[change-up]
The magic number for the St. Louis Cardinals team chef Simon Lusky is six, or maybe eight. That’s because it will be six to eight weeks until he unveils Revel Kitchen (formerly Athlete Eats) in a new 1,200-square-foot space near Mai Lee in Brentwood. “I couldn’t ask for a better location,” says the Redbird chef, reporting how his menu will feature clean, organic and locally produced high-quality products. “Healthy food is our approach, and it provides something for everyone. You can come in from the gym or in business attire and feel comfortable.”
[bienvenue]
The menu at Chaumette Winery’s Grapevine Grill will soon develop a Cajun-Creole accent, thanks to Chaumette’s newly appointed Louisiana-born executive chef, Rob Beasley. Chef Rob is bringing sous chef Chloe Miller along to assist as he continues cooking in a style he dubbed New American with Cajun-Creole-Southwest. It’s a mix Chaumette owner Hank Johnson applauds, along with Rob’s commitment to farm-to-table cuisine. The new menu rolls out in time for Labor Day weekend.
[filling the mug]
Would-be plumbers John Simon (a microbiologist) and Robert Schowengerdt (an animator) have officially kick-started their campaign to get the beer
barrel rolling for their new venture, Two Plumbers Brewery + Arcade, a retro brewery-tavern concept that pairs beer, video games and pinball. Target opening is next spring in St. Charles. Taproom plans are to feature craft beers, designer sodas and ciders, along with Pac Man, Donkey Kong and vintage pinball games. The ‘plumbers’ are using the Kickstarter website to help drive funding efforts forward. “Crowd funding will help us avoid investors, and we want our customers to dictate how we run things, not investors,” the pair say.
[the scoop]
Cream always rises to the top. Just ask Joy Grdnic-Christensen, whose Fountain on Locust was recently crowned the Best Ice Cream Shop in Missouri by the Foursquare app. “It was a total surprise,” reports Grdnic-Christensen, who is renowned for creating the spot’s famous ice cream martinis. The Fountain folks are set to open a distillery and bar later this year, just a block away at 3137 Locust St., called Tempest Distilling & Spirits Co.
[viva la casa]
After almost a year in business, Casa del Mar, located in the Saint Louis Galleria next to Dillard’s, is throwing a party. Grand Fiesta runs Aug. 28 through 30 to celebrate a new menu, along with a new bar mural by Peat ‘Eyez’ Wollaeger. On the menu, look for more fish (Lobster Tacos and Shrimp & Lobster Enchiladas), as well as Flip & Sizzle tableside fajitas and ‘no compromise’ margaritas.
