Meet St. Louis

Episode 306: St. Charles Christmas Traditions Dec 16, 2024

This week we are taking you to the heart of the holidays in our area – Main Street St. Charles. This year marks 50 seasons of holiday festivities where you can step into the history of Christmas. From characters to carolers, chestnuts and Santa, there’s a little bit of everything. But for the small businesses on Main Street it also makes the holidays especially merry as tens of thousands of people walk the cobblestones streets to finish up their gift buying. We sat down with Lydia Crespo, who owns Cozy Shop on Main Street, as well as Jack Frost (yes, the beloved holiday figure) to talk about the magic of the season and the importance of supporting local. For dates and times of Christmas Traditions, check out their website www.discoverstcharles.com/events/christmas-traditions

Episode 305: Trolley Stop Bakery Dec 09, 2024

Most days of the week you will find Diane and Mike Wood inside their bake shop, Trolley Stop Bakery in Chesterfield. Located in a strip mall, you hear the old-fashioned ding of the bell when you walk in, and you're greeted by the delicious smell of cookies. Mike greets customers while Diane takes charge in the kitchen. The couple could be living the retired life, but instead, they’re living out Diane’s dream of an old-fashioned bakery. And it all started with a love of baking cookies. Now she shares that knowledge with other bakers who use the kitchen as a co-op. From macarons by The Tipsy Goat and gourmet nuts by Pete’s Snack Shop, there’s something for everyone’s taste buds. Many local businesses have graduated to open their own shops; that’s always been the dream for Mike and Diane. Open Tuesday – Sunday at 67 Forum Shopping Center, Chesterfield, Mo.

Episode 304: Arch Apparel Nov 25, 2024

Tis the season to shop local, a motto more important than ever this holiday season. Many small businesses make up the bulk of their sales over the next few months, and Aaron Park, the owner of Arch Apparel, joined us to talk about building a business and growing it over the last decade. The streetwear inspired clothing brand started in 2016, one of the first to help people rock their love of St. Louis beyond a sports logo. We chat about the ups and downs of retail, the opening and closing of brick-and-mortar stores and how they’re working to continue to bring unique and innovative designs to your closet. Shop Arch Apparel in person at their Ballpark Village store or online at archapparel.com

Episode 303: Nobletons Distillery Nov 18, 2024

Located in Union, Missouri, Nobletons Distillery may only officially be nine years old. But the tradition of distilling goes back generations for Demetrius Cain and his family. They can trace the beginnings to 1575 with the start of distilling in 1824. If it wasn’t for prohibition, they never would have stopped. Demetrius shares his deep family history and knowledge of whiskey and spirits in this week’s episode. At Nobletons, they pride themselves on the idea of crafting something from ground to glass and have since expanded beyond whiskey to a lineup that includes vodka and gin. You can visit the distillery in Union and even experience a tour to see the artistry of their craft for yourself. For more information: https://www.nobletons.com/

Episode 302: STL Barkeep Nov 11, 2024

Like so many, Matt Longueville started his business as a passion project. STL Barkeep started small but has turned into one of the premier cocktail businesses in town. Crafting cocktails for events around town and at their bar, The Vandy, in the Grove neighborhood. That’s where we sat down for a conversation about spirits, the changing hospitality industry and the opening of his new bar in Webster Groves Off Elm. Off Elm was set to open November 21 but due to construction delays the opening has been pushed back to November 26

Episode 301: Mainlander Nov 05, 2024

If you walk down Euclid in the restaurant-filled Central West End, you might miss one of the city’s most popular new restaurants. Mainlander is a bit hidden. Tucked away in an intimate space that transports you when you walk through the door. Chef Blake Askew and his partner Gordon Chen opened the restaurant in 2023, hoping to create an intimate dinner party vibe. With a prix fixe menu, they hope to take the decision-making out of the dining process and allow guests to sit back and enjoy. We dive into a lot in this episode from the inspiration, the fun twists on classic Midwest dishes and the restaurant’s big move to a larger space in the coming months. Mainlander received a James Beard nomination for Best New Restaurant. Reservations open the first of the month and can go quickly. The Central West End restaurant is open Tuesday-Saturday.

Episode 300: Charlie Gitto's Oct 27, 2024

For a milestone episode, we needed to take you to a landmark location. This week’s marks our 300th episode of the Meet St Louis Podcast. We are honored and grateful you join us each week to hear the stories behind the places that make the St. Louis region such a special place. There is no shortage of people to meet in our city, snd this week, we’re introducing you to the man behind a St Louis institution. 43 years ago, Charlie Gitto’s opened on The Hill. The space once housed another St. Louis historic spot - Angelo's. It was in that restaurant Charlie Gitto Jr first got the taste of the hospitality business. Growing up in the kitchen of the restaurant, he took the step to open his own in 1981. He shares it wasn’t an immediate success. But 43 years later, they continue to share their family recipes and continue the tradition.

Episode 299: Glow Candle Co. Oct 21, 2024

The question seems simple: what do you want to do with your life? For Natalie Van Hee, it wasn't simple until she realized her love of candles could be the career path she was looking for. She opened Glow Candle Company a decade ago, and the hand-poured, small-batch candle company based in Webster Groves has a loyal following. In this week's episode, we dive into the story behind the brand, life as a parent and entrepreneur and how important it is to shop local this upcoming holiday season.

Episode 298: Living Room Oct 14, 2024

One decade ago, the Larson family opened a small little coffee shop in Maplewood. Living Room consisted of a kitchen, their roastery and a few tables. Quickly, it found its groove in the neighborhood, and now, 10 years later, they’ve expanded to 100 seats and a much larger roaster. Brother and sister Nate and Hannah Larson work together to bring an inclusive, welcoming and warm environment for people to gather, drink coffee and eat food. A menu crafted by the siblings and their employees, their café is a team effort and one they don’t take for granted. Living Room is open 7 days a week for breakfast and lunch.

Episode 297: Atomic by Jamo Oct 07, 2024

A long-time music venue in The Grove neighborhood is back. Atomic Cowboy shuttered during the pandemic, but new life and new music is happening inside, thanks in part to Drew Jameson. Drew joined us on this week’s episode of the podcast to talk about his life in the music industry locally and across the country. His passion for music started young, and it brought him back to his hometown of St. Louis where he started Jamo Presents, an independent concert promotor. Bringing musicians and bands of all sizes to venues across town, he knew there was a need for smaller venues. So he decided Atomic needed to make a comeback. We talk about the ins and the outs of the music business here in St Louis and what the future holds for St. Louis popular entertainment district The Grove.

Episode 296: Bissingers and Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Sep 30, 2024

Imagine being a kid in a candy store. That was Dan Abel Jr’s real-life childhood. His father, Dan Abel, started Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate in 1981. The name was for his three children. Now those children are part of the 2nd generation running the business. A business that has grown in recent years after they purchased legendary chocolate company Bissingers in 2019. A sweet partnership in St. Louis. We sat down with Dan Abel Jr. to talk about it all. From the ins and the outs of the candy business to the expansion coming down the road and, of course, the favorite items you love.

Episode 295: St. Louis CITY SC Sep 25, 2024

It’s year two of St. Louis CITY SC and they continue to bring a fan experience beyond the game. We will let the sports folks dive into the wins, losses and ties. Instead, we’re focusing on the fan experience, food and more in this week’s episode. We sat down with Matt Sebek, the team’s Chief Experience Officer to dive into how year two differed from the incredible inaugural season and what’s to come. New partnerships, increased efforts to make the game and team more accessible to all fans and a bit of a battle of the BBQ between CITY SC and rivals Sporting KC. For a deep dive into the food and flavors at CITY Park, take a listen to Ep. 208 where we introduce you to some of the chefs behind the restaurants including Gerard Craft, Steve Ewing and more.

Episode 294: Buzz’s Hawaiian Sep 16, 2024

We can’t all hop on a plane and head to Hawaii when the craving for authentic poke calls but you can make the drive to the Tower Grove East neighborhood of St. Louis City and find a pretty great alternative. That was the entire goal behind Buzz’s Hawaiian. Thomas Moore, better known to everyone as Buzz, started with a food truck after retiring from a career in aviation. After moving back to St. Louis after years in Hawaii, he missed the food of the islands. He shares the story behind the business, which has expanded to a brick-and-mortar restaurant, including the can’t miss items on the menu that will have you taking a vacation via your taste buds.

Episode 293: St. Louis Symphony Sep 09, 2024

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra kicks off its 145th season this month, and this week on the podcast, we sat down with Music Director Stéphane Denève. This season is a bit unique as it’s a nomadic season, and historic Powell Hall is undergoing a major expansion and renovation. Stéphane shares his excitement for the upcoming season, which includes shows for everyone, including movie lovers, families and kids, and the most enthusiastic symphony fans. The season kicks off with their free concert in Forest Park on September 19. For more information and the full schedule of shows for the season, visit slso.org and if you haven’t seen the renderings for the future of Powell Hall, head to our Meet St. Louis Instagram and Facebook pages.

Episode 292: The Wolf Sep 02, 2024

Located in West County, The Wolf is a neighborhood gathering spot serving up organic food with a heavy focus on sustainability. It's the kind of place owners Bob and Denise Birbin want to visit, which is why they created a restaurant they felt was missing in their community. The two met in the restaurant industry in 1978, and when they got the chance to take over The Wolf, they only wanted to do it if it could be exactly what they wanted in a restaurant. It's become a staple in Ballwin, known for their healthy options, but it's much more than a lunch spot. It's a pizza spot, a place to see live music and a spot to sneak away for a late-night bite or drink in their lounge area.

Episode 291: Sasha’s Wine Bar Aug 26, 2024

With two locations, both in residential areas, Sasha’s Wine Bars are your quintessential neighborhood spot. A lengthy but approachable wine list is what makes it such a popular place. We sat down with owner Alexandra Richman, also known as Sasha, as well as the restaurant groups program coordinator Denise Mueller to talk all about wine and community. From their location in Clayton Demun to the St. Louis City Shaw neighborhood, both restaurants offer a little something for everyone, and that’s always been their goal to make everyone feel welcome and to learn to enjoy a great glass of wine.

Episode 290: UKraft Aug 19, 2024

If you’re a fan of breakfast all day, stick around because we have an interview for you. UKRAFT started as a food truck and has since evolved to restaurants in Chesterfield and Downtown St. Louis. Their newly expanded and much larger Downtown location is where we sat down with co-owner Matt Ratz to talk about the concept, their growth and the love of creating a space for locals and tourists to grab a bite. The new Downtown location is open at Peabody Plaza Mon-Friday 7 a.m.-3 p.m., and weekends, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Episode 289: Ferguson Brewing Company Aug 12, 2024

St. Louis is full of great breweries. We’ve taken you behind the scenes of most of them here on the Meet St Louis Podcast, sharing the brewing secrets, the collaborations and the camaraderie. This week we headed up to North St. Louis County to sit down with Robb Wiesen at Ferguson Brewing Company. Robb took over as owner a few years ago but has been with the brewery since they opened their doors in 2010. The brewery has been through some tough times, including protests and unrest in the Ferguson community and a bad fire, but through it all, they’ve stood fast as more than just a brewery but a community gathering spot. We sat down with Robb during the busy lunch hour to talk about 14 years in business.

Episode 288: The St. Louis Zoo Aug 05, 2024

This week we’re taking you inside one of our city’s greatest treasures: The St. Louis Zoo. Established in 1910 the zoo holds a special place in the hearts of locals and visitors. It started with the giant birdcage and has grown decade after decade, and the growth continues. With new animals, new exhibits and soon a new park in North St Louis County, we sat down with Zoo Director Michael Macek and Director of Conservation Education Jared Bixby to get the inside scoop of our beloved attraction.

Episode 287: Grafted Wine Bar Jul 22, 2024

Located in a historic mansion in Bellville, Grafted Wine Bar brings something unique to the Metro East town known for its German heritage. The wine bar brings a European feel with wines not found in many other spots in town. Magda Gilpin discovered her love of wine several years ago – learning to be a sommelier and then bringing that knowledge to Belleville when their family moved here from Washington, DC. We sat down to talk about wine, travel and the charm of Belleville in this week’s episode. Grafted Wine Bar is open Wednesday-Sunday

Episode 286: Balkan Treat Box Jul 15, 2024

This month marks six years of the Meet St Louis Podcast. With more than 280 episodes, it has been the biggest joy to share the stories of our city’s local businesses. To mark six years – we thought we’d chat with one of St Louis’ best – Loryn Nalic – the chef and owner of Balkan Treat Box and the recently opened Telva at the Ridge. We first sat down with Loryn back in 2018 – our first year of the podcast as she prepared to open their first brick-and-mortar restaurant in Webster Groves. Fast forward, and the growth and success has been incredible. Balkan Treat Box has landed on numerous best-of lists both locally and nationally, and Loryn has been named a James Beard Semifinalist for Best Chef Midwest multiple times – basically the Oscars of the food world. I sat down with Loryn at their new café Telva for a revisited conversation about bringing Balkan food to the forefront of the restaurant world, plans for expansion and the biggest risks and rewards over the years as a restaurant owner. You can try these dishes and experience the Balkan food for yourself Wednesday - Sunday at Telva and Tuesday - Saturday at Balkan Treat Box. You heard Loryn mentioned plans for dinner, stay tuned to their social media for the official launch date of weekend dinner service.

Episode 285: Comet Coffee Jul 08, 2024

Comet Coffee is a coffee lover's dream located in St. Louis City, right next to the beautiful Forest Park. They don't have their own roastery but instead source beans from around the world, bringing some of the best coffee to St. Louis. Plus, they have a bakery program that rivals Paris, France. The cafe opened in 2012 and now is under new ownership, with a bit of a new look, a few new ideas but the same great coffee and croissants. This week on the Meet St. Louis Podcast, we sat down with general manager David Varwig, who moved back to St. Louis with the hope of working at Comet. We talk coffee beans, what excites him about running a cafe in a coffee-loving city and more of what's to come in the future.

Episode 284: Sweet Momma Blair Jul 02, 2024

St. Louis loves to wear it’s pride on it’s sleeve – or chest. Walk around a CITY SC game or a nice day in Forest Park, and you’ll see so many people rocking a St. Louis-inspired shirt or tee. For Ashley Blair, when they’re wearing one of her designs she finds that sense of validation that she made the right choice starting her apparel company back in 2016. Ashley started Sweet Momma Blair as a way to earn a bit of income after deciding to stay home with her kids. Now her designs are in shops around St. Louis and at pop up markets. We sat down to talk about the process of starting a business, how she evolved it and expanded it and the advice she has for entrepreneurs.

Episode 283: Levels Jun 25, 2024

Ono Ikanone always knew he wanted to bring a taste of his home county of Nigeria to his new home in St. Louis. As a teenager growing up in the Midwest, it was hard to find connection to West Africa but he learned to cook and that turned into a passion for sharing his recipes and culture with friends. In 2023 he finally opened a restaurant he says showcases the beauty and food of Nigeria. Levels is located in Downtown St. Louis. With traditional menu items and an art gallery upstairs Ono wanted to bring something different to the St. Louis restaurant scene. We sat down ahead of the one year anniversary to talk about food, family and the lessons learned in his first year as a restaurant owner.

Episode 282: Prioritized Pastries Jun 17, 2024

A new shop for a beloved bakery is now open in Maplewood. Prioritized Pastries made a name for itself, first at the Tower Groves Farmer’s Market and then with a storefront in South St. Louis City. The bakery has a huge following because they are 100 percent vegan and gluten-free. Nothing excites owner Alex McDonnell and assistant pastry chef Shane Clasby more than the face of someone who walks in with an allergy or food sensitivity, and they realize they can pick anything in the shop. We chat about how the bakery was born and how they develop recipes, plus we dive into what this new space means for the future of the business, including an expansion of menu items. Let’s meet Alex and Shane. Right now, the bakery is open Friday through Sunday with the plans to expand their hours in the future.

Episode 281: Alibi Cookies Jun 10, 2024

Mike Evans didn’t start off with the dream of running a cookie empire, but that’s the goal he’s currently building on each and every day. He grew up surrounded by the food world but it wasn’t the path he took originally. But a desire for entrepreneurship and a discovery on the internet about the possibility of warm cookies straight from a vending machine launched his company, Alibi Cookies. It started with that unique idea. A vending machine that serves up the perfect cookie for your snacking needs. Then it grew to a brick-and-mortar, the first location in Dogtown. And from there it continues to grow – all within just a few short years. We sat down with Mike to talk about the journey and the advice he has for other young entrepreneurs. Hope you’re hungry because there’s a lot of cookie chatter in this conversation. Locations in Dogtown, Kirkwood, Edwardsville and Statesville, NC. You can find the vending machine in Dogtown and Rolla, Mo.

Episode 280: Great Rivers Greenway Jun 03, 2024

A lot of times, we're taking you inside the best spots around town, but this week we're heading outside. At least in terms of the topic of the conversation. Have you heard of Great Rivers Greenway? If not, you’ve likely experienced and enjoyed their work without possibly knowing the story. Started in the year 2000 the public agency is working to connect St. Louis through a series of greenways. So far, they have created 135 miles with an ultimate goal of 600 miles. From rural trails and bike paths to urban walking paths, the goal is to make our city and region a more vibrant place to live and work. We sat down with Shaughnessy Daniels and Emma Klues with the organization to talk all about it – from the basics of what even is a greenway to what the future holds for some of your favorite parts of town. This episode lets us dive deep into the plans of connection, the importance of engaging the community and some of the new trails you don’t want to miss. There are so many events happening every day on the greenways. From yoga to adventures for families and kids, check out their website greatriversgreenway.org to learn more.

Episode 279: Dad’s Cookie Company May 27, 2024

Growing up in St. Louis, the taste of a Dad’s Original Scotch Oatmeal cookie is one of those classic flavors. The crispy, crunchy cookies have been around for more than a century but now the company based out of South St. Louis City is celebrating a new milestone. We sat down with Chad Huber, one of the three brothers who purchased the long-standing business last year. Chad, just like so many of us, has memories of growing up with Dad’s Cookies. He shares the history and the plans for the future in this episode. Something you might not know, Dad’s Cookies isn’t originally from St. Louis. It started off in California and became a franchise, but now St. Louis is the only place baking the classic cookies, and they’re shipped around the country every day. If you haven’t visited the storefront, you should take a drive down to Louisiana Avenue in South St. Louis to step inside the building that’s stood the test of time. The storefront is open Monday -Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Episode 278: Teatopia May 20, 2024

Located in a storefront on Cherokee Street in South St. Louis City is a place where Reginald Quarles says all are welcome. Teatopia is a tea shop and café serving up nearly 100 varieties of tea. The business came out of tragedy, Reginald says he soon realized life is too short not to chase your dreams. So with the love of tea, and passion to create a safe space for all, he opened his doors in 2017. Seven years later and he’s still learning. But it’s all with the mission to serve his mission, brewing better lives one leaf at a time. https://www.teatopiastl.com/

Episode 277: Explore STL Parks May 13, 2024

When Steph Hampton started hiking with her kids, she never imagined she’d create an entire community of people who just want to get outside and explore. But that’s exactly what has happened. Her friends called her the park lady, now she inspires thousands to explore St. Louis and beyond. Her Instagram is Explore STL Parks, and she vividly remembers hitting 100 followers. Now she’s at almost 100K. We sat down with Steph, a mom of four, to talk about getting outdoors, the vast number of parks to explore in Missouri and Illinois and how to get over the fear or apprehension of taking your kids on a hike. You can learn more about the parks we discuss in this episode and how to join the family hiking group by heading to Steph’s Instagram page, @explorestlparks

Episode 276: Casa Don Alfonso May 06, 2024

Step inside Casa Don Alfonso at the Ritz Carlton in Clayton and your eyes are instantly drawn to the open kitchen. Inside, you’ll watch them craft and create fresh made pasta, on the walls are hand painted tiles. It’s all part of Mario Laccarino's mission to bring you to his homeland of Italy. To his family. The Italian restauranteur is in town from his home in Positano to visit his one and only restaurant in the US. And it’s right here in St. Louis. The Michelin-starred restauranteur sat down with us on the Meet St Louis podcast to share how he came to open Casa Don Alfonso in Missouri, where the recipes come from, and his favorite thing to hear from his customers when he visits.

Episode 275: Chef Mike Risk Apr 29, 2024

Chef Mike Risk heads up the kitchen at Clover and the Bee and O + O Pizza in Webster Groves. He’s part of the O + O Hospitality family that’s found huge success with some of the best restaurants in town. But Mike got his story early in life, starting off in his first kitchens as a teenager. It was the iconic Trattoria Marcella that changed his life. Italian is his passion, and it’s what inspires his work at O + O. But a recent diagnosis with multiple sclerosis is changing everything. We sat down with Mike to talk about what it means for him in the kitchen, how he’s found balance over the years as a chef and a father and why food sparks so much joy for him.

Episode 274: Soulard Farmer’s Market Apr 23, 2024

Soulard Farmer’s Market is one of the most treasured and historic spots in St. Louis. It’s been in operation since 1779, when farmers would gather in the area to sell their goods. Fast forward to now and there are 146 stands with a waitlist of dozens of people who want to sell at the market in the heart of the city. This week, we sat down with the market manager Bob Ray and the co-owners of Soulard Spice Shop, Miriam Schnur and Dana Frenzel. The spice shop is one of the long-time vendors, selling spices since the 1920 and it’s always got a line on weekends when Soulard Market sees 10 thousand shoppers. We talk about the past, the present and the future of the market. The Soulard Farmer’s Market is open Wednesday – Saturday.

Episode 273: Neon Greens Apr 15, 2024

If you’ve driven down Manchester Road recently in The Grove neighborhood you might have noticed a new building with a big N-G on the outside. Inside is a unique greenhouse using hydroponic farming to grow the freshest lettuce around. Neon Green just opened, and owner Josh Smith hopes to make some big changes to the way we eat, think and grow our food. The St. Louis native moved to New York to be a set designer for television and movies, but the pandemic created a pivot. The pivot eventually brought him home to St. Louis to open Neon Green, a made-to-order craft salad eatery. We’re taking you behind the scenes in this week’s episode of how they’re taking farm-to-table to the next level.

Episode 272: Ballpark Village Apr 08, 2024

Baseball is back, St. Louis. There’s nothing quite like Busch Stadium, and there’s no greater fans in baseball than Cardinals fans. And for 10 years, Ballpark Village has been the next-door neighbor to the one and only St Louis Cardinals. In celebration of the start of the season and to commemorate 10 years, we sat down with Mike Lamartina, the Chief Operating Officer, to talk about it all. We discuss the significance of the work-play-live concept of BPV, how they’re preparing to celebrate a decade in business and how they continue to grow and expand. Ballpark Village lives and breaths Cardinals, as well as sports in general in St. Louis, but they also have to think beyond baseball for many months of the year. You can find local favorites like Salt and Smoke, Katie’s Pizza and Pasta and Arch Apparel. The full calendar of events can be found: https://www.stlballparkvillage.com/events

Episode 271: Sugarfire Apr 01, 2024

Sugarfire is a BBQ staple in St. Louis. From their brisket to their wild named specials, there’s a reason they’ve been winning awards for over a decade. Now we had owner Mike Johnson on the Meet St. Louis podcast way back in the beginning. All the way back on episode 50. So now, on Episode 271 we’re revisiting the beloved BBQ spot. But this time were talking to the woman of Sugarfire. The 14th location just opened in Florissant, and it’s the first with a majority female ownership group. Corporate Chef Kat Wallace, Director of Hospitality Veronica Schuster and Operations Manager Montana Patterson. The three sat down to talk about working in a male-dominated industry, how they work together as a team and the launch of the first Sugarfire location in North County.

Episode 270: Fennel Cooking School Mar 18, 2024

Jackie Price found a love of cooking when she was a young teen. And while she loved working in a restaurant, her true passion she found was teaching others. She saw a need in the St. Louis community for more hands-on cooking classes, and the Fennel Cooking Studio was born. Little did she know just how much of a demand there would be. Classes sell out and people are setting alarms to secure a spot when the new batch opens each month. We sat down in the bright and cheery classroom space of her Midtown St. Louis studio to talk about building her business, her favorite things about teaching, and a new partnership she has with the Tower Grove farmers market helping St. Louisians learn how to cook what's in season each week.

Episode 269: Damn Fine Hand Pies Mar 11, 2024

If you've been to the Tower Grove Farmer's Market, you've likely seen the line wrap around one of the booths. At the booth, you'll find bread, donuts, and hand pies. That's what Madeline Hissong started with when she launched her business Damn Fine Hand Pies. Despite the popularity, she still recalls with clarity her first customer. Now, Madeline and her business partner Gene Bailey are gearing up to open their brick-and-mortar bakery in the Shaw neighborhood of South St. Louis - just a few blocks from where it all began at Tower Grove Park. The two joined us on the podcast to talk pies and bread, the dreams and the challenges, and what you can expect from their shop. You can learn more and order from the bakery through their Instagram page: Instagram.com/DamnFineHandPies

Episode 268: Good Ice Mar 04, 2024

Ice – it’s water frozen into a solid state. Seems pretty basic. But Jordan Goodman, who’s spent much of his career behind a bar, will tell you it can make or break drink. We sat down with Jordan at his soon-to-open cocktail bar and restaurant Good Company in the Grove Neighborhood of St. Louis. But we start the conversation with a focus on Good Ice. That’s the name of his company that crafts artisan ice for some of our city’s best bars and restaurants. A special process that creates crystal-clear ice. You might be thinking, how can you make a whole business out of ice? Well, you’re about to find out.

Episode 267: Civil Life Feb 26, 2024

The idea 'Stay Civil' is one we could all use a little more of in today’s day and age. That’s the motto at the South City brewery Civil Life. Founded in 2011 by Jake Hafner, Mike Bianco and Dylan Mosley, the brewery is known for their malt-driven beers. Their best seller and crowd favorite is the Civil Life Brown. It’s a beer head brewer Dylan never imagined would take off in the way that it has. Dylan and Mike sat down with us inside the wood-filled cozy pub to talk about how it all began with home brewing and how it’s transformed into what it is today – a brewery with a solid food menu, classic beers and one of the best outdoor patios around. You know we love a good chat with St. Louis’ best brewers, we’d love to know where’s your favorite brewery in town. Let us know on social media – find us on Facebook and Instagram at Meet St. Louis podcast. And let us know what brewery we need to visit for our next podcast.

Episode 266: Kevin Nashan Feb 19, 2024

James Beard Award Winning Chef Kevin Nashan isn’t from St. Louis but after working at some of the best restaurants around the world, this is the city he chose to plant roots and open his restaurants. He took over Sidney Street Café in 2003 and incorporated his vision into the beloved Benton park restaurant. Now it’s synonymous with special occasions and considered one of the best restaurants in town. He opened Peacemaker down the street in 2014 with a different vibe and very different menu. Now he continues to grow his concept, partnering with 4 Hands Brewing and expanding to other states. Kevin Nashan shares his journey from a teenager working in his family’s restaurant to becoming a mentor to chefs in St. Louis.

