Nutella

8 Best Ice Cream Spots in St. Louis

The dreaded St. Louis summer is upon us, and one of the only effective strategies to combat the soul-crushing humidity is to search out the nearest ice-cream parlor. Luckily, St. Louis has its share of unique and even iconic spots to enjoy frozen treats. (Note: We aren't counting frozen yogurt; it's ... More >>

St. Louis Food Blog Digest, 05.06-05.12

Gut Check dishes on our favorite St. Louis food blogs. The Sweets Life: Natalie made white chocolate banana muffins. Cupcake Project: Stef shared strawberry rhubarb cupcakes. Family Style Food: Karen made fava bean ravioli. Iron Stef: Stef made breakfast balls: peanut butter banana oatmeal and ... More >>

Zone In On Imaginative Fast-Casual Vegetarian Fare at Sauce on the Side

The Veggielante has had it up to here with people bitching that St. Louis restaurants are vegetarian unfriendly. Sure, we'd like to see more restaurants offering more meatless dishes, but there are excellent choices out there if you take the trouble to look for them. We're not here to proselytize ab ... More >>

St. Louis Food Blog Digest, 12.31-01.06

Gut Check dishes on our favorite St. Louis food blogs. Sounding My Barbaric Gulp: Kelly recapped the top ten posts on her blog in 2012. Cupcake Project: Stef made Nutella banana pull-apart bread. The Sweets Life: Natalie made whole wheat spaghetti with greens, poached eggs and toasted breadcrumbs ... More >>

St. Louis Food Blog Digest, 10.22-10.28

Gut Check dishes on our favorite St. Louis food blogs. A Veggie Venture: Alanna made quinoa pilaf with kale and corn. Iron Stef: Stef shared chicken sausage balls with fennel and waffle-ized polenta. Cupcake Project: Stef made vegan Pabst Blue Ribbon cupcakes with vegan buttercream frosting. The ... More >>

Best of Missouri Market Preview -- Including Seven Show-Me State Products to Taste Test

If you're looking for the the cream of the crop from the Show-Me State, head down to the Missouri Botanical Garden (4344 Shaw Boulevard; 314-577-9400) this weekend. The annual Best of Missouri Market will take place Saturday, October 6, and Sunday, October, 7, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The market will a ... More >>

Nutella & Go! Snack Spotted at St. Louis Wal-Mart, Be Still Our Beating Heart

During a recent jaunt to the Wal-Mart (3270 Telegraph Road) on Telegraph Road, Gut Check made a semi-life-altering discovery: Nutella & Go!, an individually packaged, snack-size portion of Nutella and bread sticks. Produced by Ferrero, the people behind everyone's favorite hazelnut spread, the to-go ... More >>

Stuff It: Gut Check Makes Stuffed Crust Pizza Monsters, Nasty Food Gang Bang Ensues

Gut Check is suffering from Pizza-Traumatic Stress Disorder. In the last month we've seen Pizza Hut UK introduce a hot dog stuffed crust pizza and Pizza Hut Middle East roll out a cheeseburger-stuffed-crust pizza and a chicken-filet-stuffed-crust pizza. We reported that Pizza Hut US re-released its ... More >>

St. Louis Food Blog Digest, 2.13-2.17

Gut Check dishes on our favorite St. Louis food blogs. Every Little Thing: Stacy made Mardi Gras chicken and sausage jambalaya. Iron Stef: Stef shared a recipe for black sesame salmon balls.

#47: Veggie Breakfast Burrito at the Mud House

On Cherokee Street hungry diners can find a burrito for any time of day or night, and the Mud House(2101 Cherokee Street; 314-776-6599) has your breakfast needs covered with a veggie breakfast burrito that's almost too big for its plate. A giant flour tortilla is stuffed with black beans, tomato, c ... More >>

#48: Lengua Tacos at La Vallesana

Evan C. Jones​There are many tempting options available at La Vallesana (2801 Cherokee Street; 314-776-4223), but whether you're getting quesadillas, burritos or tortas, there's something on the menu that leaps out to most people as something to avoid: tongue. Offal is something that most Am ... More >>

#49: Hummus and Balela Platter at Nosh Bistro

Bryan Peters​When Nosh Bistro (1135 South Big Bend Boulevard, Richmond Heights; 314-781-4734) closed a few months ago, we sank into a brief, but profound, funk. We'd grown terribly fond of their hummus and balela salad platter, and we didn't want to know a world without it. So you can imagine ... More >>

