Booker and Dax is a small bar attached to Momofuku Ssäm.  The main attraction here are the cocktails.  I suggest you find a seat at the bar so you can enjoy the attention to detail that goes into each creation.  It is unlike anything I have experienced anywhere else.  What makes these drinks special?  They use techniques you won’t see at your standard bar.  Things like liquid nitrogen to chill the glass, clarifying juice in a centrifuge, etc, are all common place.  It’s like having a bar in a chemistry lab.

Gin and Juice on left, Corsair garnished with a Miller High Life on right

Since Booker and Dax is attached to Momofuku Ssäm, their bar snacks are also something to behold.  While enjoying my drinks I saw several recommendations for the steamed pork buns on Foursquare.  Check out this slice of heaven:

There really isn’t much to them, but this is officially my favorite thing I have eaten.  (Note I was reaching the bottom of drink 3 when I tried them ).  They contained nice sized pieces of pork belly, cucumbers, scallions, and hoisin.  The pork belly doesn’t have the rind, so it is extremely fatty and decadent.  It melts in your mouth!  The cucumbers add crunch and helped neutralize the fat.   They were so good I had to order a second batch.

Booker and Dax is a great place to enjoy one-of-a-kind cocktails.  They have a small snack menu, but the steamed pork buns alone are worth the trip.  If you are a science geek like me, get there early before it gets busy.  Then get the bartenders talking about their experience using the centrifuge as well as how some of the cocktail ideas evolved.  It is guaranteed to be a great evening of drinks and food.

Dive 2 Five Scale:  3.  It’s a small space that really focuses on the drinks.  The music variety was intriguing.  I heard AC DC, U2, Blondie, and even Hall and Oates Maneater all in one hour.  If you are in NYC, you should add it to your “must-do” list as well.  This will be something I hit up on all future trips.

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Samples at the Dubliner

• The Dubliner – St. Louis first true gastropub.  This first location “separated the men from the boys” so to speak.  With Liver Pate and Cheek to Cheek to sample, it was time to get your game face on.
• Mosaic - The chef provided samples from their new spring menu.  It was great to be able to sample the new items before the general public.  I was a huge fan of the jalapeno fried chicken served on baked lentils.
• Robust - They supplied us with some of the favorites from their standard menu. The Spanish meatball reminded me of my experience at Giada’s Meatball Madness in NYC.
• The downtown movie theater with chocolates from Kakao.  We were lucky enough to have more than one of each  If you have not tried these chocolates, you are truly missing out.  I typically try to pick some up at the Tower Grove Farmer’s Market.

What’s to like about this event?

• When you first sign up, you have no idea where you will be going or what you will be eating.  
• You will be surrounded with other adventurous eaters.
• You can’t beat the price. $45 for great food from 4 different restaurants

What’s not to like about the event?

• Nothing I can think of!

Things to know:

• Your ticket includes only the food you will eat at the four places.  Beverages are extra.  
• We typically had 5 minutes or so to walk between places.  It wasn’t a sprint so don’t worry.  Yes, you will be walking, so wear appropriate footwear
• Seating ranged from individual tables of two at the Dubliner to one large communal table at Robust.  It’s a great opportunity to make new friends.

Is your interest peaked yet?  If so, sign up for Dive Bars 2 Five Stars first contest for your chance to win a ticket to the next event on 5/29.  It will be in the Lafayette Square area.

Details

To sign up all you have to do is email me and tell me your favorite restaurant in the St. Louis area and your favorite item on that restaurant’s menu.  The first 5 people to respond will receive a discount off of the next event at Lafayette Square.  You can contact me by email:  sam@divebars2fivestars.com.  Four of the 5 will receive $5 off and one randomly chosen winner will get 50% off!  Sounds simple, eh?  Ready….set….GO!

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Your first thought could be that I have lost my mind.  While I’m sure there are arguments to be made that could support that stance, this is not one of them.  Every time I visit PM BBQ, I order the half chicken meal.

It looks like a small fryer that is smoked with a dry rub applied.  The skin turns is gorgeous  golden brown color and has a slight peppery flavor.  The meat itself stays juicy all the way through and has a hint of smoke.  This is a meal where you just tear into it in with your hands.  Don’t worry there are plenty of paper towels on each table.

They have a wide variety of sides. I always order the sweet corn spoonbread.  Trust me on this one.  The other sides are good, but this is head-and-shoulders above the rest.

Now that my son is older, the trick has become finding places where he will eat restaurant food.  This has been hit-or-miss so far and unsuccessful attempts can result in having to feed him something more when I get home.  In that respect, PM BBQ has vaulted itself to the top of my son’s list.  I ordered him the kid’s turkey meal with mac n’ cheese.

He loved it!  He finished all the mac n’ cheese and most of the turkey.  The ease of finding a meal that he enjoys is definitely worth mentioning.  The fact that it is served on a Frisbee with paper on top was a nice touch.

PM BBQ is yet another great BBQ place in the St. Louis metro area.  If you are in the Chesterfield valley, I would highly recommend it.  PM BBQ provides an alternate answer for the classic riddle, “Why did the chicken cross the road?”  Clearly any chicken whose fate lands it in PM BBQ is honored in this fantastic dish.

