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SLM contributor Byron Kerman weighs in regularly on local food events, happenings, and dining news of note. Look for his wit, wisdom, and whimsy every other week both here and in SLM's e-newsletter, On the Burner.
When Small Plates Merge, We Feel an Urge
The six “Tasting Boards” at the Tavern Kitchen & Bar go small plates one better. Each plate is a grouping of tapas-sized portions of three or four different dishes. Popular choices include the JH Trio (named after Tavern owner Justin Haifley), starring blackened ahi with black beans and a mango beurre blanc, pan-roasted salmon with corn salsa, and potato-crusted grouper with a basil/bell pepper vinaigrette. Another board, the “Oak Plank,” features a comfort-food bonanza of meatloaf, chicken saltimbocca, pork tenderloin, and beef short ribs.
We Heard You Like Drinking, So We Got You a Drink to Drink While You Buy Drinks
The capacious Lukas Liquor Superstore has obtained a liquor-by-the-drink license, and we are all in trouble. You can now buy a cold beer or glass of red or white wine, drop it into the glass holder on your cart, and drink while you shop. A large selection (duh) of beers includes offerings like Schlafly IPA, New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale, Bell’s Oberon Ale, Newcastle Brown Ale, and Guinness. Recently uncorked wines include a pinot grigio and a pinot noir. Impaired judgment may lead to more purchases than we planned when we came in here.
Brunchtown
As the weather slowly turns warm again, every other restaurant trots out a new brunch menu, and it all looks scrumptious. Consider Robust Wine Bar. The Downtown (Sundays only) and Edwardsville locations (Saturday and Sunday) have an identical brunch (they’re calling it “RoBrunch”) with choices like a goat cheese custard/fig /toasted hazelnut tart, chicken and waffles with a chipotle mornay sauce, a "Crabby Benny" on toasted brioche (right), and a flight of three mimosas. For brunch menus and to make reservations (psst! Easter Sunday is in two weeks), click here.
