The Sauce – Details, episodes & analysis

In this final episode of The Sauce, Meera Nagarajan, executive editor, discusses leaving Sauce Magazine after 16 years. She shares a few memories from her time working at the magazine and the St. Louis meals that changed her life.

You can continue to find copies of the monthly print magazine the first Wednesday of the month and daily updates on the website at SauceMagazine.com. To all listeners of The Sauce, we thank you for tuning in each week. It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve you.

This week Meera and Michelle discuss a visit to CITYPARK, where the vegan kebab at Balkan Treat Box and the bacos at Saucy Porka stood out. Also in the conversation was a visit to Blues City Deli where their take on the tuna melt, the fiesty tuna sandwich, was a knockout. A recent trip to Tucker's Place solidifies that this steak house is serving up one of the most affordable steaks in town.

CITYPARK

2100 Market St., St. Louis

Balkan Treat Box

Saucy Porka

Blues City Deli

2438 McNair Ave., St. Louis, 314-773-8225

Tucker's Place

4 Hands + Peacemaker Kirkwood

150 W. Argonne Dr., Kirkwood

First Look: 4 Hands + Peacemaker Kirkwood

Rick Lewis of Grace Meat + Three cooks from the heart. This week, Meera and Michelle are joined by Rick to discuss his journey from fine-dining chef to chef and owner of his own restaurant in The Grove. His restaurant, which he co-owns with his wife Elisa Lewis, is centered around community and cultivating relationships through food. He shares his stories of launching his restaurant and in the spirit of community, also discusses some of his favorite restaurants in St. Louis. Grace Meat + Three 4270 Manchester Ave, St. Louis, Best New Restaurants: No. 3 – Grace Meat & Three Grace Meat + Three Chef Rick Lewis' 12 Favorite St. Louis Restaurants Mai Lee 8396 Musick Memorial Dr., Brentwood, 314-645-2835 Bolyard’s Meat & Provisions 2733 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, 314-647-2567 Pint Size Bakery & Coffee 3133 Watson Rd., St. Louis, 314-645-7142 Sultan Mediterranean 4200 Manchester Ave., St. Louis, 314-390-2020 Review: Sultan Mediterranean Restaurant in The Grove

This week Michelle and Meera discuss the brand new Umami Seasons Hot Pot in the Delmar Loop that serves Taiwanese hot pot, which is an interactive style of Asian dining where food is cooked at the table in different types of broth. They also discuss the emerging hot pot trend in general at the recently opened Urban Kitchen in Chesterfield Valley and at Tai Ke Shabu Shabu in Olivette. Another trend in the conversation: fusion. From Indian-fusion restaurants like Taco Twist in the Central West End to Tikka Tangy and Amrut Fusion in Chesterfield to the soon-to-open Ramsay's Kitchen at Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis to Oats & Honey Cafe in Creve Coeur; restaurants are blending cuisines more than ever. Finally, from the April issue, they talk about all the reasons Sauce loves Trattoria Marcella in Lindenwood Park. Umami Seasons Hot Pot 6602 Delmar Blvd, University City, 314-319-1146 First Look: Umami Seasons Hotpot in the Delmar Loop Umami Seasons Hotpot on Instagram @SauceMag Chesterfield's Urban Kitchen builds on sister restaurant Share Sweet's menu with Chinese American classics Urban Kitchen by ShareSweet 17409C Chesterfield Airport Rd., Chesterfield, 636-778-0178 Tai Ke Shabu Shabu 9626 Olive Blvd., Olivette, 314-801-8411 2021 Best New Restaurants // No. 2 Tai Ke Shabu Shabu Kain Taiyo 2700 Locust St., St. Louis, 314-396-2110 2023 Best New Restaurants // No. 8 Kain Tayo Manileño 3611 Juniata St., St. Louis, 314-296-3131 First Look: Manileño in the South Grand business district in St. Louis Pizza Via 4501 Maryland Ave., #1E, Central West End, 314-587-8000 First Look: Pizza Via in the Central West End Pizza Champ 2557 Lyle Ave., Maplewood Eat this marinara pizza at Pizza Champ​ in Maplewood Taco Twist 15 N Euclid Ave., Suite A, St. Louis, 314-635-0033 3 new Indian fusion spots to try in the St. Louis area Amrut Fusion 17392 Chesterfield Airport Road, Chesterfield, 636.778.9380 Tikka Tangy 13441 Olive Blvd., Chesterfield, 314.682.6066 Ramsay’s Kitchen will soft open at Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis on April 17 Trattoria Marcella 3600 Watson Rd, St. Louis, 314-532-7706 13 reasons why we love Trattoria Marcella in Lindenwood Park