#51: Root Beer Float at Dr. Jazz

Julia GabbertRoot beer float at Dr. Jazz​ Dr. Jazz Soda Fountain and Grille (29 N. Gore; 314-961-5299) is a homey little restaurant in charming Webster Groves. Dr. Jazz serves up your typical club sandwiches, burgers and lots of comfort food like chili fries and onion rings. The best part, th ... More >>

#52: Le Croque Monsieur at LaBonne Bouchée

Ashley AtkinsLe Croque Monsieur!​LaBonne Bouchée (12344 Olive Blvd, Creve Coeur; 314.576-6606) offers the Francophile a wide selection of authentic French cuisine, ranging from le quiche du jour to le vol au vent to petit fours. But Gut Check's favorite way to eat à la française is to devou ... More >>

#53: Biscuits and Wild Mushroom Gravy at Blood and Sand

Blood and SandSweet Potato Biscuits and Wild Mushroom Gravy​When we first heard about the members-only concept at Blood and Sand (1500 St. Charles Sreet.; 314-241-7263), we were a bit skeptical, particularly considering the current economic climate. Sure, bigballers wouldn't have to sweat a 15 ... More >>

#54: The Gracey at Fozzie's Sandwich Emporium

Emily Wasserman​Fozzie's Sandwich Emporium (1170 South Big Bend Boulevard, Richmond Heights; 314-932-5414) serves up a wide variety of sandwiches, salads, burgers and hot dogs, offering selections for red-meat-loving carnivores, but also vegetarians. The ingredients are fresh, and many of the ... More >>

#55: The Sun-Dried Tomato Pizza at Katie's Pizzeria

Emily Wasserman​Katie's Pizzeria (6611 Clayton Road; Clayton; 314-727-8585) is a small establishment serving up delicious, albeit unique, pizza. With ingredients ranging from smoked salmon to speck, Katie's pizzas aren't for the culinary faint of heart. Each pizza is uniquely crafted and made ... More >>

#56: Brioche French Toast at Half & Half

Half & Half (8135 Maryland Avenue; 314-725-0719), St. Louis' newest breakfast and brunch eatery, despite being surrounded by breakfast and brunch giants like First Watch, Companion and the City Coffeehouse and Creperie, is becoming a legend in its own right. The menu offers a wide variety of brunch ... More >>

#57: Fish and Chips at Llywelyn's

Following closely on the heels of fish and chips in terms of prevalence on any pub menu is the sandwich version - a piece of fried fish on a bun. Fish sandwiches can range from the blah to the greasy, but at Llywelyn's Pub (4747 McPherson Avenue; 314-361-3003), the full flavor of fish shows up in th ... More >>

#58: Chicken Kabob at Al Waha

Kristie McClanahan​Chicken and rice is ubiquitous the world over: Stick it in a tortilla and call it a Mexican dish in Chihuahua, or blend it with coconut milk and curry in Chiang Mai and call it Thai. No wonder, though -- chicken and rice is uncomplicated, versatile and, when flawlessly prepa ... More >>

#59: Seafood Ravioli at Gian-Tony's Ristorante

Erika MillerSeafood ravioli at Gian-Tony's comes drenched in the best flavors of Italy.​There's nothing more relaxing than lounging in a steaming hot tub, letting the hot water soothe away the day's tensions. For food, the equivalent of relaxing in a hot tub has to be sitting in a simmering, f ... More >>

#60: Raw Veggie Burger at PuraVegan

Bryan PetersNo buns allowed, no buns needed.​St. Louis is no stranger to veggie burgers -- from the divine at SweetArt to the pedestrian at too many places -- and it's important to understand this context. In fact, the owners of PuraVegan first started making veggie burgers at their old restau ... More >>

#61: Hot Chick On-a Stick at Fast Eddie's Bon Air

Deborah Hyland​Ghost tours in Alton, Illinois, feature Confederate prisoners of war, slaves fleeing on the Underground Railroad and the occasional juicy murderous love triangle or suicide. Surely the tour guide should mention the mystery of the maimed, wingless chickens. Order the Hot Chick O ... More >>

#62: Mixed Grill Platter at Flaco's Cocina

Chrissy Wilmes​Letting oneself get too hungry is a dangerous thing. When blood sugar runs low, tempers can run high, and the simple act of ordering something new becomes a high-risk roll of the dice. For those times of extreme hunger and limited patience, it's important to reserve a few favori ... More >>

