family ties
KT Ayers has become the new executive chef at Schlafly Bottleworks in Maplewood. Following her father’s teachings, KT embraced the farm-to-fork locavore movement years before it was trendy. “I was in the kitchen a large part of my childhood, so the move to Schlafly was a natural fit for my background in local sourcing and menu development,” says the daughter of Andy Ayers, legendary restaurateur of the late Riddle’s Penultimate Café and owner of Eat Here.
beyond the hill
Pasta baron Rich LoRusso has set Feb. 1, 2016, for his annual Pasta Bowl benefit tasting that has raised nearly $60K for charity over the years. Tables and bowls are limited, so book soon. Meanwhile, look for Rich’s entry into Grand Center with the transformation of the former Dooley’s space into LoRusso’s On Grand, scheduled to open in time for dinner before the holiday shows at The Fox and Powell Hall.
fresh catch
After months of anticipation, 801 Fish has opened in Clayton across from its older sister, 801 Chophouse. Fish’s menu sports a raw bar featuring oysters, caviar and crab in addition to entrees billed as ‘prime seafood’ from Hawaii and beyond.
special suppers
Dine-in gingerbread houses have been constructed by the culinary teams at Ameristar and River City Casino & Hotel, and are standing ready for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Each location features different architectural elements, from stained glass candy windows to a working fireplace, and 100 percent of the donations benefit The Center for Hearing & Speech.
Santa can get his pasta fix at the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Butterfly House each weekend before Christmas during Supper with Santa. The special meal includes a pasta dinner, cookies and cocoa, plus the opportunity to take a night stroll through the Tropical Conservatory.
julbord
Forget the sofas and shelves; IKEA is bringing something more to St. Louis during its first holiday season here. Look for the Julbord, the Swedish traditional Christmas dinner, Dec. 11. The all-youcan- eat smorgasbord features almost two dozen Scandinavian specialties, including smoked salmon, meatballs, lingonberries and glogg. According to Patricia Meumann, IKEA food manager, no one will leave hungry.