Episode 265: Party Hop Feb 12, 2024

Party Hop is sort of a one-stop shop for the big celebrations in your life. The owners – Ashely Detweiler and Ashley Roberts, started the company because they saw a need. They were moms planning tons of parties, and there wasn’t a super easy way to get all the fun products. So while their initial idea for Party Hop started with pre-made kits, it soon ballooned into something more. I say that because they’re really known for their balloons now. Something both will admit they had no experience with. In our conversation, that becomes a theme. These are two entrepreneurs that never let the idea of no experience stop them. They learned along the way and now teach others.

Episode 264: Cathy's Kitchen Feb 05, 2024

A desire for more is what launched Cathy Jenkins into a new career later in life. She was in the kitchen one day and decided she wanted to open a restaurant. It started right there, and now she’s about to open her second location of Cathy’s Kitchen. The first is a staple in the Historic downtown Ferguson area. It’s survived protests and shattered windows and a pandemic. Cathy says none of it would be possible without the love and support of the community and her family. That decision more than a decade ago has led to once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and celebrity friends. She shares the journey and some funny stories with us on this week’s episode.

Episode 263: Sunday Best Jan 29, 2024

St Louis loves fried chicken. It’s a lesson John Perkins learned years ago when he held a pop-up for a Southern concept that would eventually inspire Juniper. Last year he closed Juniper, the acclaimed Central West end restaurant and transitioned it to Sunday Best. Walking inside the restaurant, the changes might be subtle, but it's meant to be a more casual spot with the opportunity to expand and grow across the region. It’s not a change John made lightly, but it was one initiated by necessity. From starting off with underground pop-ups to the changing restaurant business and the perspective he’s gained over the years, we get candid in this week’s episode.

Episode 262: Madrina Jan 22, 2024

Stanley Brown and Frank Romano go way back. They’re long-time friends, former co-workers, and fellow Webster Groves restaurant owners. So it felt like a perfect fit when the corner at Gore and Lockwood, which housed CJ Muggs, became available. Stanley owns Robust Bistro and Wine Bar, and Frank owns The Parkmoor; both have worked in the hospitality industry in St. Louis for decades. They decided to bring their expertise together to create an upscale casual Italian restaurant. But they wanted to take Italian back to what it was meant to be, where everything is made from scratch and takes a more traditional approach. The result was Madrina which opened its door in November and is finding its rhythm in Webster Groves, a dining destination in the St. Louis region. We talk food, wine, design and longevity in this episode.

Episode 261: Hello Juice Jan 15, 2024

Hello Juice is a health-focused smoothing and juice bar with locations in The Grove and Kirkwood. Husband and wife duo Jen and Jon Maness took over the company in 2019. They’ll be the first to admit they jumped in without any real background in the health and wellness scene. Jon says he doesn’t really like fruits and vegetables. But the couple dove in head first, and despite challenges, they’re working to help people in St. Louis live a healthier life. With the start of the new year comes new year’s resolutions and we sat down at Hello Juice to talk about tips for finding a healthy balance, their advice for eating better and how their new food delivery service could help. Plus they get candid on the challenges of doing it all.

Episode 260: Lodging Hospitality Management Jan 08, 2024

Happy New Year from the Meet St Louis Podcast. We can’t wait to continue sharing the stories behind the places you love in our region. It’s a new year, and there’s so much to look forward to. Including the opening of new spots around town. This week we sat down with Steven O’Loughlin, the president of Lodging Hospitality Management. LHM is the team behind many of your favorite spots in St. Louis and they’re expanding west. The company was behind the revamp and restoration of St Louis Union Station – bringing the aquarium and The Wheel and soon a few new attractions. They brought you 360 in Downtown and The Soda Fountain, and now both of those concepts will expand to Westport Plaza in Maryland Heights. We sat down with Steve to talk about the expansions and take us back to the beginning of his hospitality career, which started at Stouffers, a name many in St. Louis might recall and know now as the vacant Millennium Hotel. He’s been in the hotel and restaurant industry for decades and shares the ins and outs in this week’s episode. The new Soda Fountain at Westport is now open, and the new 360 is expected to open later this month.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Dec 25, 2023

From all of us at the Meet St Louis Podcast and First Alert 4, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday. We will be back in the new year with brand-new episodes. Thank you for listening!

Episode 259: The Royale Dec 20, 2023

Driving down Kingshighway in South St. Louis City, you can’t miss the purple neon sign welcoming you to The Royale. The bar has been a St. Louis staple for almost two decades, but the building itself dates back to prohibition. It’s always been a place for people to gather, and that’s the vibe owner Steven Smith has fostered at his establishment. A place where all are welcome and feel comfortable. He’s always been in the business of people, and he shares his journey into the world of corner taverns and city politics on this week’s Meet St. Louis podcast.

Episode 258: Latte Lounge Dec 11, 2023

Nyshaun Harvey developed a love of coffee at a young age. Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to open up her first coffee shop in 2020, now just a few years later the 26 year old has three shops. The original Latte Lounge in Florissant just underwent a remodel and her other two locations, one in Downtown St. Louis and the other in Ferguson are bringing the viral latte flights to a large audience. In this week’s episode we talk about opening up three businesses in three years, the power of social media and the importance of family when taking on an endeavor like this.

Episode 257: McArthur's Bakery Dec 04, 2023

The slogan at McArthur's Bakery is great mission, even better food. The bakery has been a St. Louis staple since the 1950s, but it almost ceased to exist. That's where Scott Rinaberger came in. He calls himself a serial entrepreneur, and he saw an opportunity when the beloved bakery went up for sale. To ensure its survival, changes has to be made. The historic nature of the business didn't work in today's climate. Now there are two locations, one in South County and a sister spot called Pioneer Bakery in Kirkwood. It's a mission-based business concept where they employ workers with intellectual disabilities. The same mission led to the creation of Smiley Face Cookie Company and a new endeavor and expansion you’ll hear more about in this episode. Scott joined us to talk about the path he took to get him here and how the ingredient to success isn't always obvious.

Episode 256: Anthonino's Nov 27, 2023

The Scarato brothers own Anthonino’s Taverna on The Hill. It combines both their heritages: Greek and Italian, and even after 20 years in business, they're still the new guys on the block when it comes to this historic neighborhood. But they’ve made their stamp on St. Louis and beyond... in part thanks to Guy Fieri; His episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives still brings people from across the country and the world to their corner restaurant. The toasted raviolis may be what gets people in the door, but these brothers say there’s a lot more to keep customers coming back.

Episode 255: Civil Alchemy + The Annex Nov 20, 2023

Tis the season for shopping, and this podcast is always about shopping local. Whether it's on Small Business Saturday or any day of the year, your effort to purchase from a local business can make all the difference. That’s the message John and Kelley Barr share on this week’s episode. The couple has slowly been renovating and revitalizing the Old Orchard neighborhood in Webster Groves. They own Frisco Barroom, Civil Alchemy and The Annex, plus a brand new ice cream shop. Their vision has always been to create a main street like feel for the community. From a coffee shop to the neighborhood tavern to a general store where you can find functional but beautiful things, each spot helps further their vision.

Episode 254: Art of Entertaining Nov 13, 2023

The holidays are here, and you don’t have to do it alone. This week, we headed to Webster Groves to talk to Ann Marie Lemke and her daughter Kate at the Art of Entertaining. Ann started the company almost thirty years ago when she noticed a missing need in St. Louis: a place to buy prepared meals for friends who had a baby or for a sick relative. And decades later, while there’s a lot more options and basically everyone has carryout, the family business is booming. And the holidays are the busiest time of the year. Two generations are helping St. Louis families make dinner just a little easier and we’re hearing how they do it.

Episode 253: Bella Milano Nov 03, 2023

Bella Milano opened its doors 20 years ago in Edwardsville with family at the heart of the Italian restaurant. Two families joined together to fill a void in their community for a restaurant where anyone would feel welcome. 20 years later and two more locations, they’re still going strong, even as the food scene in the Metro East has expanded more than ever. We sat down with Craig Kalogerou and Tom Guarino to talk history, food and family. Tom’s dad Sam was the original owner along with Craig but he sadly passed away in 2020. But his memory and his legacy carry on at Bella Milano and the lessons he passed down, known fondly as Sam-isms, help ensure the family business will carry on for another 20 years.

Listener Favorite: Grandma's Cookies Oct 23, 2023

Earlier this year, we went to St. Charles and sat down with the owners of Grandma's Cookies. Now we're revisiting this listener favorite.

Listener Favorite: Vintage Vinyl Oct 16, 2023

Last November, we visited Vintage Vinyl, a staple for St. Louis music lovers.

Listener Favorite: Katie's Pizza & Pasta Oct 09, 2023

Two years ago, we visited Kate of Katie's Pizza & Pasta. Now, having just opened a new location Downtown, we are revisiting our original interview.

Listener Favorite: Pharaoh's Donuts Oct 02, 2023

Last year we visited Pharaoh's Donuts for a conversation outside their busy Downtown location. In this listener favorite, we revisit one of St. Louis' favorite donut shops.

Episode 252: Taco Buddha Sep 25, 2023

Some people in the food world might scoff at the term fusion – but for Kurt Eller, it's about a collection of memories from different places. That’s the vision behind the tacos at his incredibly popular spot – Taco Buddha. The University City location has seen major success over the years and this summer, they opened a second location in Kirkwood. Serving up tacos inspired from Kurt’s upbringing in Austin TX and his love of global flavors. But the real success at his restaurants, he says, is his team. We sat down at their original location to talk about how he dove back into the restaurant world, the inspiration behind his menu and staff that’s become family.

Episode 251: Novel Neighbor Sep 18, 2023

Located in the heart of Webster Groves sits a bookshop beloved by locals. But online Novel Neighbor’s reach goes even farther, garnering a huge social media presence thanks in part to BookTok, a social media community passionate about reading. In a time when the internet is having a negative impact on our locally owned bookstores, shops like Novel Neighbor are using it to reach new audiences, audiences who are making St. Louis a destination just to visit a favorite bookstore. Director of Events Stephanie Skees and Director of Marketing Kassie King joined us on this week’s episode of the podcast to talk all things books. The importance of independent bookstores in a community, the impact of author events and the joy they get from helping someone discover a new world through the pages of a great book.

Episode 250: Bagel Union Sep 11, 2023

St. Louis is in the midst of a bagel boom – one we’ve all been waiting on for years. One of the best places to debut in town this year is Bagel Union in Webster Groves. From the owners of beloved sandwich shop Union Loafers and the makers of arguably some of the best bread in town, Bagel Union was born. It opened to long lines earlier this year, and the growth continues. We sat down with head baker Jackie Polcyn and Brian Moxey, who serves as executive chef for the restaurant group. We talk about the bagel-making process, the growth and expansion of Union Loafers and how restaurants across St. Louis use the bread in all kinds of ways.

Repeat Episode - Sugarwitch Sep 04, 2023

Earlier this year, the Meet St. Louis Podcast visited Sugarwitch. It was one of our most listened-to episodes, so before summer ends, we thought it would be only fitting to revisit the South City ice cream shop that was started by Sophie Mendelson and Martha Bass.

Episode 249: The Foundry – Two Years In Aug 28, 2023

Two years ago, the Foundry opened its doors in Midtown. The food hall had big plans to help revitalize this part of St. Louis City, and step onto the 15-acre property, and you can see they’re succeeding. In addition to the sprawling food hall with more than a dozen local spots, there’s retail, offices, Alamo Drafthouse movie theatre, Puttshack, City Winery and more. It’s 85 percent occupied, with the anticipation it will be nearly filled by the end of the year. We’ve shared the stories of several of the spots on this podcast, from Kalbi Taco Shack to Polished Prints to 4 Hens, but there are more stories to tell! So this week, we have a dual episode for you. First, we’re starting off with the couple behind STL Toasted, a food stand focusing on the St. Louis delicacy. It was an idea that came to be after a near tragedy, and the couple found themselves a place at St. Louis Foundry. Next, hear from one of the retail options and why Gerard Ewing knew The Foundry was the only option for their store Sanctioned Sneaker Collective.

Episode 248: Noboleis Winery Aug 21, 2023

Family owned and family grown. That’s the motto at Noboleis Winery in Augusta. We headed out to Missouri Wine Country to meet the sisters running the vineyard. Their mom and dad purchased the land in 2005, and together as a family, it's grown into a business producing 30 wines and expanding into new markets. Angie Geis and Chris Newbold share their family’s story, the trials and errors and what it means to be a part of the country’s oldest wine region in America. Of course, many people think of California or Oregon for wine, but Missouri’s wine-making history dates back to 1836. But to ensure its future, it will require a vision like what the family is creating at Nobolies, and they can’t wait to introduce you to their wine.

Episode 247: Such and Such Farm Aug 14, 2023

Autumn Sij and Dave Blum might not strike you as your typical farmers. And they’ll be the first to admit it. That’s also because they never planned to become farmers; the idea happened organically back in 2011. Such and Such Farm came about with no experience, just a desire to try living a better way of life. But the couple has a way with people, and by building connections, specifically in the restaurant community, their farm in De Soto grew and blossomed. They grow unique produce and raise animals specifically for chefs and restaurants. And a pandemic pivot created a new venture – farm dinners on their property featuring some of the best chefs in the area utilizing the ingredients grown and raised on the land. Let's meet Autumn and Dave. To learn more about the farm dinners, check out Homie Hospitality for the schedule of dinners from August to November. You can find more information on their website: HomieHospitality.com

Episode 246: Evolution Festival Aug 07, 2023

Music, BBQ, Bourbon – it's all the makings of a pretty fun weekend in St. Louis. That’s exactly what the producers behind Evolution Festival hope to bring to Forest Park this August. It’s the first year for a brand new two-day music festival. We sat down with Joe Litvag, from Contemporary Productions, to dive deep into building a festival from the ground up… starting with the location, the grounds of Forest Park. The lineup is a pretty big deal for a brand new festival, featuring artists like Brandi Carlile, The Black Keys, The Black Crowes and more. While this might be the first year of Evolution, it's not Joe’s first music festival, he shares his 30-plus years in the music industry and how its changed and evolved. Enjoy the sounds of rock, hip hop, blues and country in Forest Park this August 26-27. For more information and tickets, visit EvolutionFestival.com

Episode 245: Chef Matt Daughaday Jul 31, 2023

Chef Matt Daughaday has worked in some of the best kitchens in St. Louis, from Niche to Taste to opening his own restaurant Reeds American Table. But his newest endeavor is making a splash in the St. Louis dining scene. He is now the executive chef for 21c Hotel in Downtown St. Louis, a brand new hotel in the former YMCA building on Locust. The main restaurant Idol Wolf is now open, bringing a tapas-inspired restaurant to the heart of Downtown. We sat down with Matt ahead of the grand opening to talk about the menu, the art-focused hotel and the mentality that he’s always learning and growing as a chef. Idol Wolf is now open, with the hotel and café opening August 8.

Episode 244: Locoz Tacoz Jul 24, 2023

Tyler Garcia grew up watching his parents create a restaurant that drew people in for its authentic flavors and a sense of home. His parents opened La Tejana in Bridgeton, connected to their grocery store in 2010. Tyler branched out with his food truck, eventually naming it Locoz Tacoz. The goal was to bring that same delicious food out into the community. Now he has a new brick-and-mortar restaurant of his own. Locoz Tacoz recently opened in Maplewood and the crowds are coming out for the tacos, burritos and street corn. He leans into the authenticity he grew up with while bringing a little spin of his own. Family means everything and we talk about creating a legacy for his own children, the lessons learned in a restaurant family, and we talk ups and downs of building a business. Locoz Tacoz is open Tuesday - Sunday.

Episode 243: Saigon Café Jul 17, 2023

Owning a restaurant is not an easy feat – we talked about it in last week’s 5-year anniversary episode with restauranteur Gerard Craft. If you haven’t listened, make sure to hit play after you listen to this brand-new episode. This week we talk to longtime St. Louis restaurant owner Michael Ly. Michael grew up in the restaurant business. His family owned a Chinese restaurant in West St. Louis County. 20 years ago, his mom and stepdad opened Saigon Café in the Central West End. It was a totally different neighborhood at the time and Michael has watched it grow around the restaurant he now runs and operates. The Vietnamese restaurant is now a neighborhood stable, growing with the times while also remaining true to its spirit. We talk about the legacy of a family business, his favorite things to cook outside of the restaurant, and of course, we’re sharing the can’t miss dishes. In this episode, we talk about the Red Lantern Night Market scheduled for July 22 from 5 p.m. - 11 p.m. outside Saigon Café.

5 Year Anniversary Episode: Gerard Craft Revisited Jul 10, 2023

Five years ago we sat down at the Four Seasons Hotel, the construction was underway at Cinder House, the latest endeavor from Chef and Restaurateur Gerard Craft. It was the very first episode of The Meet St. Louis Podcast. Five years later, we’ve shared more than 240 episodes, introducing you to hundreds of chefs, brewers and small business owners. It has been so much fun to share their stories, their journeys and introduce you all to someplace new and amazing in St. Louis. But a lot happens in five years so we wanted to sit back down with Gerard to catch up. He’s opened more restaurants and closed others… and took on the epic title of Chief Flavor Officer for St. Louis City SC, putting our soccer stadium on the national stage for more than just the action on the pitch. We dive into the big questions about the restaurant industry – how it's changed and evolved. Plus we find out how someone who’s championed our hospitality scene and helped put St. Louis on the map defines success and failure. Let’s once again meet Gerard. Thank you for listening and tuning into the Meet St. Louis podcast each week. 5 years in and we’re just getting started.

Episode 241: The Muny Jul 03, 2023

Meet me at The Muny…if you grew up in St. Louis you can probably finish the jingle that goes along with that saying. For more than 100 years, The Muny has been a summer tradition in our city in Forest Park. This season is underway and we’re getting the behind the scenes scoop from Mike Isaacson, the Artistic Director and Executive Producer. The Tony Award winning producer is now in his 12th season at The Muny, the largest outdoor musical theater in North America. In this week’s episode we talk about the past, the present and most importantly carrying this St. Louis treasure into the future. He shares how the create the magic on stage and how they decide which shows will be produced each summer. The beautiful thing about the Muny is it’s accessibility to all. Tickets start at 0 dollars. That’s right, did you know there are free seats for every show? Tickets are available for the rest of the season which includes Chess, West Side Story, Little Shop of Horrors, Rent and Sister Act.

Episode 240: J’s Pitaria Jun 26, 2023

Josi and Zamir Jahic are serving up the food of their homeland in a shopping plaza in South St. Louis County. The Mediterranean spot with a focus on Bosnian cuisine gets busy fast, before the doors even open they have a long line of pre-order tickets. Zamir is the heart in the kitchen at J’s Pitaria but Josi is the brains behind the business. The two were born in the same town in Bosnia but didn’t meet until much later in life when their paths crossed in St. Louis. St. Louis has a large Bosnian community, welcoming tens of thousands of refugees after the war. Many settled in South St. Louis and that’s where the original J’s Pitaria opened. We sat down with Josi to talk about the food and spirit behind their restaurant and the biggest change they made to survive the pandemic. The South County spot may seem like a fast, casual concept but there’s nothing fast about the preparation of the food which is made to order and starts with early mornings in the kitchen…and you can taste the effort in each delicious bite.

Episode 239: Amsterdam Tavern Jun 19, 2023

For 15 years, the staff at Amsterdam Tavern have opened the doors at 6 a.m. weekend after weekend. Providing one of the few spots in town to show soccer matches from around the world. Located on Morganford in Tower Grove South, they’re known as THE spot to watch soccer, something that’s become all the more popular with the incredible success of St. Louis CITY SC’s inaugural season. The TVs are showing soccer 18 hours a day sometimes. We sat down with owner Jeff Lyle to talk about soccer, the bar business about the time they were voted best hockey bar. Yes, hockey bar.

Episode 238: Circus Flora Jun 11, 2023

This week, we’re meeting under the Big Top. It’s a St. Louis tradition dating back to the mid-80s and Circus Flora continues to entertain the next generation of families. The season kicked off June 1 and goes through June 25. We sat down with Executive Director Jack Marsh to talk about this year’s show and the legacy of the circus in St. Louis. Jack grew up in the circus, his mother has been with Circus Flora from the start. He thought he wanted a different path, becoming an attorney after college, but the circus pulled him back. As artistic director and executive director, he has his hands in all parts of the performance and he shares the secrets of the circus and it’s legacy in St. Louis with us on this podcast. For tickets and performance information: https://www.metrotix.com/events/detail/circus-flora

Episode 237:Taberu Jun 05, 2023

Heidi Hamamura owns Taberu a catering company creating works of art made with sushi. Heidi started in the restaurant business early, growing up in her father’s kitchens. With a fine dining experience and a love for visually beautiful food, her sushi platters and sushi cakes take social media by storm. Instagram is where she runs most of her business and she shares how her dreams of owning a restaurant evolved into where she is now. When she’s not spending 15 hours slicing fish, she’s training to be a kickboxer, a mentality that helps her both in and out of the kitchen. Let’s meet Heidi. You can find her Instagram at @taberu_stl

Episode 236: Chillax Tap & Co. May 29, 2023

Ashley and Archie Harmon opened a business during one of the toughest times – March 2020. The pandemic closed their doors just as they opened Chillax, a craft beer bar and bottle shop, before they could really get started. But the St. Charles community didn’t let them fail. In fact, they found so much demand they opened their second location this spring. The Wentzville bar is more intimate, but the new St Peters location serves up food and fun vibes. We sat down with Ashley to talk about taking her husband’s passion for beer and turning it into a thriving business. Chillax is about creating a craft beer haven for everyone, and that means those who think they don’t really like craft beer. The Meet St. Louis Podcast is nominated for STL Bucketlist “Best Podcast,” you vote now here: https://stlbucketlist.com/locals-choice#4109dc9a-a29f-4431-b1f0-a3221f89ac9b

Episode 235: Ope Outdoors May 22, 2023

It’s the season to get outside. The St. Louis summer heat hasn’t fully arrived and the local and state parks are lush with green. But Juno Musonda wants to make sure you feel comfortable getting into the outdoors and look the part as well! He started Ope Outdoors in his bedroom and what started as a t-shirt company has evolved into a community of people enthusiastic about being outside. His t-shirts feature fun graphic designs of some of our best area parks like Castlewood, Elephant Rocks and Mastadon State Park. But he wanted a purpose behind the brand, and that’s where the hiking meet-ups and clean-up groups started. Using Instagram to connect to others who want to meet up and hike and clean up area parks. Let’s meet Juno. To keep up with his work, visit opeoutdoors.com

Episode 234: Maypop Coffee + Garden Shop May 15, 2023

Located inside a historic home in a neighborhood in Webster Groves sits a little oasis. A cafe and garden shop all in one. Maypop opened five years ago on Mother’s Day weekend. It’s the busiest time of year for a plant store and the staff wants to help you feel like whatever your gardening level is, you can plant something and keep it thriving. We sat down with McKenzie Leek to talk about everything you need to know to garden this spring, whether you have a big yard or just a container on your patio. In the cafe, they serve up Blueprint coffee and pastries from local bakeries. Perfect to sit and plan out your gardening adventures. Let’s get some inspiration and meet McKenzie.

Episode 233: Counterpublic May 08, 2023

St. Louis is catching the eye of the art world, not just locally, but nationally. They are all paying attention to Counterpublic, a civic exhibition that weaves contemporary art through the City of St. Louis. It only happens for three months every three years. On this week’s podcast, we’re giving you the backstory and a deeper explanation of why this is much bigger than art. Cofounder Lee Broughton and artistic director James McAnally join us for a fascinating conversation about art, community and expanding connection.

Episode 232: Sugarwitch May 01, 2023

Located inside the former Carondelet Bakery in South St Louis City is where the magic happens. It’s now the home of Sugarwitch, an incredibly popular ice cream sandwich business started by Sophie Mendelson and Martha Bass. They first created the idea in Columbia, turning to nostalgic flavors but with a creative spin. And the creativity continues with the names, each sandwich named for a witch. The Ursula is their most popular. They partner with other local businesses like Coffeestamp for their Hermione sandwich, which involves a cold brew ice cream encased in a toffee brownie. In this episode, we talk about the path to success and the constant search for inspiration, plus why your favorite flavor just might not work as an ice cream sandwich. But they’re definitely down to try. Let’s meet Sophie and Martha. Sugarwitch’s brick-and-mortar is open Friday through Monday, but you can also find the magical ice cream sandwiches at Tower Grove farmer’s market!

Episode 231: Alpha Brewing Apr 24, 2023

This episode is about beer and science. It’s been more than a decade since Derrick Langeneckert graduated with a degree in biochemistry and molecular biology, and he eventually took that knowledge not to a hospital but instead to a brewery. He got experience working at Square One Brewery before deciding to venture out on his own and start his brewery. Alpha Brewing was born in the spring of 2013. And while it's been 10 years, Derrick says they really feel like it's just been a few years since they got in their groove when they opened their larger space in Tower Grove South. Now they’re preparing for what comes next, including more beers and expanding into the world of distilling as they prepare to open a second location on Delmar.

Episode 230: Two Men and a Garden Apr 17, 2023

Two Men and a Garden, a locally made salsa and pickle brand, started just as the name implies, with two guys who loved to garden and had an overabundance of produce. As the start of the farmer’s market and the gardening season gets into full swing, we wanted to know the backstory of one of St. Louis’ favorite salsa companies. So we headed down to High Ridge to talk with owners Joel Austin and Brett Tintera to get the inside scoop. They’re sharing the history and how they got to be in hundreds of stores across the region. Plus, they’re passing that knowledge, which all came the hard way, to new entrepreneurs at their Kitchen Hub, a shared kitchen and food business incubator.

Episode 229: Cheryl’s Herbs Apr 10, 2023

For three decades, Cheryl’s Herbs in Maplewood has brought a holistic approach to business. Started in 1991 by Cheryl Hoard, the shop sells essential oils, herbs, tinctures and more. It was a store Tiffany Jones fell in love with when she moved to St. Louis. So when Tiffany heard it might close after the owner's death, she decided to step in. We sat down with Tiffany to talk about growing the wholesale side of the business, what exactly these herbs do in terms of health and wellness and how they handmade the products right there in the shop on Manchester Avenue.

Episode 228: Take Root Hospitality Apr 03, 2023

This week is episode 228 of the Meet St. Louis podcast. For nearly five years, we’ve brought you episodes showcasing the best of our city and region. A city with a food and drink scene that continues to grow. All the way back in episode 3, we took you inside Vicia, the vegetable-forward restaurant in the Central West, garnering national attention. That attention hasn’t changed. The restaurant continues to receive major recognition but what has changed is the growth for Tara and Michael Gallina with their restaurant group, Take Root Hospitality. The husband and wife duo are joined by culinary director and partner Aaron Martinez. Aaron joined us on the podcast this week to talk about the growth of not just Vicia, but the other restaurants the team has now opened, including Bistro La Florisian, Winslows Table and Taqueria Morita, which is inspired by his own Mexican heritage and time living and working in California. We talk about the email that brought him to St. Louis, the change in work-life balance in his role and his advice for young chiefs.

