Starbucks Corporation

Flying Saucer Chipotle Mexican Grill Lands in Midtown

Late last week a Gut Check tipster sent us a note that the Chipotle Mexican Grill (212 South Grand Boulevard; 314-342-9919) inside the iconic Mid-Century Modern "flying saucer" on South Grand Boulevard near Saint Louis University was days away from opening. According to our burrito-loving informant, ... More >>

First Look: Cini Serves Molto Bene Italian Food

Sure, a salad or a bowl of pasta topped with made-from-scratch diavolo sauce and tons of fresh veggies sounds wholesome and healthy and all -- but doesn't it sound even better when the meal comes accompanied by bite-size, deep-fried arancini? At brand-new Italian fast-casual concept Cini (374 South ... More >>

15 Presidential Debate Dinner Ideas Inspired By Obama and Romney Campaign Spending

Last week Politico broke down information from a recent review of Federal Election Commission reports detailing Mitt Romney and Barack Obama's campaign spending. It contains everything from office supplies and gas expenses to which hotels and restaurants the respective campaigns patronize most often ... More >>

When I.R.S. Means I'm Really Starving: Where to Find Food Specials on Tax Day

Today is tax day. Normally it's April 15, but because it fell on a Sunday this year, Americans have an additional two days to get their shit together. If you're responsible and not scrambling a la the people of Springfield, then you have one more reason to be happy today: As usual, in honor of tax d ... More >>

Write a Starbucks "Blonde" Joke, Win Gift Certificates! [Updated with Winner!]

Oh, Starbucks, sometimes you make it too easy. The java behemoth has introduced a new series of light-roast coffee blends called Blonde. Not really that interesting, unless you're one of the seven people left in America who hasn't formed an opinion about Starbucks coffee. Except! From the main Sta ... More >>

Not Liking "Bold" Starbucks Coffee Does Not Make You a Weakling

​Yesterday, Eater reported that Starbucks has finally caved and is making a weaker, lighter brew. For "pussies." Several of us at Gut Check International Headquarters have spent time as Starbucks baristas, and maybe that's why at this point you couldn't pay us to drink that swill. Give me a ' ... More >>

Night of the Walking Dead

[UPDATED] Starbucks Introduces Bistro Boxes. USDA Says Not So Fast.

StarbucksA Starbucks bistro box, recalled.​Last week 5,400 Starbucks stores took another baby step into the food market, introducing Bistro Boxes: savory meals like chicken and hummus, chipotle chicken wraps and sesame noodles with fewer than 500 calories. Great news, right? Well, except for ... More >>

What's Worth More: Food or Cash?

Wikimedia CommonsTime to steal the doughnuts.​Three not-too-bright robbers in Hyannis, Massachusetts, attempted to rob a Dunkin' Donuts last week. They demanded a paper bag an employee was carrying in her purse and ran. Because so many paper bags at Dunkin' Donuts are filled with cash instea ... More >>

Managers, Mind Your Baristas

Wikimedia CommonsNo love with this latte.​ We know that being a barista isn't the easiest job in the world. There's an art to making espresso, just as there's an art to dealing with caffeine-starved rude masses. We feel for you. Really. That's why we heed your pet peeves, which are perfectly ... More >>

Annoying Trend of the 1990s Meets Annoying Trend of the 2000s at Gas Station

The 1990s saw the swift rise of Starbucks and its ilk, swamping the world with higher-end coffee and increasingly un-coffee-like coffee drinks.The 2000s saw the inexplicable rise of cupcakes from grade-school birthday treat to "in" dessert.Now, spotted yesterday the Shell station and Circle K mini-m ... More >>

Comment of the Day: Being Stupid Is a God-Given Right

Today's comment comes in response to Chad Garrison's post "Are Tip Jars Dangerous? Lawsuit vs. Starbucks Says Yes." The post described how Edward Kreutz filed a lawsuit after his son, Roger, died while chasing a thug trying to steal the tip jar a local Starbucks.Garrison's post has triggered a fair ... More >>

Are Tip Jars Dangerous? Lawsuit vs. Starbucks Says "Yes"

Danger! Use only at your own risk!​Finally! A reason to feel OK about yourself when you don't tip those low-wage workers making you coffee, pouring you a soda or slapping together your lunch. Tip jars are dangerous! Worse than that, those containers full of coins and a few $1 bills can kill! Serio ... More >>

CWE Bissinger's Now Open for Morning Treats, Too

Laura MillerNow available at breakfast, too. (Dear God!)​As a chocolatier offering scrumptious tortes, pastries, wine pairings and even the occasional chocolate martini, Bissinger's at Maryland Plaza has long been a favorite spot of midafternoon snackers and dessert-minded revelers.But now you don ... More >>

New Starbucks Logo Gives Added Fuel to Haters

Starbucks​Starbucks has revealed the latest version of its iconic logo. As the photo above shows, the basic appearance of the siren doesn't differ very much from its previous version. However, the most obvious change in the new logo will give more ammunition to those deride Starbucks for overroast ... More >>

Food Safety Bill in Trouble Already?

