gwaltney, followed by a video of her mixing a Spiced Chocolate Martini. Alissa NelsonHow do you like y ... More >>

Nikki Llewellyn of Backstreet Jazz & Blues at Westport Mixes...a Risqué Martini

Welcome to Girl Walks into a Bar, a weekly Gut Check feature that spotlights local bars and bartenders. This is part one of Alissa Nelson's two-part profile of Backstreet Jazz & Blues bartender Nikki Llewellyn. Part two, a Q&A with Llewellyn, will be posted tomorrow. Alissa NelsonProceed with cauti ... More >>

Say hello to Lola. She's no trend humper!

Texas Tornado

Chuy Arzola's
6405 Clayton Avenue

Bet the Ranch: What were the odds? Lumière Place has a steak house!

Eh ~scape

The Central West End's newest upscale eatery has Ian looking for the exit door.

Stick a Fork in It

Grip it and dip it: Ian puts Simply Fondue to the test.

Perfect Margarita and Apple Juice

An Applebee's

El Magnifico Margarita

El Burrito Loco, 3611 Bates Street; 314-457-8600.

Café DiSaronno

Brio Tuscan Grille, 1601 South Lindbergh Boulevard, Frontenac; 314-432-4410.

Millionaire's Coffee

Cyrano's, 603 East Lockwood Avenue, Webster Groves; 314-963-3232.

The Sultan

Aya Sofia, 6671 Chippewa Street, St. Louis; 314-645-9919.

CWE à la Mode

Are you hip enough for Maryland House?

Drinks of the Year

The best libations of 2005

13 Things About Atomic Cowboy

For one, the food's so-so; for two, the ambiance rocks

Hot Plates

Boogaloo is so sexy and fun, it practically leaves lipstick on your collar

Fightin' Femmes

We duel with Gretchen Wilson and Kelly Clarkson, get home-cooking tips from the stars and delve into Omarion's psyche

This Week's Day-by-Day Picks

Week of August 17, 2005

The Frazertini

Frazer's Traveling Brown Bag, 1811 Pestalozzi Street; 314-773-8646

Combo Clatter

Mélange might have a few too many ingredients in the mix

Best Margarita

Pueblo Solis

Far Out!

Taylor's is classy, tasty and worth the extra mileage

Drink of the Year

The Drinks We Have Known and Loved in 2003

Spirit of St. Louis

Washington Avenue Bistro, 817 Washington Avenue, 314-418-5750

Best Chocolate

The Chocolate Bar

Best Margarita

Maya Café

Dream a Little Dream

Jimmy's Cafe on the Park isn't what our reviewer thought it was, but she's happy nonetheless

Will Quirk for Food

Does Wild Flower's loyal clientele come for the food or the atmosphere?

Golden Margarita

Maya Café, 2726 Sutton Avenue, 314-781-4774

Old Hat

Café Balaban, revered as one of St. Louis' great restaurants, is riding on its reputation

Big Fish

The Pond Inn's evolution is going swimmingly

Best Signature Dish

Soufflés, Fio's La Fourchette

GAME BOY

A wild time was had by all at Fio's La Fourchette

Cafe