Episode 227: STL Wine Girl Mar 27, 2023

Angela Ortmann, aka St. Louis Wine Girl, has been at the forefront of the hospitality world in St. Louis since 2009. She wears a lot of hats in her job, from consulting for area restaurants to hosting tastings, dinners and classics, to social media and writing; she does it all. And does it while championing our ever-expanding food world. It started with a blog and evolved into a career, and she takes us through the unconventional journey in this week's episode as we talk wine, her favorite spots in town and the camaraderie found in the St. Louis hospitality scene.

Episode 226: Juwan Rice Mar 20, 2023

Juwan Rice is a chef. But his resume holds a lot of titles. Entrepreneur, food stylist, consultant, project manager and now a restaurant owner. Oh, and by the way, he’s just 21 years old. The young entrepreneur started early; at just 14, he started his own catering company, JR Gourmet. It started with friends and family but quickly grew, and he hasn’t stopped working since then. He worked at Bait, a popular St. Louis restaurant, right out of high school, but the pandemic forced him to pivot, and he launched several new endeavors…all of which have led him to this point, on the cusp of opening his first restaurant in Downtown St. Louis. Rated Test Kitchen is set to open this spring on 11th street. The concept is unique; a reservations-only sever course dinner experience where he’ll ask guests to contribute feedback right then and there, allowing them to tweak and improve every day and every meal. At 21 years old, he’s faced his fair share of doubt and criticism, but he does it all with a smile and believes it makes him a stronger chef and person. To learn more about his restaurant, catering company and spice company, check out his website: https://juwanrice.com/our-story

Episode 225: Grandma's Cookies Mar 13, 2023

Grandma’s Cookies has a long history in the City of St. Charles. The quaint brick building dates back to the 1800s, and when Charlotte Thompson purchased it in the 1970s, people thought she was crazy. But the mother and grandmother saw potential, and more than 40 years later Theresa Rubio is keeping the family business alive and thriving. We sat down with Theresa to talk about the perfect cookie, the love for the local business from all over the world, and how the historic Main Street Community has helped them grow. You might be shocked just how busy this small bakery is every day, but if you’ve visited during peak times, like Christmas Traditions you know how long the lines can get. One day during the holiday season they made 1,900 dozen chocolate chip cookies. That’s a lot of cookies. But each one brings a smile to someone’s face, and that’s what this family business is all about. Grandma’s Cookies is open seven days a week serving up classic and seasonal cookies.

Episode 224: Menya Rui Mar 06, 2023

One of St. Louis’ hottest new restaurants is in a nondescript strip mall off Hampton. The space is small, with just 24 seats, so you’ll often find a line outside. But the service moves quickly at Steven Pursely’s ramen shop. The compact restaurant is reminiscent of Japan, where Steven grew up and eventually returned after college to study ramen. Steven shares his journey and the role his family played in helping him accomplish his dream of changing the way many in St. Louis think of ramen. We talk about what sets his noodles apart, and a big part of that is the handmade process that results in a perfect bite. Menya Rui is open for dinner from Thursday through Sunday. There’s no reservations and there’s no take-out. But it’s well worth the wait.

Episode 223: Narrow Gauge Brewery Feb 27, 2023

Jeff and Heather Hardesty opened Narrow Gauge Brewery inside Cugino’s in Florissant back in 2016. A longtime home brewer Jeff knew what he wanted to brew – a style of beer that wasn’t readily available in St. Louis. What he didn’t know was how the beer community would react. The reaction was excitement and lines out the door. Seven years later, the North County brewery has long outgrown their basement brewing space. They’re in the process of expanding brewing and retail operations to a building just a few doors down. They hope to open this spring with plans for an expanded tap room. We sat down to talk about hazy IPAs, the beer making process and their expansion into supermarket shelves. You can try Narrow Gauge’s beers inside Cuginos or pick up beer to-go. You can also now find their beers at stores around St. Louis, Kansas City Columbia and parts of Southern Missouri.

Episode 222: Saucy Porka Feb 20, 2023

Amy and Phil Le grew up in their mother’s restaurant business. They spent their childhood and school years in their mom’s Chinese restaurants, and while both took other paths in college and after, they both found their way back to the kitchen. Amy started Saucy Porka in Chicago, first as a food truck and then as a brick and mortar. But the call back home to St. Louis was strong and the pandemic brought corner store front location right next to SLU and the siblings jumped at the chance to work together. The menu is filled with Latin and Asian fusion food with a fast casual style but with a big focus on service. We sat down with Amy and Phil to talk about owning a restaurant together, the inspiration behind the most popular dishes and their mom's influence in the kitchen. Saucy Porka just celebrated their one year anniversary here in St. Louis and still has two locations in Chicago.

Episode 221: Honeybee Edibles Feb 13, 2023

Chef Dave Owens knows chocolates. He was the chief chocolatier and vice president of Bissengers for years before making a major pivot and joining Proper Cannabis. He saw the opportunity to make hand-crafted chocolates and candies with Honeybee Edibles as medical marijuana took off in Missouri. Now that recreational marijuana is legalized, the possibilities for growth are huge. We sat down with Dave to talk about his culinary background and how he’s bringing that training to the world of edibles. His pre-med classes from college also help because there's a lot of science and a lot of spreadsheets involved when crafting chocolates flavored with peanuts and pretzels or salted brownie batter plus THC.

Episode 220: Merb's Candies Feb 06, 2023

For more than a century, St. Lousians have flocked to South Grand for handmade and hand-dipped chocolates and candies at Merb’s Candies. The neon site beckons customers into the corner store, where they’re greeted with the sweet smell of chocolate. In the back, employees handcraft chocolates on equipment that’s been around for decades, some of it older than Taylor Bearden herself. Taylor and her sister are the third generation to operate the candy store in south St. Louis. Their grandfather bought it in the 1970s after seeing an ad in the newspaper. We sat down with Taylor to talk about the store, the candy they’re famous for and what it means to carry on a legacy of a small business started by women in 1921. Holiday candy is one of the biggest drivers of their success, and Valentine’s Day is one of their busiest holidays as longtime customers come out for chocolate-covered strawberries. You can find their handcrafted chocolates at their original location in the city or their second location in South County.

Episode 219: Clara B’s Kitchen Table Jan 30, 2023

Chef Jodie Ferguson has early food memories thanks to her grandmother but she didn’t have plans to go into the hospitality business. That changed in college, and she ended up down the path of the hotel and fine dining. It wasn’t until the pandemic that she launched her now beloved food truck. As she explains, Clara B’s food truck was launched with $30,000 and some duct tape. But customers fell in love with her southern cooking, especially her biscuits. She opened up a brick and mortar and quickly outgrew the space, forced to turn away customers due to lack of space. But now she is set to re-open her brick-and-mortar space in Belleville inside the brand coffee shop, Long Story Coffee. That’s where we sat down with Chef Jodie to talk about her Texas roots, the hardest day ever cooking on the food truck and her love for the Metro East community. Follow along on social media for the latest on their grand opening

Episode 218: Halo + Cleaver Jan 23, 2023

For husband and wife Rob and Emilie Garwitz, their business is an extension of their family. And family is the reason they started Halo + Cleaver, a condiment company focused on using natural ingredients and no added sugar. It started like many businesses, in the family kitchen. Now they’re on store shelves across the country with their ketchups and BBQ sauces. Each store shelf takes work and Rob and Emilie joined us to talk about entrepreneurship, the phone call that changed everything and their goals to keep growing.

Episode 217: Mixologist Meredith Barry Jan 16, 2023

Meredith Barry grew up in the hospitality world, watching her dad and soon following her own path that eventually led her behind the bar in her hometown of Chicago. She remembers the first time she got the chance to serve customers, and she fell in love with the industry, an industry that isn’t always the easiest. Now, as the owner of Platypus in the Grove, she strives to take the decades of lessons learned and teach a new generation. She came to St. Louis for a job at the Angad Arts Hotel and soon fell for our city and the culinary scene. She’s passionate about crafting cocktails and beverage programs and has long loved to crest mocktails, and zero-proof cocktails, a trend that Meredith says has thankfully exploded in recent years. With a stint on Netflix’s reality series Drink Masters, she’s helping shine a spotlight on the St. Louis hospitality scene, one she strives to help make better, one beverage at a time.

Episode 216: Revel Kitchen Jan 09, 2023

Eating healthy is often one of the most popular resolutions in the new year, but to find success, chef and business owner Simon Lusky says you need to find something attainable. That’s what he hopes to provide at Revel Kitchen, an affordable and accessible way to eat good-for-you food. A fast-casual restaurant wasn’t always his goal. He came to St. Louis for what many would consider a dream job – team chef for the St. Louis Cardinals. That led him to the opportunity to start cooking for St. Louis Blues players and other athletes. The first iteration of his restaurant was called Athlete Eats. When they opened a new location in Brentwood, they switched up the model and rebranded as Revel Kitchen. For more than ten years, they’ve been serving up chef-crafted food with gluten-free, paleo and vegan options. A little something for everyone. You can find Revel Kitchen at their locations in Brentwood and Kirkwood, with plans to expand across the St. Louis County area.

Episode 215: Excel Bottling Jan 02, 2023

Happy New Year from the Meet St. Louis podcast! We're excited to be back with new episodes for 2023; while there's so much attention on new things, this week, we're taking you to something old and rich with history: we head to Excel Bottling in Breese, Illinois. They opened their doors in 1936 and generations later, they still make your favorite sodas like Ski.

Listener's Favorite: Katie's Pizza and Pasta Dec 26, 2022

Happy Holidays from the Meet St. Louis podcast! This week, we're bringing you a listener's favorite: Katie's Pizza and Pasta. The episode has everything you need this time of year: family, food and frozen pizza.

Episode 214: Root Food + Wine Dec 19, 2022

If you follow the winding road of Highway 94, you’ll find yourself in Missouri wine country. Augusta is home to local wineries, the Katy Trail, and now a much talked about farm-to-table restaurant. Phillip Day opened Root Food + Wine in 2021. The menu changes monthly depending on the season, the local produce and when inspiration strikes. We sat down with Phillip in the century-old home-turned-restaurant to discuss creating a destination spot. He shares his path to owning his own place and the reality that it often means wearing all hats, including plumber and landscaper. Root Food + Wine is only open certain days a week, check their website for the latest menu and hours. rootfoodwine.com

Episode 213: Simply Delicious & 4 Hens Dec 12, 2022

2022 has been a huge year for chef Brandi Artis. She’s opened two restaurants and is planning a third one, and it’s all thanks to the incredible welcome from the St. Louis community. Brandi hails from Kansas City, where she started her cooking journey. The journey took her to Chicago and eventually brought her to St. Louis. Her passion is breakfast and brunch. That’s what you’ll find as the focus of her restaurant Simply Delicious in Downtown. But she started at the City Foundry with 4 Hens Creole Kitchen. Her goal is to take those savory, comforting dishes you love but put a slightly healthy spin on them. We sat down at her downtown restaurant to talk about food, family and plans for the future.

Episode 212: Switchgrass Spirits Dec 05, 2022

It’s the holiday season and we’re making spirits bright. For Nick Colombo, spirits are his whole world. He started off brewing beer, but he ended up distilling spirits. He discovered his first love helped shape the unique spirits coming out of Switchgrass Spirits, a local distillery located in North St. Louis. The old American Legion Hall is now filled with hundreds of barrels aging whiskey, rye and bourbon. The unique thing about Switchgrass Spirits is they only create and age their own product. If you know anything about spirits, that’s a tough thing to do because it takes a while before there’s anything to sell. Nick shares the challenges and the successes once they finally had that first bottle ready to sell. He owes much of that success to the enthusiastic and supportive St. Louis community. That and he feels that he made a really good product.

Episode 211: Vintage Vinyl Nov 28, 2022

The beloved record store Vintage Vinyl started as a booth in the Soulard Farmer’s market. For decades it’s served as a hub for St. Louis music culture and has been named one of the best record stores in the US. We sat down amidst the records and the CDS to talk with owner Tom Ray about the legacy of the store in the Delmar Loop. Tom has hundreds of stories to share and we dive into some of the classics. The early days of the store, some of the highlights of musicians who’ve shopped the aisles and the future of music amidst a world of streaming services. As you shop this holiday season remember to shop local and shop small!

Episode 210: Bijoux Chocolates Nov 21, 2022

Bijoux means jewel. If you look at Meggie Mobley’s creations that’s exactly what they look like, colorful beautiful gemstones. That taste delicious. The handcrafted chocolates can be found at her shop in Des Peres and soon in Webster Groves at a brand-new shop and production area. The smell of chocolate fills the space thanks to a very fancy machine that helps craft the artisan chocolates. The bonbons are hand-painted and filled with unique flavors like red currant Crème brûlée or lemon. There are traditional flavors as well including salted caramel, the best seller. We chatted about the steps leading up to opening her first shop, the science behind the perfect bite of chocolate, and the role her family played in helping her chase her dreams to create Bijoux Chocolates. To order Bijoux Chocolates and find a retail location: https://bijouxchocolates.com/about

Episode 209: Ben Poremba Nov 14, 2022

Ben Poremba has been shaping the St. Louis food scene for more than a decade. Each of his restaurants tells a story. The tiny details are his favorite part. Arranging the flowers, helping pick out the decors, things some restauranters don’t get the chance to do. He opened Olio and Elaia in the Botanical Heights neighborhood 10 years ago. This month he opened Bar Moro, a Spanish concept in Clayton in the former space of Zoe Robinson’s Billie Jean. In between, there have been successes, including James Beard nominations, as well as failures. He has likely played a part in some of your favorite food memories, and he continues to dream of new endeavors. We sat down at his new restaurant to talk about food, culture, family and his goal of transporting diners with every bite. Ben’s restaurants include Elaia, Olio, Nixta, The Benevolent King and Bar Moro. Visit his neighborhood market AO& Co for “unnecessary essentials.”

Episode 208: St. Louis CITY SC: CITY Flavor Nov 07, 2022

This week, we've got a bit of a different episode for you. A few weeks back, we got invited to check out St. Louis City Park, the new name for the St. Louis CITY SC, our MLS team. This month, the inaugural event will take place at the stadium, and while many will be going to watch soccer, we know our listeners also want to know about the food and drink. The stadium will have 100% local food offerings. We spoke with the minds and chefs behind all the creations.

Episode 207: Chicken Scratch Oct 31, 2022

Nate Hereford originally wanted to be an archologist, but thankfully for all of us, and our appetites, he found his way into the kitchen. Nate is the founder and chef of Chicken Scratch, one of the several food options at the City Foundry and later this year he will open a second location serving up his rotisserie style chicken and more in the city of Glendale. But many might know Nate’s name from his time working with the Niche Food Group and Chef Gerard Craft. As the executive chef at Niche, his background is heavy on fine dining but Nate tells me he wanted to make food that was for everyone, something more approachable. We sat down in his new restaurant space to talk about how he settled on chicken, how the shift in take out and easy pick up options has shifted the dining world and the local chefs he finds inspiration from. Chicken Scratch’s Glendale location is set to open in late November with dine in, to-go and a pick up window. Speaking of things coming soon, there are several new spots at the City Foundry opening in the coming months including Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, City Winery, and Sandbox VR, a virtual reality entertainment experience.

Episode 206: Companion Bakery Oct 24, 2022

Walking into the Companion Bakery facility in Maryland Heights, you’re met with the incredible smell of freshly baked bread. Once you meet owner Josh Allen you get a sense of what he’s worked to build for almost three decades. It’s much more than delicious bread. Companion Bakery is about community and partnership, something Josh says he’s not sure he could have built anywhere but his hometown of St. Louis. He discovered his love of baking while living in California, but when he started his wholesale business in 1993, it made the most sense to do it in St. Louis. Now they’re baking 30,000 pounds of bread each day. Bread and baked goods that head out across the St. Louis area and across the country to restaurants and grocery stores. The family-owned business says they owe it all to amazing employees, great customers, and a community passionate about good food. Find Companion products at your local stores, restaurants, and at their café in Ladue.

Episode 205: Blueprint Coffee Oct 17, 2022

Blueprint Coffee started when a group of coffee lovers wanted to bring something new to the St. Louis coffee scene. They wanted to bring something different, something with more transparency. That means from bean to cup. For nine years, the local roaster has brought incredible coffee to the St. Louis region and they’re ready to expand it. They will open a brand new 11,000 sq ft roastery in the Botanical Heights neighborhood in South St. Louis. They’ve been roasting out of their Delmar café and have long since outgrown the space. We sat down with co-owners Mark Marquard and Nora Brady to talk about the expansion, the beginnings of Blueprint Coffee and what hooked each of them on a great cup of coffee. Blueprint Coffee operates three locations, and they launched a retail expansion, offering their coffee at 23 Walmart stores throughout the area.

Episode 204: The Wine And Cheese Place Oct 10, 2022

In 1982, the Cheese Place first opened its doors. 40 years later, The Wine and Cheese Place, as it’s called now, has established itself as one of the go-to places for all things wine, beer, liquor, and of course cheese. We sat down at their store in Kirkwood, to talk about the milestone. Aaron Zwicker is the co-owner and wine manager and has helped countless people find the perfect bottle. He joined us on the podcast along with owner Vijay Shroff to talk about serving the St. Louis community. We dive deep into how they choose what to put on store shelves, how they get their hands on the labels you’re going to want on your dinner table and how their commitment to the industry allows them to partner with some of our favorite brands like Side Project Brewing for exclusive releases. The Wine and Cheese Place has locations in Clayton, Kirkwood, Creve Coeur, Town and Country, as well as Spirit Wine and Craft in South St. Louis.

Episode 203: Place Value Pottery + Boda Clay Sep 30, 2022

St. Louis is filled with artists, creatives and makers. Whether it’s unique to St. Louis or not, you can’t argue that our city is incredible about showing up and supporting locals. We sat down with two artists who’ve seen that first hand. Malaika Tolford started Place Value Pottery as a way to combine her love of geography and ceramics. For Molly Svoboda it all started when she was 15 and took her first ceramics class; she was hooked on clay. She started Boda Clay and discovered her love of creating dinnerware. Shaping and molding the plate that sits at a family’s dinner table. Creating something both beautiful and functional. The two artists share the journey of their craft and how the artist community continues to grow, which is demonstrated in their upcoming Mug Market, a market dedicated to showcasing the talented people across St. Louis. St. Louis Mug Market October 9, 2022 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Blueprint Coffee on 4206 Watson

Episode 202: Brandin Vaughn Sep 26, 2022

For Brandin Vaughn, his love of fashion started out of necessity. His family shopped at thrift stores when he was a kid, he quickly learned to sew and tailor the clothes to better fit him. And soon others took notice. But he followed a few other paths before heading to Chicago to go to school for fashion. We sat down with Brandin inside his shop on Cherokee Street in South St. Louis as he reflects on building his brand, shifting into the world of costume designing for theaters like the Black Rep, The Muny and Shakespeare in the Park. He loves pattern and color and his shop is filled with his designs, both custom and ready-to-wear. But it hasn’t always been easy and sometimes it takes hitting rock bottom to build momentum for a new path. We get candid as we talk about life, finding yourself and the constant search for inspiration.

Episode 201: Craft Republic Sep 19, 2022

For 25 years, Brian Dix has worked in the beer industry. He started working for Anheuser-Busch in college, sweeping floors and doing basic tasks. From there he went on to work for other distributors. Distributors help get your favorite beer (or liquor or wine) from the manufacturer to your favorite bar or local grocery store. After working for others, Brian realized something was missing, especially when it came to smaller brands. He founded Craft Republic to focus on craft beverages. Many of our favorite St. Louis breweries are distributed by Craft Republic. But it’s not just craft beer, they distribute cold brew from Sump and Kaldi’s, CBD drinks like Mighty Kind and the booming business of non-alcoholic options like Athletic Brewing. That’s a trend Brian couldn’t have predicted. We sat down with him at their warehouse near Soulard to talk beer, hospitality and what’s next in the craft beverage world.

Episode 200! with Joe Edwards of Blueberry Hill Sep 12, 2022

This episode is a major milestone, our 200th Episode! To mark our milestone, we’re celebrating another one. This month, Blueberry Hill in the Delmar Loop turns 50 years old. For any business that’s a feat, but especially a restaurant. Owner Joe Edwards joined us to talk about the early days back in 1972 when he first opened the doors to Blueberry Hill. He walks us through the next five decades as he expanded and helped grow the Loop into one of the greatest streets in America. There are really very few celebrities that he hasn’t met. He shares stories of Paul McCartney and meeting presidents. Between the Duck Room, the Pageant and Delmar Hall, he’s watched as bands and artists have grown in their careers to be megastars. You can stroll through Blueberry Hill, taking in the history and the memories. But he’s always looking ahead to the future. He shares the latest on his next endeavor, a putt-putt golf experience coming soon to the Loop.

Episode 199: Modern Brewery Sep 05, 2022

Modern Brewery has been churning out some great beers including their most popular,Citrapolis, since it opened in 2014. But their brewery was always been a bit hidden, located off Manchester Road. Now, their brand new tasting room is a show-stopper. You can’t miss it as you drive by Highway 64/40. Located next to the Science Center, owner Beamer Eisele can’t wait to introduce their beer to new customers. Beamer started brewing beer in college at Harvard University, but his path took him away from economics and into the brewery business. He’s joined by longtime friend Charles Hess who’s heading up their new kitchen. Pizza and sandwiches will be a new part of the business. The beer St. Louisians have come to love is crafted by head brewer Brian Harmon. He’s excited the new tasting room will eventually lead to an expanded beer program. Modern Brewery is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday – Sunday.

Episode 198: Yemanja Brasil Restaurant Aug 29, 2022

Bright flowers adorn the doorway of the Benton Park restaurant. As you walk inside, there’s colorful artwork and mermaids. Instantly you feel like you’re anywhere but South St. Louis. That’s what owner Lemya Sidki wanted; To transport you to her home country of Brazil. At Yemanja Brasil, when the drinks start coming and the food arrives, you feel like you're being welcomed into her family’s home. We sat down with Lemya to talk about growing as a restaurant over two decades, the dishes that are tried and true, and their upcoming Brazilian Day, a celebration of food, dancing and music that’s making its return after a three year hiatus. Brazilian Day is taking place September 10 in Benton Park. For more information head to: https://yemanjastl.com

Episode 197: Ices Plain & Fancy Aug 22, 2022

There’s something nostalgic about ice cream, especially on warm summer nights in St. Louis. Creating memories was the goal for siblings Max and Darla Crask when they opened Ices Plain and Fancy in the Shaw neighborhood in South St. Louis, and the storefront-style building evokes a sense of an old-school ice cream parlor. But when you walk inside and watch the ice cream made, you realize it’s something much more special. At Ices Plain & Fancy, your ice cream is made in front of your eyes using liquid nitrogen. Both Darla and Max wanted to make sure it wasn’t a gimmick, and that the ice cream’s flavor is what made people return. They’ve done that with classic flavors using only the best local and seasonal ingredients, and boozy flavors that pack the punch of a full cocktail. We sat down with the duo to talk about crafting new flavors, the passion behind their business, and what’s next in the future. Ices Plain and Fancy is open Tuesday – Sunday.

Episode 196: Sno Aug 15, 2022

For Tony Nguyen, opening his new restaurant in South St Louis is a major milestone. While he’s worked at restaurants across the country, this marks the first that will be solely his. It also is the return to his roots: After working in Los Angeles, Tony decided it was time to come home to St. Louis. He and his wife, Jessica, a fellow chef and marine biologist, are ready to welcome diners to Sno located off South Grand. We know that stretch of road is the place to get almost every kind of cuisine, but Tony and Jessica hope to bring something new with their modern Asian restaurant, including their take on Dim Sum. We sat down in the newly redesigned space to talk about sustainable seafood, mentorship, and the jitters he feels about stepping into the title of "restauranteur."

LISTENER FAVORITE: Schlafly Brewing Aug 09, 2022

Schlafly Brewery has been around since 1991, a long time in the craft beer world and they’re still working to innovate and shape the future of craft beer. From 2021, here's our episode about what it takes to build a revered St. Louis brewery in the shadow of AB, and why Schlafly works toward guiding a male-dominated industry into a new frontier.

Episode 195: Polished Prints Aug 02, 2022

Be The Good – it’s a mantra we all could use. And it was the first one Leah Longueville created when she started making shirts in her guest bedroom. She started Polished Prints after her first child was born. It began with a desire for more neutral baby clothes – something she struggled to find. So she did it herself. Now four years later you can find the sustainably made graphic tees, onesies, and other goods at boutiques and stores across the country and now on Nordstrom.com. A massive milestone that has this mom of three still pinching herself. We sat down at the Procure Marketplace at the Foundry, one of the shops you can find Polished Prints to talk about building a brand, starting from square one, and creating clothing with a purpose. Check out their line of clothing and accessories for babes and adults: https://polished-prints.com/

Episode 194: Vails Brothers Jul 25, 2022

Eric Vails says business is family. He and his brother operate Vails Brothers Shrimp Chicken and Fish. Their original location is on Delmar, just east of the Loop, and they just opened a second location in the Grove, bringing their food to a new customer base. Eric says he’s always loved the food industry. He’s worked at several places and has started several different endeavors over the years, including Big Bella, his food truck he built from the ground up. But success to him is building a place to pass down to his children. And, of course, the happy faces of his customers when they walk in the door to order hot honey catfish or what he describes as St. Louis- style fried chicken. We sat down with Eric to talk about food, family, and chasing a dream.

Episode 193: Drunken Fish + Kimchi Guys Jul 18, 2022

20 years in any business is a milestone to be celebrated, but it’s an especially big deal in the restaurant industry. Munsok So opened Drunken Fish in Westport Plaza in 2003. He admits he didn’t have the experience to open a sushi restaurant, but he had the drive and the selfish desire to have a place in his hometown where he could eat great sushi. It was a success and it led to another location. And another. They also own Kimchi Guys, a Korean fried chicken spot on Laclede’s Landing and near Washington University’s campus. Next up, they’re crossing the river and opening a shared location with the two brands in Edwardsville. We sat down with Munsok at his office in Laclede’s Landing; the same building that had a wall collapse in 2015. But instead of abandoning the historic district, he said he wanted to help revitalize it.

Episode 192: Serendipity Ice Cream Jul 11, 2022

Just in time for National Ice Cream Day (July 17), beloved Serendipity Ice Cream is now open in The Grove in St. Louis. It will be almost 19 years to the day that Beckie Jacobs open her shop in Webster Groves. She closed that storefront in 2021 and the new space offers a larger footprint, which means more original ice cream flavors and more opportunity for wholesale business. She saw a need in the neighborhood and decided to meet it by opening earlier, serving up coffee, bagels, and pastries, and eventually later, serving up boozy options. Check their website for the latest on hours and offerings. We wanted to know, what’s an ice cream shop owner's favorite flavor. https://www.serendipity-icecream.com/ Beckie Jacobs shares that and more including how she learned the ins and outs of the ice cream business, one scoop at a time.

