The Great Memorial Day Weekend Trifecta, Part Three

We’re coming down home stretch for our GMDWT.

Final stop – Five Bistro

As we embarked on our endeavor, we knew a few of the restaurants would be a bit pricey. Five Bistro being one of them. Lucky for us, lunch is served on Saturdays. Also luck for us, or at least me, the lunch menu had just six offerings. Bob chose a burger, and I picked the frittata.

Well, that was until we heard the special. Pizza with freshly-made crust, pork ragu, grilled onions, spinach and goat cheese. No thin crust. No provel.

Yep, Five Bistro was our first stop at a foodie restaurant. One look at the detailed menu demonstrates that.

But look fast. The menu may change daily depending on the farm-to-table food availability. The farmers they work with raise sustainable and ethical products. The bar had several localbrews, many distilled liquors and dozens of wine selections. Of course, I had to give a plug to the beverage choice.

Speaking of beverages, I prefer iced tea with lunch. For whatever reason, restaurants serve the best tea. To my amazement and delight, the tea came with a stainless steel straw – that was a first. Excuse me for going all environmental on you, but plastic straws are a scourge to Earth. Essentially every piece of plastic ever made is still in our environment. Rejecting a plastic straw is one simple was to reduce plastic that will eventually end up in the ocean. Okay, sermon over. Back to the story.

The well-appointed dining area, plus bar and patio seat about 60. Even the lunch atmosphere seemed elegant. Maybe it was the tunes. The fresh flowers on the table. The hospitality of the wait staff. Or maybe the dessert – chocolate espresso cake in a bourbon sauce with espresso ice cream and ground espresso beans. Bob took a couple bites, until I commandeered the rest for myself.

Just a quick mention of the market of fresh produce and bread Five Bistro has on Saturdays. Five Bistro also offers a Bounty Box of the week’s produce.

Serious note:  Memorial Day commemorates the ultimate sacrifice of those who died in service to our Country.  This sacrifice also impacts family and friends for generations. Please take a moment after reading this blog to remember and acknowledge the sacrifice made for us by so many.


"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter the words, but to live by them."

- John F. Kennedy

http://www.fivebistro.com/about.html

http://thelastplasticstraw.org/

Great Memorial Day Weekend Trifecta, Part Two

Second stop on the GMDWT - Gaslight Studio

Why so dark? We stayed out way past our bedtime.

Who knew that a bar would be included in the GMDWT? Oh, happy day! Our food was delivered from Cha Cha Chow just a few minutes after we ordered.

We had a dozen local beers to choose from, plus fully-stocked shelves of distilled liquor. We enjoyed our dinner with great brews and tunes.

The photos provided some décor to the unassuming room. They harkened back to the namesake of Gaslight Studio. Gaslight Square was a thriving entertainment district in the mid-1950s. It fell out of fashion for several decades. Thankfully, many of the buildings have been restored. The Hill and Gaslight Square have something in common: Restaurants.

Some of the gaslights of Gaslight Square, in its heyday.

We knew that Gaslight Studio actually has a recording studio. However, we didn’t know we would hear an “Unplugged by Jack” recording session. Jack recorded three acoustic guitar-strumming guys. While they sounded fine, I don’t think we’ll be hearing them on the radio any time soon.

For a mere $50, Bob and I can finally record our unique version of Sonny and Cher's, "I Got You, Babe.".

When I retrieved our final round, I joked with the barkeep that Bob and I didn’t really fit the cliental.  He chuckled when he handed me a Maker’s Mark and an Urban Chestnut Brewing Company Schnickelfritz. If you want a drink and some music, it doesn’t matter if you fit the demographic. Just remember to order some pupuas.

www.gaslightstl.com

Great Memorial Day Weekend Trifecta, Part One

Because Bob and I don’t have a traditional Memorial Day weekend, we decided to embark on our Great Memorial Day Weekend Trifecta. (GMDWT)

First Stop - Cha Cha Chow

Cha Cha Chow began as a food truck offering a fusion of Latin Americas to the North Americas inspired cuisine. “But Mel,” you plead. “Food truck season is over, and I want a taco now.” Luckily for you, a walk up restaurant opened on the Hill.

The menu reflects the requisite minimal selections of food trucks, which was fine with me. C’mon, how many food choices do we really need?

I ordered a two taco platter - curried sweet potato and fish. I had plate envy over Bob’s pork and cheese-stuffed grilled tortillas or pupuas.Both came with salsa. I had corn salad as a side and Bob had slaw.

Cha Cha Chow offered a few outdoor picnic tables and a couple of stools near the counter that weren’t really conducive to eating. Where shall we go? What shall we do?

http://www.chachachow.com/menu

Wandering and lost...

"Not all those who wander are lost;"  

is an oft quoted line from the poem, All That is Gold Does Not Glitter by J. R. R. Tolkien.  

Full disclosure:  THIS DESCRIPTION DOES NOT APPLY TO ME.