Dive 2 Five Scale:  3.  Great kid friendly place in Chesterfield.  Like most BBQ places in STL, you order at a counter and the food is brought out to you.  They have some beer to help wash down their tasty BBQ.

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Carl’s is a tiny place with only 16 bar stools.  They serve burgers smashed on the grill so they have delightfully crispy edges.  For good reason, the terms “burger” and “crispy” typically don’t end up in a sentence together.  This burger is the exception to that rule.  I’m instantly whisked away to burger nirvana at the first crispy bite.  They are pretty small patties, I typically order a triple cheese.  Anything less a double should be considered a kid’s meal.

When you go, you must pair their burger with Carl’s homemade root beer.  They serve it in an ice-cold frosty mug.  The root beer alone will have you coming back.  They serve standard “out-of-the-bag” fries that are on the thick side.  The fries are still an adequate side and do not detract the focus from the burger.

Carl’s Drive In is a place that I get a craving for every month or two.  There isn’t another place like it. This place is on my must do list for anyone that visits.  I agree that it deserves a spot in any top 10 burger lists due to its’ uniqueness and their ability to crank out top-notch burgers.

Dive 2 Five Scale:  2.  The typical complaints for this place are:

• It’s too small and I have to stand.
• The wait staff can be a little “gruff” or “direct”.
• It’s cash only.

Personally I think those are very petty reasons to miss out on a St. Louis institution.  I have never had to stand to eat.  They are extremely efficient in rotating people through the 16 bar stools.  Most people that go there have been several times so they do expect that most people know what they want when they are asked.  Do your homework, arrive ready, and enjoy the one-of-a-kind experience.

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So what is the bananas foster waffle breakfast?  It’s hot waffles topped with bananas, vanilla ice cream, and Olivette Diner’s homemade banana, brown sugar, and cinnamon sauce.

Wow.  The first bite was intense.  It’s sweet and extremely decadent.  If you can resist the urge to tear through it quickly, let that ice cream melt some.   I must say it was big enough that I almost couldn’t finish it…almost

I will definitely be back to try this meal again.  The booth I sat in faced pictures of the backside of people sitting on the diner stools.  There were some big butts and I cannot lie. With an calorie packed breakfast like these waffles, I could see how you could end up like that.

Dive 2 Five Scale:  2.  This is your typical greasy spoon awesome American diner.  They were efficient and the food was quick.  Make sure you bring cash or a check, they don’t take anything else.

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Iron Fork is a benefit for the St. Louis Area Foodbank and this year it took place at one of my favorite places in St. Louis, Union Station.  It is sad to see such an awesome space that is not utilized to its’ potential.  I love walking around and checking out the architecture of the hotel when I am there.  Someone please buy that place and give it another life!  Ok, off of my soapbox…

So how was the event?

The Good:

This event featured lots of diverse restaurants.  There was tons of samples so you had no excuse to leave hungry.  I wish I could have tried them all, but I reached full stomach capacity way to early. Some of my favorites were:

• BBQ was well represented.  Not only did you have the big two, Pappy’s and Bogarts, but you had PM BBQ and the Shaved Duck.  The surprise for me here was the Shaved Duck.  I love their house cured bacon but wasn’t a huge fan of their ribs when I tried them a few years back.  The rib sample I had last night was excellent.  I also enjoyed the smoked meatloaf slider.  I just wish I had some mashed potatoes to go with it.
• Cleveland Heath – fine, I get it.  I need to drive over and eat there.  I haven’t done so yet, but when I go to these events I am reminded of why I should.  I loved the beef tongue sandwich.  Tongue can be so tender when cooked properly and they nailed this dish.  The cauliflower soup was really unexpected.  This did not interest me at all, but once I tasted it I wished I had more.
• The Tavern Kitchen and Bar – the oxtail ragu and gnudi.  This was the first thing I tried and it kicked off the event well. I have sampled this before from them and knew it was a hit.
• Honorable mention – Salume Beddu, Kakao chocolate, and Seoul taco.   All are in my regular rotation already. 

The Bad

I should have done my homework.  I didn’t know that there was a Blues game the same night.  Had I known, I would have been better prepared for the craziness that was traffic and parking in that area.  I missed the valet parking on the first try and it took a long time to make it back to that line.  They were extremely efficient when I was able to get in line.

The Ugly

This week has been review delivery week for work.  I don’t normally talk about my “real job” but let’s say that delivering 7 reviews in one day takes its’ toll.  I really wanted a drink to help restore balance in my life, but the bar lines were intense.   This seems to be a common issue with food events in St. Louis.  Someday we will all realize that we love our drinks when we go to these events and will be adequately prepared.  Dare I share that I did not use all 3 of my drink tickets…gasp!

Iron Fork lived up to expectations.  It gave me an excuse to visit Union Station and sample lots of food from the premier restaurants in the area.  Parking and accessing adult beverages was challenging, but it did not detract from the event itself.  I look forward to attending these events each year.