Episode 191: Cleaver & Cocktail + The Block Jul 04, 2022

For Chefs Marc Del Pietro and Brian Doherty, the restaurant business is a family affair. Marc grew up in his family’s South St. Louis restaurant and Brian married into the family. Now, the two brothers-in-law operate three distinct restaurants in the St. Louis area: The Block in Webster Groves, 58Hundred in South City, and their newest venture, Cleaver & Cocktail in Town and Country. We sat down with the longtime restaurateurs at their new spot, a meat-forward endeavor that features a dry-aging room. We talk family legacies, the changing industry, and what makes each of their restaurants special.

Episode 190: Honey Bee's Biscuits + Tropical Moose Jun 27, 2022

It’s incredible to think what can happen in two years. In early 2020, Mike Shadwick decided to finally make the jump into the restaurant industry. His wife Meredith convinced him to apply for a kitchen job. He loved it. Then boom: COVID. But that pause was what actually kicked things off for the Shadwicks. After tossing around ideas, Honeybees Biscuits + Good Eats was born. The Kirkwood couple sold out on day one. Fast forward to now, they have a booming business and are about to open a restaurant. Down the street, they took over the popular Tropical Moose Shaved Ice stand at the Kirkwood Farmer’s Market. "Tro Mo" is a St. Louis summer staple. The couple dishes about the ups, downs, and lessons learned over the whirlwind two years.

Episode 189: Noto Pizza Jun 21, 2022

It all started with a pizza in Scotland... Not what you'd expect to kick off an authentic Italian restaurant, but that was Wayne Sieve’s first introduction to Neapolitan-style pizza. That first taste set off a passion project that would eventually lead to a food truck, and then a restaurant where people often drive well over an hour to get a table. Noto Pizza is located in St. Peters, in what used to be J Noto Bakery. That’s where Kendele Sieve grew up. She recalls getting home from school, finishing homework and heading to the bakery to help her dad bake cookies. She always knew she’d follow in his food footsteps, but it wasn’t until her husband Wayne started diving deep into the world of Neapolitan pizza that they realized the future looked different than she’d imagined. The couple opened the doors in 2019 – just before everything shut down. But not only have they weathered the pandemic, they’ve thrived, and soon they expect to be the only certified authentic Neapolitan pizza in the region. We learn all about what that means, how their oven shipped straight from Italy is helping them earn that title, and what the future holds for them.

Episode 188: Brats of the World | Alpacas of Troy Jun 13, 2022

This week might be the wildest podcast we’ve done in our almost 200 episode history. We were surrounded by animals while recording our interview with Jeff Suchland, who runs Alpacas of Troy and Brats of the World; two separate businesses both operated out of their family farm in Troy, Missouri. You can find both of them at farmers' markets across the area, including Tower Grove on Saturdays and Tuesdays. In this interview. you’re going to hear some of the alpacas, as well as Fred the peacock who wanted to say hello. But you’re also going to hear a story about how one of our local farmers is taking a different approach, finding a way to carry on the legacy of his family’s farm into the next generation. It involves sausage making and yarn making – two things he didn’t know anything about until he set his mind to learning. Head to @meetstlouispodcast on Instagram and Facebook to see the cute alpacas you just learned about. As well as some of the goats. You can see them yourselves as well at the farm, its open for tours. Meet Jeff and pick up some of the brats and sausages at area farmer’s markets including Tower Grove, Ferguson, Sol Food Farmer’s Market and Francis Park Farmer’s Market.

Episode 187: Pop Pop Hurray! Jun 05, 2022

Tony Davis describes himself as a serial entrepreneur, always dreaming of a big idea. His love for popcorn is the one that stuck. He started Pop Pop Hurray! first as a vendor and fundraising business, but a storefront was calling. The pandemic almost put that call on hold, but the fact that other businesses were closing was what allowed him to get the perfect corner storefront in downtown Ferguson. We sat down with Tony inside his shop with the smell of caramel filling the air and the sound of popcorn popping away. There are more than 50 flavors and any topping you could dream of. Tony shared the vision for the present and future of his brand, as well as the push he received from UMSL Accelerate program, which works to lift up small businesses. He’s now working to open a second location later this summer in St. Charles. Learn more about the UMSL Accelerate program: http://umsl.edu/accelerate/ Check out all the flavors: https://www.poppophurray.com/

Episode 186: Bike Stop Café May 30, 2022

When you walk inside Bike Stop Café off historic Main Street in St. Charles, you're met with two distinct businesses – a café serving up healthy and fresh foods and a bike shop with gear to buy and to rent so you can hop right on the Katy Trail out the back door. That was always the goal for Jodi Devonshire and her husband Tony when they open more than a decade ago. It combines their two passions – mountain biking and cooking. Their café greets people at the beginning or the end of the 237-mile trail that stretches from one end of Missouri to the next. Jodi sat down with us inside their business to talk about their new bakery that just opened in Frenchtown, the desire to make biking accessible for everyone, and her passion for building a menu filled with things that will fill your stomach and your soul. For hours and info on renting bikes or hopping on the shuttle, check out https://www.bikestopcafes.com/locations-hours

Episode 185: Bridge Bread May 23, 2022

Inside a storefront on Cherokee street in south St. Louis, they’re baking more than just bread and cinnamon rolls. They’re helping change lives. Bridge Bread Bakery is a unique concept - a non-profit social enterprise. The bakers are all unhoused. Fred and Sharon Domke founded the non-profit in 2011. They started inside their church and expanded, and now they’ve got a large retail and kitchen space, and the bread and baked goods are delivered all over the St. Louis area--including to Schnucks Markets and Fresh Thyme. Fred Domke joined us on the podcast to talk about how the idea to start a bakery came to be, the empowering work they do each day, and how the community helps make it all possible. The bakers and employees are all paid that’s to the sale of the baked goods but much of the operation is funded by donations. To help or to find out where you can get your hands on their cinnamon rolls, head to bridgebread.org

Episode 184: Chef Bernie Lee and Akar May 16, 2022

Bernie Lee started working in restaurants as a teenager. He immigrated to the US from Malaysia and wanted to open a restaurant that reminded him of the fusion of flavors he grew up with. His first restaurant was 609 Lounge and Restaurant in the Delmar Loop, and then opened Hiro Asian Kitchen in Downtown. All of those experiences led him to eventually open Akar in Clayton. The tiny 12-seat restaurant is located on Wydown in what Lee describes as a “little magical corner.” We sat down with Lee to talk about cooking from the heart and the lessons he learned from his mother and grandmother. We talk about travel and menu inspiration and the joy of invoking a memory through food. Akar features elevated Malaysian cuisine and is open Tuesday through Sunday for dinner.

Episode 183: Mother's Day with Nick and Ann Bognar May 09, 2022

Ann Bognar opened Nippon Tei in West County more than two decades ago. Her son Nick grew up watching her in the kitchen at home and at the restaurant. Nick took the lessons learned from his family restaurant and opened Indo in the Botanical Heights neighborhood and now the mother-son duo will venture into a new restaurant Sado. The Bognars will bring modern Japanese cuisine and sushi to the Hill neighborhood later this fall. In honor of Mother’s Day we sat down with the Bognars to talk about lessons learned inside kitchen, legacy, and the power of family. Nippon Tei will remain open through the fall until Sado opens in the former Giovanni’s location on the Hill.

Episode 182: Crazy Bowls and Wraps May 02, 2022

Crazy Bowls and Wraps has been serving up healthy eats, things like kale and quinoa, way before they were ever trendy. And many people don’t realize the fast-casual spot is local to St. Louis. Keith and Gail Kitsis first opened their restaurant in 1994 and they’ve grown and expanded to 16 locations across the St. Louis metro area. Keith joined us on the podcast along with Kim Reitzner, the director of operations, to talk about building a business in the ever-changing landscape of fast-casual landscape. They credit their attention to detail and bringing options for various lifestyle choices like Whole 30 and Paleo with their success and longevity in the region. Now they hope to bring the concept to other places in the country.

Episode 181: Pharaoh's Donuts Apr 25, 2022

Waking up to the smell of donuts has been a reality for Syeeda Morris since she was a child. Her dad Amon Aziz started the beloved Pharaoh's Donuts in 1994. Now they have two locations, one in Downtown and one in the Central West End and they’re scoping out a third spot. Glazed is the top seller but for Syeeda it’s the ones that take a little decorating that strike her fancy. She finds calm and peace in baking and decorating and is expanding beyond the donuts that Pharaoh's is so well known for. We sat down with her inside their busy downtown location to talk about expanding to other baked goods, early wake-up calls and the power of passing down a legacy, one donut at a time.

Episode 180: Heavy Riff Brewing Apr 18, 2022

This week on the Meet St. Louis Podcast, we head to Dogtown and visit one of the fastest-growing breweries in the region. Rick Hagen and Greg Meyer built their brewery on a simple idea: Who doesn't want to own a brewery? From there, they added their love of music, adorning their one-of-a-kind space with original concert posters that could rival a record store. All the while, they were making exceptional beer that not only made them leaders of the pack in the competitive beer town of St. Louis, but won them national awards. Rick and Greg sat down with Meet St. Louis to talk about what it takes to build and believe in a brewery, and where you take it once you succeed (yes, they are expanding). Here's the story of how a group of friends made their dreams came true, and how they made some of the city's best beer along the way. Sit back, plug in, and enjoy!

Episode 179: World Chess Hall of Fame Apr 11, 2022

St. Louis is one of those cities where you can always discover something new. That’s what this week’s episode was all about. Many of us have seen the giant chess piece in the Central West End. In fact, did you know it’s the world’s largest? How that came to be is just one of the stories Shannon Bailey, curator of the World Chess Hall of Fame, shared with us on the episode. Chess has put St. Louis on the map, making it a destination for the world’s best chess players, but also just those interested in the game. The WCHOF is celebrating 10 years in St. Louis this year and Bailey takes us on the journey of how it came to be in the Gateway City. And even if you’re not a fan of chess, keep listening because this is about art, culture and bringing people to St. Louis to experience everything our city has to offer. The current exhibit, Mind, Art, Experience: 10 Years of Chess and Culture in Saint Louis celebrates all 50 exhibitions since the opening in 2011. It runs from now until July 17.

Episode 178: Izumi Apr 04, 2022

Kurt Bellon is the first to admit that starting your own business is tough. And nearly impossible without the support of friends and family. For him, it was his brothers and mom who helped get his Japanese sando pop up off the ground, including tracking down the little red fire truck he uses to serve up his food at pop-ups around town. He also couldn’t do it without the support of the St. Louis restaurant community. We sat down with Kurt at Nudo House in the Delmar Loop, where he uses the kitchen for prep work, to talk all about Izumi. Izumi launched in 2020 in the height of the pandemic. A way to serve up beautiful Japanese creations in a quick, carryout model. From tonkatsu to strawberry sandos (yes strawberry!) Kurt shares what makes these simple creations unique to St. Louis.

Episode 177: St. Louis Cheeseboards Mar 29, 2022

Social media is key for so many businesses these days. But for Allison Schilling, it’s the sole reason her business is where it is today. She started creating cheeseboards for fun and for friends and sharing them on a private Instagram page. @STLcheeseboards was born. But it wasn’t until a stranger discovered her page and reached out about purchasing one. Soon, she made the page public and began selling her beautiful and creative cheese and charcuterie boards. She was working at a hospital during the height of the pandemic and was able to take the leap and quit her full time job to pursue her passion. We sat down with Allison in her kitchen space in Fenton to talk about the ins and outs of creating a Insta-worthy board, sourcing local, and the mentors who have guided her along the way.

Episode 176: Fattened Caf Mar 21, 2022

Charlene and Darren Young weren’t in the restaurant business but they had a passion: Darren wanted to learn to make BBQ and turned to YouTube and Charlene wanted to share her culture and food of the Phillipines. It started on a whim but now they host regular pop-ups at Earthbound Brewery on Cherokee Street and you can find their smoked meats in the grocery store. Now they’re taking their passion nationwide, selling their line of sauces and condiments at even more grocery stores and wholesale. We sat down with the Youngs to talk about building a business while raising a family and how the pandemic caused a unique pivot that led to their success today. Follow The Fattened Caf on social media to check out their next Filipino BBQ pop-up!

Episode 175: Goshen Coffee Mar 14, 2022

This week we headed over to Illinois to check out Goshen Coffee. The locally roasted coffee has been around since 2002 but it’s got a new look and a lot of new things happening, including a second location coming later this spring to Soulard. We sat down with CEO Jennifer Hughey and their Chief Coffee Officer Tony Ager at their Edwardsville cafe to talk all about beans, brewing and being a part of the community. If you've never been to their location in the Metro East, you’ve still likely seen Goshen around town. It’s on the grocery store shelves and in your cup at places like Rooster, the Annex, and many other spots. They’re working to take their wholesale business nationwide to bring Illinois roasted coffee to a larger audience.

Episode 174: The Pat Connolly Tavern Mar 07, 2022

In 1942, Pat Connolly opened up a bar and restaurant in the neighborhood that would one day be known as Dogtown. Fast forward to today, it’s the oldest Irish bar in town and run by Joe Jovanovich, the third generation. Joe grew up in the bar and never planned to make it his career, but a sense of family and, he admits, a bit of naivety brought him back. Now he not only runs the restaurant but heads up Dogtown United, the nonprofit that helps throw one of our city’s best parties: St. Patrick’s Day. This year it returns after a two-year hiatus. The parade is on March 17 and kicks off at 11 a.m.

Episode 173: Crooked Boot Feb 21, 2022

CC Griggs moved to St. Louis from Lousiana and realized she couldn’t find the food of her hometown. So she set out to make some herself. It started off as just a hobby and then she quit her corporate job and decided to buy a food truck. The Crooked Boot food truck kicked off in 2016 with both ups and downs. But she found her footing and the opening of the 9 Mile Food Garden introduced her Creole Southern food to a larger audience. Now she’s opening a carryout-only restaurant in St. Charles with the hopes of expanding her audience. CC joined us on the podcast to talk about weathering the pandemic, the new restaurant and how her food is all a reminder of childhood. The new restaurant is now open at 2012 Campus Drive in St. Charles. Follow them on social media @thecrookedboot to find the food truck.

Episode 172: Honeymoon Chocolates Feb 14, 2022

On this Valentine’s Day, it feels only right that we’d be talking chocolate. Specifically Honeymoon Chocolates. It’s a labor of love. One that started in a dorm room closet by now married couple Cam and Haley Loyet. Their chocolates are made bean to bar right here in St. Louis even though they’re sold in specialty shops all across the country. But what makes them extra unique is that they sweeten with only honey. Owner Cam Loyet sat down with us on the podcast in their brand new store front and factory in Clayton to talk about how it all began. From the trial and errors to the emphasis they put on sourcing every single part of their chocolate, from the honey to the packaging, so that it’s sustainable and makes an impact on our world (and your taste buds!) Find Honeymoon Chocolates at 16 N Central Ave in Clayton

Episode 171: Elmwood and Pizza Champ Feb 07, 2022

Episode 171: Elmwood and Pizza Champ by Meet St. Louis

Episode 170: STL From Above Jan 31, 2022

From the Arch grounds to the intricate details of our city’s architecture, to the blooming flowers of the Missouri Botanical Gardens, STL From Above allows us to experience the sites of this city from a whole new perspective. Justin Barr is the man behind the drone and the popular Instagram account soaring through your feed. He’s captured big moments like the Blues’ Stanley Cup parade and intimate moments like weddings, and each of those moments is captured from high above. Justin joined us on the podcast to talk about how he got started, where he dreams of taking his drone and the funny moment where his pictures were thwarted by a pack of geese. Follow Justin at @stl_from_above

Episode 169: Sugarfire Pie Jan 25, 2022

When you hear SugarFire, your mind and your taste buds are likely thinking barbeque, but half of the business comes from Carolyn Downs' sweets. She’s been baking for decades and if you’ve eaten at some of St. Louis' favorite restaurants, you’ve likely fallen for her bread pudding or cakes or her pies. Or her pake. What’s a pake? Well it’s a pie inside of a cake. And right now it’s getting a national spotlight thanks to the Cooking Channel show Cheat Day USA. Carolyn works alongside her husband who brought back the beloved Cyrano’s Café in Webster Groves and alongside Chef and restauranteur Mike Johnson, together they opened the first Sugar Fire Smoke House in 2012. Mike handled the fire…Carolyn the sugar. They’ve expanded across the St Louis area and across the country to bring St Louis BBQ and the perfect desserts to pair with them, to an even bigger audience. But it all started small, and Carolyn joined us this week to talk about those early days and how she talked her pies into some of the kitchens around town. Learn more by listening to our interview with Mike Johnson in Episode 50 here --> https://bit.ly/3tMF0SY

Episode 168: Danni Eickenhorst | Fountain on Locust Jan 19, 2022

Danni Eickenhorst loves a good story and she’s been helping share stories all around St. Louis for years in PR and marketing. But it wasn’t until her good friend Steve Ewing asked her to help him craft a press release announcing the closure of beloved Steve’s Hot Dogs back in 2019 that her story started to change. She decided to help him keep the place open and as partners they not only reopened but have since expanded and grown. Now her and her husband are continuing to add to the chapters of their story with the Fountain on Locust. The popular restaurant located in Midtown opened in 2008 but Joy Grdnic, the longtime owner, was looking to retire. That’s where Danni once again stepped in, hoping to carry on the magic of the spot known for its ice cream martinis. From collaboration, to improving St. Louis, to the memories of a favorite restaurant, we talk about it all in this week’s episode. Learn more by listening to our interview with Steve Ewing in Episode 30. https://bit.ly/3At9vPj

Programming Announcement | Rootberry Jan 04, 2022

The Meet St. Louis Podcast is on a break this week due to the surging COVID-19 cases throughout the region. However, we have an episode that will hopefully help you with those New Year Resolutions! More plants, more people, more often. That’s the goal of St. Louis’s newest food delivery company, Rootberry. Launched this summer, Rootberry delivers plant-based meals to your doorstep, no subscription required. For Marc Connor, Co-Founder and President of Rootberry, that last part was critical. The company- whose food I can personally say is delicious- and I’m mostly a meat-eater- doesn’t want to force anyone to change the way they eat. They just want to make it easier for people to eat plant-based meals, however often they want. Marc sat down with us to talk about why they believed they could build a company like this in St. Louis when so many others would try to start on the coasts. He also talked about the choice, and the fight, to do things a little slower and with a little more care, because they want to run their business based on ideals, and what it takes to make plant-based meals delicious and deliverable. For First-time customers who are listeners of Meet St. Louis, there’s a special offer if you want to try Rootberry. Through the end of August, if you enter the code MEETSTLOUIS at checkout, you’ll get 15% off your order. And if you do, you may just meet Marc in person. Even though he’s the president, he still hits the road routinely, delivering Rootberry meals himself.

Episode 167: Schlafly Dec 22, 2021

Episode 167: Schlafly by Meet St. Louis

Episode 166: 1Canoe2 Dec 13, 2021

From planners to calendars, to cards and puzzles, 1Canoe2 creates beautiful paper goods from their shop in Fulton, Mo. In fact you might have seen their items on the shelves of stores like Anthropology, a major pinch me moment for owner Beth Snyder. She started the company as a side gig to pursue her artistic passion but soon it grew to the point where she felt comfortable quitting her day job. Beth joined us on the podcast to talk about how she grew her business from Etsy to selling at 1,000 independent boutiques across the country. She says shopping local this holiday season is more important than ever and she gives us some key reasons why.

Episode 165: La Patisserie Chouquette Dec 09, 2021

Simone Faure says cookies changed her life. She began her journey in the pastry world in her hometown of New Orleans and it’s a journey that landed her in the Botanical Heights neighborhood, opening her bakery La Patisserie Chouquette. In fact, it was a talk from Oprah that gave her the push to open the doors in 2013 and since then, her shop has brought people from all across the region to try her famous macarons. Simone has cooked for celebrities and created wedding cakes for many across St. Louis but it’s one woman who walked in the first day the bakery opened that she’ll never forget. On the podcast, she shares her passion for sweets and the stories behind each treat.

Episode 164: Meert Tree Farm Nov 29, 2021

Happy Holiday Season! We hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving with lots and lots of delicious food. And of course, we hope you shopped local over the weekend. This week, we are diving in with a holiday tradition. For three generations, Meert Tree Farm has been a part of those holiday memories for thousands of families in the St. Louis area. They are located in Festus with 150 acres filled with rows and rows of Christmas trees. Victoria Meert joined us just days before the madness began to share what it's like to attempt to modernize the Christmas tree farm industry while carrying the legacy that started by her grandfather in the 1960s. It can be a tough industry, depending on mother nature and the economy, but the moment those families walk in for their annual visit to the farm, all is merry and bright. Sit back, plug in and enjoy!

Episode 163: Kalbi Taco Shack Nov 15, 2021

We took you inside the City Foundry in July and now that it's buzzing, we're making a return trip to speak to Sue and her husband Mark about the customer-favorite, Kalbi Taco Shack. With the new development in Midtown finally open, Kalbi Taco Shack sold 16,000 tacos in their first month! It's a record the family hopes to beat. Join us as we discuss family, marinades and a customer base that comes back time and time again.

Episode 162: Old Herald Nov 08, 2021

This week's episode combines two of Alexis' favorite things: Journalism and craft beer. Old Herald Brewery and Distillery in Collinsville is about to celebrate their third anniversary. Owner Derik Reiser opened his dream spot in the former home of the Collinsville Herald and he stuck with the newspaper theme as he named his beers: from Printer's Ink, a black ale, to the Weekend Edition, a citrus sweet. He's been home-brewing since college but his real passion is craft spirits - and he wants to do for the spirit industry what we've seen craft breweries do for the beer business. Join us as we talk whisky, beer and chasing a dream!

Episode 161: Logan Ely of Lucky Accomplice and SHIFT Oct 25, 2021

Nothing excites Logan Ely like a vegetable, and he says he likes the simple ones, like rutabaga. For the chef and owner of Lucky Accomplice and SHIFT, his cooking is inspired by what the farmer has to offer. Logan grew up in St. Louis but when he decided to make cooking his career, he set off to work in some of the world’s best restaurants. “I wanted to be the dummy in the room,” he said during our conversation inside his Fox Park restaurant Lucky Accomplice. But like so many of our hometown chefs, he wanted to bring that knowledge back to St. Louis. Logan joined us on the podcast to talk about cooking without a kitchen, his love for the Fox Park neighborhood, and where he draws inspiration from when crafting a menu that can change on a day-to-day basis.

Episode 160: Prairie Farms Oct 18, 2021

Alexis is back! This week we're giving you the story behind something that's probably in your fridge right now: Prairie Farms products. Their milk, cream, yogurt, cheese, butter, or ice cream. Maybe you've never thought about it but it all comes from a cow just nearby. Prairie Farms has been in business since the 1930s. They are a lot bigger now, made up of 700 family farms across the Midwest, and many of them are multi-generational, like Craig Meng who has 150 cows on his dairy farm in Freeburg, Illinois. He took a day away from the field to sit with us, along with Darin Copeland to give us some insight into the dairy business and how milk products hit the shelves within 48 hours. Sip on their chocolate milk and enjoy!

Episode 159: May's Place Oct 11, 2021

For the second straight week, we are talking to someone who built their business based on sustainability. Katie May, who opened May’s Place in 2016 and opened their Grove location 2019, worked in retail her whole life, and had seen enough of the corporate fashion world to know that there’s just too much waste involved with what we wear. So she took her love of vintage clothes and her knowledge of the fashion world and built a business. It’s a business built on the idea that anyone can wear what makes them feel empowered, and they can do it without creating more waste or being a less conscious consumer. It might not have been the easiest route to go, but by forging ahead, Katie helped build an environment in St. Louis that not only supports sustainable, locally-focused businesses but showcases the collaborative power of the Gateway City. So let’s meet Katie.

Episode 158: Dharma + Dwell Oct 04, 2021

Apologies to our listeners looking for a new episode last week, some projects at the station ended up demanding a little extra time. But we are back with a brand new episode, joined by Jordan Blackhurst, the founder of Dharma + Dwell. Jordan found inspiration where a lot of us do: in the shower. One day she looked around and realized so much of our self-care, beauty, bath, and home products are produced, contained and distributed in a wasteful way. And while plenty of people WANT to be more conscious consumers, sometimes having a guide makes it a lot easier. So Jordan set out to build a business that makes it easier for consumers to consume more ethically and environmentally friendly. She joined Meet St. Louis to talk about what it takes to build a business based on beliefs, and all the bumps and bruises she experienced along the road to where she is today. Because it’s always easy to make concessions. It’s hard to stick to your guns and create something the way you believe it needs to be made.

Listener Favorite: StilL 630 Sep 20, 2021

StilL 630 is hidden in plain sight in Downtown St. Louis. The craft distillery is housed inside a former fast-food restaurant, but when you open the doors you're greeted by the team creating some of the best spirits in the entire country. Owner and founder David Weglarz started Still 630 in 2012 and since then has won award after award for their whiskeys, gins, and rums. Weglarz joined us on the podcast to chat about starting a business from scratch, their experimental spirits program, and how the collaborative nature of the St. Louis food and drink scene continues to lift everyone across the city.

Episode 157: Old Vienna and Red Hot Riplets Sep 13, 2021

When I first moved to St. Louis, there was sort of a hidden gem in the snack world. It was a kind of local secret known as Red Hot Riplets. Now 10 years later, it’s no longer just a local delicacy. Over the last decade, Old Vienna, the makers of Red Hot Riplets, have expanded their reach, and their flagship chips have become a treat craved by people across the country. Things really took off when the company began selling products online, and suddenly the Red Hot Riplets seasoning was being shipped as far away as Alaska and Hawaii. From there there were shirts, flags, and even shower curtains with the logo emblazoned on it, all of which ship around the U.S. We sat down to talk to Elisha Shaffer, who has been with Old Vienna for 18 years. We chatted about the nearly 100- year company history, the big changes that made their products so popular, and what it’s like to watch a St. Louis staple grow into a sensation. She also tells a few stories of just how far customers have gone in the past to get their hands on Red Hot Riplets, and teases the return of a product that has been missing for a few years.

Episode 156: Lion's Choice Aug 30, 2021

Our guest this week is Lion’s Choice CEO Mike Kupstas, and beginning tomorrow (Tuesday), they will have a limited-time collaboration with St. Louis staple Crown Candy Kitchen. It’s a team-up by two St. Louis favorites- yes, Lion’s Choice is from St. Louis- and It’s frozen custard, bacon, and only available for a couple of weeks. Mike sat down with us in the Brentwood location to talk about the history and pride behind St. Louis’ homegrown fast-casual restaurant, a restaurant chain he believed in so much he agreed to come out of retirement to be its CEO. We talk about how they make such a good sandwich every time, what goes into creating such a reliable experience every time you eat there, and where the franchise hopes to go next. The Crown Candy collaboration begins Tuesday, August 31, and will run for two weeks, so if bacon and frozen custard sounds like your thing, make sure you don’t miss out. If you just want some roast beef, there are Lion’s Choice locations in Illinois and Kansas, and plenty in Missouri, and if you live in the St. Louis area, there’s almost certainly one within a few minutes of you.

