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.
Hot or Not?
Zagat just put out its list of this year's 26 hottest food cities, and guess who wasn’t on it. That's right, the Gateway City. Topping Zagat's list was Washington, DC, followed by L.A., Denver, Boston, and Seattle. In fact, about half the list was composed of coastal cities. A few smaller spots, such as Asheville, N.C. and Birmingham, Ala., were also sprinkled in. Among the Midwest metros on the list: Detroit, Indianapolis, Nashville, and Chicago. Ouch. Speaking of the Windy City...
Looking Ahead
Photo by Greg Rannells
St. Louis dining might usurp the slogan that’s now obsolete for north Chicago baseball: “Next year!” Zagat (and it's pronounced za-GATT, by the way) should consider some impressive St. Louis additions when it compiles its 2017 list: Gerard Craft's recently opened Sardella (interior pictured at right), Ben Poremba's ever-expanding empire, and Michael and Tara Gallina's much-anticipated Vicia. (After all, one reason that NYC made Zagat's list this year was “a scaled-back version of [Blue Hill at] Stone Barns,” the Gallinas' former stomping grounds.)
Spotlight on Provel ?
One final note about Zagat: If you haven’t seen it yet, check out Food Tripping With Molly on Zagat’s YouTube channel. This year’s season is themed “Home in the Heartland,” with host Molly Moker returning to her Midwestern roots. The first three episodes this year—featuring fudge, cherries, and Cornish pasties—have been set in Michigan. But as you might divine from the season promo, a certain local delicacy could show up in an upcoming episode, with a local fine-dining chef adding a twist and a certain local food writer making a cameo. We wouldn’t want to give away any spoilers, though.
