Kevin Nashan

St. Louis Chef Kevin Nashan Leads Seven Regional Chefs in Charity Dinner This July

Sidney Street Café (2000 Sidney Street; 314-771-5777) will house seven chefs from St. Louis, Chicago and Cincinnati in a special charity dinner to benefit No Kid Hungry®, an organization which aims to end childhood hunger in America. On Monday, July 15, Sidney Street Café's Kevin Nashan will host ... More >>

Loving Las Vegas and MSG: A Q & A with Qui Tran of Mai Lee

This is part two of Gut Check's Chef's Choice profile of Qui Tran of Mai Lee. Read part one, a profile of Tran, here. Part three, a recipe from Tran, will be available on Friday. Mai Lee (8396 Music Memorial Drive, Brentwood; 314-645-2835) isn't simply a job for chef Qui Tran. It's his legacy. His ... More >>

Tidbits: Craft and Nashan Cooking in NYC, Central Table Food Hall Sets Opening Date, Balaban's Adds Brunch

- Gerard Craft of Niche (7734 Forsyth Boulevard, Clayton; 314-773-7755) will find out in a little over a week whether he is the James Beard Foundation's "Best Chef: Midwest" for 2013. Ahead of the gala awards ceremony in New York City on Monday, May 6, Craft and Kevin Nashan of Sidney Street Café ( ... More >>

No, He Meant the Champagne of Beers and Not-Poisoning a Prince of Saudi Arabia: A Q & A with Andrew Jennrich of Farmhaus

This is part two of Gut Check's Chef's Choice profile of Andrew Jennrich of Farmhaus. Read part one, a profile of Jennrich, here. Part three, a recipe from Jennrich, will be available on Friday. Is it unseemly to be thankful for the financial stresses that others have faced? Of course. So put it ... More >>

New Orleans Panache and the Dishwasher Who Imitated the Incredible Hulk: A Q&A with Sassy JAC's Andrew Ladlie

This is part two of Gut Check's Chef's Choice profile of Andrew Ladlie of Sassy JAC's. Read part one, a profile of Ladlie, here. Part three, a recipe from Ladlie, will be available on Thursday. I wanted to profile Andrew Ladlie of Sassy JAC's (1730 South Eighth Street; 314-932-1280) because I'd e ... More >>

Eric Heath Destroys a Giant Vase and Bans Death Metal in His Kitchen: A Q&A with the Cleveland-Heath Chef

This is part two of Gut Check's Chef's Choice profile of Eric Heath of Cleveland-Heath. Read part one, a profile of Heath, here. Part three, a recipe from Heath, will be available on Friday. For years Eric Heath and Jenny Cleveland planned to open a restaurant together. But when they found the pe ... More >>

Gerard Craft of Niche a James Beard Foundation Award Finalist for "Best Chef: Midwest"

The James Beard Foundation announced the finalists for its annual Restaurant and Chef Awards this morning, and for the fourth time in the past five years, Gerard Craft of Niche (7734 Forsyth Boulevard, Clayton; 314-773-7755) is one of the five finalists in the "Best Chef: Midwest" category. See Als ... More >>

Sidney Street Café's Grilled Octopus Appetizer: What to Eat This Weekend and Where to Eat It

Gut Check tells you what's new and tasty at our favorite restaurants. Yesterday Sidney Street Café (2000 Sidney Street; 314-771-5777) owner and chef Kevin Nashan tweeted a a striking photo of a whole octopus on one of his restaurant's prep tables. A little later he tweeted an even more striking p ... More >>

Benton Park: An Updated Guide to Restaurants in the Benton Park Neighborhood of St. Louis

St. Louis' neighborhoods are gems in their own right: full of history, great people and, as far as Gut Check is concerned, fantastic food. Each week we'll take you into a specific neighborhood and point you in the direction of the best places to grab some bites. This week we wander the old-school ... More >>

Chef's Choice: Rick Lewis of Quincy Street Bistro, Part 2

This is the part two of Gut Check's Chef's Choice profile of Rick Lewis of Quincy Street Bistro. Read part one, a profile of Lewis, here. Part three, a recipe, will be available on Thursday. I met with Rick Lewis, head chef of Quincy Street Bistro (6931 Gravois Avenue; 314-353-1588), early on a Mon ... More >>