Episode 155: Edera and the Koplar family Aug 23, 2021

Opened during the pandemic in 2020, Edera- which means Ivy in Italian- is the second restaurant from the Koplar Group. After owning and operating Scape for more than a decade, the family decided it was time to update the concept in the Central West End, and bring a different feel to the neighborhood restaurant. The first person you’ll hear from is Bob Koplar, who along with his brother Sam, has followed in the family tradition of taking big swings and making them work in the city they love. The Koplars are responsible for a few St. Louis staples, including the building of the Park Plaza Tower in the 1920s, which is known today as the Chase Park Plaza, the founding of the KPLR TV station, and the revitalization of Maryland Plaza. Bob talks about what that legacy means to him, Edera’s place in that story, and of course, brags about what he says is, hands down, no contest, the best patio in the city. We end our episode with head chef Andrew Simon, who sat down with us during crunch time to talk about balancing a menu that fits different types of diners, as well as keeping consistent experience while continuing to evolve and elevate the dishes people associate with Italian cuisine. Edera is open Tuesday through Saturday starting at 5 p.m. The dining room is open until 9 p.m. during the week and until 10 on the weekends, but they offer late-night pizza and cocktails on their patio until midnight Friday and Saturday.

Episode 154: Rootberry Aug 16, 2021

More plants, more people, more often. That’s the goal of St. Louis’s newest food delivery company, Rootberry. Launched this summer, Rootberry delivers plant-based meals to your doorstep, no subscription required. For Marc Connor, Co-Founder and President of Rootberry, that last part was critical. The company- whose food I can personally say is delicious- and I’m mostly a meat-eater- doesn’t want to force anyone to change the way they eat. They just want to make it easier for people to eat plant-based meals, however often they want. Marc sat down with us to talk about why they believed they could build a company like this in St. Louis when so many others would try to start on the coasts. He also talked about the choice, and the fight, to do things a little slower and with a little more care, because they want to run their business based on ideals, and what it takes to make plant-based meals delicious and deliverable. For First-time customers who are listeners of Meet St. Louis, there’s a special offer if you want to try Rootberry. Through the end of August, if you enter the code MEETSTLOUIS at checkout, you’ll get 15% off your order. And if you do, you may just meet Marc in person. Even though he’s the president, he still hits the road routinely, delivering Rootberry meals himself.

Episode 153: Apotheosis Comics Aug 09, 2021

For Martin Casas, owner of Apotheosis Comics, community has been at the forefront of his entire career. After years in politics, searching for leaders who could put on the cape, he decided to go directly to the people. Apotheosis opened in 2017, and since then has served as a spot for comic fans young and old, whether they are newcomers or connoisseurs. But for Martin, it’s always been about more than just a business. he adopted St. Louis as his new home, and has dedicated years to bringing the community together however possible. The combination bar and comic book shop is the epitome of that philosophy. It’s not only a gathering place for people of all ages, but Apotheosis hosts reading events for kids, organizes food drives, and Martin is always looking for however else his business can lift St. Louis up when it needs a hand. When COVID hit, they had to completely change their model, but the community they’d welcomed so openly came to them. Through social media, business grew so much that they’ll be opening a second location this month on Cherokee Street and Jefferson, in the location where Foam used to be. Martin joined us to talk about the growth of comics and graphic novels in pop culture, building a business on beliefs, and what it’s like to put on the cape- even as a small business owner. For comic book fans, a big date is just around the corner. August 14th is Free Comic Book Day, and Apotheosis will be ready for customers of all levels of comic fandom. Then a week later, their new location will have its soft opening. Head down to Cherokee and Jefferson to check out the new space, and maybe discover something new to fall in love with.

Episode 152: Urban Harvest Aug 03, 2021

This week, we aren’t going inside, we’re going up on a rooftop. We sat down with Urban Harvest’s Jamie Wallace at their rooftop garden downtown to talk about the fight to bring sustainable food to St. Louis as well as strengthen the community as St. Louis grows together. Urban Harvest started in 2011, and now has more than a half dozen locations across the area, providing fresh produce to those without access, and working to create a network to help with food assistance throughout the city. As executive director, Jamie talked about education programs as well, helping to teach those who want to learn how to create sustainable urban gardening and spread the word throughout communities who want to build their own. Oh, and if you grow at home and find yourself asking “what are we going to do with all these vegetables?” Well, there’s an app for that. If you want to check out the farms, you can go any Saturday morning from 9-11:30. If you’re looking to start your own garden, there are some handy how-to guides on their website UrbanHarvestSTL.org. There, you can also learn more about how you can help, either by donating or getting involved yourself. There’s also a list of upcoming events, the soonest being a sit-down dinner hosted on their rooftop garden downtown August 7.

Episode 151: City Foundry STL Jul 26, 2021

We are just weeks away from the long-awaited opening of the massive food hall at City Foundry STL. As part of St. Louis’s continued downtown rebirth, the Foundry is drawing national attention, even being mentioned in a Time Magazine article that named St. Louis as one of the world’s 100 best places. The Food Hall is perhaps the best symbol of the spirit of St. Louis, with 20 restaurants cooking cuisine from all over the world sharing one massive space and letting diners explore the diverse food scene in our city all in one room. We sat down with Susie Bonwich, the director of operations for the City Foundry Food Hall, to talk about what the space means to the city, what will come next now that it can finally get open to the public, and her pride in playing a part in St. Louis’ recent revitalization. If you are eager to check out the Foundry Food Hall, you’ll soon get your chance. The public will be able to explore the offerings on August 11, with 11 tenants serving food. From there, tenants and activities at the massive site will only grow as St. Louis continues to make its downtown a destination spot.

Episode 150: Seoul Taco | David Choi Jul 19, 2021

How much would you gamble on an idea? For David Choi, founder of Seoul Taco, the answer was everything. Just out of college and working three jobs, he took his whole bankroll and went to the East Coast hunting for a food truck. What followed is a success story that took him from truck, to restaurant, to restauranteur, and recently featured Busta Rhymes on a stage celebrating a decade of success. David joined us from his new home in Chicago to talk about those last 10 years, and Seoul Taco’s growth from a novel concept in St. Louis’ emerging food scene to a multi-state franchise that has captured the attention of food-lovers everywhere. He talked about growing slow and growing smart, but also the unshakeable support our city gives to those starting out in any industry, and how that allows those willing to risk it all the courage to do so.

Episode 149: Missouri Botanical Garden Jul 12, 2021

This week, we're actually going somewhere different. Not a brewery or a small business, but a beautiful oasis in the heart of St. Louis. The Missouri Botanical Garden has been around for more than 150 years. Established in 1859 and continuing to evolve right up to today, it is a living, breathing symbol of the city’s history; from the Civil War through its second worldwide pandemic. The beauty of the grounds, located on Shaw Boulevard, draws thousands of visitors annually, and the behind-the-scenes research discovers hundreds of new plant species every year. We sat down with Cassidy Moody, who has helped tell the Garden’s stories for more than five years, to talk about all the things visitors don’t see behind the scenes, the mission to keep pushing conservation efforts forward, and what it’s like to work in the most beautiful place in the city every day. Currently, the Botanical Garden is hosting Origami in the Garden, a sculpture exhibit running through October, along with Origami After Hours, through August. Japanese Festival returns this year and will be held September 4-6. If you want to volunteer- and what better way to spend some free time- you can check out opportunities at MissouriBotanicalGarden.org

Episode 148: The Greek Kitchen Jul 05, 2021

For Lisa Nicholas-Kandel, the route to owning her own restaurant started small- with just a batch of Baklava. The classically trained dancer always liked cooking, but she never saw it as a professional path she was destined to walk. Then one day she made her now-husband Joe her Baklava, and he was so in love with the dish he told her, "You’ve got to sell this." Before long they were in several stores, and the couple was driving as far as Columbia to deliver it. From there it was one stroke of fate after another until the couple was in their current space on Kirkwood road. Lisa and Joe sat down to take us through the whole journey, from her time at Olympia, to Joe’s time running TJ Cinnamons locations and all the steps up to now- including all the hidden challenges customers may not know COVID caused. We also talk about how Joe finally got her to write down her recipes, and one of the strangest breakfast dishes you’ve ever heard of. You can always drop in for a taste og Greece at their Kirkwood location, and coming soon, a new spot just minutes away from the restaurant. Coming this August, the renovated Kirkwood Schnucks will unveil a new food hall, featuring The Greek Kitchen, Shaved Duck, and upcoming podcast guest Seoul Taco. Lisa said they won’t have the entire menu they offer at the full restaurant, but many of diners’ favorites will still be featured. The location off Manchester Road will also feature clothes from previous guest, Arch Apparel.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT! Jun 28, 2021

Welcome back to the Meet St. Louis podcast, the show taking you inside your favorite bars, breweries and small businesses. I’m your *producer*, JJ Bailey. I’m happy to report that since our last episode, Alexis is officially a new mom, and she, her baby boy, and her husband are all happy and healthy. As she begins her new adventure, she is taking a bit of time away from work to focus on family- as we all would. So, for a short time, I will be your host. Allow me to explain...

Episode 147: Fritz's Frozen Custard Jun 21, 2021

The heat and humidity have arrived in St. Louis and that means summer traditions are here. For so many of us, that means frozen custard. This week we are taking you inside the family business of Fritz's Frozen Custard. Brothers Adam and Bryan Fritz are second-generation owners. Their family business started back in the 1980s when their pregnant mom had a big craving for frozen custard. Almost 40 years later and that decision to open a business has helped shaped summers for hundreds of families. With five locations across St. Louis and St. Charles County, you're not far from a Fritz's Frozen Turtle, the favorite among so many regulars. The Fritz brothers share what running a family business is like, the secrets behind frozen custard and their hopes for the future, including expansion and growth.

Episode 146: Katie's Pizza and Pasta Jun 16, 2021

At Katie's Pizza and Pasta, family is everything for chef and owner Katie Collier. The restaurant would not have gotten off the ground without the support and push from her husband Ted and the help of generous donations through a Kickstarter campaign. Katie's love of Italian food and cooking is thanks in large part to her mom who moved to Florence for work and Katie followed. The introduction to the restaurant world comes from her aunt, restaurateur Zoe Robinson, who gave Katie her start in the business. And throughout this episode, you can hear how much Katie's dad played a role in shaping her life. He was her best friend, and his influence helps shape her live every day. In this long-requested episode, we sat down at the Rock Hill location of the popular Italian restaurant to talk family, food, failure, and frozen pizza. Katie shares the ups and downs of her career and the big dreams for the future.

Episode 145: Long Row Lavender Farm Jun 07, 2021

About one hour outside of St. Louis, you can transport yourself to a lavender-scented oasis. Located in Wright City is Long Row Lavender. Tracy Smith and her family started the farm more than a decade ago as a way to connect with nature, but over the years, not only has the lavender grown, but so has the business. The start of June is peak lavender season, with those purple blooms shooting out of the ground. But it hasn't always been easy, Tracy Smith shares the adventures of growing a non-native plant here in the Midwest, and how they learned to incorporate it into everything from the lattes and the cookies in their cafe, to the bath and body products in their shop. And don't worry, even after lavender season ends, there are new things popping up. From zinnias to sunflowers, there's always something blooming, as is the Smith's family desire to create a destination for families to visit.

Episode 144: Companion Kombucha Jun 01, 2021

Tom and Tricia Nieder looked at each other one day in 2014 and decided, "Lets start a kombucha company." Back then, kombucha, a fermented tea, was huge on the coasts but slow to make its way to the Midwest. Fast forward to today and you can find Companion Kombucha on store shelves all over St. Louis and around the region. They brew the craft kombucha in Overland and have continued to grow and expand. Tom joined us on the podcast to talk about the other side of craft brewing in St. Louis, how to make it at home, and why despite the growth, he loves getting out to the farmer's market each weekend to share with the more hesitant why COM KOM is different from other kombuchas.

Episode 143: Purina May 24, 2021

Since 1984, Purina has been a pioneer in helping improve the lives of animals. It was founded by William Danforth as a feed company for farm animals, and for more than a century, it's called St. Louis home. Now, it's one of the largest global pet companies, but that hasn't stopped their commitment to St. Louis. From being the first founding partner for the new MLS team St. Louis City SC to giving back, it's a brand that means a lot to our city. So what's it like to work for a company like Purina? We sat down with longtime employees Dan Smith and Dr. Sheri Smithey, both leaders in research and development at Purina. We talk about innovation, the process of creating some of the products that have changed the lives of pets and pet owners, and the joy of working for a company where every day is bring-your-pet- to-work day.

Episode 142: Made. by Lia May 17, 2021

Lia Weber grew up baking cookies alongside her grandmother and she has a distinct memory of making a lemon meringue pie around the age of 12. Many years later, she still makes a version of that pie, although this one is all made from scratch and flies off the shelves of her Florissant bakery: Made. by Lia. While baking has been a part of her life since childhood, it wasn't until she was crowned "The Next Great Baker" on TLC's hit baking show that her career took off. Business grew over the years until finally she knew it was time to cross another dream off her list, opening her own shop. COVID-19 delayed the spring 2020 opening but when she opened her doors in the summer, the community came out to support her in droves. Now they're busier than ever and as a mom of two young children, Lia is learning to balance the home and work life. It still leads to 16 hour days in the kitchen, but those hours are filled with love and passion. She continues to dream big, hoping to create a cookbook, a TV show one day, and right now, a new title: The Greatest Baker. It's an online competition taking place right now that could lead to thousands of dollars that Lia hopes to invest back into her employees and her Florissant community. Voting ends May 20, Vote for Lia: https://greatestbaker.com/2021/lia-holter

Episode 141: Golden Gems May 10, 2021

The banners read, "It's a damn good day to give a damn," the coffee mug reads, "gutsy little lady," and the rainbow keychain reads, "you're magic baby." Each of the items inside the cheeky homegoods shop Golden Gems are meant to inspire and empower. That was the goal for sisters Amanda Helman and Susan Logsdon when they started the business as a side hustle. Now it's grown into their full-time jobs and they've grown so much they are moving out of their shop on Cherokee Street to a bigger location on Locust Street in Midtown. The sisters sat down with us to talk about growing a passion project into a career, the pivot into doing more wholesale, learning how to ask for help and what it's really like working side by side with your sibling. Golden Gems plans to open this summer on Locust, joining a growing number of new retail and restaurants in Midtown Alley.

Episode 140: Friendship Brewing Company May 03, 2021

Brian Nolan has been brewing beer since college, well before the internet was filled with how-to guides. But it wasn’t until decades later that he would turn his passion project into a career; and it wouldn’t have happened if not for a push from his friends. Hence, the name Friendship Brewing Company. Now, the craft brewery located in Wentzville is celebrating five years in business. They’re one of the many breweries pushing the craft beer industry westward in the St. Louis area and they have big plans to expand their brewing operations as well as build the first craft distillery in St. Charles County. As a Wentzville native, founder Brian Nolan shares his ups and downs and his hopes for the future.

Episode 139: EyeSeeMe Book Store Apr 26, 2021

When Jeffrey and Pamela Blair were raising their four children, they had a hard time finding books that reflected African Americans in a positive light. So they decided to fix the problem. They opened EyeSeeMe Bookstore in University City, and now they have the largest collection in the country. As they expanded to a larger space, they also brought in books featuring other underrepresented ethnicities. Jeffrey Blair says seeing a child walk into the store and them seeing shelves lined with books filled with characters that look like them is what keeps him going. He shares his passion for running an independent bookstore, the challenges of sourcing materials, and why the push for social justice across the country meant one of the busiest years ever.

Episode 138: Tony's Apr 19, 2021

For 75 years, Tony's has helped St. Louisians celebrate life's big moments. The award-winning establishment is taking its next step after a big move from downtown St. Louis to Clayton, but owner James Bommarito says it will feel both new and nostalgic. The space is smaller and more modern, but long-time customers will recognize favorites on the menu. More importantly, diners will recognize the level of service they've come to know and expect from the restaurant that helped define fine dining in our city. It all began back in 1946 when Vince Bommarito took over Tony's Spaghetti House after his father's death. From there, he would come to build one of the city's best restaurants and redefine hospitality. The lessons from his father are ones James remembers every day when he opens the restaurant. We sat down in the new space to talk about how that service is upheld, the memories over the years, and the future he hopes to carry on in the new location.

Episode 137: Series Six Apparel Apr 13, 2021

Episode 137: Series Six Apparel by Meet St. Louis

Episode 136: Salt + Smoke Apr 05, 2021

Episode 136: Salt + Smoke by Meet St. Louis

Listener Favorite: Pappy's Smokehouse (and Bogart's is back!) Mar 29, 2021

After closing through the winter months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a St. Louis favorite is opening their doors once again. Bogart's, the Soulard staple and sister restaurant to the internationally-renowned Pappy's Smokehouse, serving customers once again. To celebrate, we are re-airing our 100th episode, where we talked to John Matthews, co-founder of Pappy's and the restaurant group that has made St. Louis BBQ world famous. Pappy's was founded in 2008 by Matthews and Mike Emmerson, and since then they have become a sensation. The Food Network named their ribs the best in America, and the walls of the restaurant are filled with testimonials from athletes, musicians, actors, and other celebrities, all of whom can't come to town without a tase of St. Louis' most famous BBQ joint. Meet St. Louis sat down with Matthews to talk about how the restaurant got started, what it was like when they first opened, and how they prepare 3,000-4,000 pounds of food every day. Sit back, plug in, and enjoy!

Episode 135: Ben Grupe | Tempus Mar 22, 2021

From competing on an international level as team captain for the U.S. Culinary Olympic Team, to opening a new restaurant in the middle of a pandemic, Chef Ben Grupe thrives on a challenge. He started out as a dish-washer when he was a teenager but discovered there was a passion to be found in cooking. He soon discovered the competitive side of the culinary world, from an intense apprenticeship to the culinary Olympics to competing for election for the Bocuse d'Or, the most prestigious culinary competition in the world. As the executive chef for Elaia he was nominated for a James Beard for Best Chef Midwest. But his real dream was creating and opening a place of his own. Delays and then a pandemic meant Tempus in the Grove neighborhood opened last October during the height of uncertainty. But they adapted to the challenge, turning to take out only. Yet they're counting down to the day they can welcome diners into the restaurant. Dig in for a conversation about taking on challenges, what drives Chef Grupe in the kitchen and what he looks forward to most about the next year.

Episode 134: Narwhal's Crafted and Loaded Mar 15, 2021

Brandon Holzhueter and Brad Merten have been friends since they were teenagers, but it wasn't until after college that the friendship turned into a partnership. Together, they opened two Pickeman's Deli franchise locations, but the draw to make their own business decisions kept them dreaming of something more. The idea for a frozen drink bar, inspired by the budding cocktail craze was born. They opened Narwhal's Crafted next to SLU's campus in Midtown in 2016 and eventually a second location in the Streets of St. Charles in 2019. But another idea was churning: nachos. They wanted nachos that went far beyond what anyone thinks of when they think of chips topped with cheese. The business partners put their heads together and while the pandemic changed a lot of things, the new concept, Loaded, opened this year. The business partners join us to talk about recipe developing, working through hurdles in the hospitality business, and what comes next.

Episode 133: Rung for Women Mar 08, 2021

On International Women's Day, we have an episode celebrating the future of women in St. Louis, in part thanks to a new endeavor by Rung for Women. Ali Hogan started Rung Boutique, a nonprofit resale shop, as a place where women could find the clothes and the confidence for a job interview. But she knew it was going to take much more. So after, years of creating and crafting an idea, Rung for Women will welcome its first class of 120 women at a brand new non-profit. Housed in Fox Park, the one-stop shop will offer women everything from career coaching, healthcare, counseling, financial education, childcare and so much more as a way to transition into a better position in their lives. Rung for Women combines multiple established non-profits into one place. Ali joins us on the podcast to talk about empowering women, learning from this experience, motherhood, and how she feels women will help transition St. Louis into something better. For more information and how to sign up to be a member or to volunteer: https://rungforwomen.org/

Episode 132: Butter Love Mar 01, 2021

For La'Crassia Wilderness, her journey to loving her skin started years ago. She suffered from dry skin as a child and it was thanks to a woman at the St. Louis African Arts Festival that she first discovered shea butter. She started crafting up body butters in college but it wasn't until she moved back home to St. Louis and had the push from friends and her parents that she decided to share it with others. Her entrepreneurial spirit took over and she began the trial and error process that would eventually lead to her company, Butter Love by LC. Six years later, it's grown beyond her imagination. She sells her products in shops around the country, and in this episode, she shares her journey to discovered self-love, the power of female friendship, and how the hardest year of her life became one of the most successful for her business. Locally you can find her 100% natural body butters and bath essentials at shops like Union Studio, May's Place, Descendant, Local Harvest, and more. https://www.butterlovebylc.co/stockist

Episode 131: Poke Doke Feb 22, 2021

Andrew Shih looked around his hometown of St. Louis and realized something was missing: a poke spot. They were all the rage on the coasts and around the country, but the diced chunks of raw fish dish hadn't found their way to the Midwest. Shih and his siblings, who come from a restaurant family, opened Poke Doke in 2017 in the Central West End neighborhood and it's been a huge hit. Four years later and even with the pandemic, they've found their groove, serving up fast-casual seafood in a fun way. Andrew says he's always looking for the next poke, the next food trend that hasn't reached the Midwest. But he says so much has changed in St. Louis over the last 10 years, there's something for everyone and he says he's proud to be a part of that ever-evolving food scene. You can find Poke Doke on Euclid in the CWE and in the Delmar Loop.

Episode 130: Love At First Bite Feb 15, 2021

It's February, the month of love, so about we take you to St. Ann in North St. Louis County where Chef Jason Lamont is wooing customers with BBQ that he says is love at first bite. That's the name of his new takeout-only spot, a name he's kept in his back pocket for years working in other people's kitchens. He started as a teenager as way to earn a few dollars, but there was always something that lured him back to the kitchen. He's worked in tons of restaurants over the years but it was the uncertainty of the pandemic that forced him to finally dive into his dream, opening a place of his own. Takeout was the most logical option and he's serving up smoked meats, loaded fries and seafood only Sundays. He offers his advice to those holding on to the dream of their own and the lessons he learned of opening a business right in the middle of the craziest year for the restaurant business.

Episode 129: The year without Mardi Gras Feb 09, 2021

For the first time in 42 years, there will be no Mardi Gras parade in the streets of Soulard. This time last year the final touches were being put on the floats, beads were being bought and the bars in Soulard were preparing for the biggest party of the year. Mardi Gras 2020 was, for many, one of the last big events before the COVID-19 pandemic brought everything to a halt. Now one year later, the organizers have worked to create Carnival in the age of COVID. Many events like the Mardi Gras 5K and the Pet Parade are going virtual and you can even celebrate at home with a box of everything you need for a COVID-safe Mardi Gras; complete with ingredients for hurricanes, beads, and the proper barware to sip your drinks. So while you're whipping up a batch of Mardi Gras drinks, let's take you back to how St. Louis came to host one of the biggest Mardi Gras parades in the country. We are re-sharing one of our most listened-to episodes, a 2019 interview with Mac Bradley, the president of the Mardi Gras Foundation. He shares the behind-the-scenes and little-known stories of what it takes to put on a parade of epic proportions. Find information virtual events and the Mardi Gras At Home box here: https://stlmardigras.org/ And remember there is no parade, so organizers are asking people to not head down to Soulard just to party in the streets. It's also is expected to be one of the coldest days so far this winter. Some bars will be doing Mardi Gras events, but most will require tickets to ensure capacity is limited and social distancing rules can be put into effect. Here's to hoping next year we can all celebrate Mardi Gras together again.

Episode 128: Aaron Tietelbaum | Herbie's and Kingside Diner Feb 01, 2021

Episode 128: Aaron Tietelbaum | Herbie's and Kingside Diner by Meet St. Louis

Episode 127: Fit-Flavors Jan 25, 2021

The end of January is right around when most people give up on their New Year's resolutions, but for Jillian Tedesco, the founder and CEO of Fit-Flavors, to make a resolution and a life change stick, it's about much more than a date on the calendar. Tedesco started in the fitness industry at an early age and soon realized creating a healthy lifestyle requires both changes in the kitchen and the gym. So she started crafting meals for clients in her home kitchen. It took off and soon she was making hundreds of meals and running out of refrigerator space. After going to culinary school, she decided to take her side gig and turn it into a full-time business. Now there are four Fit-Flavors locations around St. Louis, with a fifth coming this spring to Sunset Hills. Walk into the storefront and you're greeted with walls of refrigerators filled with pre-made, pre-portioned meals to fit any health goal. But Jillian shares that so much of meeting and sticking with goals is about mental mindset. She shares tips and tricks along with the lessons she learned after hitting what she felt was a rock bottom point. To learn more about Fit-Flavors check out their website: https://fit-flavors.com/

Episode 126: Shayn Prapaisilp | Global Foods Group Jan 18, 2021

When the Prapisilp family emigrated to the US in the 1970s they opened Jays Asian Foods, now known as Jays International on South Grand. Soon after, they opened the King and I, St. Louis' first Thai restaurant. For the last several decades, they have continued to open restaurants and grocery stores including Oishi Sushi, Chao Baan, Global Foods and United Provisions. Along with their son Shayn, who now acts as vice president for the family-run company, the Prapaisilp's have been a driving force in the growing popularity of Thai cuisine in St. Louis. They've demonstrated that it goes far beyond what most people think of when they think Thai food. Shayn joined us on the podcast this week to talk about how the diversity and culture of the food scene in St. Louis has evolved and exploded over the years, how the second generation is taking the reins of so many local restaurants, and why despite studying political science in college in D.C., he ended up back home in St Louis leading the charge of his family's business, Global Foods Group, which oversees King & I, Oishi Sushi, Oishi Steakhouse, Chao Baan, United Provisions and Global Foods Market in the St. Louis area.

Episode 125: Stone Hill Winery Jan 11, 2021

Well before wine lovers flocked to Napa or Sonoma, Missouri was once the destination for wine in the US. Stone Hill Winery in Herman opened in 1847 and soon become the second largest winery in the country. Prohibition of course changed everything and it wasn't until the 1960's that the Held Family decided to restore and reopen the winery. Now decades later, it's still family owned. Jon Held grew up in it's cellars and runs the winery today. He joined us on the podcast along with Shaun Turnbull, their head winemaker, to discuss Missouri wine, the challenges of growing in fickle climate and the changes to the business over the years. The town of Herman sits just a little more than an hour outside of St. Louis but it's a place to that can transport you back in time. This week let us take you back to the beginning of Missouri winemaking and how it has evolved today.

