Courtesy Balaban's
HOT SPOT
Balaban’s Has Outdoor Tables in the CWE
This week’s Clever Pivot Award goes to the Balaban's at Home program, which is now offering its menu of classics and favorites at outdoor tables in the Central West End beginning this evening. From 5–10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, weather permitting, eight tables are set up with tablecloths (“in the street where fine dining and social distancing meet”) outside sister company Patty Long Catering. (A reincarnated Balaban’s will open above Patty Long’s next year.) Menu options include eggplant roulade, trout pancake, cucumber bisque, hearts of palm salad, Pasta Ligurian, Beef Wellington, cioppino, barbecue spiced salmon, and beignets. A wine list and full bar is available for beverages. Reservations are not required. 412 N. Euclid, 314-621-9598.
INSIDER TIP
Feast on Tenderloin Filet
Courtesy Hamilton's
Due to its tenderness and consistency, beef tenderloin filet is the most popular steak on most restaurant menus, so the team at Hamilton’s Urban Steakhouse & Bourbon Bar has dedicated an entire night to its enjoyment. On September 30, during an event called Spectacular Spectacular: The Greatest Steak on Earth, tenderloin will be featured five ways: carpaccio (Italy), roulade (Germany), au poivre (France), Wellington (Great Britain), and bacon-wrapped medallion (United States). Each course will be paired with a wine or bourbon. (See complete menu and pairings here). The price is $129 per person, exclusive of tax and tip. Call 314-241-2333 for reservations.
MICRORANT
Wasteful To-Go Materials
Dana_Zurki/Getty Images/iStockphoto
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The increase in to-go and delivery meals has generated extra trash—a lot of it—from packaging to packets of soy sauce. While we can’t expect restaurants to switch to compostable or recyclable materials overnight (they are more expensive after all), there are easily controllable measures that can be adopted, starting with not putting six napkins in the bag with one sandwich. With most offices still closed, most meals are consumed at home, eliminating the need for packs of plastic utensils, condiments, napkins, and straws. While many online ordering platforms allow the customer to opt out of such extras, many inexplicably do not provide that option. The least we can do is put our request for “no napkins, packets, or plasticware” in the comments box, which almost all order platforms do have.
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