James Beard Foundation Announces Award Semifinalists: Gerard Craft, Kevin Nashan in Running for "Best Chef: Midwest" [Updated]

The James Beard Foundation this morning announced the semifinalists for its annual Restaurant and Chef Awards (link PDF). This year, two St. Louis chefs made the cut of twenty in the "Best Chef: Midwest" category: Gerard Craft of Niche (7734 Forsyth Boulevard, Clayton; 314-773-7755) and Kevin Nashan ... More >>

Tasting Menus in St. Louis Might Stretch Your Budget, But They Won't Beach a Whale

Our friends at Eater are celebrating "Whale Week," a tribute to high-spending diners -- or whales, as they're known in industry-speak. As part of the festivities, Eater ranked the fourteen most expensive tasting menus in America. The cheapest ("cheapest") tasting menu on the list is at Daniel in New ... More >>

Arson at Sidney Street Cafe Last Night

According to Sidney Street Cafe (2000 Sidney Street; 314-771-5777) owner and chef Kevin Nashan, someone tried to set fire to his restaurant last night.Well, not the restaurant, exactly. The fire was started in the dumpsters behind Sidney Street Cafe.

James Beard Foundation Opens 2013 Awards Nominations

The James Beard Foundation has opened the nominations for its 2013 awards. Through December 31, anyone -- me, you, even your dog (if he has his own email address) -- can nominate up to two candidates in each category. The main category for which St. Louis restaurants are eligible is "Best Chef: Mid ... More >>

Ten Best Food Events This Weekend: Sept. 28-30

Friday (Sept. 28): Taste of St. Louis @ Soliders Memorial Plaza This annual family-friendly, food-obsessed event features live music, an art and wine walk, a chef battle royale and, of course, plenty of vendor options to feed fervent festival-goers. Admission is free. Friday, Sept. 28 from 4 to 11 ... More >>

Chef's Choice: Matthew Daughaday of Taste, Part 2

This is part two of Holly Fann's Chef's Choice profile of Matthew Daughaday of Taste. Part one can be found here. Part three, a recipe from Daughaday, will be published tomorrow. Chef Matthew Daughaday of Taste (4584 Laclede Avenue; 314-361-1200) talks to Gut Check about food, family, Gerard Craft ... More >>

Tidbits: Tower Grove Farmers' Market Fundraiser, Bigger Penzeys

- Tower Grove Farmers' Market will hold a fundraising dinner at the downtown location of Local Harvest Cafe & Catering (815 Olive Street; 314-241-3196) on Thursday, September 20.

Eat Me in St. Louis: Ten Splurge Restaurants for March Madness Visitors

Hello, fans of North Carolina, North Carolina State, Kansas and Ohio, and welcome to St. Louis for the -- deep breath -- 2012 NCAA Division One Men's Basketball Championship Midwest Regionals! You've come all the way to St. Louis to watch your beloved team fight for a berth in the Final Four. Why n ... More >>

Gerard Craft Nominated for James Beard Foundation "Best Chef: Midwest" Award [Updated]

Gerard Craft of Niche (1831 Sidney Street; 314-773-7755) is one of five finalists for the 2012 James Beard Foundation Awards in the category "Best Chef: Midwest." This is the third time that Craft has been a finalist for the award, following nominations in 2009 and 2010. Craft was in a meeting when ... More >>

Jamey Trochtop of Stellina, Part 2

This is part two of Emily Wasserman's Chef's Choice profile of Jamey Trochtop of Stellina. Part one can be found here. Part three, a recipe from Trochtop, is published here.Did your family cook together when you were a child? No, my mom cooked, but we didn't cook together. How old were you when you ... More >>

Tidbits from Sidney Street Café, Food Trucks

- Gut Check told you last week about the Celebrity Chef Tour dinner at Sidney Street Café (2000 Sidney Street; 314-771-5777) on April 19, featuring dishes from eleven acclaimed chefs (including all four James Beard Foundation "Best Chef: Midwest" semifinalists from St. Louis). If you wanted to go, ... More >>

Celebrity Chef Tour at Sidney Street Café on April 16

​Kevin Nashan is excited. OK, so, this probably won't surprise anyone who knows the owner and chef of Sidney Street Café (2000 Sidney Street; 314-771-5777). Better to say Kevin Nashan is really excited. Better yet to let him say it. "I'm really excited about everything that's going on" in t ... More >>