Episode 124: Gus' Pretzels Dec 21, 2020

For 100 years, in the shadow of Anheuser-Busch Brewery, generations have been twisting pretzels by hand. Gus Koebbe III, the fourth generation to carry on the tradition of Gus’ Pretzels, shares the history of his family business. From beginning to the present day, and the future that lies ahead. A century in business is no easy feat, but Gus’ Pretzels has found its way into the celebrations of families across St. Louis; from weddings to graduations, to funerals. Gus and their employees still rise early, like they have for 100 years, to turn on the ovens at the Benton Park pretzel shop. We talked about the process of crafting a pretzel, why they started selling sticks, and Gus shares his thoughts on the perfect pretzel. Hint: It’s a specific time when it comes out of the oven.

Episode 123: Little Fox Dec 14, 2020

It was anything but the first year in business Craig and Mowgli Rivard imagined. The owners of Little Fox in the Fox Park neighborhood of South St. Louis opened their restaurant in December 2019, their doors open just a few months before the COVID19 pandemic forced them to close. In order to survive, the couple who both worked in New York City prior to moving back to Craig's hometown, have continued to pivot and adapt. From al fresco dining this summer to a take-out window that functions as a neighborhood wine shop, the Rivard's say each week brings a new surprise. When they moved to St. Louis to dive into the dining scene, they created their restaurant group Postcards from BKLYN with big plans of opening multiple concepts. The plans are on hold, but not the dreams. The need for relief for restaurants like Little Fox remains great, if you missed last week's episode, take a listen as we chat with Tara Gallina of Vicia and Winslow's Home about the Save Restaurants Act and the need for Congress to ensure neighborhood restaurants survive.

Episode 122: The Save Restaurants Act Dec 07, 2020

Even with a COVID-19 vaccine on the horizon, many local restaurants are fighting with everything they have to survive until it's available. Several beloved St. Louis restaurants have closed for good due to the pandemic, and Tara Gallina, co-owner of Vicia and Winslow's Table, is part of a group pushing lawmakers to help the remaining eateries while there's still time. [https://www.saverestaurants.com/] She opens up about the seemingly unlimited challenges that pop up for restaurants during the pandemic as owners have to navigate politics, science AND run a restaurant. She gives her outlook on what the dining scene could look like in 2021 and what people can do now to keep their favorite restaurants afloat until then.

Episode 121: Shop Local Nov 30, 2020

This year it’s more important than ever to shop locally this holiday season. This week we’re chatting with Maeghan Moeller, one of the owners of Lusso, a boutique in Clayton that’s been around for 20 years. Her message to shoppers is that every dollar counts when it comes to owning a small business. And to help encourage shopping small this year, Lusso has teamed up with #314Together, The Women’s Creative, Joya, and the Experience Booklet to launch “Keep it Local,” an online coupon booklet filled with discounts for dozens of local businesses. Megan Rohall of the Women’s Creative also joined us on this episode to talk about the inspiration for the booklet and how something as little as a shoutout on social media can go a long way in ensuring our St. Louis businesses survive the pandemic. Get your own “Keep it Local” card here [https://www.thenewnormalstl.com/keepitlocal/p/keep-it-local-sponsorship-w7rwt], and even better, 100% of the profits go to Operation Food Search.

Episode 120: Let's be thankful Nov 23, 2020

This time of year it’s important to pause and be thankful. In 2020 that might be more important than ever. Thanksgiving will look very different this year for so many families across the country and here in St. Louis. We invited some of our past guests of the Meet St. Louis podcast to share what they’re grateful for this year and how they’re altering their holiday traditions. David Weglarz, owner of Still630 says while the pandemic has been challenging for their craft distilling business, it’s also brought unexpected blessings, including a forced slow down and time with family. It was a similar answer for Loryn Nalic, chef and owner of Balkan Treat Box. As a restaurant owner, 2020 has brought challenge after challenge, but this year also brought some incredible accolades including being named one of the Best New Restaurants in America by Esquire magazine. For Loryn the honor is humbling, as is the continued support from the community who has shown up week after week to order their amazing food via curbside. Whether you’re cooking up a traditional meal, or ordering from a local restaurant, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving from us at the Meet St Louis Podcast and KMOV!

Episode 119: Volpi Foods Nov 16, 2020

Episode 119: Volpi Foods by Meet St. Louis

Episode 118: STL Foodworks Nov 09, 2020

Inside STL Foodworks in the Central West End, you’ll find all the equipment of your culinary dreams. The ghost kitchen or culinary incubator is helping the food start up industry in St. Louis. This week, STL Foodworks general manager Daniel Movitz joined us on the podcast to talk about the business model. Joining him is Rachel Burns of Bold Spoon Creamery and Joel Anderson of Anderson and Son Pepper Company, two members of STL Foodworks. The trio talks about moving an idea from the kitchen table to a full scale business, the inspiration abound in the St. Louis food world and the comfort food were all looking for these days.

Episode 117: Knead Bakehouse Nov 02, 2020

Episode 117: Knead Bakehouse by Meet St. Louis

Episode 116: Johnnie Brock's Dungeon Oct 26, 2020

Episode 116: Johnnie Brock's Dungeon by Meet St. Louis

Episode 115: Gourmet Soul Oct 19, 2020

Lavinia McCoy started Gourmet Soul because the pieces fit together; the timing, the funding, and of course the love that goes into her cooking. The catering and carryout spot in Downtown St. Louis offers up soul food with a twist. It starts with family recipes and is carried out with the help of family, whether it’s mom stopping by or AJ Martin, her younger brother who helps run the restaurant. Soul food means a little something different for everyone, but for Lavinia, it’s all about love. And helping spread the love around St. Louis is Frank Williamson, the organizer of Black Restaurant Week. He joined us on the podcast with Gourmet Soul to talk about the week that is all about supporting Black-owned restaurants. Gourmet Soul is one of the spots serving up specials on the week of October 31-November 7. You can find all the restaurants and more details: https://www.facebook.com/stlblackrestaurantweek/

Episode 114: Patty's Cheesecakes Oct 12, 2020

Like many great ideas, it all started with a family recipe. Pat Upchurch has been cooking with her father and grandmother since she was a child and when her grandmother passed on her cheesecake recipe and mixer, an idea for a business grew. Patty’s Cheesecakes are beloved across St. Louis, especially in their mini format. Upchurch works out of the Baker’s Hub in Chesterfield, a unique communal kitchen housing several local bakeries, and she’s excited to announce she has signed on to open up in the City Foundry Food Hall. The long-awaited project is not quite open yet, however. Progress at the City Foundry continues, but they plan to hold off on opening until its safe to do so. Keep an eye peeled for Patty’s Cheesecakes and other great food vendors once the development opens. In the meantime, don’t miss out on Pat’s creations. On the podcast, she shares how the business started, some tips of preparing for holiday baking ,and where she draws inspiration for her unique flavors.

Episode 113: Beets & Bones Oct 05, 2020

Episode 113: Beets & Bones by Meet St. Louis

Episode 112: Big Heart Tea Co. Sep 28, 2020

Episode 112: Big Heart Tea Co. by Meet St. Louis

Episode 111: Big Muddy Adventures Sep 21, 2020

For “Big Muddy” Mike Clark, the rivers have always fascinated him, but it was his first ‘source to sea’ trip that made him realize it was something he could do for a living. In 2002, he founded Big Muddy Adventures, the first professional guide company providing access to the wild wonders of the Middle Mississippi and Lower Missouri Rivers. Mike joined us on the podcast to talk about exploring the rivers, seeing St. Louis from a new perspective and cooking with some of the city’s best chefs over an open flame. Sit back, plug in, and enjoy!

Episode 110: Lux of 105.7 The Point Sep 14, 2020

Lux is a radio host on 105.7 The Point but most importantly, she is a cheerleader of her hometown. On this week’s episode, we chat about how she got into radio, how she uses her platform to raise awareness of causes from- rescue animals to suicide awareness- and why she’s so passionate about St. Louis. Lux doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff, and shares how she finds light in the darkness; often it’s thanks to her listeners. You can find her constantly posting on social media, as it’s a passion and where she finds connection beyond the radio. This month, she’s raising awareness for suicide prevention, learn more here

Episode 109: Daily Disco Sep 07, 2020

The custom embroidery shop by Abbey Eilermann started with a love for color and the idea that every day should be a party. Daily Disco grew from Abbey’s parents' basement into a shop in The Hill neighborhood to an independent shop turning out custom jean jackets, patches, and now masks that are sought out by people all across the country. Abbey joined us on the podcast to talk about inspiration, collaboration, and following your dreams- even if you don’t quite know where they’ll lead.

Episode 108: Coffeestamp Aug 31, 2020

Coffeestamp is a mircoroastery on Jefferson in the Fox Park neighborhood of St. Louis. Brothers Patrick and Spencer Clapp have been roasting beans from their home country of Honduras since 2018. They started as a vendor at the Soulard farmers market and now they’ve opened up their own brick and mortar cafe. Patrick joined us on the podcast to talk about hand-crafting their labels and starting a coffee company from scratch, the dream of owning a coffee farm one day, and the joy of working with family.

Episode 107: StilL 630 Distillery Aug 24, 2020

StilL 630 is hidden in plain sight in Downtown St. Louis. The craft distillery is housed inside a former fast-food restaurant, but when you open the doors you're greeted by the team creating some of the best spirits in the entire country. Owner and founder David Weglarz started Still 630 in 2012 and since then has won award after award for their whiskeys, gins, and rums. Weglarz joined us on the podcast to chat about starting a business from scratch, their experimental spirits program, and how the collaborative nature of the St. Louis food and drink scene continues to lift everyone across the city.

Episode 106: Dogtown Pizza Aug 19, 2020

Rick and Meredith Schaper were known in their Dogtown neighborhood for their pizza parties. One day, they started freezing and selling the pizzas crafted in their kitchen. Now, more than a decade later, they’ve upgraded to a much larger space, creating more than 65,000 pizzas a month, all still by hand. Rick joined us in the podcast to talk about what makes a pizza St. Louis style, the perks of working with his wife and sons every day and the bold moves he took to expand the business and get Dogtown Pizzas in the freezer aisles of all the major stores in St. Louis.

Episode 105: Butler's Pantry Aug 03, 2020

Started in 1966, Butler's Pantry set out to provide the most creative and innovative catering solutions to the community in which they lived, worked, and loved. When Rick Nix took over from his parents. he wanted to change what the company provided, from the food to the décor to the venue. Many industries have taken a massive hit thanks to COVID-19, and the hospitality industry is no exception. While it's been challenging, Butler's Pantry has history on their side. Rick sat down with Meet St. Louis to talk about how he got to where he is, how they're serving clients in this very strange time, and what the future of his industry looks like. Sit back, plug in, and enjoy!

Episode 104: Black Restaurant Week with Steve's Hot Dogs Jul 27, 2020

This week is Midwest Black Restaurant Week, a week dedicated to highlighting and promoting the many amazing black-owned businesses across the Midwest and St. Louis. Among the participating restaurants: Gourmet Soul, Prime 55, Kitchen 4AM and Steve’s Hot Dogs. This week we are replaying our interview with Steve Ewing, owner of Steve’s Hot Dogs form February 2019. A lot has changed since this interview; Steve thought he was closing his popular hot dog spot for good, but the community rallied and they were able to reopen the Tower Grove restaurant. The latest turn in the journey has been long and winding, but what came before is still captivating. Here's that interview, in case you missed it. To learn more about participating restaurants head to blackrestaurantweeks.com

Episode 103: Perennial Artisan Ales Jul 20, 2020

Episode 103: Perennial Artisan Ales by Meet St. Louis

Episode 102: 9 Mile Garden Jul 13, 2020

Spread across two acres, 9 Mile Garden is the first designated food truck garden in St. Louis. Located in Affton, it features space for food trucks, a stage for live music, a big screen for movies, and plenty of space to sit down and eat from dozens of the city’s best food trucks. One of the trucks is Doggie Mac’s. Bryan Scott, also known as Chef B, serves up all-beef hotdogs topped with things like his grandma’s famous mac n' cheese or jerk pork and Caribbean slaw and he does it all with a smile. He joins us on the podcast to talk about years of trying his hand at the restaurant and catering business and how a food truck helped lead him to the path he’s on now. One of the people who helped him along the way was Brian Hardesty, co-owner of Guerilla Street Food truck and a partner at 9 Mile Garden. Brian joins us this week as well to talk about how a 9 Mile Garden is the type of place he wished existed when they launched their first food truck nearly a decade ago.

Episode 101: Firecracker Press Jul 06, 2020

St. Louis is a city filled with the old and the new, and at Firecracker Press on Cherokee, they work to capture both. The letterpress design studio combines antique printing technology with modern design to create everything from invitations to concert posters. For Eric Woods, the business started with one of those conversations of ‘what would you do if you won the lottery?’ Instead of waiting on the once in a lifetime moment, Woods decided to make it happen, searching on eBay for his first press. Woods joined us this week to talk about the St. Louis history with letterpress, the process of creating, and what it’s like to see their work on someone’s wall.

Episode 100: Pappy's Smokehouse with co-founder John Matthews Jun 29, 2020

100 episodes! We'd like to thank you all for listening these last two years, and we thought there was no better way to celebrate our 100th episode than to feature one of the biggest names in St. Louis. Pappy's was founded in 2008 by John Matthews and Mike Emmerson, and since then they have become not just a local mainstay, but nationally famous. The Food Network named their ribs the best in America, and the walls of the restaurant are filled with testimonials from athletes, musicians, actors, and other celebrities, all of whom can't come to town without a tase of St. Louis' most famous BBQ joint. Meet St. Louis sat down with Matthews to talk about how the restaurant got started, what it was like when they first opened, and how they prepare 3,000-4,000 pounds of food every day. Sit back, plug in, and enjoy!

Episode 99: City Museum Jun 22, 2020

10 stories. 600,000 square feet. Part playground, part adult funhouse, part architectural marvel. City Museum, created by artist Bob Cassilly, opening in downtown St. Louis in 1997, and hasn't stopped changing since. After steadily growing in national attention over the years, the museum has inspired legends, myths, and mysteries, and continues to astonish visitors who find new nooks and hidden spaces every time they return to explore. Director Rick Erwin, who took over when Cassilly passed away, talked with Meet St. Louis about the ever-evolving attraction, how they've handled the challenges posed by COVID-19, and even addressed some of the museum's mysteries. Sit back, plug in, and enjoy!

Episode 98: Orlando Watson I Prime 55 and Rockhouse Entertainment Jun 15, 2020

As a music producer for two decades, Orlando Watson saw a void in the St. Louis restaurant scene: an upscale, sexy restaurant in the likes of those found in Miami and LA. In May 2019 he and longtime friend Tony Davis opened the doors to Prime 55 in the Delmar Loop. The COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench in both the restaurant business and the music business and Watson says it will take creativity from every industry to survive. Watson joined us on the podcast to talk about navigating the waters of opening his first restaurant, his hopes for the future of the Delmar Loop and his advice for young entrepreneurs.

Episode 97: David Kirkland |Turn Jun 08, 2020

After starting in the St. Louis dining scene in the early 1990s, David Kirkland took his turntable talents to the west coast as a DJ in San Fransisco. Even as a member of the Bay-area music scene, he never lost his passion for the kitchen. After cooking for family and friends for years, he moved back to St. Louis to return to being a professional chef. After helming Cafe Osage for nearly a decade, he branched out on his own in 2016 with Turn, located in Midtown. He sat down with Meet St. Louis to talk about his winding road, his restaurant philosophy, and what a surprise pandemic does to even the best-laid plans. We also talk about how, as a black business owner, he's seen the community step up to support him as discussions of racial inequality are at the forefront across the nation once again.

Episode 96: Paul Hamilton - Vin de Set, PW Pizza, Eleven Eleven Mississppi Jun 03, 2020

Opening almost a dozen restaurants in less than two decades will teach you a thing or two. But nothing could have prepared Paul and Wendy Hamilton for the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The two operate restaurants like Vin de Set, Eleven Eleven Mississippi, PW Pizza, Hamilton Urban Steakhouse and more under their restaurant group Hamilton Hospitality. You can walk to all of their businesses in a matter of minutes, sometimes just by taking the stairs from one floor to the next. The husband and wife duo fell in love with Lafayette Square and built their own restaurant row. With years of experience, they're hopeful they can survive the pandemic and help other restaurants do the same.

Episode 95: Twinkle Brews Candle Co. May 25, 2020

Like many good things, Mollie Anderson got the idea for her company over a beer. Twinkle Brews Candle company started over the love of craft beer and the desire to capture the taste and smell, even after the beer is gone. Fast forward and you can find her candles in shops around St. Louis, even the gift shop at the new St. Louis Aquarium. But festivals, craft fairs and markets are where she does a lot of her business, all of those are on hold due to the coronavirus. It’s a struggle facing hundreds of makers in St. Louis and around the country. The Women’s Creative is holding virtual markets and many businesses are moving quickly to adapt and adjust, building online stores. Mollie joined us on the podcast to talk about the impact of the pandemic on local makers, how quarantine is inspiring new products and how the support of the St. Louis Craft Beer community helped make her business a reality

Episode 94: Feast Magazine + Small Circle team up for community cookbook May 18, 2020

In true St. Louis fashion, chefs, bartenders, and food lovers are collaborating to help those in the hospitality industry. Small Circle Recipes, a local cookbook publisher teamed up with Feast Magazine to create ‘Extra Helping,’ a community cookbook filled with recipes from some of St. Louis' best chefs. From Nick Bognar of iNDO to Rick Lewis of Grace Meat + Three to Evy Swoboda at The Last Kitchen, chefs submitted recipes of some of your favorite dishes. The proceeds from the PDF cookbook go to the Gateway Resilience Fund in St. Louis and Crossroads Community Kitchen in Kansas City. The recommended donation is $25 and each individual will receive a digital copy. R.J. Hartbeck of Small Circle Recipes and Heather Riske, the editor-in-chief of Feast Magazine joined us on the podcast to talk about recipes, the support in the St. Louis community, and how to help. Purchase the cookbook here: https://www.feastmagazine.com/the-feed/article_2d2f5352-6ed0-11ea-ab33-8302704dd960.html

Episode 93: The Red and Black Brass Band May 12, 2020

Episode 93: The Red and Black Brass Band by Meet St. Louis

Episode 92: Your favorite restaurant food now in the grocery store aisle May 04, 2020

Crispy Edge is a pot sticker-themed restaurant in Tower Grove South. You’ll find the traditional potstickers, but owner David Dresner says the sky’s the limit when it comes to flavors. He started the business in his kitchen and now they’re churning out more potstickers than they could have imagined thanks to a partnership with Schnucks; something Dresner said was years of hard work paying off. Schnucks is partnering with several local restaurants including Nudo House, Seoul Taco and Hot Box cookies. It's just one of the ways restaurants are adapting during the Coronavirus Pandemic. Dresner joined us on the Meet St. Louis podcast to talk about mass producing potstickers, the process of developing new flavors including STL Homerun, a dumpling made with Red Hot Riplets dough and a sausage and provel filling, and their plans for the future. Pandemic or not, they’re not slowing down.

Episode 91: The history we're living through Apr 27, 2020

We are living through a moment in history and the Missouri History Museum wants to hear your stories of the pandemic. Angie Dietz, the director digital initiatives for the museum, joins us on the podcast to talk about collecting history. It’s hard to imagine your photos and handmade face masks might be in a museum one day, but historians, students and teachers will look to those as primary sources for a historic moment. What goes into collecting artifacts, and how does a museum choose what to exhibit, Angie spills the secrets and explains why even if you don’t share with the museum, why it’s more important than ever to document the world around you. To share your story, go to: https://mohistory.org/stories-of-the-pandemic-a-st-louis-covid-19-digital-archive

Episode 90: Helping healers and what restaurants will look like when they reopen Apr 20, 2020

It’s not the sandwich or the coffee, but the meaning behind donated food. For those working in healthcare like Dr. Tiffany Osborne, a trauma surgeon at Barnes Jewish Hospital, the community support helps them push through even the hardest days during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are dozens of restaurants donating food to hospitals, but two groups, Meals for Meds [https://www.mealsformeds.info/] and Kindness Meals [https://kindnessmealsstl.com/], allow St Louisans to donate money to restaurants who will then deliver meals, helping both the hospitals and the hospitality industry in these tough times. John Perkins, the owner of Juniper in the CWE joined us to talk about Meals for Meds and the adaptions inside their kitchen that have taken place to make them temporarily more a catering business than a restaurant. He also talks to the Meet St Louis podcast about to-go alcohol sales, third party delivery services, and how the adaptations are going to need to keep coming for when they finally do open back up to the public.

Episode 89: How to make your quarantine more interesting Apr 13, 2020

After weeks of staying at home, everyone is missing their favorite restaurants and bars. The escape of a cocktail or an expertly-cooked meal feels like a distant luxury currently, but our favorite chefs and mixologists are trying to bring those experiences back. In this episode, we talk to the people who are trying to turn your kitchen into your favorite restaurant, and your living room into your favorite bar. First, we talk to Matt Wynne, the executive chef of Taste, who is using this time out of the kitchen to help you In yours. He is working with Jonathan Lorentzen to host virtual cooking classes and we get their perspective on what this means for the community and what it could mean after this is all over. Then, while sipping a cocktail on the couch might not be as much fun as a night out at the bar, James Thomas, the co-founder of St. Louis Bourbon Society, hopes to bring that same sense of community into your home via the internet. They're helping us learn exactly what to do once we bring that liquor home from the store by hosting Facebook Lives with mixologists and bartenders across St. Louis all while helping raise money for the Gateway Resilience Fund. So while you're stuck at home, they're trying to bring the best spots in St. Louis to you. Sit back, plug in, and enjoy!

Episode 88: Stimulus money, local donations and the tough choices facing restaurants Apr 06, 2020

There are so many questions facing St. Louis business owners during the Coronavirus outbreak. Whether to stay open and continue carry out and delivery or close up all together. What bills to pay. How the federal stimulus package may help or harm small businesses. And more importantly, if they will come out on the other side of the pandemic. This week on the podcast we spoke with Qui Tran, owner of Mai Lee and Nudo House and Roo Yawitz, owner of Gramaphone. Yawitz helped start the Gateway Resilience Fund which is helping out employees and owners of independent restaurants and businesses. Click here to donate, or if you need help: https://stlgives.org/covid19/gateway-resilience-fund/

Episode 87: Square One Brewery and Distillery Mar 30, 2020

Steve Neukomm opened Square One Brewery and Distillery in Lafayette Square in 2006, but he's been working in the restaurant business for decades. He's opened and closed restaurants and breweries, and moved passed a devastating fire, but never has he experienced anything like the impact of the Coronavirus. We first sat down to interview Steve on March 6, to hear his story of the brewery and distillery. We wanted to still share his story but we checked back in to see how they are adapting during the COVID-19 outbreak. Here are both of those conversations.

Episode 86: The impact of the Coronavirus and how to help St. Louis businesses Mar 23, 2020

HERE'S HOW TO HELP Order curbside: https://www.curbsidestl.com/ Invest in STL: https://stlgives.org/ We started this podcast almost two years ago as a way to showcase and support the incredible chefs, brewers and small business owners across St. Louis. Now amidst the Coronavirus our independent businesses need all of us more than ever. While many of them have had to close their doors this week in an effort to stop the spread of COVID19, we are seeing love for all of these business as they try to figure out a way to stay afloat. This week we chatted over the phone with a few about how they are handling the situation. First up, Kevin Lemp, owner of 4 Hands Brewery discusses how they found a way to use their resources to make hand sanitizer, a much needed product right now. Then Joel Crespo of Guerilla Street Food joined us with some real talk about the challenges they and hundreds of other restaurants are facing and the tough and uncertain future that look ahead. Christina Weaver of The Women’s Creative shares the goal behind #314Together, a movement their organization along with Jordan Bauer of @stlouisgram, created to help elevate and support businesses during this time. And the time to get creative is now. That’s what Mary Hennesy, co-owner of Urban Matter, a boutique on South Grand shares how they are adapting when customers aren’t allowed inside. We know things are changing rapidly, and the best we can do is try to support those working to make ends meet.

Episode 85: Park Avenue Coffee Mar 16, 2020

Episode 85: Park Avenue Coffee by Meet St. Louis

Episode 84: Plank Road Pizza Mar 09, 2020

Andrew Brewer has built a small eatery empire in Cottleville. Not even 30 years old, the owner of Plank Road Pizza, Cottleville Cookies and Cream, and 1798 BBQ has established some of the best restaurants in the region while seamlessly blending into a historic small town in St. Charles County. His clever menus and unique locations- built into historic homes along the main drag of Highway N- have helped his restaurants stand out and draw acclaim. He sat down with the Meet St. Louis podcast to talk about what drove him to go into business for himself, what it takes to turn home recipes into restaurant fare, and why he's committed to building community in his hometown. Sit back, plug in, and enjoy!

Episode 83: Side Project Brewing Mar 02, 2020

Owned by husband and wife duo Cory and Karen King, Side Project Brewery was recently named the second best brewery in the world. But as the name implies it started as a side project. Cory got his start homebrewing before working as the head brewer at Perennial Artisan Ales. A passion for oak aged beer and a desire to try out new recipes was the birth of Side Project Brewery. Eventually they opened Side Project Cellar in Maplewood and then grew to the point of opening the brewery just around the coroner on Manchester. But despite a small size, Side Project Brewery is behind some of the most in-demand stouts, saisons and wild ales across the country. Whether you’re new to their beers or a long time fan, Karen and Cory sat down with the Meet St. Louis Podcast to talk about the passion behind the beer, how to navigate your first beer release and what they’re drinking when they get off work. Hint: it’s not what you might think.

Episode 82: Bombay Food Junkies Feb 24, 2020

When Krupa and Sid Panchal moved to St. Louis from Bombay, India, they craved the food of their homeland. There are a lot of great Indian restaurants in St. Louis but the Panchals were looking for the street food they loved. So Krupa started making it herself. It was a bit of a shift from her career as an optometrist but after watching a Food Network show on food trucks, she decided that was the next adventure. Bombay Food Junkies found success as a vegetarian and vegan food truck, filling a void in the city. They opened a kitchen and brick and mortar restaurant in St. Ann but now the Panchal's are ready for their next adventure. They will open a new restaurant featuring the same authentic, plant-based food at their restaurant in Creve Coeur. Krupa joined us on the Meet St. Louis podcast to talk about the food of her childhood, the growing vegan community and why she's ready to hit pause on the food truck.

Episode 81: Taco Circus Feb 17, 2020

Taco Circus is serving up Austin-style Tex Mex on The Hill. Christian Ethridge brought his love of tacos from his home state of Texas. The taqueria first opened in the Bevo Mill neighborhood in 2015 and moved to a larger space on Southwest in the fall of 2019. The new space means a new and expanded menu, but the same focus on authentic Tex Mex flavors. While the crowded restaurant shows the success Ethridge has found, it wasn't always an easy road, and he tells the Meet St. Louis podcast there was a definite fork-in-the-road moment of finding a new career path in the restaurant business or taking the path that might lead him back to jail. Thankfully for St. Louis he took the path that led to Taco Circus.

