It’s no secret that
my 2003 Ford Focus is on the last of its figurative little legs. 133,000 miles
and counting, a crack in the wind shield, chipped paint, and a recent minor
accident have all done their damage to my wee vehicle. Like many frustrated car
owners before me, I've toyed with the idea of buying a new car. Perhaps one
with automatic windows and locks! Heated seats! A quiet engine! Oh my!
But, when my friend
Peter emailed me photos of the Fiat 500 by Gucci, I was immediately in amore.
Making its debut
during New York's 2011 Fashion Week, this stylish little car is perfect for any diva with its trademark green and red Gucci accent
stripes and two-tone leather interior. And girlfriends, this car comes
with matching accessories!
As of tomorrow, I’ll
be leaving on a jet plane for a business trip at this fabulous Orlando resort. Hope this post finds your week speeding by!
As much as I love St. Louis and discovering new places and
things to do, I also have a habit of staying in Soulard for week night dinner and drinks.
But, when a place describes itself as “Sexy, Magic, Food” and THE BEST BOSS
EVER* gives you a Groupon to said place, I knew I had to get myself to South Grand and Mojo Tapas Restaurant and Bar pronto!
St. Louis is made up of seventy-nine different
neighborhoods with flavors and savors as diverse as the residents who reside
within them. Mojo is located in the eclectic and ethnically rich neighborhood
of Tower Grove South. Known for having a “flavor all its own,” Tower
Grove South offers visitors a wide variety of culinary options from Afghani to Vietnamese
to Lebanese and everything in between. Located just south of the sprawling Tower Grove Park, South Grand is home to a vibrant and active international
community.
With its unpretentious and uncluttered interior,
flowing water fixture and touches of red accents, Mojo fits right in with its
South Grand neighbors. Once we perused the drink menu, we began our evening
with two freshly squeezed Lemon Basil Mojitos and then studied our dinner menu.
As the self-proclaimed STLCityDiva, I like to think I know a
lot about the best restaurants, the best rooftop bars and the best artisan pizza in St. Louis. But, even I can’t get to every happening spot in the
city (but I try, dear readers, oh do I try.) When my co-worker, and fellow food
lover, Brian offered to write a post about his experience at Sam's Steakhouse,
I jumped at the chance.
A life-long St. Louisan, Brian graduated from St. Mary's High School and he and his wife Callie have been married for two years. They
return to Sam’s Steakhouse time and again to experience the superb service, the
Old World charm, and the award winning steaks. Sam’s Steakhouse is located just two blocks east of Grant's Farm and has
been a staple of this South St. Louis neighborhood since 1991. Since then, Sam’s has been providing St. Louisans
with the best steaks, seafood, and desserts.
Without further ado,
I present to you STLCityDiva’s first guest blogger!
“Linda, thanks for all or your great feedback and suggestions for all things great in our wonderful city of St. Louis! My wife and I just recently spent a wonderful Valentine’s Day dinner at Sam’s Steakhouse, located in South St. Louis County. Service was fast and the food was phenomenal! We love the quaint atmosphere and old-world charm. I highly recommend starting with the traditional Caesar Salad, followed by the 8 oz. Pepper Filet (with melted bleu cheese!), and for dessert you have to try the Crème Brulee. Just wanted to pass along this little gem to your followers - this is a must visit!"
Guest blogger Brian and his adorable wife Callie
After dinner, you’re going to need to run those calories off
somehow. Brian is organizing the first St. Louis area 4.2 mile "Shadow Run" to benefit
the Pat Tillman Foundation, created to honor the memory of Corporal
Patrick Tillman who was killed in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004 while serving
with the 2nd Ranger Battalion of the US Army. The Shadow Run will be held on Saturday, April 21 and proceeds from the Shadow Run directly support theTillman Military Scholars program.
As a single gal about St. Louis, I like to think I have the
men-folk beating down my door for dates (in a chivalrous way, of course, not like this.)
When I’m not swatting eligible suitors away like flies (ahem), I like to ponder
what lucky fella in Hollywood I would give away my first born just to meet go on a date to the Oscars with.