This week Michelle and Meera discuss the local food options in and around Busch Stadium including Kohn's Kosher Deli, Mission Taco Joint and Farmtruk. Also in the conversation is the best things to eat at City SC's Citypark Stadium this year. Several concepts are returning from the inaugural season like Balkan Treatbox, Medina Mediterranean Grill and Bold Spoon Creamery but also newcomers like Olio and Olive + Oak are making their debut this season as they join some of the best local restaurants in town at Citypark

Kohn's Kosher Deli

Mission Taco

Farmtruk

12 Great Places to Eat Near Busch Stadium, According to Sauce

Popular St. Louis food truck Farmtruk joins Busch Stadium as newest food partner

New St. Louis Cardinals season brings fresh dining options to Ballpark Village

The Best Things to Eat at City SC’s Citypark Stadium in 2024, According to Sauce

This week Meera and Michelle talk about a recent take-out experiences at Chiang Mai in Webster Groves as well as BLK MKT Eats at their new location in Maplewood. Also in the conversation is the debut of Esca and all the dishes that were standouts from a recent night out including the limoncello tiramisu, the green salad, the roasted vegetable lasagna and the clay pot Negroni. In new restaurant news, former pop-up turned brick and mortar Taqueria Morita is set to debut and Michelle and Meera discuss a recent visit to their new space. They also talk about good news from the Union Loafers team who are gearing up to open their bagel and provisions market in Shaw this April.

Tim's Chrome Bar

4736 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314-742-7881

First Look: Tim’s Chrome Bar in the Bevo Mill neighborhood of south St. Louis

Chiang Mai

8158 Big Bend Blvd., Webster Groves, 314-961-8889

Review: Chiang Mai in Webster Groves

2020 Best New Restaurants // No. 4 Chiang Mai

Blk MKT Eats

7356 Manchester Rd, Maplewood, MO 63143

BLK MKT Eats is now open in its new home in Maplewood

Esca

5095 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-365-2686

First Look: Esca in the Delmar Maker District in St. Louis

First Look: Taqueria Morita in the Central West End

Union Loafers team is opening a bagel and provisions market in Shaw in early April

Diego's

630 North and South Rd, St. Louis, 314-553-9906

First Look: Neon Greens in the former Rise Coffee space in the Grove

This week Michelle and Meera discuss some of their favorites at Grace Meat + Three including their specials, their kitchen sink salad and catfish nuggets. They also talk about a recent visit to Coffeestamp in South City and their lineup of empanadas stuffed with elotes or egg and prosciutto and even a caprese version with tomato and mozzarella. They also talk about two upcoming events: Food Truck Friday and Saucy Soirée. Food Truck Friday returns for its 2024 season on April 26 in Tower Grove Park and Saucy Soirée, a grand tasting party, makes its return to Union Station on June 23. They also talk about a new spot Neon Greens, which is one part salad-centric restaurant and one part hydroponic farm, and a few of their standout salads.

Grace Meat + Three

4270 Manchester Ave., St. Louis, 314-533-2700

Food Truck Friday returns April 26

Coffeestamp Roasters

2511 S. Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, 314-797-8113

Saucy Soiree returns to St. Louis Union Station Sunday, June 23

Saucy Soirée presale tickets

Neon Greens

4176 Manchester Ave., The Grove

First Look: Neon Greens in the former Rise Coffee space in the Grove

5 new and forthcoming breweries in the St. Louis region

Rock & Horse Brewing Co.

419 N. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, 314.361.1060

Dressel’s in the Central West End is a St. Louis landmark

Blue Jay Brewing Co.

2710 Locust St., St. Louis

Mississippi Culture

201 S. Union St., Staunton, Illinois

Narrow Gauge Brewing Co.

1545 N. Hwy. 67, Florissant

Main & Mill Central

10 Main St., Festus

Cugino’s has opened a second location at The Meadows at Lake Saint Louis

Pink Willow Cafe

5523 Oak St. in Cottleville

First Look: Pink Willow Cafe at Oak Street Inn & Lounge in Cottleville

Michelle and Meera discuss the rise and diversity of Filipino restaurants emerging in St. Louis, this week they highlight Manileño, which recently opened in the South Grand business district. They also discuss the debut of a food menu at Side Project Brewery in Maplewood where Adam Altnether has launched an approachable bar menu with fine touches, including an unbelievably delicious cheeseburger with caramelized onions and an apple cider-Dijon aioli. Michelle talks about her recent visit to Esca, the new concept from Ben Poremba's Benglina restaurant group in the Delmar Maker District. Esca focuses its menu on meat, seafood and vegetables grilled over charcoal, fresh salads and cold appetizers, classic cocktails, a large amaro selection and a range of indulgent desserts.

