Liz Schuster named new executive chef at West End Grill & Pub
Schuster has gained a loyal following after stints at the Scottish Arms, The Chase Park Plaza, and through her aptly named business, Tenacious Eats.
Chef Liz Schuster is known for her tenacity.
She’s put her determination to work in a few kitchens over the years, including her family’s St. Louis bakery while growing up here and in Chicago restaurants while in college, back when, she says, “I’d work in kitchens because I knew I could get a staff meal.”
More recently, diners have gotten to know her at the Scottish Arms, The Chase Park Plaza, and through her aptly named business, Tenacious Eats, a themed, theater-style dining experience that melds Schuster’s love for food and film.
While she’s come a long way, some things haven't changed. “I’m a stove monkey,” she jokes, jumping off the line for a short chat. “The best lessons I learned were from chefs who were willing to flex their culinary muscle. That’s what I’m trying to emulate.”
She’s setting that example in her new role as executive chef at West End Grill & Pub, where she recently rolled out new lunch and dinner menus.
A new dish, Falafel Waffle, served with herbed yogurt/goat cheese, house made hummus, tomato, cucumber, and baby kale
Smoked Trout Canape - Pumpernickel crostini, herbed yogurt/goat cheese, boiled egg
“I did a lot of research on the CWE in preparation,” she says, “so we are putting a new spin on some oldies but goodies.” Regulars who showed up for the brick chicken popularized by the restaurant’s former chef, the late Pablo Stubits, will find something similar. “The brick chicken was amazing, but it was Pablo’s," she says. "No one else could execute it.”
As an homage, she’s keeping with the tradition of a half chicken, but she brines her birds in buttermilk, smokes them, and serves them with a side of Mexican street corn (pictured above)—also a tribute to Stubits.
Schuster is also adding her own signature. “I just love adding protein and coming up with something totally unique,” she says, noting that the the salad section is more extensive than before. Her favorite new bowl of greens comes complete with two sunny side up eggs, a dish dubbed The Full Nest (pictured below).
She might be too busy to brake, but don’t expect her pursuits to narrow as she focuses on her new role. In September, Schuster will go head-to-head with seven of the region's top chefs in the annual Chef Battle Royale at Taste of St. Louis in Chesterfield.
Between now and then, keep an eye out for more Tenacious Eats events. She notes one in particular: a toast to the 30th anniversary of Big Top Pee Wee, which will benefit Circus Flora. One of her more ambitious events to date, it will take place under the new big top at Grand Center. (Tickets available soon).
And with the Gaslight Theater adjoining West End Grill, Schuster looks forward to making her mark with more than just the menu. Tenacious Eats will be hosting events in the space, bringing full circle the restaurant's mission and Schuster’s passions: cuisine, cocktails, and culture.
