This summer has been pretty mild by St. Louis standards, but you wouldn't know it from this week's weather. It'll be worth it to brave the heat this weekend -- there's so much yummy stuff going on you won't want to miss it. Check out our food-related recommendations after the jump.
See also: Bottled Wisdom: An Oral History of St. Louis' Craft-Beer Movement
Friday (Aug. 22):
The new Lucky's Market in Ellisville is celebrating National Peach Month with free wine and spirits samples, $1 slides of peach pie and $2 peach floats. From 5 to 7 p.m. Admission is free.
Cupcakes and Conversation @ SweetArt
Join SweetArt's Reine Bayoc for an evening of cupcakes and civil discussion about the issues in Ferguson. There will be complimentary coffee and $2 cupcakes. From 6 to 8 p.m. Admission is free.
Saturday (Aug. 23):
Festival of Nations @ Tower Grove Park
"The International Institute's Festival of Nations is exactly that: a melting pot of people from all over the world coming together to enjoy food, fellowship and fun. This year, the multicultural extravaganza features 40-plus food booths, shopping opportunities, plenty of entertainment and more -- the 'more' refers, in part, to all of the neighborly joy you will feel when having an English beer or Thai coconut drink with your Spanish paella, Bosnian cevapi and Ethiopian injera with doro wat, while watching, say, a Colombian dance ensemble or a group of belly dancers perform. Plus, you'll have a chance to purchase items like Russian nesting dolls, silver jewelry from Mexico, African drums and more and more and more! To learn additional details about the inclusive festival, visit www.festivalofnationsstl.org. Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free."
Homegrown Farm Tour @ Washington County Farmers' Market
Get out of the city for a self-guided, eleven-stop tour of local food in Washington County. Visit places like Farmhouse 1807, Oxheart Gardens, Big River Alpacas, Turner Farms and more. Check out the full list here. Then enjoy a four-course dinner and silent auction in a refurbished barn in Caledonia to benefit agricultural scholarships. The free tour is available starting at 8 a.m. and dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. Dinner tickets are $55 per person. Call Cyndi at 573-438-4741 for reservations.
Passport to Clean Water @ Greentree Park
Kids ages five to eighteen and their families can come learn about clean water from local nonprofit Open Space Council. While walking along the Meremec River, kids will talk to biologists, storm-water scientists, naturalists and others to learn about natural resources and water. Each stop will earn you a stamp to win prizes at the end of the day. From 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Admission is free.
Q & Brew in the Lou @ Union Station South Plaza
We're pretty into barbecue and beer over here at Gut Check World Headquarters, and St. Louis is too. For the first time ever, we're throwing a festival celebrating two of our best exports at Q & Brew in the Lou. Beat the heat indoors -- there will be several local breweries and three of your favorite barbecue masters serving up the good stuff. For beer, come try 4 Hands Brewing Co., Alpha Brewing Company, Cathedral Square Brewery, Exit 6 Pub and Brewery, Ferguson Brewing Company, Griesedieck Brothers Beer, Morgan Street Brewery, Six Row Brewing Company, Urban Chestnut Brewing Company, Schlafly and lots more with unlimited samples. Barbecue will be available for cash purchase from Sugarfire Smokehouse, the Rib Shack and the Precinct. From 4 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 for general admission and $55 for VIP.
Sunday (Aug. 24):
Life Your Spirit With Sweets @ Kitchen Conservatory
Learn to cook boozy desserts at this hands-on Kitchen Conservatory class. Is there anything better? You'll make chocolate-bourbon crème brûlée, coconut-rum mousse cake, gin-and-tonic lemon sorbet, Pimm's cherry pie with vodka crust and Irish cream-pistachio fudge with culinary educator Kelly Gardner. From 12:30 to 3 p.m. Class is $50 per person; register here.
Sunday Supper @ Chaumette Vineyards & Winery
"Every Sunday night you can enjoy a feast of local produce and meats at Chaumette Winery in Ste. Genevieve. This week, it's lentil soup, salad Niçoise, chicken Provençal, pommes Anna and ratatouille. $18 per person, $7.45 for kids twelve and under. Call 573-747-1000 for reservations. From 5 to 8 p.m."
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