In a press release dated today, Saint Louis Cellars owners Matt and Jennifer Williams announce they "are partnering with Chef Greg Maggi to open Saint Louis Cellars Food & Wine, a carry-out-style café and wine bar that will be an extension of the current Saint Louis Cellars building in Maplewood. Saint Louis Cellars Food & Wine is slated to open in Spring 2009."
Maggi currently is Executive Chef at the wildly popular Robust in Webster Groves. According to the release, he will be part-owner in the new venture. The news came as a bit of a surprise to Robust's owner, Stanley Browne, who commented "the announcement's a bit premature...he is still on our payroll." Sous-chef Mike Morton will take over at Robust. Browne adds "he's been running the show for several months anyway while Greg was back and forth attending to his parents in California." —George Mahe
More from today's release:
Saint Louis Cellars Food & Wine will feature chef inspired “To-Go” cuisine, box lunches, corporate catering, gift baskets, café-style tables, cooking classes and demonstrations, wines by the glass, a wine bar for private events, and unique wine dinners as well as large and intimate private parties. The business will adjoin Saint Louis Cellars wine store located at 2640 S. Big Bend (just north of Manchester Rd.) in Maplewood, and will allow the wine store to expand their current wine and retail lines.
“I am ready to take my culinary talents to the next level,” says Chef Maggi. “I am ready to challenge myself with the ownership side of business. I feel that Saint Louis Cellars Food & Wine is a perfect venue for me to do just that.”
“We are thrilled to be able to partner with Chef Maggi on this venture,” says Saint Louis Cellars owner Jennifer Williams. “He is such a well-known culinary figure in the Midwest and throughout the world. He was the only person with whom we wanted to open this business. It was him or no one, and we got him.”