So on this Valentine’s Day, I present to you my Top Five Men the STLCityDiva Would Date if Given the Chance (in list form, naturally):
Top 5 Eligible Suitors - The following singletons need no introduction or explanation. I'll let their photos do the talking:
1. George Clooney
2. Alec Baldwin
3. Adam Levine
4. Bradley Cooper
5. Tim Tebow
Top 5 Childhood Crushes - When I was a wee Diva, I would have given all of my allowance money just to meet one of these young hunks:
1. Davy Jones - The lead singer of The Monkeeswas my first crush and as a first grader I
stood among middle aged moms at the Fox Theatreto see him belt out
classic Monkees hits such as “Daydream Believer” and “Last Train to Clarksville”.
2. Prince William - I first fell for the young prince
when I was in high school. He was tall, cute, and second in line to the British
throne. Only a year younger than me, “Wills” and I led vastly different lives, but I
would have been a wanker if I didn’t like the chap!
3. JFK Jr. - In 1988, I was seven years old and
JFK Jr. had just been voted People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive.” He had the
pedigree, the education, and the Kennedy good looks, but for someone crowned “America’s
Prince” he also seemed down to earth, funny, and approachable. It’s still
unbelievable to me that we lost him, his wife Carolyn, and his sister-in-law
Lauren Bessette in a plane crash nearly thirteen years ago.
4. Andrew Keegan - Making his film
debut in Camp Nowhere, Andrew first
debuted on my pre-teen radar while watching ABC’s TGIFprogramming in
the 1990’s. With his shoulder-length brown hair and California tan, he couldn't have been any more different than the Midwestern boys I knew. Co-starring in
such 90’s hits as Full House and Step By Step, he put me in 7th Heaven.
5. Brad Renfro - With his smoldering
brown eyes and innocent good looks, I first noticed the Knoxville, TN native when
he played the role of Huckleberry Finn alongside
another 90’s heartthrob Jonathon Taylor Thomas in the 1995 movie, Tom and Huck. Starring alongside Susan
Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones, his good looks captivated me again in The Client. But, the Hollywood lifestyle proved
too much for young Brad and he was found dead of a drug overdose at the age of
25.
As anyone who knows me can attest, my skills in the kitchen
are…nil. It’s ironic that I, of all people, have a kitchen that is fit for a
queen. Or at the very least, Rachael Ray.
My kitchen - One of the few times it was actually used, for my birthday in 2011
When I first viewed my townhouse
in Soulard four years ago, the kitchen should have stood out as amazing. But instead I was impressed by
the exposed brick, the loft feel, and the fabulous location. The kitchen? Meh,
it would do. My townhouse was built in the 1860’s and has undergone extensive
restoration including adding a restaurant-grade Wolf range stove*, two
stainless steel sinks, an eight foot long butcher block island, and a vintage Dr.
Pepper sign. While I loved the look of my kitchen, I rarely ever used it. That,
however, was about to change.
Despite my hesitation with cooking, I come from a long line of good cooks: My maternal
grandmother could whip up fried chicken, stuffed peppers, and palatschinke.
My sister, though a ridiculously picky eater, can cook almost anything from
Polish sausage to our annual Thanksgiving turkey. My sister-in-law makes blueberry pie and chocolate chip cookies to die for. So dear readers, I
knew I could do it. I knew if I tried to cook, I would probably really enjoy it. And if genes have anything to do with it, I might just be good at cooking,
too.
My paternal and maternal grandmothers cooking in the kitchen, ca. 1989
So, after a weekend of pure gluttony with drinks on Thursday here, followed by dinner here, and dinner and amazing dessert on
Friday here, I was ready and in need of a little home cookin’. I knew I
had four eggs, shredded cheese (Nacho Taco flavor, naturally) and Genoa salami
in the fridge. Making an omelet out of those ingredients sounded easy enough.
Having never made an omelet before (sad but true), I turned to the pro’s on
YouTube for advice and guidance. After hours of endless entertainment (ok, minutes,
I’m not that lame), I decided this guy would be my perfect cooking
mentor. With his cute little hat, witty repartee, and background music, how
could I go wrong?
