Courtesy Ryan T. Phillips Photography
INSIDER TIP
Russell’s Gooey Butter Cake at Schnucks
During the holiday season last year, when Russell’s chef-owner Russell Ping decided to offer his signature short-bread crusted gooey butter for nationwide shipping, he filled more than 1,000 orders—a pivot that he says helped save the business. Two of the most popular varieties, Original and Chocolate Chip Gooey Butter, are now available in the frozen section of more than 90 Schnucks stores across Missouri and Illinois. The 8-by-8-inch cakes cost $12 apiece. Additional flavors are available for in-store pickup at both Russell’s locations (in Fenton and Southampton) and can be shipped nationwide by ordering online.
HOTSPOT
Coursed Dinners in Cottleville
A new dinner series is set to debut September 8 at Upshot Coffee in Cottleville. Dubbed Upshot After Dark, the inaugural event will feature acclaimed chef Nick Zotos (exec chef at Beets & Bones and long time exec at the former Mike Shannon's), plus guest chef Joe Hovanessian, chef de cuisine of the Daniel Island Club in Charleston, South Carolina. The four-course dinner includes four wine pairings and a Pinky Vojito (a signature cocktail made with vodka, fresh mint, club soda, and Pinky Strawberry cold-pressed juice from Beets & Bones, which shares Upshot’s space). Beets & Bones is also slated to open a location at 8401 Maryland in Clayton in early fall. Tickets for the dinner are $115 per person (including wine pairings and the cocktail but not tax and tip) and available online. 5326 Highway N, Cottleville, 636-352-1139.
MICRORANT
High-Altitude Table Spraying
kyoshino / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Nothing makes us happier than observing restaurant staffers using spray bottles to disinfect tabletops between customer turns—but mind the overspray. Recently, an otherwise lovely evening was sullied by errant mist that wafted across our entrée, bolstered by a breeze from a vigorous HVAC system. Note to bussers: Keep those spray nozzles close to the surface being cleaned or spray the cleaning cloth instead.
Follow George on Twitter and Instagram, or email him at gmahe@stlmag.com. For more from St. Louis Magazine, subscribe or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