Salt, Four St. Louis Chefs Among James Beard Semifinalists

The James Beard Foundation today announced the semifinalists for its annual awards honoring restaurants and chefs (link PDF). St. Louis scored four chefs in the category "Best Chef: Midwest" and -- a first, to the best of my knowledge -- a restaurant in the "Best New Restaurant" category, which incl ... More >>

Mike Warhover of Baileys' Range, Part 2

This is part two of Mabel Suen's Chef's Choice profile of Mike Warhover of Baileys' Range. Part one can be found here. Part three, a recipe from Warhover, will be published tomorrow. Did your family cook when you were a child? Yes. My mom cooked all the time, and that's where I found my love for fo ... More >>

Art of Food 2011: A Successful Night For Slow Food Saint Louis

Bryan PetersSlow Food's Bill Burge​This past Saturday, hungry St. Louisans gathered at the Koken Art Factory (2500 Ohio Avenue, Soulard/Benton Park; 314-776-7600) to sample and celebrate some of our city's best slow food. The event, Art of Food, was organized by Slow Food St. Louis. According ... More >>

Nate Hereford of Niche, Part 2

This is part two of Katie Moulton's Chef's Choice profile of Nate Hereford of Niche (1831 Sidney Street, 314-773-7755). To read part one, click here. Stay tuned for part three, a recipe from Hereford, which we'll publish tomorrow. Katie MoultonThis man "loves offal." Thankfully, he opted to make En ... More >>

C Notes: Ian completes the journey through his 100 Favorite St. Louis Dishes

Grace Dinsmoor of Modesto, Part 2

This is part two of Chrissy Wilmes Chef's Choice profile of Grace Dinsmoor of Modesto. Part one can be found here. Part three, a recipe from Dinsmoor, will be published tomorrow. Chrissy WilmesDinsmoor supervises Fidel Vergra, one of her two trusted assistants.​Did your family cook when you w ... More >>

St. Louis Chefs Shut Out of James Beard Award Finalists, Feast Magazine Nominated

​The James Beard Foundation announced the finalists for its 2011 awards this afternoon. St. Louis boasted three semifinalists in the category of "Best Chef: Midwest" -- Gerard Craft of Niche, Kevin Nashan of Sidney Street Café and Kevin Willmann of Farmhaus -- but none of the three were named fin ... More >>

St. Louis Chefs Fall Short in Food & Wine Vote

Screenshot: www.foodandwine.com​As seemed likely since early last week, all three St. Louis chefs competing to be named the "People's Best New Chef" by Food & Wine magazine fell short of being named a finalist for the Midwest region when voting closed yesterday.Lee Richardson of Ashley's at th ... More >>

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

​The James Beard Foundation this morning announced the semifinalists for its annual awards (link PDF). Gerard Craft of Niche, Kevin Nashan of Sidney Street Café and Kevin Willmann of Farmhaus are among the semifinalists in the category "Best Chef: Midwest."In addition, Glenn Bardgett, the wi ... More >>

Sidney Street Café Hosts "Operation Charcuterie!" Dinner to Benefit Operation Food Search

​Sidney Street Café (2000 Sidney Street, 314-771-5777) will host "Operation Charcuterie!", a six-course dinner to benefit Operation Food Search, on Tuesday, September 28. This dinner is the culmination of an event organized by Kevin Nashan, owner and executive chef of Sidney Street Café, to incr ... More >>

Lou Rook III of Annie Gunn's, Part 2

This is part two of Robin Wheeler's Chef's Choice interview with Lou Rook III of Annie Gunn's. To read part one, click here. Part three, a recipe from Chef Rook, will be available soon. Robin WheelerChef Lou Rook III in the Annie Gunn's kitchen with Samantha Beard.​Every other year chef Lou R ... More >>

Chef's Choice, Part 2: Eliott Harris of Miso on Meramec

This is part two of Robin Wheeler's Chef's Choice interview with Eliott Harris of Miso on Meramec. To read part one, click here. Stay tuned for part three tomorrow. Robin Wheeler​Did your family cook when you were a child? If so, what meals stand out? My mom is an awesome cook. I'd hang out i ... More >>

Chef's Choice: Marc Baltes of Pi Pizzerias

This is part one of Robin Wheeler's Chef's Choice interview with Marc Baltes of Pi Pizzerias; stay tuned for parts two and three. Robin Wheeler​"I was the world's pickiest eater as a child," says Marc Baltes, a Culinary Institute of America grad who now works as executive chef for Pi Pizzeria ... More >>

All for Aughts: Let's count down the best local restaurant openings of the decade!

