[cup o’ aloha]
Brad and Kristina Solomon have brought a little bit of Hawaii to South City. They found a stationary home in Francis Park for their mobile beverage operation, Lanai Coffee, founded in 2013. Located next to the tennis courts in a quaint stone building (5300 Donovan Ave.), Lanai also serves muffins and Nathan’s franks. Customers will want to indulge in the Lanai specialty, Nutty Hawaiian, a montage of espresso, chocolate, vanilla and macadamia nuts. On Fridays, 10 percent of sales are donated to charity. Mahalo.
[wine
bling]
Of the 270 wines entered in this year’s Missouri Wine Competition, judges awarded 39 gold medals. Gold winners competed for Best of Class and Best of Varietal honors, from which was selected the coveted Governor’s Cup—the best wine in the state. The 2015 Governor’s Cup went to … St. James Winery for its 2014 Vignoles, Missouri’s premier white varietal, which comes from a French-American hybrid grape. Other gold medalists include Stone Hill, Adam Puchta, Montelle and Windy Wine. Chandler Hill Vineyards’ 2013 Savage Norton earned the CV Riley Award, which recognizes the best wine made from Missouri’s official state grape, Norton.
[choco-holics]
Stacy Neuman, owner of A Slice of Heaven, has given new meaning to ‘wine pairing.’ Her handmade gourmet chocolates now are offered at Cedar Lake Cellars (11008 Schreckengast Road in Wright City), because “chocolates pair with a variety of wines,” she says. Her sinfully decadent concoctions include dark and white chocolate-covered cashews, M&M bark, and the must-try white chocolate cashew popcorn.
[wanted: restaurateurs]
Opportunity is knocking at several eateries up for sale. Johnny’s Restaurant & Bar in Soulard is up for offer, as is Michael Swaleh’s Tikka Tikka Taco food truck operation. And Jen Kaslow, a longtime customer at the Loop’s Meshuggah Café, has taken over ownership from Patrick Liberto.
[who’s on first?]
Former Morton’s GM Jeff Daniels has moved to Ruth’s Chris in Clayton, while former Ruth’s Chris GM Geoff Dill has moved to 801 Chophouse. No news on who’s moving to Morton’s. Seems all have kept it ‘in the family,’ the family of Clayton steakhouses, that is.
[certified organic]
The historic Mueller Farm site, now operated by EarthDance, announced it is now certified organic under the USDA National Organic Program. EarthDance is the only organic farm school in Missouri that teaches hands-on farming workshops while sustainably growing food designed to bring together farmers and the community.