Despite passing the Senate yesterday, the Food Safety Bill might stall because of a technical error. Roll Call explains that a provision added to the bill in the Senate violates the Constitutional rule that only the House can write tax laws. When the bill returns to the House today, representatives ... More >>

Feds Crack Down on Undocumented Kitchen Workers

A San Diego restaurateur stands up for illegal immigrants working in kitchens. The New York Times goes in-depth on the hush-hush issue of illegal workers, the blind eye that's been turned, and the sudden upswing in crackdowns by federal investigators. Despite a federal indictment last April, San Die ... More >>

Gut Check's Week in Tweets

​Don't you know? Gut Check has a Twitter account. You can follow us @gutcheckstl.Here's some of what you missed on the Twitter feed this week: Starbucks finally caves, to offer free "one click" Wi-Fi: http://bit.ly/aVUcgK Via Eater, Hooters donating waitresses' used pantyhose to help Gulf oil ... More >>

Gut Check's Week in Tweets

​Don't you know? Gut Check has a Twitter account. You can follow us @gutcheckstl.Here's some of what you missed on the Twitter feed this week: This restaurant's music makes me feel like I just spent $20 on hotel room pay-per-view. Well of course the sushi lights up. 8 different colors!

The Morning Brew: Friday, 1.8

​ Florida citrus-growers fight to save crops from cold. (Bloomberg)The throwback to cane sugar-sweetened soda doesn't make much health difference. (Los Angeles Times)Frozen pizza sales rise. (Minneapolis St. Paul Star-Tribune)Coffee shops are incognito Starbucks. (CNN.com)Potatoes sporting h ... More >>

Java Enabled: Southwest's Coffee Gets a LIFT

It's been a while since I've taken a vacation and even longer since I've flown. So when a good deal on a Labor Day weekend in Orlando, Florida, popped up, I jumped at the chance to go. As I filed down the ramp with the rest of my fellow passengers, I was surprised to see an ad on the wall for LIFT, ... More >>

The Morning Brew: Thursday, 9.3

​ A frog in a Diet Pepsi can ruins tiki party and somehow doesn't satiate the growing appetite for frog meat. (CNN, Ecowordly.com)Starbucks takes their instant coffee national. (Seattle Business Journal)September is National Bourbon Heritage Month. Knob Creek celebrates with webcast addressi ... More >>

This Week in Gut Check, Regurgitated

​As you can see in the sticky post above, Gut Check is hiring. The response so far has been impressive. I'm still sorting through the applications, so don't fret if you haven't heard anything yet. If you want to apply and still haven't...don't wait much longer!It was a busy week here at Gut Check ... More >>

The Morning Brew: Friday, 5.1

Experts say you won't get the H1N1 virus from handling raw pork. (AP)Smithfield Foods is still running tests on the Mexican farm some claim played a role in the H1N1 outbreak. (AP)Look for Starbucks to start cutting some prices. (Wall Street Journal)

The Morning Brew: Thursday, 4.30

The domestic hog market rebounds from unwarranted fears prompted by the H1N1 outbreak. (Reuters)Last year's food crisis prompted a buying binge of farm land in developing countries. (Reuters)Starbucks posts a 77% loss. (New York Post)

The Morning Brew: Friday, 1.9

In today's news: climate change, Chicago going vegetarian (?) and a new jet for Starbucks.

St. Louis Art Capsules

Jessica Baran encapsulates the St. Louis arts scene

The Morning Brew: Wednesday, 8.27

The Morning Brew: Tuesday, 7.15

The Morning Brew: Wednesday, 7.2

The Morning Brew: Tuesday, 6.3

The Morning Brew: Friday, 3.28

Goldfrapp

Seventh Tree
(Mute)

Barista Battle

This Week's Issue

The Morning Brew: Friday, 9/7

Josh Ritter

8 p.m. Tuesday, September 26. The Pageant (6161 Delmar Boulevard).

McDonald's "Richer, Bolder Coffee"

McDonald's, 1420 Hampton Avenue,
314-781-8032

A Garden of Ceramic Delights

Dan Barnett's Nightblooms

Jennifer Niceley

Wednesday, May 25; Frederick's Music Lounge (4454 Chippewa Street)

High-Tech and Seek

Geocaching in Sullivan

If You Had to Give Up Caffeine or Alcohol for the Rest of Your Life, Which Would You Choose?

Week of September 8, 2004

Jolie Holland

Wednesday, July 28; Off Broadway

Grand New

Another Vietnamese restaurant on South Grand? Yes, and the food is superb.

SpongeBob Ballard

Welcome, undersea friend

Bonobo

Dial M for Monkey (Ninja Tune)

Best Italian Restaurant

Trattoria Marcella

Coffee

Starbucks

Best Mall

Saint Louis Galleria

When Was the Last Time You Had the Heebie-Jeebies ?

Week of April 18, 2001