2009 in Review: February

​​February was a big month here at Gut Check International Headquarters, as we rolled out our first new columns written by freelance writers: The Noble Writ, Java Enabled, The Sneak, The Dive Bomber and Throwback of the House. It was also a big month for Gut Check favorite Pappy's Smokehouse, wh ... More >>

The Ten Most Important St. Louis Restaurant Openings of the Aughts: An Introduction

Wait -- what? The decade's over? You mean, after cultivating my list of this year's best dishes, I have to turn around and do the same thing for the entire damn decade?Sigh.The thing is, I didn't move to St. Louis until 2003, and I didn't have this gig until 2006, so my list of the decade's tasties ... More >>

This Week's Tip of the Tongue Newsletter

Sign up for Tip of the Tongue here.Gut Check not providing enough dining tidbits for you?Consider subscribing to Tip of the Tongue, the Riverfront Times' weekly e-mail dining newsletter.In this week's edition, learn about chef Kevin Nashan's autumn pork-belly dish at Sidney Street Cafè, a baklava ... More >>

Ruth Reichl Pays (Delayed) Visit to St. Louis

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing CompanyReichl​Last month, Ruth Reichl, food writer and editor of Gourmet, was scheduled to visit St. Louis at the behest of Left Bank Books and give a talk at COCA to promote the new cookbook Gourmet Today. That was the week her magazine shut down.Last night, R ... More >>

FoodWire: James Beard Foundation Opens 2010 Awards Nominations

Doesn't seem that long ago that I was reporting on Gerard Craft of Niche, Taste by Niche and the soon-to-open Brasserie by Niche being a finalist for the 2009 James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards. Now the foundation has opened the nominations for the 2010 awards. Anyone can nominate a c ... More >>

Photos: Slow Food St. Louis Art of Food Fundraiser at Mad Art Gallery, 7.25.09

Chefs and artists gathered Friday night at Mad Art Gallery in Soulard for the Art of Food fundraiser, benefiting both Slow Food St. Louis and Fair Shares Combined Community Supported Agriculture. Photographer Stew Smith was there and has these photos.Photo: Stew SmithStephen Kovac of Winslow's Home ... More >>

Around the Horn: Ian covers all the bases to find you the best All-Star Game chow

Gut Check: Ian dines with kings, but keeps the common touch

FoodWire: Slow Food St. Louis Wine Dinner at the Crossing

The Crossing (7823 Forsyth Boulevard; Web site) is hosting a wine dinner on Tuesday, July 7, to benefit Slow Food St. Louis. The six-course meal -- the menu is available on Slow Food St. Louis' Web site -- will be paired with wines from Ransom, SNAFU and Murphy's law.The cost is $75 per person. For ... More >>

Reflections on the Debut of the "Dorm Room" at 33 Wine Shop & Tasting Bar

Hedwig von Ebbel, Wikimedia CommonsA who's who of St. Louis food types descended upon 33 Wine Shop & Tasting Bar (1913 Park Avenue) last night for the inaugural "Dorm Room" dinner.Among those spotted in the crowd -- writing that makes me feel just like Deb Peterson! -- were Gerard Craft and Math ... More >>

Gerard Craft of Niche a 2009 James Beard Award Finalist

Jennifer SilverbergGerard Craft of Niche (1831 Sidney Street; Web site) is one of five finalists in the "Best Chef - Midwest" category of the 2009 James Beard Foundation Awards. The finalists were announced today. The awards ceremony will be held Monday, May 4, in New York City.Craft, who last year ... More >>

Breaking: Three St. Louis Chefs Are James Beard Award Semifinalists

The James Beard Foundation today announced the semifinalists (link PDF) for its restaurant and chef awards. Three St. Louis chefs made the cut in the "Best Chef: Midwest" category: Gerard Craft of Niche, Josh Galliano of Monarch and Kevin Nashan of Sidney Street Cafe. In addition, Mike Odette of the ... More >>

Best New Chef

Kevin Nashan

Musical Toques

Wheelin' and dealin' in the culinary world