Bar Moro

7610 Wydown Blvd, Clayton

Idol Wolf

1528 Locust St, St. Louis, 314-325-0360

First Look: Idol Wolf at 21c Museum Hotel St. Louis

Manileño

3611 Juniata St, St. Louis, 314-296-3131

First Look: Manileño in the South Grand business district in St. Louis

Side Project Brewing

7458 Manchester Road, Maplewood

First Look: Side Project Brewing’s new food concept in Maplewood

First Look: Esca in the Delmar Maker District in St. Louis

Esca

5095 Delmar Blvd., 314-365-2686

Ben Poremba opens AO&Co. at Contemporary Art Museum in Grand Center

Quarrelsome Coffee

33 N Sarah St., St. Louis, 314-260-9008

This week Meera and Michelle discuss recent visits to new bars they’ve been loving. Michelle’s mission to try the entire menu at Stews Food & Liquor in Soulard continues and her love of the baby beer shots (and their evolution) at Kenny’s Upstairs on South Grand is holding strong. Meera talks about a visit to the new, beautiful Three Sixty at Westport Plaza in Maryland Heights as well as a dinner at Brasserie by Niche in the Central West End. From the March issue, which is focused on the St. Louis beer scene, they discuss a story detailing local spots where Jonathan Moxey (head brewer at Rockwell Beer Co.) loves to grab a cold one.

Kenny’s Upstairs

3131 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis

First Look: Kenny’s on South Grand in Tower Grove South

Stews Food & Liquor

1862 S. 10th St., St. Louis

First Look: Stews Food & Liquor in Soulard

Three Sixty at Westport Plaza

111 West Port Plaza Drive, Maryland Heights

First Look: Three Sixty at Westport Plaza in Maryland Heights

Brasserie By Niche

4580 Laclede Ave., St. Louis

Rockwell Beer Co. head brewer Jonathan Moxey shares 12 of his favorite St. Louis spots

Rockwell Beer Co.

Side Project

Perennial on Lockwood

216 W. Lockwood Ave., Webster Groves, 314-682-3823

Perennial Artisan Ales

8125 Michigan Ave., St. Louis

2nd Shift

1601 Sublette Ave., #2, St. Louis

Union Loafers Cafe and Bread Bakery

1629 Tower Grove Ave., St. Louis, 314-833-6111

Riley’s Pub

3458 Arsenal St., St. Louis, 314-664-7474

Tick Tock Tavern

3459 Magnolia Ave., St. Louis

Civil Life Brewing Co.

3714 Holt Ave., St. Louis

Blue Jay Brewing

2710 Locust St., St. Louis

First Look Blue Jay Brewing in Midtown St. Louis

First Look: Manileño in the South Grand Business District in St. Louis

This week, Meera and Michelle discuss a visit to Fourth City Barbecue, which is located inside Fortune Teller Bar on Cherokee Street. The brisket is wonderful, likely due to the 24-hour process it takes to execute but it's not all serious business; specials like their take on a McRib offers a break in the usual barbecue suspects. They also talk about a recent trip to check out the Fattened Caf inside Earthbound Beer across the street where the chicken tocino ube sliders were extraordinary with tropical pineapple flavor, a little spice and sharpness from pickled, shredded papaya. Finally in the conversation, a First Look at Bacaro, the new aperitivo bar in St. Peters and also a lineup of where to find great fat-washed cocktails in St. Louis.

Fourth City Barbecue inside Fortune Teller Bar

2635 Cherokee St, St. Louis, 314-669-6505

Damn Fine Hand Pies

Fattened Caf inside Earthbound Beer

2724 Cherokee St., St. Louis, 314-769-9576

Bacaro

5105 Westwood Drive, St. Peters

First Look: First Look: Bacaro at Noto Italian Restaurant in St. Peters

Spritz and Chips: 5 tips for making the perfect spritz

3 fat-washed cocktails from St. Louis bars to try right now

Pie Guy

4189 Manchester Ave., St. Louis, 314.899.0444

Rockwell Beer Company in the Grove

1320 S. Vandeventer Ave., St. Louis, 314.256.1657

None of the Above

3730 Foundry Way, St. Louis, 314.656.6682

Layali Halab in Creve Coeur offers a taste of Mediterranean and Syrian cuisines