I wander....and I get lost a lot.

In fact, so much so, it is a running joke with friends, family and coworkers that are with me when I drive.  If an anticipated turn, exit or entry to a highway is impending, everyone gets quiet.  Conversations stop mid sentence, so I can pay attention and realize that a maneuver is imminent. Otherwise I just keep driving straight.

To my defense, I will say that this had led to some amazing discoveries. Unplanned activities.  Unexpected destinations. Mel and I once stumbled upon some castle ruins that we had completely to ourselves, because they were so far off of the beaten path.  It's a memory that both of us will cherish.

To be fair, it has also led to some very frustrated passengers and some slight and unnecessary delays.

So, why all this about my deficient sense of direction? Because on Friday we set out to eat lunch at Milo's on the Hill, and I got turned around.  We were talking...I kept going straight, and by the time I realized it, Mona's restaurant was directly in front of us.  

So we ate there instead. 

Mel, completely thrilled by the unexpected change of plans.

Mona's - An American-Italian Joint is in a space that was formerly a tapas restaurant called Modesto.  I had eaten there a few years back. But going even further back, the Fair Mercantile building housed the Paull family business that sold furniture and appliances at the corner of Edwards and Shaw for 80 years.  That business shuttered in 1995. 

Mel unsuccessfully attempts to crack the old Fair Mercantile Co. safe.  

The building was renovated into a mixed use office space in 2000. Mona's is located on the first floor and is a very open, cleanly decorated space.  Very comfortable.

They had a nice selection of lunch specials.  I ordered the Meatball Sandwich.  This had melted provolone, marinara and garlic bechamel on toasted Italian bread.  Very, very tasty.  I got the garlic parmesan fries for the side. 

Mel got the Grilled Vegetables Sandwich with a side salad. She enjoyed hers as well.  They also have a good selection of beers.  While this is a sit down restaurant, the prices were in line with most of the delis that we've eaten at and the food was good.

So, in the end...my wandering paid off this week.  Because, no matter where you end up....you are somewhere!

Look! At the signpost ahead....

We are Even-Steven!
Midway through! 
Smack dab in the middle!
50/50!
Seventeen crossed off and seventeen remaining!



 Places we have eaten:

• 2nd Shift Brewery
• Adrianna's
• Amaghetti's
• Anthonino's Taverna
• Favazza's
• Gioia's
• Joe Fassi's
• Joey B's
• Leo Oldani Sausage (Eovaldi's Deli)
• Mama Toscano
• Mama's on the Hill
• Missouri Baking
• Shaw’s Coffee
• Steve's Hot Dogs
• Vitale's Bakery
• Zia's
• Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate

Places we have left to eat at:

• Charlie Gitto's 
• Cha,Cha,Chow
• Dominic's
• Five Bistro
• Gaslight
• Gelato di Riso
• GianTony's
• Giovanni's
• Guido's Pizza
• Leonardo's Kitchen and Wine Bar
• Lorenzo's
• Marconi Bakery
• Milo's
• Mona's
• Pop's Blue Moon
• Rigazzi's
• Viviano's 

Back To Work...

We recently took a little vacation for a few weeks, but we were back at it this weekend to give our voracious regular followers what they want....more accounts of Bob and Mel eating on the Hill.

So, we went to Adriana's on The Hill this Friday.  This marked the first time that either of us had visited this pleasant sandwich shop that is only open for lunch.

The decor is sparse but nice, with little knick knacks to add a personal touch.  There were plenty of tables.  Roughly 20 total, and there were seats available the entire time we waited.  But since the inside was busy and a little noisy, we opted to eat outside on such a lovely day.  They have several tables available outside as well.

To say the place was "bustling" is an understatement.  We arrived about 15 or so minutes prior to noon, and the line was just out the door.  It snaked around the perimeter of the restaurant.  However, the entire time we were there...the line remained about the same length.  It took about 15 - 20 minutes from the time we arrived to the time we were seated with our food.  So the line kept moving.

Note the fire hydrant in the background with the colors of the Italian flag.  All the hydrants on "The Hill" are painted like this.

I ordered a "Grace" sandwich, which is Salsiccia and Pepperoni topped with a red sauce and Provel Cheese.  It was delicious.  Mel ordered the "Charlie's Special"...one of three prominent veggie options.   She said it was "delicious."  You can look up her sandwich along with others at the menu here.

Mel was particularly pleased with the fact that those "dining in" were encouraged to use reusable cups for their soft drinks.  They had styrofoam cups for "take aways," but at least there was some attempt to be green.

Like most of the establishments on "The Hill," this is a family owned and operated.  They really seem to take pride in personal service.  They seemed to know many of the regulars and even encourage folks to recommend daily specials.

This blog is not in business of recommending places (or even reviewing the restaurants for that matter), but I would say that if you haven't been here yet, to give it a try.  We both really liked it.