This weekend, Festival of Nations hits Tower Grove Park, the Royale celebrates its third annual Feast Day with a Balkan theme, Mount Pleasant hosts a Dog Days of Summer event with wine for canines and much more. Read on for our food-themed recommendations.
Friday (Aug. 23):
Wine Dinner @ Five Bistro "Hosted by French vintner Fabrice Roelandt. Chef Anthony Devoti has created a French country dinner menu around five Domaine Moillard wines. The dinner will start with a Chardonnay, so Devoti wanted to do two classic styles of trout. The first is lightly smoked and braised in cream with potatoes while the other is slightly brined and poached in a little bit of butter, both with beurre blanc and some fried bacon added in to give it a little crunch. Next is a simple garden salad with vegetables from Five Bistro's own garden, plus brioche croutons and BeatjeFarm goat cheese." $90 per person -- call 314-773-5553 for reservations. 7 p.m.
Saturday (Aug. 24):
NatureSweet Homegrown Tomato Challenge @ Missouri Botanical Garden Local tomato growers compete for big cash prizes. For information on how to enter, visit the Missouri Botanical Garden's website. 9 a.m. to noon.
Festival of Nations @ Tower Grove Park "The International Institute's Festival of Nations is a summer standard at this point. You haven't completed your summer checklist until you've spent a day stuffing yourself with food from around the world in the leafy environs of Tower Grove Park. But there's a new wrinkle at this year's fest, which takes place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday (August 24 and 25): The first-ever Festival of Nations cookbook is now a reality, and it includes one recipe from every participating food vendor. Game changer." Admission is free. Saturday, August 24 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, August 25 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Bicrobrews Microbrewery Tour @ Urban Chestnut Brewing Company Burn some calories to keep that beer belly at bay while trying out lots of homebrews across a fifteen-mile tour. The cost to ride is $5. Get more info and register on the Trailnet website. The group ride departs at 11 a.m.
Dog Days of Summer @ Mount Pleasant Estates Mount Pleasant Estates hosts a Dog Days of Summer event. Bring the pup up to the Augusta winery to sip the day away -- the Yuppy Puppy Spa's specialty "Pinot Leasheo" doggie wine will be on hand for your four-legged friend. Admission for the event is free along with live music from Hudson & the Hoodoo Cats, and guests can partake in a barbecue plate for $13 per person ($8 for children ages 6 to 12 and free for children under 5). 12 to 5 p.m.
Dinner with Josephine Baker & Friends: An Evening in Paris @ The Fox Theatre New York performer Cheryl Howard gives a special performance as Josephine Baker over dinner and cocktails. Tickets cost $300 and include pre-dinner cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, a four-course dinner with accompanying wines, reserved parking and, of course, live entertainment. Call 314-535-2369 for reservations. 7 p.m.