Episode 80: Urban Buds City Grown Flowers Feb 10, 2020

On a nearly one-acre flower farm in the middle of South City, you'll find more than 70 different kinds of flowers growing. When Mimo Davis and Miranda Duschack discovered the property almost a decade ago it was in shambles. The land itself dates back to the 1870s and slowly the duo behind Urban Buds City Grown Flowers have transformed it back to a working urban farm. Miranda and Mimo sat down with the Meet St. Louis podcast to talk about their love of farming, the benefit of buying local, sustainable flowers and the feeling it brings to hand over a fresh cut bouquet at the farmer's market. Let's meet Mimo and Miranda.

Episode 79: Women's Creative Feb 03, 2020

Episode 79: Women's Creative by Meet St. Louis

Episode 78: Bulrush Jan 27, 2020

At Bulrush, the space and food feel modern, but the inspiration for the food is hundreds of years of history rooted in the Ozarks. Chef Rob Connoley works to define and showcase the cuisine of a region that expands outside of Missouri at his restaurant in Midtown. The James Beard semi-finalist and self-taught chef shares his culinary journey from the world of non-profits, to opening a small grocery store in New Mexico with his husband, to his journey back to his hometown of St. Louis. From foraging to working towards a goal of zero-waste, Connoley hopes to help shape the restaurant industry in St. Louis and beyond.

Episode 77: Bob Brazell – Tenderloin Room, Byrd & Barrel and Tamm Avenue Grill Jan 20, 2020

You might know Bob Brazell’s name from fast-casual spots like Byrd & Barrel and Tamm Avenue Grill, but now the chef and restaurateur is going back to his roots in fine dining as one of the new owners of the Tenderloin Room at The Chase Park Plaza. From his first kitchen job at 15 to working at Monarch and Niche, Brazell says each job has taught him a lesson he hopes to pass on to other chefs. Juggling three restaurants isn’t easy, but Bob took the time to sit down with us at the Meet St. Louis Podcast to talk about fried chicken, dealing with haters and the spots around St. Louis he loves to check out when he finally gets a night off.

Episode 76: The Shakespeare Festival Jan 13, 2020

For 20 years, the Shakespeare Festival St. Louis has worked to make the Bard more accessible. For their 20th season, the long running festival will put on a performance of Much Ado About Nothing. The festival’s executive producer Tom Ridgely sat down with us to discuss how they continue to shake things up. Their goal is to continue to grow the original content of the festival, from their Shakespeare in the Streets to an upcoming hip-hop musical inspired by Two Gentlemen of Verona. Ridgeley’s hope is to give a voice to a region often underrepresented on the stage. Dates: Dress the Part – Jan. 29- Feb 15 Shakespeare Movie Series May 15-17 Shakespeare in the Park – May 27- June 21 Shakespeare in the Streets – Early fall

Episode 75: The Last Hotel Jan 06, 2020

Downtown St. Louis’ latest boutique hotel features a rooftop pool, nods to the buildings’ history and a restaurant with Chef Evy Swoboda at it’s helm. Swoboda acted as the city’s culinary ambassador for the hotel’s out-of-town developer, showing off the city’s best food. When they asked her to head up the new restaurant she jumped on board, but first she took a trip from one end of the Mississippi to the other to develop the menu. The menu pays homage to St. Louis history as a river city, drawing on several different food cultures. Swoboda previously worked at Pastaria and brings her love of handmade pastas and pizzas to the restaurant. It’s a restaurant she hopes stands on it’s own as opposed to just a hotel restaurant, attracting both visitors to Downtown and St. Louisians looking for a night out. From the must eat item on the menu to how her dad helped her land what she’s calling a dream job, Swoboda dishes it all on this week’s episode.

Episode 74: Jerk Soul Dec 30, 2019

A new year brings new beginnings and no one knows about starting fresh like Zahra Spencer and Telie Woods. The two had dreams of opening a beachfront joint in Zahra’s home island of St. Thomas, then Hurricane Irma hit. And then Hurricane Maria. Their dreams were literally crushed on the beach. But plan B would bring them to St. Louis and after one day of searching, Jerk Soul was born in the Hyde Park neighborhood. Jerk Soul is serving up the food Zahra and Tellie love, traditional Caribbean, with lots of spice. Telie and Zahra joined us on the podcast to chat about pursuing Plan B, making the perfect spice blend and their favorite take-out spots in their new hometown.

Episode 73: St. Louis Aquarium Dec 23, 2019

In two days, St. Louis will unveil its new aquarium at Union Station. It's part of a comprehensive makeover of the downtown attraction, and the aquarium is the biggest piece of that renovation. We sat down with the aquarium's executive director, Tamera (Tami) Lash Brown, to get an inside look at what will be featured when the doors open Christmas Day. We talked about sharks, a blue lobster, a giant octopus, and everyone's favorite: the sea otters. We also talked about how you go about getting all these sea creatures in one place. Hint: You never know who your flying companions are. So sit back, plug in, and enjoy!

Episode 72: Holiday Spectacular! Dec 16, 2019

'Tis the season for holiday traditions, and we wanted to know what some of Meet St. Louis' most popular guests do to celebrate. So we picked up the phone and started calling our friends to find out what their traditions are. Everyone has their thing where it just doesn't feel like the holidays until THIS happens, and our guests were no exception. We talked to Andy from Crown Candy (1:15), Qui Tran of Nudo House and Mai Lee (8:54), Jackie Huebbe from SugarBot Sweet Shop (14:32), Alex and Amanda Donley of Gioia's (19:42), Alisha Blackwell-Calvert of Olio and Elaia (26:22), and Tom Halaska from WellBeing (37:51). From champagne, to a particular steak, to dry-ass fudge, to a non-negotiable Christmas Eve wardrobe, they all had their own holiday rules. So join us on a trip around St. Louis and find out what the people who make YOUR holiday traditions do for their own. Oh- and happy holidays from us here at Meet St. Louis! Thanks for listening!

Episode 71: Doug "The Tamale Man" Marshall Dec 09, 2019

Doug Marshall may be known as the Tamale Man, but he owes much of his success to the women in his life. From his grandmothers who taught him to cook as a young boy to his wife who first came up with the idea to start selling tamales at the Farmer’s Markets. When he first starting selling his homemade tamales, they weren’t a big hit. But slowly they took off and he even started developing vegan recipes due to the number of requests. He’s become a staple at markets across the St. Louis region and with the help of his children who help out with the family business. He joined us on the podcast to share the lessons learned working in other restaurants and now for himself, the legacy of his family’s recipes and of course why tamales are such a special part of so many holiday celebrations.

Episode 70: Mission Taco Dec 02, 2019

Adam and Jason Tilford moved around a lot growing up. From the East Coast to the West Coast, their dad was in the Coast Guard and it took them across the US. They ended up in St. Louis and thankfully for us, they stuck around. With six Mission Tacos and a seventh on the way, the brothers are known for the West Coast taco spot serving up great food along with delicious craft beer and cocktails. From Tortilliria to Barristers to Milagro, the Tilford’s are no strangers to the restaurant scene. The brothers sat down with the Meet St. Louis podcast to talk tortillas, the family dynamic and how the next Mission Taco will be the biggest one yet.

Episode 69: The Brass Rail Nov 25, 2019

When Scott Ellinger opened up his restaurant The Brass Rail in O’Fallon, he didn’t have enough money to change the sign. So he kept the name of the previous restaurant. But over the last six years, he has made a name for himself as not only the neighborhood steakhouse but also as the restaurant that serves up the largest Thanksgiving dinner. Ellinger, with the help of hundreds of volunteers, donates and delivers 10,000 meals on Thanksgiving. It’s an effort that takes nearly a week to pull of and results in four tons of food. We sat down with the restaurant owner to talk about giving back, the best way to cook a steak, and why he found himself settling down in St. Louis after living all over the country.

Episode 68: Lark Skin Co. Nov 18, 2019

When Lisa Dolan couldn’t find the clean beauty products she was searching for, she created her own. That was the birth of Lark Skin Co. Three years after starting the business, Lark Skin Co can be found across the country and at their shop in Webster Groves. Founder Lisa Dolan and creative partner Allie Schweiter joined us on the Meet St. Louis Podcast to talk about clean skincare, building a brand that empowers women and how they’re helping reshape our ideas of the beauty industry.

Episode 67: Center Ice Brewery Nov 11, 2019

Steve Albers is used to waiting. He waited his entire life for his beloved Blues to win a Stanley Cup and he waited years to open his brewery, Center Ice. But like the saying goes, good things happen to those who wait. The city of St. Louis got the celebration of a lifetime when the Blues hoisted the Cup on Market Street and beer fans found a new spot to sip brews in Midtown when Center Ice opened its doors in 2017. The brewery has a hockey theme and Blues fans will love the ode to the past, with a bar made of wood from the old arena; but everyone will get behind the beers on tap, from a hazy IPA to their Checkerdome Pils. In this episode Steve talks to the Meet St. Louis podcast about home brewing, securing financing and why Midtown turned out to be the perfect location.

Episode 66: Sugarbot Nov 04, 2019

“If it’s not a ‘F*** Yeah!’ for me, it’s a ‘No.’” In a storefront in Historic St. Charles, Sugarbot Sweet Shop serves ups some of the area’s best treats. From sugar cookies to brownies to homemade marshmallows, everything in the shop is made with love and passion. Jackie Huebbe didn’t quit her job to bake things she doesn’t love. She worked in the corporate world and after work, found comfort in the kitchen. She finally made the leap to open her bakery in 2012, but it wasn’t until 2015 that she opened the doors to the St. Charles shop. Jackie opens up on the podcast about the joy of running her own business, the freedom of saying, “No,” and why you’ll never find anything but real vanilla in her kitchen.

LISTENER FAVORITE: Louie's Matt McGuire Oct 28, 2019

Matt McGuire is no stranger to successful restaurants. From Monarch, to Herbie’s, to Brasserie and Niche, he has made a name for himself at some of the city’s best restaurants. But it all started when he and several friends opened King Louie’s in 1996. A restaurant that many today remember with fondness. And bits of that famed St. Louis restaurant now live on in Louie, the restaurant everyone seems to love. The Clayton restaurant has found the place in the hearts of customers who dine there for both a causal Tuesday night and for a special night of celebrating. McGuire sat down with Meet St. Louis to talk about his career, what he’s still learning in the kitchen and why he loves teaching the next generation of chefs.

Episode 65: Farmhaus’ Kevin Willmann Oct 21, 2019

From the farms of Greenville, IL to the waters of Pensacola, FL, each place Kevin Willmann lived played a role in shaping his food. The chef and owner of Farmhaus in South St. Louis has received his fair share of awards and accolades, but the real praise is from diners at his intimate farm-to-table restaurant. The menu changes based on the season and what they find in the restaurant garden. His food memories go all the way back to picking a potato straight out of his family garden and the simplicity of a little salt and the produce coming straight out of the earth inspire him every day.

Episode 64: Yellowbelly and Retreat Oct 14, 2019

For Travis Howard and Tim Wiggins, hospitality is top of mind at their restaurants Yellowbelly and Retreat. The two concepts are wildly different, one a tiki-inspired seafood restaurant with an emphasis on rum cocktails, the other a modern American gastropub with a rustic vibe. But they both bring equal focus on cocktails and good food, with service that brings guests coming back. Now the two are taking the next step, opening an event space called the Hideout, where they plan to host everything from birthday parties to pop-up events. First up is a Halloween-inspired pop-up bar called the Corpse Reviver. The two sat down with the Meet St. Louis podcast to talk cocktails, good service and why St. Louis is beating out other cities in terms of great food and drinks.

Episode 63: Utah Station Oct 07, 2019

Housed in a once vacant and crumbling gas station, Utah Station is breathing new life into a building and a vegan menu. Chef Chris Bertke starting crafting vegan drunk food in his kitchen late at night, now he’s serving up his recipes at the Benton Park restaurant. Opened this summer, Bertke says the menu is inspired by what he wants to eat, tacos, burgers, toasted ravioli, but without meat.

Episode 62: Cafe Natasha Sep 30, 2019

In 1983, Behshid and Hamishe Bahrami opened The Little Kitchen in Downtown St. Louis as a way to support their new baby girl, Natasha. They started out on a convention oven and an electric burner, serving up Persian food for downtown workers. The lines wrapped around the building. In 1993, they opened up the first Café Natasha on Delmar. In 2001, they opened up their third restaurant on South Grand. For 35 years, the Bahrami’s have fed St. Louis. Hamishe and Natasha joined us on the podcast to talk about food, family and how one critic’s review changed everything. The mother-daughter team shares decades of memories, of the good and the bad of owning a restaurant.

Episode 61: Urban Chestnut Brewing Company Sep 23, 2019

At Urban Chestnut, new world meets old world. The nine-year-old brewery, with locations in The Grove and Midtown, has been brewing beer in St. Louis since 2010. Their revolution series is their take on modern American beers, while their reverence series is all about timeless European styles. Brewmaster Florian Kuplent hails from Bavaria. Kuplent and UCBC’s head chef Andrew Fair sat down for an interview on beer, food and Oktoberfest.

Episode 60: Left Bank Books Sep 16, 2019

50 years ago, a group of Wash U grad students opened up a book store. It was full of anti-war books, Rolling Stone magazines, and all kinds of reading material that you couldn't find anywhere else. Today, it's St. Louis' biggest independent book store, surviving both the commercial book store boom and bust, and the online (read: Amazon) explosion. Meet St. Louis sat down with Kris Kleindienst and Jarek Steele about the spirit that's kept Left Bank alive for five decades as well as why it's been essential to the fabric of St. Louis' culture. We talk about how to recommend a book, why diversity matters in a book store, and why Left Bank has the hardest entrance exam in the literature industry. Sit back, plug in, and enjoy!

Episode 59: Caiti Carrow Sep 09, 2019

Caiti Carrow runs Jasper Paul PR, the hospitably public relations firm representing some of the very best in St. Louis’ food scene. From iNDO, to Retreat, and Yellowbelly, to Schlafly and Nathaniel Reid, their clients aren’t just receiving attention in St. Louis but across the country. Caiti sat down with the Meet St. Louis podcast to talk about the company she started at her kitchen table and how it’s grown, what an average day looks like in PR and what excites her most about hospitality in her hometown.

Episode 58: Zoe Robinson Aug 26, 2019

Zoe Robinson opened her first restaurant at 23 and she hasn’t stopped. A pioneer in the St. Louis restaurant scene, she has created some of the beautiful spaces in St. Louis, from I Fratellini to Bar Les Freres. Her latest restaurant, the James Beard-nominated Billie Jean, is no exception. For decades she has worked with head chef Ny Vonsaly, helping create restaurants that transport diners to romantic corners of the world. She sat down with the Meet St. Louis Podcast to talk about the beginnings at Café Zoe to her favorite restaurant she’s opened and finally to what’s next. Hint? She’s not slowing down.

Episode 57: Rise Coffee’s Jessie Mueller Aug 19, 2019

Jessie Mueller created Rise coffee shop with one idea in mind: a place where all would be welcome. Mueller had never worked in a cafe when she got the idea to open the coffee shop in the Grove back in 2013. Over the years the coffee house has evolved, now serving food, but at its core remains the idea that is a place for the community to gather. Whether that’s for a mom’s group play date, to study, or to lend a helping hand through their coffee for the People program. Mueller sat down with us to talk about coffee, activism and where she hopes to take the coffee house in the future.

Episode 56: Mac's Local Eats Aug 12, 2019

Smash burgers! Mac's Local Eats took St. Louis by storm with their incredible burgers in 2017, quickly building a reputation for having some of the best food in town. They had a line out the door at lunchtime at their original location on Tamm Avenue every day, and now they're moving to Cherokee Street. Chris "Mac" McKenzie sat down with Meet St. Louis inside their new spot at Bluewood Brewing (1821 Cherokee Street) to talk about how an internet group who bought local meat ended up leading to a restaurant, as well as why they decided to leave their first home in search of a bigger location. Sit back, plug in, and enjoy!

Episode 55: Pie Guy Pizza Aug 05, 2019

Mitch Frost took a look around The Grove and realized something: There were no late-night food options. Despite many of the bars in the neighborhood being open until 3 a.m., if revelers wanted to grab some grub before heading home, they were largely out of luck. Mitch also knew pizza, having spent much of his adulthood perfecting pies. So why not use that mastery to solve a problem? Pie Guy Pizza has been open 1 year on Manchester, and Mitch has tossed thousands of pies to feed hungry patrons at all hours. He sat down with Meet St. Louis to talk about why pizza is a passion, how to make the perfect slice, and all the surprises he ran into along the way to where he is now.

Episode 54: Third Wheel Brewing Jul 29, 2019

Abbey Spencer started off like many brewers, by brewing at home. Her first batch was pretty good, the second? Undrinkable. But the success of the first drove her to keep trying. And her recipes did not go unnoticed. Now she’s the head brewer of Third Wheel Brewing in St. Peter’s. She sat down with the Meet St. Louis podcast to talk her favorite style of beer, the importance of St. Louis Craft Beer week and why she hopes to inspire other women in the craft beer industry.

Episode 53: David and Kara Bailey Jul 22, 2019

If you haven't eaten in one of his restaurants, you've certainly heard of them. Rooster, Bailey's Range, Chocolate Bar, Bridge, Small Batch; they're all St. Louis staples. David Bailey has built an eatery empire in St. Louis and couldn't imagine doing it anywhere else. His restaurants all moved into unique buildings and he worked to keep their original personality, even if it meant taking a lot longer to open than planned. He and his wife Kara, who is responsible for the breathtaking design of the restaurants, sat down with Meet St. Louis to talk about what's been built, how it started, and what's coming next. Sit back, plug in, and enjoy!

Episode 52: Sweet Art Jul 15, 2019

For more than a decade, Reine Bayoc has been serving up love and magic at her Shaw bakery. SweetArt started as a crazy dream, a dream that has seen serious success. People line up to the door to try what she describes as vegan soul food. That’s right. Vegan mac n’ cheese, vegan nachos and a veggie burger that Reine unabashedly calls the best ever. But her baked goods have always been her passion, cookies, cupcakes and pies fill the glass display case. Owner and chef Reine joined us on he Meet St. Louis podcast to talk about her favorite desserts, the challenges of being a mom and chef and a tease at her next restaurant.

Episode 51: David Stine Jul 08, 2019

Episode 51: David Stine by Meet St. Louis

Episode 50: Sugarfire's Mike Johnson Jul 01, 2019

When Mike Johnson turned 40, he was ready to get out of the restaurant business for good. But instead he decided to give a BBQ restaurant a shot. Now Sugarfire Smokehouse is a huge hit in St. Louis and around the country. He followed it up with Hi Pointe Drive-In and now his life is non-stop. The chef and father says spreading St. Louis style BBQ around the world is the best thing he can imagine. He joins us on the Meet St. Louis podcast to chat about Yelp reviewers, working for Emeril and why giving back to his community is more important than ever.

Episode 49: Planter's House Jun 24, 2019

Ted Kilgore is a self-proclaimed cocktail geek and has helped shape and create the craft cocktail industry in St. Louis. The owner of Planter’s House in Lafayette Square and Small Change in Benton Park, Kilgore has been mixing up cocktails in the city since 2006. He sat down with the Meet St. Louis Podcast to talk about the history of cocktails, the inspiration behind his creations and where he sees the cocktail industry going next.

Episode 48: Blues City Deli Jun 17, 2019

Blues City Deli is one of the most beloved sandwich spots in the city. The line outside the shop every day at lunchtime can tell you that. But it's also known nationwide thanks to the marriage of food and music. Vince Valenza has built a St. Louis mainstay in just fifteen years, pushing past a few false starts to create his dream establishment at McNair and Victor. He's served musicians, athletes, celebrities and fellow restauranteurs, every one of them drawn to his incredible menu and an aesthetic that honors this history of Blues music. Musicians from New Orleans to Chicago know Blues City Deli, and the opportunity to play there draws them just as much as the food. Vince sat down with Meet St. Louis to talk about the journey he took to finally build his dream restaurant, what it feels like to see a line around the block before he opens, and where he wants to go from here. Sit back, plug in, and enjoy!

Episode 47: Charles Glenn Jun 09, 2019

When Charles Glenn auditioned to sing the National Anthem for the St. Louis Blues, his microphone went out two words in. He kept singing without it, and he was so good they hired him anyway. For nearly two decades, his signature voice has opened home Blues games, and Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final will be his swan song. Charles is stepping away from the microphone at the Enterprise Center at season's end, taking a break from hockey games for his health and to spend time with his family. But he'll still be singing. Glenn is a gifted musician and a veteran of several bands that have toured all over the country and he's looking forward to singing and playing more music all over town. His journey to the ice of the Enterprise Center is fascinating, and he joined Meet St. Louis to talk about his incredible path to Sunday's big moment and to reflect on the Blues' storybook run.

Episode 46: Main & Mill Brewing Company Jun 03, 2019

At the corner of Main Street and Mill Street in Festus sits one of the most popular breweries in the region. Main & Mill Brewing Company opened in 2014 and quickly grew in popularity for their unique beer and culture of spreading craft beer. It took a 3-year renovation to get their location ready, but since they opened their doors, people have traveled thousands of miles to taste their beer and be part of the legendary bottle share program. Co-founder Denny Foster sat down with Meet St. Louis to talk about the leaving finance to go into brewing, the prolonged headache of renovating a historic building, and how he's trying to drive Festus toward the center of the region's craft beer consciousness.

Episode 45: STL Style House - Randy and Jeff Vines May 27, 2019

It started as a hobby, but today the Vines brothers print t-shirts for everyone looking to wear their city pride on their sleeve. Even the St. Louis Blues order t-shirts from the shop on Cherokee Street. Their love for their hometown is evident when you step foot inside their store, from your favorite neighborhood on a tote bag to a welcome mat inspired by the St. Louis Street Department, they produce quirky, original designs.

Episode 44: Nick Bognar of Nippon Tei/iNDO May 20, 2019

Nick Bognar is young and hungry. He started working in the kitchen of his mom’s Ballwin restaurant Nippon Tei at 16, and ever since then he’s dreamed of opening his own restaurant. It took leaving St. Louis and his family’s restaurant to get more training and some life lessons before he would return to his hometown. A James Beard nomination for Rising Star Chef of the year was the push he need to make his teenage dreams come true. Bognar will open iNDO in Botanical Heights, a modern Asian restaurant that will reflect his sushi training and his family’s roots in Thailand.

Episode 43: Gioia's Deli May 13, 2019

There aren't many 100-year-old businesses, but St. Louis is lucky to have a century of great food thanks to Gioia's Deli. Meet St. Louis sat down with Alex and Amanda Donley, who now run the city's favorite sandwich shop, and talked about how they got here and where they see the deli going. Alex talks about the history of Gioia's, helping his mom during all those early mornings, and why he always felt drawn to the business. Amanda talks about what it's like to push a business forward and how they balance family and work. Also, they talk about all the sandwiches in the fabled "vault," and which long lost eats might make a reappearance. Sit back, plug in, and enjoy!

Episode 42: Taylor Louderman May 06, 2019

She first took the stage as Annie at the Ozark Actor’s Theater at age 10 and was officially hooked. St. Louis-area native Taylor Louderman is now taking Broadway by storm, playing Regina George in Mean Girls. The Tony-nominated actress says the St. Louis theater scene is to credit her success as she continues to grow in New York as well as taking her skills to Hollywood. She’ll return to St. Louis for a show at the Muny and a hopes to continue to help support and nurture the local theater scene in her home state. Taylor is hosting a benefit to raise money for Ozark Actors Theater on May 20 at the Sheldon Concert Hall. https://www.kmov.com/community/kmov-s-paige-hulsey-teams-up-with-broadway-s-taylor/article_8f866fd8-6506-11e9-a2a7-677dd8407613.html

Episode 41: Bolyard's Meat and Provisions Apr 29, 2019

Chris Bolyard was always an animal lover. As a child he wanted to be a veterinarian, today he owns a specialty butcher shop in Maplewood. At Bolyard’s Meat and Provisions, Bolyard shows love and respect for the animals by using locally raised and pastured meat and practicing nose to tail butchery. Nothing goes to waste. Chris Bolyard talks to Meet St. Louis about how he found his love for butchery, balancing family life and the surprising take that we all need to eat LESS meat.

Episode 40: Forest Park Apr 22, 2019

St. Louis is full of incredible places, but the heart of the city is Forest Park. Nearly twice as big as Central Park, the incredible space available to residents and tourists alike is maintained by thousands of volunteers and a staff dedicated to keeping one of the most special places in country beautiful. Meet St. Louis sat down with Lesley Hoffarth, president and executive director of Forest Park Forever, to understand the history behind St. Louis’ biggest treasure, and how it stays that way.

Episode 39 Fauxgerty Apr 15, 2019

Fauxgerty is a woman-owned, sustainable fashion company based in St. Louis and started in a Central West End apartment in 2013. Since then, owner Chrissy Fogerty has expanded the brand with the help of her husband Jon to create a company that puts thought behind every jacket, skirt and blouse. Their signature cruelty-free faux leather jackets put them on the map, but they are quickly expanding across the country. Inside their Lafayette Square headquarters and showroom, the couple talks about creating a greener fashion industry, the rebirth of the Garment District in Downtown and the special talent each of them brings to their growing company.

LISTENER FAVORITE: 4 Hands Brewing Co. Apr 08, 2019

Even if you're not from St. Louis, you probably know the name. Since opening in 2011, 4 Hands Brewing has built a reputation as one of the most creative and prolific breweries in the Midwest. Not only are they a staple throughout the region, but their beer is also reaching people all over the country. Founder and owner Kevin Lemp sits down with Meet St. Louis to talk about what it takes to make great not only MAKE great beer, but also get customers to fall in love with it once they find it. The conversation covers everything from what made him take the leap into opening a brewery, to the incredible art and marketing of 4 Hands, to how the brewery became a pillar of St. Louis by thinking beyond beer to the community at large. Also, the conversation dives into the line of spirits hitting the shelves and where 4 Hands is going from here. Sit back, plug in, and enjoy!

Episode 38: Louie’s Matt McGuire Apr 01, 2019

Matt McGuire is no stranger to successful restaurants. From Monarch, to Herbie’s, to Brasserie and Niche, he has made a name for himself at some of the city’s best restaurants. But it all started when he and several friends opened King Louie’s in 1996. A restaurant that many today remember with fondness. And bits of that famed St. Louis restaurant now live on in Louie, the restaurant everyone seems to love. The Clayton restaurant has found the place in the hearts of customers who dine there for both a causal Tuesday night and for a special night of celebrating. McGuire sat down with Meet St. Louis to talk about his career, what he’s still learning in the kitchen and why he loves teaching the next generation of chefs.

