Photo by Greg Rannells
And the accolades continue for Vicia, St. Louis' hot new restaurant in the Cortex Innovation Community.
From husband-and-wife team Michael and Tara Gallina, Vicia was just named as one of 2017's best new restaurants in America by food publication Eater. Located in a nearly all-glass building at the corner of Duncan and Boyle, Vicia debuted in March and quickly racked up praise (including from us, might we add) for its dedication to local sourcing, vegetable-forward philosophy, and a creative tasting menu experience.
Tara says although she knew making the list was a possibility—and they knew when Eater restaurant editor Bill Addison came to the restaurant—she was still pleasantly surprised to see a text message from one of her managers this morning informing her of Vicia's inclusion.
"A lot of high-fives were given today when we got in," she says with a laugh, adding: "This list and the people that read Eater and the attention that it receives draws in a broader national audience of people that truly travel to eat. It's a great thing for St. Louis, because they won't just eat at Vicia—they'll eat at other places too. That only enhances the profile of St. Louis as a place to come and dine."
She says the accolade is not something the team is taking lightly. "If anything, it continues to push us harder and advance what we're doing."
The Gallinas hail from famed New York restaurant Blue Hill at Stone Barns, where they worked under Dan Barber. They returned to St. Louis, Michael's hometown, in 2015 to open a restaurant of their own. Addison dubs Vicia a "modernist dream space" and says Michael "channels the Barber aesthetic with an opening sequence of close-to-the-moment vegetables." He adds, "but the St. Louis native also weaves in some Midwestern witticisms, including fleshy ribs and a bright-orange, breakfast-as-dinner romp of egg yolk, bacon, corn, tomatoes, and cheddar."
So how will the Vicia team celebrate? Tara says a fun staff meal this weekend isn't out of the question.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEVIN A. ROBERTS
Vicia's Michael and Tara Gallina