Crostini Restaurant & Lounge Now Open

Ian Froeb​Crostini Restaurant & Lounge opened this week at 4501 Manchester Road in Forest Park Southeast. When Gut Check spoke with owner and chef Eric Winbigler in May, he described Crostini as an "old 'Mama'-style Italian restaurant, a family-style restaurant."Winbigler is still preparing th ... More >>

#63: Arancini From Mangia Mobile

Robin WheelerOnly one Mangia has arancini.​ What's in a name? If you're food truck Mangia Mobile, a lawsuit from a similarly-name local restaurant. Mangia Mobile compensates for name overlap by bringing Italian street food to St. Louis. Specifically, Sicilian-style arancini. Owners Catherine ... More >>

# 68: Lamb Burger at The Scottish Arms

Erika MillerThe lamb burger is an American classic with a Scottish Arms twist.​Pubs seem to come in one of two varieties -- those filled with kitsch and bland fish and chips, or those filled with authentic food, drink and conversation. The Scottish Arms (8 South Sarah Street, Central West End; ... More >>

#69: Crispy Pork Spring Rolls at Bobo Noodle House

Robin WheelerCrispy and flavorful, the pork spring rolls at Bobo Noodle House​So ubiquitous, the pork spring roll. Or egg roll. By any name, it's the same creature -- usually crispy on the outside, wrapper still a little chewy on the inside, filled with a pulverized blend of...stuff. Not at ... More >>

#70: Turkey Melt and Field Greens Salad at Schlafly Bottleworks

Chrissy Wilmes​Schlafly's brewpubs, although known primarily for their craft beers, put just as much effort and though into their menu, seeking out high quality food from local sources. From the grilled cheese to the pulled pork to the ribs to the pizza, every dish has a little something extra ... More >>

#71: The Vegetarian Platter at Ranoush

Emily Wasserman​Entering Ranoush (200 North Kirkwood Road, Kirkwood; 314-726-6874) is like stepping into a scene out of Arabian Nights. Sequined tapestries line the walls, brass lamps hang from the ceiling and intricately carved metal rings hold the napkins and silverware. Gut Check uncovered ... More >>

#72: Vegetarian Meatballs at Lucas Park Grille

Lucas Park GrilleWho needs meat with veggie meatballs this good?​Downtown St. Louis isn't exactly a vegetarian's paradise, but Lucas Park Grille (1234 Washington Avenue; 314-241-7770) keeps it real for the herbivores with one of its menu's staple entrées: Vegetarian Meatballs. We've embarrass ... More >>

#73: Sizzling Rice Soup at Hunan & Peking Garden

Robin Utz​In Gut Check's experience, there aren't enough Chinese restaurants in the St. Louis area offering sizzling rice soup on their menus, and Hunan and Peking Garden's (1262 Old Orchard Center, Manchester; 636-227-6445) is worth the jaunt to West County. The soup is designed to be shared ... More >>

#74: Straw and Hay Pasta at Trattoria Marcella

Erika MillerThe straw and hay pasta at Trattoria Marcella is a piece of Italian artwork.​In a city that boasts an Italian district brimming with toasted ravioli, red wine and tiramisu, Gut Check is no stranger to Italian food, both rustic and refined. And in our humble opinion, not all of the ... More >>

#75: Spaghetti Pomodoro at Babbo's Spaghetteria

Emily Wasserman​Nothing beats a good Spaghetti Pomodoro. You can find it on the menu at most Italian restaurants, and it's usual the safe, go-to classic when deciding what to order. Italian's don't like too many bells and whistles in their cooking, and the Spaghetti Pomodoro at Babbo's Spagh ... More >>

#76: Shrimp Fajitas at El Matador

Emily Wasserman​Picture the excitement of a Mexican bullfight: A small man in a sombrero waves the red flag, the bull, frothing at the mouth, charges toward him, and the audience sits on the edge of their seats, praying that the man (and his sombrero) survive. Things don't get quite this exci ... More >>

#77: Vegetable Quesadilla at Chava's

Bryan Peters​Chava's (925 Geyer Avenue, Soulard; 314-241-5503) is a great place to mosey up to the bar, plop a lime in a Corona, and, until recently, light up a smoke. But it's the food that brings you back. The salsa is always exceptionally fresh, the guacamole vibrant, nutty and abundant. Bu ... More >>