I watched his video and proceeded into unknown territory. I
cracked, I whipped, I stirred, and mixed. And wouldn’t you know, my first ever
omelet turned out delicious. Maybe Julia Child was right, “The only real stumbling block is fear of
failure. In cooking you've got to have a what-the-hell attitude.”
Move over Emeril: My first ever omelet. Bam!
*St. Louis Fun Fact: Prior to finding a home in my townhouse, my Wolf range stove was used in Kresge's located in downtown St. Louis on the corner of 6th and Washington. In the late 1970's, Kresge's was renamed Kmart and in 2007 the company merged with Sears.
With the artist, Jeff Kapfer. Isn't he the cutest?
There are few things I love more than good art and a good
party, so when the Four Seasons St. Louis announced that they were hosting
the first in a series of "Arty Party's”, I knew we had to go. Held in
the Presidential Suite, this month’s Arty Party showcased the work of local
painter Jeff Kapfer. A St. Louis area native, Jeff has stayed close to
home attending Wentzville High School, graduating with a BFA from Webster Universityand flexing his creative muscle as a graphic designer for Build-A-Bear Workshop. His love of birds inspired him to create vibrant and colorful
creations, many of which were on display throughout the suite. St. Louis is a
town of friendly people and accessibility and that was obvious throughout the
evening as Jeff mixed and mingled and introduced himself to the guests in
attendance. You won’t find that in a stuffy SoHo gallery!
Snow Bird and Bird Love. Credit: Jeff Kapfer
When my friends and I are heading out for a night on the town,
my first suggestion is almost always, “Cielo!” With its chic and stylish interior,
sophisticated Sky Terrace, and stunning views of the St. Louis skyline, it’s my
choice for the ultimate experience in downtown wining and dining. Dinner can
get a little pricey (it is the Four Seasons, after all), so if you don’t want
to break the bank, sample their "Small Plates." My recommendations are the Cielo Bruschetta and the Crab Cakes or feast on
their margherita pizza (my fave!). In need of a cocktail? Enjoy the view on the Sky
Terrace while drinking the Dirty Diamond, voted “Best Martini” in the 2011 RFT “Best of St. Louis” edition.
All dressed up and celebrating my 30th birthday at Cielo (2011)
Opened in June 2011 in Brentwood, twinOak Wood Fired Fare originally
debuted under the moniker Taste Wood
Fired Fare. Inspired by the twin brothers who would own and operate the restaurant and the wood oven that would provide their artisan pizzas,
they officially changed the name and opened their doors as twinOak Wood Fired Fareon June 13th.
The co-owners and managing partners in charge of both the
operations and the 8500 pound, custom built Renato oven are twin
brothers Casey and Curt Friedrichs. Graduates of Lafayette High School, Casey
and Curt left St. Louis for Florida State University where they learned from
industry leaders at the Dedman School of Hospitality. After working for
the Hillstone Restaurant Group in California and scouting
locations in Dallas and Chicago, Curt and Casey decided to return home and
introduce their hometown to the versatility of wood fired food.
The custom built, 8500 pound Renato oven uses infrared heating and is digitally controlled for maximum efficiency.
Voted “Best
Pizza in Mid-County” in the Maplewood-Brentwood Patch “Food Fight” poll
in early January, twinOak is best known for their specialty pizzas, but they also
serve seafood, steaks, and salads and recently partnered with the Six Row Brewing Company to host a three-course dinner and beer pairing event. Besides their food, the interior of twinOak is classy and inviting without being stuffy and pretentious.
Take my recommendation and order "The Classic" signature pizza or the prosciutto and arugula specialty pizza (pictured above.) Delish!
Besides Curt and Casey, twinOak truly
keeps it all in the family with their father, Kirkwood business owner Bill “Freddie”
Friedrichs often seen working at the host stand and greeting patrons. St.
Louisans can also watch Curt’s wife, meteorologist Bree Smith on KSDK as part of the First Alert
Weather Team.
Find out why they say “The Wood
Makes it Good” during twinOak Time from
4:00pm – 6:00pm Tuesday through Friday, like their page on Facebook, and follow them on twitter.
Special thanks
to Casey Friedrichs for sitting down to an interview and explaining twinOak’s
business model and future plans.
