Courtesy McArthur's Bakery
INSIDER TIP
Eat Up a Happy Face
Courtesy McArthur's Bakery
Beginning today, 74 metro area Schnucks stores will begin selling the Smiley Face Cookies made at McArthur’s Bakery, the pickup and delivery-only bakery at 3055 Lemay Ferry in Mehlville. The brightly colored, “perfectly imperfect” cookies are decorated by employees with special needs in conjunction with the STEPUP program of Lafayette Industries, a sheltered workshop founded 45 years ago in Valley Park by a group of parents of grown children with developmental disabilities. (The STEPUP program uses real-world training to teach individuals with long-term social and employment skills.) In 2020, owner Scott Rinaberger reconcepted the Kirkwood location of McArthur’s Bakery, renaming it Pioneer Bakery and Café, providing an additional employment training ground for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In addition to a selection of baked goods and a full breakfast, lunch, and coffee menu, Pioneer Bakery & Cafe sells the Smiley Face Cookies as well.
HOT SPOT
9 Mile Garden For the Holidays
While the regular seven-day lunch and dinner food truck service at 9 Mile Garden officially ended for the season earlier this week (alas!), The Canteen (offering a selection of beers, wines, and cocktails) remains open throughout the winter, including a happy hour from 4–6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Food trucks will continue service throughout the off-season on Friday and Saturday evenings. Holiday parties (for 20–300 guests) can still be scheduled. This month, the 9 Mile Holiday Bazaar (featuring more than 25 local craft vendors) takes place December 11, the New Year’s Eve Cocktail Party (with an open bar, snack bar, ball drop, live music) is December 31, and other pop-ups are being scheduled as well. (Check 9 Mile’s social media for updates.) And don’t fret: Before you know it, March 1 will roll around, and it will be opening day for the 2022 season, featuring 35 food trucks, some of them new additions. 9375 Gravois, 314-390-2806.
MICRORANT
Offensive Restaurant Lighting
Yamac Beyter/ iStock / Getty Images Plus
In recent years, many of the subtler dining room design details (such as music, sound abatement, and especially lighting types and levels) have fortunately taken center stage. And yet there are kitchens being designed with brash, cheap, subtle-as-an-anvil, four-bulb fluorescent box lights, which is a fine idea unless the kitchen is visible to the public. A small, dropped soffit often keeps harsh kitchen glare from searing patrons’ otherwise unsullied eyeballs. Or restaurateurs might consider a bank of can lights, the ones that shine down and not out, which look better and feel better.
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