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I don’t know if it’s just me, but 2013 has been a little hectic.  Crazy weather, crazy work…crazy everything.  This was one of those nights that beer alone would not take the edge off.  I was pleasantly surprised by the vodka selection at Friendly’s and decided to try something new.  I have been hearing about a new vodka called, Salute American, and decided to give it a try.  After all, they donate $1 from each bottle purchase to the veterans charity, Project Blueberry.  That way I can lift my spirits while honoring those that have proudly served our country.

Even though I’m normally a martini guy, this was not really a martini bar.  I decided to keep it simple and ordered a vodka cranberry.

Since I was asking about the vodka, the bartender also provided a small sample to try it straight.  It was relatively smooth and had a surprising sweet aftertaste.  It’s a vodka that would go well with lots of juices.  I now have a bottle at home to use for a limencello martini like the “former spy” I had at 715.

On to the main event…dinner.  I started with fried pickles.  Friendly’s serves the more common pickle chip variety.  They were fresh out of the fryer but not as crispy as you would expect but still had good flavor.

Now for their famous fried chicken.

Sorry for the blurry picture, it doesn’t do the chicken justice.  I had to let the chicken cool because it was brought to the table smokin’ hot.  The batter was perfectly crispy.  I love dark meat because white meat can be dry.  This was not an issue at Friendly’s.  I can now see why all the reviews say that you must order the chicken.  Clearly they do not skimp on the chicken, so make sure you bring an appetite!

Friendly’s is a neighborhood bar that serves great fried chicken.  For me it’s a bit of a drive, but it was worth it to say I have sampled it.  So leave the attitude at home and join some locals when you get that craving.

Dive 2 Five Scale:  This was a 1 for all the right reasons. It’s a sports bar that has expanded to take over other portions of the building.  It has a unique history that you should check out on their website.  You can catch one of the games on their many TV’s or maybe on some horses while playing video poker.  The waitresses are very helpful and willing to provide recommendations if it’s your first time there.  Just make sure you bring cash or you will need to use their ATM.

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Each person was given 2 of the 3 to try:

• Chocolate peanut butter: a chocolate cake donut topped with peanut butter icing and more chocolate.
• Crunch Berries: a donut topped with Crunch Berries cereal.
• Maple bacon: not one that I sampled

I am always a fan of chocolate and peanut butter together so it was a given I would try this.  The Crunch Berry donut was more out of my comfort zone.  It surprised me and was actually my favorite of the two.  I think the change in texture is what I liked most.

If this is a taste of things to come, I’m very excited to see what other flavors they create.  My two challenges for them are: Samoas (Girl Scout cookie) and Gooey Butter Cake (after all this is St. Louis!).  Those should provide a good enough sugar rush to thwart the worst Monday morning ever.

By the way, they have a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for some equipment needed for their new shop.  You can read about it here.  Show them support!

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It was a carefully orchestrated seven-course dinner with an optional wine pairing.   As the days lead up to the event, tweets began appearing with hints of what the menu could contain.  However the final menu was kept a surprise until the night of the event.  Chef Gerard Craft and the Niche crew created three of the dishes and chef Kevin Nashan created two.

Overall the night was fantastic.  Anytime you have people who have the passion that these chef’s do, it translates into excellent food. The whole experience was top-notch and I hope they choose to do an encore in the near future.  Below are some pictures of the courses.  Yes it’s a little mean if you didn’t get to make it, but maybe you should watch my Events page so you don’t miss out in the future!

Ice Cream and Caviar

Dungeness Crab by Chef Nashan

Escolar and Parsnip by Chef Craft

Scallop and Carrot

Monkfish by Chef Nashan

Surf and Turf

Elk by Chef Craft

White Chocolate with Rhubarb by Chef Craft

Missing  Those cocktails and the wine pairing may have contributed to this…

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For every food establishment in St Louis and beyond, you will find both good and bad reviews for places that serve food and drinks. Some get more negative feedback than others, but overall, there will always be someone who hates even the best reviewed places. You know why? Because we all have different tastes. Some people might love Facebook while others prefer Twitter. Others will adore their Xbox, while their best friend has taken to FoxyBingo.com game play. What is it we are all looking for from our dining experiences?

Hygiene

Have you ever been in a restaurant where you immediately suspected the service staff don’t wash their hands? Or you’ve gone into the bathroom and it clearly hasn’t been cleaned all day? We all want evidence we are eating food which isn’t going to make us sick.

Atmosphere

Some people love a loud and lively atmosphere, while others would prefer to hang out in a low-key place of relaxation and fine dining. It’s all about preference. And considering different establishments will have themes, you’ll end up avoiding the loud and obnoxious ones if you’re into peace and quiet.

The Menu

Nothing bodes well about a small restaurant with a huge menu, or a huge restaurant with a tiny menu. For the most part you want a very specific menu, with notable and classic dishes which suit the premises. It’s strange going into a local restaurant that serves the cuisine of 10 different countries at once. Unless that’s your thing.  Let’s face it, the food is, and should be, the star of the show.

So readers, what else do you require out of a restaurant to earn your seal of approval?

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