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Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
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Photo by Micah Usher
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Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
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Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
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Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
Two very different yet equally entertaining parties defined Food Wine Design, held October 21 and 22 at Lumen Private Event Space in downtown St. Louis.
A chic tasting soirée on Thursday night featured inventive bite-size cuisine. Guests sampled unique offerings from 11 St. Louis restaurants. Mike Ward from Ward on Wines selected pairings, and the bar offered liquors from Spirits of St. Louis, beers from Miller–Coors, and Harvest Pumpkin Ale from Blue Moon.
The next evening, chefs Tara and Michael Gallina of Vicia and Mike Randolph of Público, Randolfi’s Italian Kitchen, and Half & Half delighted diners with a five-course menu.
Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
“We used butternut, acorn, and other winter squash from Claverach Farm for the cold soup,” says Tara.
Subsequent courses included roasted cauliflower in a smoked tomato sauce topped with chorizo crumble and cheddar broth; Missouri grits with braised beef cheeks topped with a pepper and squash sofrito was served with flatbreads baked by Ted Wilson of Union Loafers. Brioche bread pudding by Nick Miller of 23 City Blocks provided a sweet ending to a memorable meal.
Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
Ken Miesner’s Flower Shoppe
“We knew the chefs planned an autumnal menu,” says Ken Miesner Flower Shoppe's David Bovier, “so we needed the flowers and the table design to stand up to hearty fare.”
Bovier selected three shades of cymbidium orchids, along with Circus (golden), Coffee Break (burnt sienna), and Orange Crush (orange). He accented them with stems of deep-purple scabiosa, seeded eucalyptus, ruscus greenery, and pheasant feathers, and brought in local heirloom pumpkins—including Fairytale, Black Futsu, Porcelain Doll, and Musquée de Provence—in subdued colors to counter the bright hues of the flowers. Proceeds from the sale of Miesner's floral arrangements that evening were donated to the St. Louis Area Foodbank.
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Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
A flower arangement by Ken Miesner’s Flower Shoppe.
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Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
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Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
C&M Interiors
On a second table, Channing Glover and Maria Lesko of C&M Interiors gave classic elements a modern twist.
The duo partnered with Flowers to the People to create runners of greenery and tall vases of Antique Blue hydrangea, ivory lisianthus, and peach ranunculus. “Thin glass candlesticks with white candles added sparkle, and stainless steel chargers had a reflective quality,” says Glover.
Glover and Lesko also placed vintage glass filled with blueberries and snippets of greenery among pale pumpkins.
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Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
C&M Interiors designed this table with tall vases of Antique Blue hydrangea, ivory lisianthus, and peach ranunculus.
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Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
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Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
