SLM contributor Joe Bonwich weighs in on local food events, happenings, and dining news of note. Look for his observations every other week in On the Burner, SLM’s dining e-newsletter.
What’s New at Westport
Find the best food in St. Louis
Subscribe to the St. Louis Dining In and Dining Out newsletters to stay up-to-date on the local restaurant and culinary scene.
As first reported by SLM‘s own George Mahe, Westport Social will soon be opening in the booming Westport Plaza. And as indicated in a recent press release designed to attract 70 workers for opening day, “soon” now equals September 5. The space will comprise a 12,500-square-foot restaurant and “game bar,” the latter translating to bocce ball, shuffleboard, basketball, darts, and something called Snookball (a hybrid of soccer and billiards).
Craft Spirits & Cocktails
With St. Louis Craft Beer Week crawling to a close, it’s time to look forward to the lesser-known but much higher-proof St. Louis Craft Spirits and Cocktail Celebration, Sept. 9–17. Seventeen local microdistilleries will participate in events spread among 13 restaurants, bars, and shops. Organized by Square One Brewery & Distillery, the kickoff cocktail party ($30 per person) will be held at Lafayette Park on Saturday, September 9, from 6 to 9 p.m. (And a special shout-out to StilL 630, which will be releasing its first five-year whiskey on Saturday, September 16.)
Muslim Meals
Although the number of restaurants featuring the cuisines of predominantly Muslim countries or regions has been steadily growing, it’s not a stretch to say that a huge swath of locals don’t have a clue what “Muslim food” is. That swath will shrink somewhat next Sunday, August 13, when the Missouri chapter of the Council on American–Islamic Relations co-hosts the inaugural Great Muslim Cook-Off & Food Festival from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. in the World’s Fair Pavilion in Forest Park. (And if you want to submit your own dish into the competitive part of the event, it’s $10 per plate.)
