blues & bbq
What could be more natural than Blues and BBQ? That’s what Sugarfire founder Mike Johnson must have thought when he located his sixth restaurant adjoining the National Blues Museum last month. Located at 605 Washington Ave., this spot will be led by head chef David Molina working two Ole Hickory smokers from Cape Girardeau. Catering for private events at the museum also will be available.
open (& almost open)
The Slider House, in the Market at McKnight Shopping Center, has been doing a brisk business now that it’s finally open. The old Petra spot on Kirkwood Road at Jefferson Avenue is set to become Club Taco in the near future.
fiesta weekend
Hacienda in Rock Hill hosts its 48th annual Cinco de Mayo celebration May 5 through 7. There is no cover charge when the party kicks off at lunchtime May 5, as a DJ and live music start at 1 p.m. On May 6, Herradura Tequila from Amatitán, Jalisco, is offered, and on May 7, tastings of Port Royal Honduran lager take place. Salud!
seoul food
Seoul Taco is set to bring its Korean-influenced Mexican food to downtown Chicago. Owner David Choi opened his first brick-and-mortar location in the U. City Loop in 2012 and another location in Columbia, Missouri, in 2015.
mark your calendars
Tomorrow, April 21, is the Dining Out For Life fundraiser to benefit Saint Louis Effort for AIDS. More than 100 local eateries participate by donating between 25 and 100 percent of dining tabs to the nonprofit.
up-and-coming
Shayne McCrady, a cook at The Gatesworth, snagged top honors as Student Chef of the Year at the 2016 American Culinary Federation Central Region competition. Next step: the nationals in July, in Phoenix, Arizona. A Maplewood resident, McCrady is a grad of the culinary program at St. Louis Community College Forest Park—very impressive!
Mother’s Day and brunch go together like pancakes and syrup! (It’s coming up on May 8.) Some suggestions for a special morning meal— and a few standout dishes—include: Poutine at Kingside Diner, Clara Cakes at Half & Half , the delectable spread-with-a-view at Bixby’s in the Missouri History Museum, and the to-die-for Lemon Ricotta Blueberry Pancakes with sea salt caramel butter at The Tavern CWE.
