The September edition of Bon Appétit, the magazine's annual restaurant issue, includes two mentions of St. Louis establishments. Mathew Rice, executive pastry chef at Benton Park's Niche, has a recipe included in the article "Desserts à la Mode." Rice's recipe is for buttermilk cake with lemon- and thyme-glazed pear compote and Greek yogurt ice cream. Photographs of Rice's dessert make up both halves of the article's two-page opening spread. Also, University City's Fitz's is one of the magazine's six "top picks" for root beers. The brief article describes Fitz's as having a "classic aroma, bold flavor and a sassafras-like sweetness."
Slated to open this week in downtown's acclaimed new Citygarden sculpture park is the Terrace View Café. Terrace View is operated by well-known restaurateur Jim Fiala (the Crossing, Liluma, Acero), with Chris Bork (most recently of the late Revival) in the kitchen. The menu posted on Citygarden's website (www.citygardenstl.org) features an interesting mix of dishes from Fiala's other restaurants, local produce and unusual cuts (pigs' feet, lamb neck). Terrace View Café will be open for breakfast, lunch and "happy hour" 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday; and for breakfast, lunch and dinner, 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Also slated to open this week — or, in this case, reopen after quick retooling — is City Gourmet at 920 Olive Street. This is the former City Grocers, which was downtown's sole grocery store until the ballyhooed Culinaria — A Schnucks Market opened last week. City Gourmet will feature take-home meals and fast-casual dining, such as a burrito bar and a stir-fry station.
A follow-up to last week's item on Pi. Owner Chris Sommers once again took to Twitter (www.twitter.com/pistl) to announce that a third location of the popular pizza restaurant is a go for the Central West End. The opening date is dependent on some lease issues.
Finally, some unfortunate news: A kitchen fire damaged the popular Hill restaurant Zia's last week. There were no injuries, but it's closed until further notice.
Are you opening a new restaurant? Know of a place that has closed? Something else for Ian to chew on? E-mail [email protected]. And check out this column's virtual doppelganger here.
