Subject: Stefani Pollack

• The Week in Gut Check

  We can't wait for movies in the courtyard this summer, either!Well, a few hours have passed, and the Map Room Fan Club has yet to take issue with my post teasing their excitement about the new Benton Park spot. Stay tuned, though: I don't think we've heard the last of them!What else found its way into Gut Check International Headquarters this week? Well, Zach Dyer argued that we should drink our coffee black, while Dara Strickland taught us the ethics of being a sneak. (Otherwise, as she points

  March 13, 2009

• The Week in Gut Check, Regurgitated

  Jennifer SilverbergThe week peaked early here at Gut Check International Headquarters. On Monday came word that Riverfront Times favorite Gerard Craft of Niche is one of five finalists in the "Best Chef - Midwest" category of the 2009 James Beard Foundation Awards. As if that wasn't exciting enough, we also learned that our very own Kristen Hinman is nominated in the "Newspaper Feature without Recipes" category of the same awards.What else happened this week? We launched our new time-travel rest

  March 27, 2009

• A Table for How Many? at Sugo's Spaghetteria

  Stefani Pollack is the author of the food blogs Cupcake Project and Food Interviews. She is also a member of the St. Louis Dinner Club. She blogs about her large-group dining experiences twice a month for Gut Check.Sugo's Spaghetteria10419 Clayton Road, Frontenac314-569-0400I kept expecting things to go wrong. I know -- I should follow the mantra of innocent until proven guilty, but with a recent rash of restaurants having trouble serving our large group, I was prepared for the worst. It wasn

  April 16, 2009

• A Table for How Many? at Chopstix Asian Kitchen

  Stefani Pollack is the author of the food blogs Cupcake Project and Food Interviews. She is also a member of the St. Louis Dinner Club. She blogs about her large-group dining experiences twice a month for Gut Check.Chopstix Asian Kitchen8021 West Florrisant Avenue, Jennings314-383-6888Is it a Chain?Dinner Club tries to avoid chain restaurants. It's not a hard and fast rule -- we've been to a few large chains (Cheesecake Factory and Elephant Bar come to mind) -- but in general, we try to suppor

  April 30, 2009

• Gut Check: Winners and bloggers

  May 13, 2009

• A Table for How Many? at Vito's

  Stefani Pollack is the author of the food blogs Cupcake Project and Food Interviews. She is also a member of the St. Louis Dinner Club. She blogs about her large-group dining experiences twice a month for Gut Check.Vito's3515 Lindell Boulevard314-534-8486We could tell from Vito's packed outdoor patio that this wasn't going to be our typical Monday-night dining experience. As we entered the restaurant, we saw a full dining room as well as a full bar. No worries (or so we thought): We had a rese

  May 14, 2009

• This Week in Gut Check, Regurgitated

  Robin WheelerThis week, Gut Check was obsessed with totally awesome -- or, at least, totally memorable -- commercials for stuff we have no interest whatsoever in eating.Why? I don't know. A passing fancy, probably.Or maybe we've been watching too much TV lately.As always, it was a busy week around these parts: We had news from Five, Terrene and El Pollo Loco. The Noble Writ took another look at wine closures, while Java Enabled began a two-part look at sustainable coffee farming in Tanzania.The

  May 15, 2009

• A Table for How Many? at BBC Asian Cafe & Bar

  Stefani Pollack is the author of the food blogs Cupcake Project and Food Interviews. She is also a member of the St. Louis Dinner Club. She blogs about her large-group dining experiences twice a month for Gut Check.BBC Asian Cafe & Bar243 North Euclid Avenue314-361-7770"I'd go back.""I'll be back!""Let's pick a day to come back!""This place has their act together!"Fun bubble-tea drinks set a festive mood, unique and tasty food made our stomachs happy, and a server who kept our glasses full

  May 28, 2009

• A Table for How Many? at Mattingly Brewing Company

  Mattingly Brewing Company3000 South Jefferson Avenue314-881-1500We're Out of That, TooWhen you take a group to a restaurant, you put the menu to the test. Your group members will likely order a wide range of available items.In the case of Mattingly Brewing Company, we tried and failed.First, we learned that Mattingly was out of its APA. Every place runs out of things from time to time, and since Mattingly brews its own beer (which we all loved), it's understandable that they run out of varieties

  June 11, 2009

• This Week in Gut Check, Regurgitated

  Don't forget: You have until the end of the day Monday to vote in our first Fight Club Sandwich contest, the Battle of the Burgers. As I write this, the match-up of O'Connell's Pub and Seamus McDaniel's is winning rather handily. Also: The documentary Food, Inc. opens at the Tivoli today. Aimee Levitt reviewed the film for Gut Check. Don't eat before you go.That's just the tip of the iceberg for this busy week at Gut Check:We learned how to make a spring roll, Midland Wok-style.I reported on the

  June 26, 2009

• Gut Check: Ian taps into the tasty world of St. Louis-area food bloggers

  June 24, 2009

• A Table for How Many? at Café Lazeez

  Café Lazeez 14248 Manchester Rd (Suite H), Manchester636-527-5900 Pizza, Burgers, Biryani, and KabobsThe sign outside of Café Lazeez reads, "Pizza, Burgers, Biryani, and Kabobs." This sounded like a place that would please everyone in our large group. My only hesitation in bringing the gang? Menus spanning multiple cuisines are typically a recipe for mediocre food -- witness mega-buffets.Café Lazeez, however, scored big on everything! Our group ordered all of the items on the sign excep

  June 25, 2009

• The Best of Gut Check: A Table for How Many?