Episode 37: Olive + Oak Mar 25, 2019

The owners, chefs and bartenders at Olive + Oak put their heart into everything they do. Their customers are treated more like family and if you sit at the bar, you’ll feel like you’re in bartenders Morgaine Segura and Charlie Martin’s living room. The newlyweds shake up seasonal cocktails at the Webster Groves hot spot, and they can make a drink for any moment. Local and national praise (including a James Beard nomination) means the spot is packed every night, but their skill guarantees new visitors will keep coming every weekend. It’s a group effort to run a great bar, and the couple sat down with Meet St. Louis to talk about just how important the right crew is. Sit back, plug in, and enjoy!

Episode 36: Kranzberg Arts Foundation Mar 18, 2019

Block by block, Grand Center continues to grow into the arts destination of St. Louis. And if it’s up to Chris Hansen, it will be a destination known world-wide. The executive director of the Kranzberg Arts Foundation says the community-driven organization is dedicated to creating spaces for artists to thrive. From gallery space to intimate listening spaces to the circus, there’s a little something for everyone. Hansen shares his background of music and his dreams for the continued growth of the arts district with Meet St. Louis and tells us exactly how to have the perfect weekend without leaving Midtown.

Episode 35: Lona's Lil Eats Mar 11, 2019

Twice nominated for Best Chef: Midwest for the James Beard Awards, Lona Luo is unfazed by accolades. For her, the real wins are from the people who line up to try the food of her home. Lona grew up in a small village in China. Her entire life, she has never taken no for an answer and through her perseverance she has created one St. louis’ best loved restaurants, Lona’s Lil Eats in Fox Park. The chef sits down with Meet St. Louis to talk about her life, her love of making sauces and her plans for the future.

Episode 34: Apotheosis Comics Mar 04, 2019

From the halls of the White House to a storefront on South Grand, Martin Casas is always working to make an impact on his community. Now, he’s traded in politics for superheroes as the owner of Apotheosis Comics in South St. Louis. The first comic book store and bar, Martin hopes to build a place where all feel welcome. The California native shares what brought him to St. Louis but more importantly what about the city made him stay. He chats with Meet St Louis about comics, social justice and why shopping local is so important.

Episode 33: Guerrilla Street Food Feb 25, 2019

They’re considered the pioneers of the food truck business here in St. Louis. Brian Hardesty and Joel Crespo hit the streets with their renovated truck featuring Fillipino-inspired food in 2011 and they haven’t stopped since. Guerilla Street Food has expanded to multiple brick and mortar locations across the St. Louis region. They’ve been recognized locally and nationally as the best food truck but these two friends don’t let the awards go to their heads. For them, it’s all about sharing Filipino food, encouraging customers to try new flavors and to continue to expand their brand across St. Louis and beyond.

Episode 32: Mardi Gras Feb 18, 2019

Rain, snow or sunshine, you never know what to expect with a St. Louis Mardi Gras. But for 40 years, St. Louisians have braved whatever the elements have to offer to celebrate in the streets of Soulard. Mack Bradley the president of the Mardi Gras Foundation explains how the county’s second largest celebration got its start on a cold winter day back in 1979. He takes us behind the scenes of the biggest party of the year including the few times where things didn’t go as planned. Mardi Gras is more than just the Grand Parade, it’s a full season of events and the Meet St. Louis podcast has your guide to the fun

Episode 31: Hotel St. Louis Feb 11, 2019

What started with the renovation of one building in University City has evolved into the restoration of hundreds of buildings across St. Louis. Amy and Amrit Gill of Restoration STL look at a crumbling building and see a future home or a chance to rebuild a neighborhood one brick at a time. The husband and wife team has restored 400 buildings, from single-family homes to the newly-opened Hotel St. Louis in the Louis Sullivan-designed Union Trust building in Downtown St. Louis. They sat down with Meet St. Louis to talk about their passion for history, their take on the revitalization of the region and why attention to detail is so important.

Episode 30: Steve's Hot Dogs Feb 04, 2019

From alternative rock to alternative toppings, Steve Ewing is always shaking things up. Ewing is the frontman for the alt rock band The Urge and the founder of Steve’s Hot Dogs on the Hill. Whether it’s creating new toppings for his gourmet dogs or playing sold out crowds at the Pageant, Ewing says it’s all about the fans. The father, musician and business man sat down with Meet St. Louis to talk about the late night food scene, his first big break with the band, and why he loves his south city neighborhood. Sit back, plug in, and enjoy!

Episode 29: Yolklore Jan 28, 2019

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day and for Mary Bogacki, she wants that breakfast to be the best it can be. You might not know it from the outside of the dated strip mall, but Yolklore is serving up some of the best breakfast not just in St. Louis County but across the region. With a background in pastry, Mary says every job since she was 16 was leading her to where she is today, owning her own restaurant with her husband, and fellow chef, John. On this week’s episode, Mary shares the path to her success, how she hopes to change the culture in the kitchen and why she loves breakfast food. So sit back, plug-in and try not to drool while listening to this delectable episode! Enjoy! Yolklore Website: http://yolklore.com

Episode 28: Space Architecture Jan 21, 2019

You may not know the name, but you definitely know their work. Space LLC has designed and built some of the most well-known spots in St. Louis. Pi, Publico, Narwhals, Kaldi's, Mission... the list goes on and on. Meet St. Louis sits down with founder Tom Niemeier to talk about how you rebuild a city, one building at a time. Sit back, plug in. and enjoy!

Episode 27: WellBeing Brewing Company Jan 14, 2019

"We do something no one else in the country does." WellBeing Brewing Company has, by any measure, the most success in their first year of any St. Louis brewery ever. They're in 26 states, part of dozens of festivals around the country, and are adding customers by the minute. They've created some of the most unique beers in their industry, including ones you can drink at work, at home, or on the road. That's because there's more alcohol in a banana than there is in a WellBeing beer. The first non-alcoholic craft brewery, WellBeing is becoming well-known thanks to Dry January, but they've been growing for more than a year now. Drinkers and non-drinkers alike are picking up WellBeing across the country, and the care they put into making the best beer you've ever tasted. Brand manager Tom Halaska sat down with Meet St. Louis to tell the story of what makes WellBeing so different, why he quit drinking, and why more people than ever are reaching for non-alcoholic beer. Sit back, plug in, and enjoy!

Episode 26: Hello Juice Jan 07, 2019

Say hello to the trendy new juice bar in The Grove. Jordan and Kayla Bauer landed on the idea when they were on their honeymoon in Hawaii, realizing it was a niche missing in their hometown of St. Louis. Instagramable smoothie bowls, fresh-pressed juice and super food elixers draw big crowds to the café. Over the whir of the blenders, the Bauer’s talked to Meet St. Louis about the challenges of opening a business, the desire to inspire others and how they scoured thrift stores to create the perfect minimalist hang out.

Episode 25: Grace Meat + Three's Rick Lewis Dec 31, 2018

Fried chicken and family are two of the things Rick Lewis credits with his success. The James Beard-nominated chef and owner serves up southern cuisine at Grace Meat & Three in The Grove Neighborhood. Many know him from Quincy Street Bistro and Southern, but his dream was always to open a place of his own. Rick sat down with Meet St. Louis to talk about his career highlights and his plans to continue growing his brand of comfort food and great hospitality in St. Louis. Sit back, plug in, and enjoy!

Listener favorite: Rockwell Beer Company Dec 24, 2018

With the holiday season, Meet St. Louis took the week of Christmas off to work on upcoming episodes. Please enjoy this episode on Rockwell Beer Company, one of the most popular of 2018. This interview was inside the brewery before it opened, and now Andy Hille's dream is up and running. Head in to try the beer and food, and plug in to hear what it took to get St. Louis' newest brewery off the ground. Enjoy!

Episode 24: Crown Candy Kitchen's Andy Karandzieff Dec 17, 2018

"People come in and say, 'This is like an old time candy store!' No. It IS an old time candy store. We are who we are. 105 years on the same corner." Crown Candy Kitchen is a St. Louis staple, and whether you walked in yesterday or 100 years ago, you'd have the same experience. It's been the same for generations, and as its current steward, Andy Karandzieff is proud of the fact his customers can always count on the same things that brought people there throughout the decades. Andy joined Meet St. Louis to talk about the history of the city's favorite candy shop, their journey over the years, and why they'd never choose anywhere else to call home. He also talked about his brief run for mayor and why he has so much fun with social media. Sit back, plug in, and enjoy. (Just don't ask if you can have fries with that)

Episode 23: Nathaniel Reid Dec 10, 2018

Nathaniel Reid's love of food has taken him around the world, but he came home to open his own restaurant. He graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris with a Grand Diploma in Culinary and Pastry Arts, and worked pastry kitchens around the globe, including Michelin 3-star restaurant, Joël Robuchon, in Las Vegas and the AAA Five Diamond St. Regis hotel in California. But he never forgot where he came from, and when he was ready to strike out on his own, he opened Nathaniel Reid Bakery in Kirkwood. Chef Reid sat down with Meet St. Louis to talk about the journey from the Midwest to Europe and back again, what it means for his food to be part of the community, and how he's trying to change everyone's mind on fruitcake, one serving at a time. Sit back, plug in, and enjoy!

Episode 22: Qui Tran of Mai Lee and Nudo House Dec 03, 2018

His family helped bring Vietnamese food to St. Louis, opening Mai Lee in 1985. Now Qui Tran is spreading his family’s recipes across the country. Having a recipe on the cover of Food & Wine magazine was a pinch-me moment for Tran who immigrated with his family from Vietnam. While he first resisted getting into the restaurant business, it pulled him in. He is now one of the biggest cheerleaders of St. Louis restaurant scene. Mai Lee is an institution in St. Louis and Nudo House, the ramen restaurant he opened in Creve Coeur is a huge hit. So popular, they’re opening a second location. While at first resistant to follow in his family’s footsteps, Tran has hit his stride. Sit back. plug in, and enjoy!

Episode 21: Kaldi's Nov 26, 2018

The first Kaldi's opened in the Demun neighborhood in 1994, since then it has grown into one of St. Louis most well-known coffee brands. Kaldi’s Coffee’s director of marketing Frank McGinty shares the evolution of the specialty coffee company. From sustainable sourcing to the vintage roaster still used at their roastery in the Grove, we’re taking you behind the scenes of what goes into every cup of coffee. Sit back, plug in and enjoy!

Episode 20: Balkan Treat Box Nov 19, 2018

Edo Nalic arrived in St. Louis as a refugee, having come to America from war-torn Bosnia. He met his wife Loryn while in the U.S., and the two always knew they wanted to build something together, especially in the food industry. When Loryn went back to Bosnia with Edo, and experienced the life, love, and food of his home country, there was no doubt what they'd build when they came back to America. Balkan Treat Box began as a food truck and instantly gained acclaim; not only in St. Louis but in publications nationwide. Now, they're on the verge of opening a brick and mortar restaurant. The couple talks about the journey from food truck to full-on restaurant, what it takes to cook Bosnian food the right way, and what it means to succeed in St. Louis with a menu most Midwesterners wouldn't expect. Sit back, plug in and enjoy!

Episode 19: Collections by Joya Nov 12, 2018

Inspired by trips to Bali and Indonesia, Collections by Joya is a women-run jewelry company. Owner Betsy Blancett-Nacrelli left her corporate job to follow a passion. What started inside her St. Louis home has now grown into a company that sells jewelry all over the country. Blancett-Nacrelli says it’s a business that couldn’t have grown without the help of other St. Louis entrepreneurs.

Episode 18: 4 Hands Brewing Nov 05, 2018

Even if you're not from St. Louis, you probably know the name. Since opening in 2011, 4 Hands Brewing has built a reputation as one of the most creative and prolific breweries in the Midwest. Not only are they a staple throughout the region, their beer is reaching people all over the country. Founder and owner Kevin Lemp sits down with Meet St. Louis to talk about what it takes to make great not only MAKE great beer, but also get customers to fall in love with it once they find it. The conversation covers everything from what made him take the leap into opening a brewery, to the incredible art and marketing of 4 Hands, to how the brewery became a pillar of St. Louis by thinking beyond beer to the community at large. Also, the conversation dives into the line of spirits hitting the shelves and where 4 Hands is going from here. Sit back, plug in, and enjoy!

Episode 17: Clementine's Oct 29, 2018

How many people would walk away from a six-figure job to chase a dream? Tamara Keefe faced that choice a few years ago and decided to leave the corporate world behind and take a shot at making ice cream. Now, Clementine's is quickly becoming St. Louis' favorite creamery. Getting here was a wild ride, and making ice cream this good means following a lot of rules most people don't know about. Tamara talks with Meet St. Louis about how she took Clementine's from a car-delivery service to an ice cream shop with three locations, how important St. Louis was to the business, and where the name came from. Sit back, plug in and enjoy!

Episode 16: iTap Oct 22, 2018

"Dude, we should buy a bar!" It's been said a million times at the end of long, adventurous nights, and it never happens. But Brad Lobdell and Sean Conroy actually did it, and now they have THE beer bar franchise in St. Louis. International Tap House, or iTap for locals, is the spot for craft beers in the Gateway City. With five locations and another on the way, it's safe to say their gamble nearly 10 years ago paid off. But getting here took work, and a bet on St. Louis to become the beer city it is today. On this week's episode of Meet St. Louis, Brad and Sean talk about how it all started, how they managed to predict the beer scene, and what it takes to be an iTap employee. They also talk about where they hope to go next. Sit back, plug in, and enjoy!

Episode 15: Eckert's Oct 12, 2018

It's Autumn, which means families all over the region will be heading out to one of the Eckert's locations for a day of Fall fun. Seven generations of Eckerts have farmed in the area for 175 years, and now their land is visited annually by thousands of people. Chris Eckert sat down with Meet St. Louis to talk about how the family business has grown from roadside stands to what it is today, and how they managed to continue farming while also building an entertainment business. So if you're getting ready to go apple picking or head out to the pumpkin patch, plug this episode in on your drive out to one of their farms to learn how a St. Louis-area staple came to be.

Episode 14: Alisha Blackwell-Calvert Oct 08, 2018

Is one of the best minds in wine right here in St. Louis? In an often male-dominated industry, Alisha Blackwell-Calvert is breaking stereotypes. The St. Louis native is the beverage director at Reeds American Table in Maplewood. As a certified sommelier, prepping to take the exam to become an advanced sommelier, Blackwell-Calvert is earning national attention. This month, she is featured in Wine Enthusiast magazine as one of their 40 under 40 tastemakers. She knows more about wine than most people would forget, but she loves finding the right drink for experts and beginners alike. Sit back, plug in, and enjoy a journey into the history, details and joys of everyone's favorite drink: wine!

Episode 13: Earth Dance Farms' Molly Rockamann Oct 01, 2018

Welcome to the oldest organic farm west of the Mississippi! Earth Dance Farms grew from an acre of rented ground to one of the nation's most recognized spaces for agricultural education. Located in Ferguson, Missouri, Earth Dance Farms is the supplier for many of the top-rated restaurants in the region. While it might be easy to overlook the supply chain, Molly and her team remain committed to teaching the people of St. Louis where their food comes from. So plug your headphones in and learn why focusing on organic meals is better for your region, and why sustainable food is cheaper for your wallet AND your local farmer. Molly tells Meet St. Louis why all the things people call headaches are actually worth our time- especially if you love food. Sit back, plug in, and enjoy!

Episode 12: Strange Donuts' Jason Bockman Sep 24, 2018

Strange Donuts started in 2013, and five years later, is one of the city's favorite spots for a sweet treat. A huge reason for that is the boundless energy and unwavering commitment of founder Jason Bockman. Looking back on his journey, Bockman is still blown away where he is and how he got here, even if he always believed he'd get here someday. When he was a teenager, he was getting into fights and in trouble with the law. Then something happened that made him focus on making himself a success and he's never looked back. His road went through a hot dog stand, business school in St. Louis, and eventually Hong Kong, but he ended up back home and now runs one of the most successful food spots in the city. His story is incredible, and his commitment to running Strange Donuts in a way that treats his employees like family and his customers like friends has helped grow the business to four locations. Now, he has dreams of growing even bigger. Sit back, plug in, and enjoy! Jason also started a nonprofit, Strange Cares, focused on empowering kids lives with help from partners Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Children’s Heart Foundation and Girls on the Run. To learn more visit http://www.strangecares.org

Episode 11: Whisk's Kaylen Wissinger Sep 17, 2018

Kaylen Wissinger did what so many people wish they could: she left her job and decided to chase her dreams. Working in education, Kaylen realized she wasn't happy, so she left the classroom and dove into the kitchen. Teaching herself to bake, she started out selling cupcakes at the Tower Grove Farmer's Market. From there she became the resident baker at Local Harvest Cafe. Finally, in 2012, she opened Whisk on Cherokee Street. Since then she's earned a loyal customer base and Whisk has earned a reputation as one of the best bakeries in the region. Kaylen sat down with Meet St. Louis to talk about what it feels like to risk everything to be happy, what it takes to build a bakery from scratch, and how she had to learn to let go in order to survive starting a business. Sit back, plug in, and enjoy!

Episode 10: Beast Craft BBQ's David Sandusky Sep 10, 2018

It's been four years since David Sandusky left the fine dining world behind and opened Beast Craft BBQ, and over that time he's steadily built a reputation as one of the best pitmasters in the region. Beast Craft BBQ is continually in the conversation as the best BBQ spot in the St. Louis area, and they've done it by refusing to compromise on ingredients or approach. Their pork steak has become the gold standard, and their entire menu is built on the mantra of "All Killer, No Filler." BBQ is the quintessential American food, revered in equal measure in high-end restaurants and backyard grills. Sandusky wanted to pay tribute to that while challenging the established order of an already crowded region of pitmasters. Enjoy our candid conversation with David about how he built his business and the new places he's going this year.

Episode 9: Arch Apparel's Aaron Park Sep 03, 2018

What started as a few hundred followers on Instagram has grown into a booming business that has customers nationwide. Arch Apparel is a fashion company that reps St. Louis through unique designs and clever takes on the city's staples; delivering sports, music and culture-themed products to show off our home town. Funny enough, the man behind the business, Aaron Park, was born nearly 10,000 miles away in Melbourne, Australia. Now his company is spreading St. Louis all over the world, and he did it without even so much as a storefront. Aaron talks to us about how Arch Apparel grew through social media, how the customers influence their choices, and where's they're going from here. So sit back, plug in, and enjoy!

Episode 8: Beer Sauce Shop's Andrew Tessmer and Rick Duree Aug 27, 2018

"We want to be the people's place." That's what the guys behind Beer Sauce Shop were after when they opened their beer/whiskey/BBQ/sauce shop in St. Peters, and their customers certainly feel at home when they're there. Beer Sauce shop offers 500+ beers, 25+ small-batch whiskeys, 250+ sauces and rubs, and more than 200 barbecue toys. It's all try-before-you-buy and it's almost entirely fueled by local vendors. Andrew “The Beer Guy” Tessmer and Rick “The Sauce Guy” Duree love what they do, and their mission is to get you to love it too; whether you're a seasoned beer and BBQ veteran or someone just starting out. The duo sat down with Meet St. Louis to talk about how they built their business, why they run it the way they do, and where they're going next. Sit back, plug in, and let's meet Andrew and Rick!

Episode 1: Gerard Craft (rebroadcast) Aug 20, 2018

Hey friends! We're on a break this week while we record some upcoming episodes. In the next couple of weeks, we'll have episodes on beer and barbecue from St. Peters and fashion from St. Louis. In the meantime, enjoy our conversation with Gerard Craft, one of the city's most famous chefs. You may not know his name, but if you're a food-lover in St. Louis, you've almost certainly eaten at one of his restaurants. Sardella, Brasserie, Taste, Pastaria, and Porano have all become favorites for people in and around St. Louis, and they've earned Gerard some of the nation's most prestigious awards. He was a semifinalist for the James Beard Rising Star Chef of the Year 2008 and followed that up by being a Best Chefs in America nominee for six straight years. In 2015, he won the award for Best Chef: Midwest, and now he's opened his newest eatery, Cinder House, on the roof of the Four Seasons in downtown St. Louis. Gerard talked about his long journey from snowboard photographer, to grill cook to restauranteur, including how he conned his way into working in his first real kitchen. He also talked about why he chose St. Louis to open his first restaurant, and why the nation keeps overlooking our city as a food destination. Enjoy and see you next week!

Episode 7: LouFest Aug 13, 2018

Loufest has rapidly grown to become one of the best festivals in the region, and will once again bring music, food and art to Forest Park. With acts like Robert Plant, formerly of Led Zeppelin, The Head and The Heart, Modest Mouse, Kacey Musgraves and T-Pain, the two-day celebration of St. Louis once again brings the party to the Gateway City. The producers of St. Louis’ largest music festival talk to Meet St. Louis about securing some of the biggest headliners yet, while also featuring more local bands than ever. Mike Van Hee and Rich Toma talk about the behind-the-scenes challenges of crafting a lineup, the plans for next year’s 10th anniversary and the new food, drinks and art features fans can expect this year.

Episode 6: With Food + Love's Sher Castellano Aug 06, 2018

The farmers market is booming and that’s why Sher Castellano is the perfect person to follow on Instagram. From recipe development and stunning photos, the food blogger, photographer, and chef loves all things seasonal. Castellano runs the blog With Food + Love, where she focuses on plant-based and gluten-free recipes. Sher admits she didn’t love St. Louis when she first moved here but tells Meet St. Louis all about how the community of the city won her over.

STL Craft Beer Week : Hop Shop's Justin Harris and Ryan Griffin Aug 03, 2018

St. Louis has no shortage of breweries, but there was a shortage of specialty bottle shops when Justin Harris and Ryan Griffin opened their doors in 2015. In just three years, St. Louis Hop Shop has expanded into a bigger store front on Cherokee Street carrying hundreds of different beers. But for these two brothers, it's not just about bringing beer to the people of St. Louis, it's about building a community.

STL Craft Beer Week: Old Bakery's James Rogalsky Aug 02, 2018

St. Louis isn't just a city, it's a region. That's never been truer than when you're talking about beer. Old Bakery burst onto the scene in 2015 and has continued to make waves since. From their home in the Alton, Illinois bluffs, the certified organic brewery has made beer people crave, and shown up in tap houses, bottle shops and brewpubs across the metro area. It's a far cry from what James Rogalsky envisioned when he and his wife started Old Bakery, but bringing quality beer to St. Louis from a place most people in the city overlook is a point of pride.

STL Craft Beer Week: STLCBW Founder, 2nd Shift's Mike Sweeney Aug 01, 2018

Mike Sweeney started St. Louis Craft Beer Week 10 years ago and has watched it grow into a destination event over the last decade. Now at 2nd Shift Brewing, Mike remains one of the driving forces behind St. Louis' burgeoning craft beer scene. Taking stock of the incredible event he started, and the ever-expanding beer community in our city, Mike sat down with Meet St. Louis to talk about how far the Gateway City has come as a beer tourist destination and how we can play a role in the future of beer culture.

STL Craft Beer Week: Schlafly's Emily Parker Jul 31, 2018

Schlafly Brewery has been around since 1991, a long time in the craft beer world and they’re still working to innovate and shape the future of craft beer. Emily Parker started as an intern and is now the operations manager. She talks to Meet St. Louis about her start in the beer industry, the science behind crafting new beers and why it’s important for more women to get into the craft beer industry.

Episode 5: Rockwell Beer Co.'s Andy Hille Jul 30, 2018

Have you seen those bright shipping containers along Vandeventer? Wonder what's coming? Well we have great news: it's St. Louis' newest brewery! Rockwell Beer Company announced their plans in 2016, and are set to open this September. Founder Andy Hille sat down with Alexis to talk about the journey of building a brewery from scratch, the brewing scene in St. Louis and how he hopes Rockwell will fit in the city.

St. Louis Craft Beer Week is here! Jul 27, 2018

Craft Beer Week is here! To celebrate, Meet St. Louis is doing a full week of beer-related episodes. Today we have a preview of our chat with Mike Sweeney, who created St. Louis Craft Beer Week 10 years ago. Mike talks about how the event grew, how the city's beer culture has exploded, and why St. Louis is a destination beer city.

Episode 4: Humans of St. Louis' Lindy Drew Jul 23, 2018

Humans of St. Louis shares the people of our city, one photo and story at a time. It started as a side project for a group of friends at Washington University and sparked a movement. With a camera in hand, Lindy Drew travels the city of St. Louis by bicycle to share the stories of St. Louisians. She explains how she views St. Louis through each individuals story and hopes their work will help others learn more about our unique city. They are also crowdfunding to create the first Humans of St. Louis book. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1722661240/humans-of-st-louis-the-book

Episode 3: Vicia's Michael and Tara Gallina Jul 16, 2018

The vegetable-forward restaurant in St. Louis’ Cortex district continues to earn praise locally and nationwide. This month Chef Michael Gallina graces the cover of Food and Wine magazine with the title of Best New Chef. He is one half of the husband and wife team running one of the city’s most innovative restaurants. The restaurant was also a James Beard Award semi-finalist for Best New Restaurant. Michael and Tara Gallina met at one of the best restaurants in New York and moved back to St. Louis to open their first restaurant. In the episode, they talk about working together as a team, what’s next for Vicia and how they deal with the occasional cruel Yelp review.

Episode 2: Northwest Coffee's Jason Wilson Jul 09, 2018

From car washes to coffee roasting, Jason Wilson is an entrepreneur constantly working to make St. Louis a better place for all. The owner of Northwest Coffee says coffee is about bringing communities together. Roasting at least twice a week in their Central West end location, they're serving up some of the freshest coffee across St. Louis. The conversation with Wilson dives much deeper than what goes into a good cup of coffee, delving into the struggles for black-owned businesses, the responsibilities he feels as a role model for a younger generation and the need to bring coffee shops and opportunity to North St. Louis.

Episode 1: Gerard Craft Jul 02, 2018

You may not know his name, but if you're a food-lover in St. Louis, you've almost certainly eaten at one of Gerard Craft's restaurants. Sardella, Brasserie, Taste, Pastaria, and Porano have all become favorites for people in and around St. Louis, and they've earned Gerard some of the nation's most prestigious awards. He was a semifinalist for the James Beard Rising Star Chef of the Year 2008 and followed that up by being a Best Chefs in America nominee for six straight years. In 2015, he won the award for Best Chef: Midwest, and now he's poised to open his newest eatery, Cinder House, on the roof of the Four Seasons in downtown St. Louis. Gerard talked about his long journey from snowboard photographer, to grill cook to restauranteur, including how he conned his way into working in his first real kitchen. He also talked about why he chose St. Louis to open his first restaurant, and why the nation keeps overlooking our city as a food destination. Enjoy!

Introducing: Meet St. Louis! Jun 27, 2018

Introducing Meet St. Louis, a podcast that introduces you to the chefs, brewers, entrepreneurs, and artists making St. Louis one of the most exciting cities in the country. Host Alexis Zotos sits down for conversations with the people putting St. Louis on the map and takes you inside how they got where they are, and how St. Louis shaped what they do and how they do it.

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