#78: Companion Rustic Olive Bread

Robin WheelerCompanion's Rustic Olive Loaf​ Picking a favorite bread from Companion (8791 Clayton Road, Ladue; 314-352-4770 and 8143 Maryland Avenue, Clayton; 314-721-5454)? It's not easy. Not even a little. But if forced to choose in some terrifying situation involving firearms or knives not ... More >>

#79: Salt and Pepper Shrimp from Wei Hong

Deborah HylandSalt and pepper shrimp at Wei Hong​This Cantonese delicacy, traditionally cooked heads-on and shell-on, left American diners completely flummoxed about how to eat the battered shrimp. Down the crustaceans, shells and all? Peel the shrimp and lose all the salty batter? Nibble away ... More >>

Competitive Eating Proves More Interesting Than Tennis, NASCAR

On Monday, Joey Chestnut won his fifth Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest by cramming 62 hot dogs down his gullet in a gut-wrenching ten minutes. A weekend poll of ESPN viewers shows that more people were interested in the hot dog eating contest (27 percent) than t ... More >>

#80: Ba-Mee Mhoo Dang at Basil Spice

Robin Utz​You probably don't go into a Thai restaurant planning on ordering a barbecue dish, but Basil Spice (3183 South Grand Boulevard; 314-776-1530) makes the idea not only appealing but downright mouthwatering in the form of their #35 - Ba-Mee Mhoo Dang. The Ba-Mee Mhoo Dang arrives at y ... More >>

#81: Catfish Platter at the Gumbo Shop

Ettie BernekingThe catfish platter comes with a side of gumbo or jambalaya so prepare to be stuffed.​While our arteries might disagree, here at Gut Check we say there's no such thing as too much fried food. Which is why the catfish platter at the Gumbo Shop (9501 Manchester Road, Webster Grove ... More >>

#82: Shrimp & Andouille Flatbread at the Shaved Duck

Chrissy Wilmes​St. Louis has, for the most part, avoided being pigeonholed into one type of regional cuisine. The city's restaurants reflect the food fancies of the entire country, and at the Shaved Duck (2900 Virginia Avenue; 314-776-1407), the soulful tastes of the South reign supreme. This ... More >>

#83: Vegetarian Pasta at Terrene

Bryan PetersA symphony of flavors and textures.​At Terrene (33 North Sarah Street; 314-535-5100), chef Michael Warhover and owner John McElwain have struck gold with the vegetarian pasta entrée on the restaurant's spring menu. This isn't the token vegetarian pasta you so often see in less inv ... More >>

This Week in Gut Check, Regurgitated

Jennifer Silverberg​It was a delicious week here at Gut Check International HQ. We were busy eating the grilled cheese at Half & Half, the beef spedini at Ricardo's Italian Cafe and enjoying some vino during Copia Urban Winery's Happy Hour. What else did we do this week? Ian reviewed the Mud ... More >>

#84: Seafood Stuffed Mushrooms at Zia's

Ettie BernekingThe seafood stuffed mushroom are made fresh each day with hunks of tender crab meat peering out from the mound of filling. ​Trying to eat out on a budget is no easy task, especially when you're not willing to sacrifice your taste buds, and the local greasy spoon just isn't your ... More >>

#85: Legend Club at LeGrand's Market & Catering

Erika MillerThe Legend Club is 7" worth of meaty, saucy deliciousness.​Whether you're new to St. Louis or have lived here your whole life, you know there are some things you'll be ridiculed for if you haven't experienced. Never had Ted Drewes? What's wrong with you? Never boiled in the sun on ... More >>

#86: City Coffeehouse & Crêperie's Nutella-Banana Crêpe

Emily Wasserman​Walking the streets of Paris, you can't escape the fragrance of one of France's most beloved dishes. You follow your nose toward an unassuming Frenchman, who pours batter onto a giant hotplate, throws on some chocolate syrup and voilà! Your crêpe is ready for consumption. ... More >>

St. Louis Food Blog Digest, 12.20-12.26

​Gut Check dishes on our favorite St. Louis food blogs. The Cheesemonger's Wife: Annie discussed American artisanal cheese. One Hot Stove: Nupur shared a recipe for Butternut Squash Lentil Soup. St. Louis Eats and Drinks: The Pollacks visited Pickleman's Gourmet Cafe.

Want Boba with That?: Fast and good Vietnamese food at BBC Banh Mi, Boba Tea & Crêperie

Nocello, Neat

Harvest, 1059 Big Bend Boulevard, 314-645-3522