  Stefani Pollack is the author of the food blogs Cupcake Project and Food Interviews. She is also a member of the St. Louis Dinner Club. She blogs about her large-group dining experiences twice a month for Gut Check.While Gut Check is on vacation this week, check out some of Dara's best work:Mattingly Brewing Company (June 11, 2009):I ordered a cheeseburger, which arrived without cheese. Our server offered to remedy the situation by bringing me a slice of cheddar. Adding a slice of cheese to a

  July 9, 2009

• A Table for How Many? at Ranoush

  Ranoush6501 Delmar Boulevard, University City314-726-6874Special for YouRanoush seated our large party at a special table toward the back of the restaurant. We had to walk through a colorful tent to get to it, which gave it a festive and authentic Middle Eastern feel. As we were seated, the owner explained to us that many Middle Eastern restaurants go for a hip, modern American style. He, however, prefers a more traditional feel.After our whole group was seated, we were offered the option of a

  July 16, 2009

• A Table for How Many? at Amigo Joe's

  Amigo Joe's5901 Southwest Avenue314-645-1995Open for One WeekIt's never fair to judge a restaurant that has been open for one week. It's kind to give them some time to get their act together -- especially when confronted with a large group. Our dinner club offered no such kindness to Amigo Joe's. We descended upon the restaurant right after it opened -- it still didn't have a website or to-go menus printed -- and we expected quality. Impressively, Amigo Joe's delivered.Amigo Joe's handled our

  July 30, 2009

• Photos: The Grand Opening of Red Kitchen & Bar, 9.10.09

  Photo: Stew SmithA plate of ahi tuna poke at the opening of Red Kitchen & Bar in the Hyatt Regency Riverfront hotel downtown. See more photos from last night.​ The grand opening of Red Kitchen and Bar (315 Chestnut Street) in the Hyatt Regency St. Louis Riverfront hotel was held last night. While there wasn't much food available -- mostly drinks, very large drinks and hors d'oeuvres -- the "menu focuses on small plates, creative cocktails, wines by the glass and a selection of RED specialt

  September 11, 2009

• This Week in Gut Check, Regurgitated

  Adrienne Jones​Yet another new column joined Gut Check's ranks this week: Sweet Scout. And here I thought things couldn't get more hectic around here, what with Robin Wheeler paying a visit to Wapango pastry chef Mary Harden, Stefani Pollack (with new son Myles in tow) returning with a new A Table for How Many? and yours truly complaining about an undercooked burger.What else happened this week?Throwback of the House had some good luck with Nathan's Famous hot dogs -- and some bad.The Sneak at

  September 18, 2009

• A Table for How Many? at the Shaved Duck

  ​The Shaved Duck2900 Virginia Avenue314-776-1407; websiteI'm Late for a Very Important DateMy husband and I were late to Dinner Club. We knew that we were dealing with adults, but still we worried about the other members fending for themselves. Would chaos ensue? Sadly -- for our egos -- we weren't needed. We arrived to find our group at a big table happily chatting away and sipping their drinks. The Shaved Duck had prepared a table for us despite its policy of not taking reservations. Do

  October 1, 2009

• A Table for How Many? at Taqueria La Monarca

  Taqueria La Monarca8531 Olive Blvd. 314-995-7018It's your birthday, and you and your friends are all heading out to that Mexican joint near Olive and Interstate 170. You chose it because it's big (you would have no problem getting a seat if everyone else in town didn't have the same idea), your friends are all familiar with the menu (there are five other area locations), and the staff will sing to you and send you home drunk on margaritas (¡Olé!).

  October 15, 2009

• A Table for How Many? at Yummies Restaurant

  ​Yummies Restaurant3149 Shenandoah Avenue314-226-9800The Draw of MeatloafWe had more people attend our Dinner Club meeting at Yummies Restaurant than we've had in months. It could be the placement of the moon -- or it could be meatloaf. You wouldn't think that something as simple as meatloaf would have such a draw, but in a group where many of us live far from the comforts of Mom's kitchen, the appeal of simple home cooking can be huge.Yummies excels at bringing the feel of family dining to a

  October 29, 2009

• A Table for How Many? at Royal Chinese Barbecue

  ​Royal Chinese Barbecue8406 Olive Boulevard314-991-1888The music is blasting, half the table is up dancing, and you're stuck screaming across the centerpiece to the groom's 80-year-old grandmother, whose name you can only remember because of her place card.The wedding round table never seems to work out.The other place where round tables are commonly found? Chinese restaurants. There the quiet almost forces you to converse. The dialogue seems to spin carefree around the table with each turn of

  November 12, 2009